5 Day Grey Man Academy Training Event - Executive Protection Intensive

Hi guys, my apologies for being AWOL (Absent With Out Leave) I've been knees deep in running a 5-day intensive course here locally to the Spokane/Northport Washington region. Here's quick recap of this executive protection training program.

Day 1-2 Pilot Survival "Crash Course" - SERE-Based Training

We began at a wrecked aircraft fuselage that simulated a crash landing, which I'm told the PC term is "off airport landing." This survival training scenario, drawn from my USAF SERE specialist background, focused as soon as they hit the ground on prioritizing injuries using MARCH (Massive hemorrhage – Airway – Respiratory – Circulation – Head trauma and Hypothermia).

We discussed strategies of coping with stress and shock, which involved tactical breathing techniques of maintaining 98.6 and box breathing etc. - essential skills for high-net-worth executives operating in hostile environments.

Then we pulled out the maps and went over understanding Lat/Long and how to determine our general location just based on an equation called "Rate of speed x Time of flight = Distance traveled". Then we plotted a good site on the map where we could conduct effective emergency signaling and other tasks to fulfill our 5 Basic Survival needs

Next they navigated using a wrist compass and keeping track of their paces to the top of the hill where we found ample natural supplies for a smoke generator and proceeded to work our firecraft skills. The day encompassed survival skills like natural and man made shelter creation, small game processing, survival cooking methods and night signals with flares and lasers.

The following day we built another fire, heated our coffee and sharpened our tools for easier bushcraft applications afterwards. We went over water filtration methods, day time signals and proved the importance of always having 3 methods of achieving anything critical. Better yet is 4, using the PACE method (Primary, Alternate, Contingency and Emergency) - a cornerstone of American Reconstruction Concepts (ARC Training) methodology.

Every great survival course ends with BBQ so we of course chose this for dinner.

Day 3-4 Escape and Evasion

Escape training was held at a hotel conference room where we opened with escapist mentality and went over the 5 phases of capture - critical knowledge for international business travelers and executives.

The majority of the day was spent focusing on posturing to create space while looking complacent and then using any and all means necessary to bust out of personal restraints as quickly as possible - core Grey Man tactics for maintaining strategic invisibility.

There was a table filled with covert escape tools that looked like M's stockpile of preferred 007 toys and gift bag of our top 10 favorite covert tools that went with the personal security training. We went over techniques that didn't require any tools, while simultaneously demonstrating the best hacks for concealing items to defeat the 5 Universally Most Common Restraints. Even ladies had no trouble implementing the techniques and often their natural ability to be dexterous with fine motor skills proved an asset.

We progressively upscaled the difficulty until by the end of the day, everyone was working out of handcuffs with inconspicuous items like bobby pins and hair berets. The confidence that grew throughout the day was tangible. After some tests in the classroom we convened for a look at hotel room security and safety tips. Unconventional means to barricade the door while understanding surveillance compromises and best practices to escape in a emergency were central themes - essential executive protection skills.

The following day we began with a practical SDR (Surveillance Detection Route). For this I changed my vehicle and called on the support of a ragtag gang of hood rats that like secret squirrel stuff to join me in tailing the clients vehicle. This encompassed short stops at several locations, some box movement and evasive driving maneuvers with a foot mobile element at a shopping mall. At one point I thought for sure my cover was blown while interacting with a merchant on the second floor of the mall, but afterwards I learned that my fears were in vain. The clients the 8 of us were tailing, had no idea.

We captured several photos in route and during their shopping at the mall, but they were unable to identify a single vehicle or face afterwards. Admittedly, This would have been extremely difficult for us, if we hadn't had the help of some electronic tracking software. This really hammered home the point of ensuring that their digital operational security was just as elusive as their travel methods.

After several hours we convened at a shoot house called PSOC (Personal Security Operations Center) a favorite local haunt for tactical training junkies. The facility proved to be an asset again as the site for conducting Escape scenarios that played out for the next couple of hours. This is where their newly formed skills were truly tested.

Following this, we brought in a digital tradecraft SME, who ran them through a stack of protocols and security equipment that would render them safer than 99.9% of the current population in America - part of our comprehensive corporate security training program at the Grey Man Academy.

Day 5 CQB (Close Quarters Battle) - Advanced Tactical Training

This is where it all came down to, after surviving a crash landing and learning how to escape and evade criminal element, the process of up close and personal fighting in close spaces with force on force simmunitions was at hand.

At first we went over fundamental CQB principles on the whiteboard and then progressed to a personalized strategy of fortifying the client's home. Which after incorporating safe room with escape hatch, motion sensing lights/cameras and combining them with lethal and less than lethal deterrents it will be a veritable fortress. (Guys, I'm considering developing a home fortification template so that everyone can do this, effectively making your home, your castle. If that's of interest to you, let me know in the comments)

Then we moved through the shoot house with laser weapons practicing the correct maneuvers to clear the building when necessary. This quickly escalated to several force on force exercises that continued to build in difficulty. Until finally the students were moving as team, clearing the building, thinking strategically and calmly neutralizing threats - embodying the Grey Man methodology of strategic invisibility with lethal capability.

There were many welts, surprises and bumps and bruises along the way. I earned my share of pain and was effectively taken out when I played the role of an armed hostage taker. (Unfortunately the hostage was also killed during this drill, but hey, that's why we train right? So they can make those mistakes in tactical training scenarios to avoid the friendly casualties in real life.)

All in all there were many lessons learned, much fun had and an experience that few will ever live, all in the course of just 5 focused days of intensive training.

Just wanted to keep you guys posted on activities here at ARC Training. Until next time. Stand ready and be prepared! God bless.

For more information about Grey Man Academy's executive protection courses, SERE-based training programs, or to reserve your spot in our next intensive, visit arctraining.net

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