Steve Reichert is a retired United States Marine and the founder and driving force behind Tier 1 Group (T1G), a world leader in cutting edge training and services for our nation’s most elite special operations forces. He has been featured on numerous television documentaries and his articles have appeared in various national magazines.
The early years
I grew up in the communist state of Massachusetts. At an early age, my father had me out in the backyard with his RWS pellet rifle, plinking cans. When he broke out the .22 short, I was amazed at the power (hey it was compelling when I was 6). Soon we had a 20-yard pellet rifle range in our basement, and I spent many nights down there with my old man.
In middle school, my mother became an NRA pistol instructor. So I now found myself on the local pistol ranges with her Ruger MkII and M9. My freshman year in high school one of the locals took me under his wing. He was an Army sniper and soon had me doing stress drills with his M25. Lugging that M14 around and getting it zeroed still makes me smile to this day. I think I spent 1/5th of my high school years on the ranges, or out in the woods hunting.
I started competing in local and regional high-power rifle matches the summer of my freshman year and continued to do so up until I joined the Marines. I picked up a lot over those years just being exposed to excellent service rifle shooters and military guys on the ranges. Those skills would end up saving lives years later.
In middle school, my mother became an NRA pistol instructor. So I now found myself on the local pistol ranges with her Ruger MkII and M9. My freshman year in high school one of the locals took me under his wing. He was an Army sniper and soon had me doing stress drills with his M25. Lugging that M14 around and getting it zeroed still makes me smile to this day. I think I spent 1/5th of my high school years on the ranges, or out in the woods hunting.
I started competing in local and regional high-power rifle matches the summer of my freshman year and continued to do so up until I joined the Marines. I picked up a lot over those years just being exposed to excellent service rifle shooters and military guys on the ranges. Those skills would end up saving lives years later.
Military Service
I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Infantry in 1998. My motivation and attention to duty ensured I quickly rose through the ranks. 14 months into my enlistment I was meritoriously promoted to Cpl (E4). While serving in the infantry, finding free time to keep up competitively shooting was hard. When I could, I'd spend my free time on the base known distance ranges or competing in local high-power rifle matches. While on UDP in Okinawa Japan, I took the Battalion high-shooter award, thus upon returning to the US, it was off to the Marine Corps Division Matches. It was great getting paid for three weeks to do nothing but pure-form rifle and pistol marksmanship competitions.
Two years into my enlistment I was screened for the Marine Embassy Security Group. It's a prestigious duty if you qualify for it. The screening process was thorough. Your typical TS/SCI background investigation and an added battery of psychological interviews and testing. I ended up serving in Karachi Pakistan, then was selected to serve in St. Petersburg Russia. The battalion XO & S2 made selections to high counter-intelligence threat posts. After some rather impressive CI training in VA, I was off to jump over the iron curtain. Due to events that transpired while in Russia, I was meritoriously promoted to Staff Sergeant (E6) and then was assigned a third post. While the rest of my infantry friends were crossing into Iraq in Feb of 2003, I was watching the events unfold from Istanbul Turkey. Upon completion of duty with the Embassy Security Group, I was sent to Camp Lejune NC as an infantry platoon sergeant.
When I checked into my unit, I found that I was the youngest SNCO in the battalion. Hell, I even had some fireteam leaders that were a year or two, my elder. We deployed to Iraq in the winter of 04'. That spring my platoon was involved in one of the most intense engagements in the triangle of death (link). That summer my vehicle was hit by, an IED, and the wounds sustained started the medical retirement process.
The process was a lengthy one, and my unit was still in Iraq when the 2nd Marine Division’s Gunner selected me to develop the 2nd MarDiv Pre-Sniper course at the Division Training Center (DTC). I was tasked to do this due to my organizational skills and abilities to make things happen, not because I was a card-carrying 8541 (never was one).
As the Staff Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge (SNCOIC) of the Pre-Sniper section, I was responsible for staffing the section and for the full development of the course curriculum. While at the DTC, we successfully conducted over twenty pre-sniper courses before I was medically retired in 2006.
