Jay’s Tactics + APEX Keep Northwest Soldiers on their Toes

On the left, we have Jason Palacios, a former US Army Soldier who now offers Jiu Jitsu training to the Army Special Forces soldiers at JBLM. Photo courtesy of Jason Palacios.
We’ve all seen movies where the camo-clad drill instructor barks commands at a team of fresh recruits or chants out cadence songs while squads run laps. However ongoing training is vital to our active-duty military, and a variety of styles are provided during their enrollment. Locally, Jay’s Tactics has spent the last ten years teaching martial arts-inspired combat techniques in and around Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Obtaining the military contract came, in part, thanks to the Thurston Economic Development Council’s (EDC) Washington Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), now known as APEX Accelerator Services.
Jay’s Tactics owner Jason Palacios, a former soldier, brought his combat training business to Washington State from North Carolina in 2013. He has worked with the military for many years and understands how important experienced guides like these are when obtaining contracts. “PTAC is a phenomenal program,” says Palacios, “and a great resource for anyone adapting to all the changing regulations in government contracting.”
APEX Accelerator services include help interpreting contract terms, clauses, and requirements. They also assist with obtaining any required certifications and registrations. APEX users can attend hands-on training classes, seek help collecting necessary documents needed to begin contracting, get marketing help, and be walked through post-award needs once a contract has been granted.
Like APEX, Jay’s Tactics meets a very real, large-scale need. He explains that soldiers must participate in sustainment pieces like the coursework he offers to maintain their ongoing certification. Palacios and his team, 75% of whom are veterans themselves, offer a range of classes and have worked with all branches of the military except the Navy in both maintenance training and joint operation training. They’ve also worked with multiple federal and foreign agencies as well.
Palacios initially pivoted from military service to working as a subcontractor on a smaller scale. This helped him become familiar with best practices and how the government contract process flows. On moving to Washington, he was told about the Thurston EDC “right away, from a buddy who was a prime contractor” and began working with the organization almost from day one. “They consistently go above and beyond in their programs,” says Palacios, “and it’s amazing how they understand the resources available. I constantly tell others and spread the good word about their programs.”
“I highly encourage anybody who’s uncertain to reach out to the EDC,” says Palacios, “They’re always helpful and yet the programs seem underused.” He estimates that Jay’s Tactics has trained hundreds of thousands of local soldiers over the past 10 years and calls contracting with JBLM “phenomenal. Contract paperwork isn’t easy, but we always make things work out.”
Jay’s Tactics is currently building a website due to launch in 2024. But if you have questions, please email [email protected], and he’ll happily discuss his journey. Visit www.WashingtonAPEX.org for details on the accelerator and upcoming events and networking opportunities.
It can take a long time for a solid, established business to obtain a government contract due to paperwork and red tape alone. However, working with the EDC’s APEX Accelerator helps build a solid background and streamlines background chores so that when the perfect contract appears, your company can apply right away. Take it from Jay’s Tactics: the resources are there, and the time is now to take your company to the next level.