Ace High Academy

ACE High Academy operates firearms safety and defensive shooting courses throughout Jacksonville and the broader Northeast Florida region. The academy is run by James "Jim" Berarducci, a USCCA-certified instructor and 24-year Naval veteran who spent six years as a Navy Small Arms Marksmanship Instructor at Naval Station Jacksonville.

Berarducci qualified Naval Combat Aircrews for Patrol and Reconnaissance Squadrons from 2003 to 2009, including teams deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. His credentials include:

• •USCCA Concealed Carry and Home Defense Instructor Certification
• •Navy Small Arms Marksmanship Instructor & Range Safety Officer
• •Naval Classroom Instructor
• •Master Training Specialist

ACE High Academy's courses go beyond standard concealed carry and home defense programs. Each class combines lecture components with practical drills using advanced training devices.

You'll cover: - Firearm safety fundamentals - Marksmanship principles - Defensive shooting techniques - Hands-on fundamental drills

Classes are held at Bills Jiu-Jitsu Academy, located at 11701 San Jose Blvd Ste 24, Jacksonville, FL 32223.

Every relevant course includes current Florida firearm law covering:

• •Constitutional Carry: Florida became a permitless carry state on July 1, 2023 (HB 543). Anyone 21+ can carry without a license.
• •Florida Concealed Weapons License (CWL): Still available for residents and non-residents. Requires training course completion or military service. Exempts holders from waiting periods at gun shows.
• •Stand Your Ground & Castle Doctrine: Florida law allows use of force without duty to retreat when in any place you have a lawful right to be.
• •Reciprocity: Florida honors resident CCW licenses only from states with reciprocity agreements.
• •Open Carry: Not legal in Florida except during fishing, camping, hunting, or target practice at an indoor range.
• •Deadly Force: Justified when reasonably necessary to prevent imminent death, great bodily harm, or forcible felony—no duty to retreat.

"Our objective is to furnish thorough education in firearms safety, marksmanship fundamentals, and defensive shooting techniques, enabling our clients to safeguard themselves and their loved ones."

Berarducci's military background means you get instruction rooted in real-world small arms principles. You're not just getting Florida legal requirements—you're getting practical defensive knowledge from someone who trained military aircrews. The emphasis on fundamentals, legal context, and hands-on drills distinguishes this training from generic concealed carry classes.