Two years into my enlistment I was screened for the Marine Embassy Security Group. It's a prestigious duty if you qualify for it. The screening process was thorough. Your typical TS/SCI background investigation and an added battery of psychological interviews and testing. I ended up serving in Karachi Pakistan, then was selected to serve in St. Petersburg Russia. The battalion XO & S2 made selections to high counter-intelligence threat posts. After some rather impressive CI training in VA, I was off to jump over the iron curtain. Due to events that transpired while in Russia, I was meritoriously promoted to Staff Sergeant (E6) and then was assigned a third post. While the rest of my infantry friends were crossing into Iraq in Feb of 2003, I was watching the events unfold from Istanbul Turkey. Upon completion of duty with the Embassy Security Group, I was sent to Camp Lejune NC as an infantry platoon sergeant.
When I checked into my unit, I found that I was the youngest SNCO in the battalion. Hell, I even had some fireteam leaders that were a year or two, my elder. We deployed to Iraq in the winter of 04'. That spring my platoon was involved in one of the most intense engagements in the triangle of death (link). That summer my vehicle was hit by, an IED, and the wounds sustained started the medical retirement process.
The process was a lengthy one, and my unit was still in Iraq when the 2nd Marine Division’s Gunner selected me to develop the 2nd MarDiv Pre-Sniper course at the Division Training Center (DTC). I was tasked to do this due to my organizational skills and abilities to make things happen, not because I was a card-carrying 8541 (never was one).
As the Staff Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge (SNCOIC) of the Pre-Sniper section, I was responsible for staffing the section and for the full development of the course curriculum. While at the DTC, we successfully conducted over twenty pre-sniper courses before I was medically retired in 2006.
Business World
After medically retiring from the Marine Corps I started Tier 1 Group (T1G for short). My goal was to provide our special operations forces with more efficient training. Saving them time, money and more importantly lives. Our first year in business we cleared just over $30k, but we continued to grow. Five years after starting the company we were putting 2700 SOF members through training packages a year, and revenue into the eight figures. It took a lot of work to get T1G to that point.
In 2011 a captivating DARPA project came about, and I was invited to work on it. While I can't disclose the nature of the project, it was exciting enough to leave T1G behind and in good hands and head down a new path. For the next five years, I was involved in many highly technical programs that merged SOF requirements with USG technology transfer programs.
Most recently I've been more involved with programs changing the inner workings of DOD's rapid planning and decisions making processes. Fascinating and rewarding work!
In 2011 a captivating DARPA project came about, and I was invited to work on it. While I can't disclose the nature of the project, it was exciting enough to leave T1G behind and in good hands and head down a new path. For the next five years, I was involved in many highly technical programs that merged SOF requirements with USG technology transfer programs.
Most recently I've been more involved with programs changing the inner workings of DOD's rapid planning and decisions making processes. Fascinating and rewarding work!
Volunteer Service:
I spend a great deal of time and effort helping a few organizations across this great land.
Law Enforcement:
I was sworn in by Sheriff Joe Arpaio in 2011. Over the course of many years, I put in hundreds of hours on patrol and with the specialty units of Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. I provided hundreds of no-cost training hours to the fine men and woman at MCSO, and have gathered tens of thousands of dollars for the MCSO fallen officer fund. Each year I head back to my hometown in Commiechusetts to provide no-cost training to the police department. In years past I have assisted them with upgrading firearms and equipment at no cost to them. While most say they "back the blue," I like to actually do it.
Team 5 Foundation:
Board of Directors
Brothers In Arms Foundation:
Board of Directors
Raider Air:
Director
Law Enforcement:
I was sworn in by Sheriff Joe Arpaio in 2011. Over the course of many years, I put in hundreds of hours on patrol and with the specialty units of Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. I provided hundreds of no-cost training hours to the fine men and woman at MCSO, and have gathered tens of thousands of dollars for the MCSO fallen officer fund. Each year I head back to my hometown in Commiechusetts to provide no-cost training to the police department. In years past I have assisted them with upgrading firearms and equipment at no cost to them. While most say they "back the blue," I like to actually do it.
Team 5 Foundation:
Board of Directors
Brothers In Arms Foundation:
Board of Directors
Raider Air:
Director
Firearms Industry
I'm a Class III dealer and have been so for over 18 years. I have provided consultation and product testing & evaluation services to numerous companies over the years.