An Alabama man filed a copyright infringement claim after he said his life’s work was stolen by the U.S. Army.
SSGT Vanguard’s Johnny Lee Smith wrote the training for police certifications in Alabama. The training is mandated by the Alabama Peace Officers’ Standards & Training Commission (APOSTC). The 40-hour flagship training defense tactics program has been used in Alabama since 2014.
Smith alleges the U.S. Army Civilian Police Academy in Leonard Wood, Mo., “unlawfully appropriated, reproduced, distributed and used derivative content” from the Defense Tactics Instructor Guide that he wrote. He said the Army’s new manual was developed after Army personnel attended his training.
Smith provided a side-by-side comparison of his manual and the Army manual from his administrative claim.
“This widespread and unlicensed use—especially in light of foreign authorization and digital reproduction—constitutes willful copyright infringement,” the complaint states. “The Army failed to obtain permission, pay licensing fees, or provide attribution for the copyrighted content.”
Smith has provided defense tactics and firearms training since 1997 and those programs have been adopted across eight states. In December 2024 and May 2025, the U.S. Secret Service participated in the training. Smith told 1819 News he has dedicated his life and taken time away from his family to create the training programs.
“It’s my original words, my work, and to do something like that, you know, you have to take time away from your family,” Smith said. “So, instead of doing things with my wife and kids, I'm having to sit at a desk and write books. So, that the program is as good and as thorough as it can be and can hold up in court.
Smith claims the Army used the same program techniques, categories and even took photos from the same angles as the photos in his manual. He said copyrighted works include the SSGT Vanguard Level One Instructor Program Manual and the SSGT Vanguard Level Two Instructor Program Manual.
“The actions of the U.S. Army Civilian Police Academy have caused great harm to me and my programs,” the claim states. “My training manuals are not available to the general-public and are only available to agencies with certified instructors on staff. I do not publish digital versions of our manuals. Anyone qualified to access my written materials must purchase the printed versions of the manuals. Now my writings are available to countless individuals world-wide.”
According to Smith, he was offered financial compensation but said the offer was not enough to cover his losses.
“You put your heart and soul into something and you take time away from your family to do it, you know, and then it gets out there,” Smith added. “It's saving lives and it's making a difference and you feel like you've really accomplished something and it's humbling because you see the difference it's making and then the federal government along and says, ‘Hey, you know what? That's great. That's awesome. We like your program so much, we're just going to take it from you. I don’t appreciate it. It’s despicable.”
1819 News has contacted the U.S. Army for a response.
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