Our Instructor Cadre

Preparing you…

E.A.S.T Group was established a while back by a group of professionals with a specific mission in mind: to assist individuals and organizations with the resources needed to map out a realistic training program and provide solutions to operate in today’s ever-changing environment. Our cadre of instructors share their knowledge and experience gained from years of working within the security realm both here and abroad. This allows our students to immerse themselves in real-world up-to-date exercises. 


Our training methodology is unique due to our personal experiences which is why our company mantra “Bullets are Inbound” is the basis for all our training. This mindset allows for a vast mixture of “Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures” to tailor a training solution that meets the needs of our clientele. 


E.A.S.T. stands for ENVIRONMENT ASSESSMENT and SOLUTIONS TRAINING.

Sylvester “Sly” Pocius

Chief Instructor
E.A.S.T. Group’s Chief Instructor is a Retired Marine Corps Staff NCO with operational, strategic, and tactical experience from multiple overseas deployments. Assigned as a Primary Marksmanship and CQB instructor, Sly was responsible for Pre-Deployment and In-Theater training of Marine units in the tactical areas of Pistol, Carbine, Shotgun, Precision Rifle, Close Quarter Combat, Mountain and Desert Survival, Rappelling, and Fast Roping.

Sly’s private contracting duties included the Drug Eradication Task Force in Afghanistan and he was responsible for training the Afghan National Police in Weapons Handling, Team Tactics, Building Clearing, and Raid Techniques.  


Sly served in a Diplomatic Protection Detail in Iraq, where his primary responsibility was the day-to-day security and monitoring of the movements of US Ambassadors and visiting US Dignitaries. His secondary duties included keeping the security teams proficient in their Weapons Handling Skills, Building Clearing Procedures, and Hostage Rescue Techniques.  


Sly is currently Chief of Operations and Chief Instructor at E.A.S.T. Group, a state-of-the-art firearms training facility in central Ohio.

Jeff Baker

Instructor
E.A.S.T Groups Lead Instructor began his law enforcement career in 1996 here in Ohio. During his career he was a Swift Water Technician and Instructor, Field Training Officer, Boating Education Instructor, and Lt./Field Supervisor. He also had other duties to include Evidence Custodian, Certified Marihuana Identification, and Field Sobriety Instructor (seated testing).


During his career he was deployed with his agency for search and rescue efforts for hurricanes Katrina and Ike. He was also deployed around the state for other flood emergencies.


His current duties include supervising security measures for his department’s headquarters. 


He very much enjoys teaching new, as well as experienced individuals the value of training and practice.

Jason Bostic

Instructor / Marketing

Jason has 24-years of work in Fire/EMS with a vast experience from inner-city based EMS, rural EMS, trauma care and rescue task force element. He began his career in 1998 attending OPOTA in Toledo, Ohio, and then rounded off his public safety coursework in Fire Science and EMS.


He is a perpetual student of the trade and started training at E.A.S.T. Group several years ago and made the transition from student to instructor in 2020.  Skilled in trauma skills, unarmed self defense, situational awareness instruction, and reality based fighting. He performs security threat assessments, work with NDAA compliant camera solutions, access control, emergency response planning, and grant writing.


In addition to his other duties, he handles technology consulting and marketing for the E.A.S.T. Group facility.