At one point, I would have eagerly recommended Delta Defense to anyone seeking meaningful work. That is no longer the case.
Let me be clear: Delta Defense is the USCCA, despite the smokescreen or statement that Delta Defense is the “service provider” for the USCCA, if you are a member or employee dealing with the USCCA, you are dealing with Delta. That detail alone should raise eyebrows—and it only gets worse from there.
In recent months, this company has steadily spiraled. Member cases are mishandled or outright denied, and the public is starting to take notice. Competitors gain ground as leadership fails to act, yet frontline advisors are stripped of the tools and authority needed to respond effectively. The result? Stress fractures—across the team, the morale, and the mission.
The CEO, Tim Schmidt, is presented as a hands-on, ever-present leader during training. That image couldn’t be further from the truth. In over a year, I’ve seen him speak at three company-wide meetings. Beyond that, he’s largely off the radar, reportedly focused on personal artistic pursuits in another state. When leadership checks out, cracks become collapses.
Your role? Expect it to change—often, and with little notice. My job description shifted three times in one year, all in the name of “better serving the member.” In reality, it was about stretching a dwindling workforce even thinner. Which brings us to the elephant in the room…
They are drastically understaffed. Turnover in the Member Engagement Advisor role is nearing 40%, with no serious effort to replenish the ranks. Those who remain are left to carry the weight—and burn out in the process.
If you’re looking for a company that values transparency, keeps its promises, and respects its employees, you’d be wise to look elsewhere. Delta Defense talks a good game. But behind the curtain, it’s a different story—one that’s unraveling fast.
