Vehicle Centric Defensive Tactics (VCDT) Program

Alan Baker, a lifelong student of the martial arts and founder of AMAC Tactical Group, and Joe Autera, VDI’s President & CEO, first met at a professional conference more than a decade ago. From that chance meeting, an innovative, highly effective defensive tactics program designed specifically for professional Security Drivers, protection practitioners, and others who may be forced to defend themselves (or others) while in and around a vehicle emerged and has continued to evolve. Widely known simply as VCDT, the Vehicle Centric Defensive Tactics program is designed and intended to provide today’s professionals valuable insights, knowledge, skill, and ability that have proven to work where it’s needed the most – in the real world.

Having enjoyed numerous opportunities over the past 11 years to work with Alan and the AMAC team as they have delivered this cutting-edge training to a broad cross-section of VDI’s government and military clientele, including a number of tier one and special mission units, we are pleased to be presenting the time tested, field-proven Vehicle Centric Defensive Tactics program immediately following each of our open enrollment Protective/Evasive Driving and Protective/Evasive Driving Recertification courses.

Presented in three distinct phases, the training is intended to provide newcomers, up-and-comers, and experienced practitioners the capability to overcome the challenges of protecting themselves and, perhaps more importantly, others whose safety and security they are responsible for against physical confrontations while they are in or around a vehicle. Each phase encompasses a full day of hands-on, immersive, scenario-based training.

Program Overview

VCDT Phase I: Active Deterrence

This initial phase of this program introduces students to the fundamentals of the unique approach to defensive tactics that VCDT is built upon – Living Mechanics® – and how to effectively apply them within the context of a physical confrontation in or around a vehicle while maintaining a proportional use of force and minimizing the Principal’s exposure to risk. The focal points of this first phase of the program include:

• Proportional Use of Force
• Stance and Balance: Translating and Relating to Vehicle
• The Vehicle: Overcoming Disadvantages, Finding Advantages
• Practical Defensive and Kinetic Measures
• Intensive, Scenario-Based Practical Exercises

Phase I Course Fee: $425.00

VCDT Phase II: Kinetic Protective Measures (Prerequisite: VCDT Phase I)

In this second phase of the VCDT program, students will build upon the foundation provided in Phase I to expand their understanding of what’s needed to overcome the challenges and hazards of potential physical confrontations while he or she is in or around the vehicle and the most effective strategies or tactics for maintaining adequate protection of the Principal and/or other passengers. The focal points of the second phase of the program include:

• Review of Phase I Tactics and Techniques
• Non-aggressive Postures and Positioning
• Protecting the Principal; Arrivals (Debus), Departures (Embus)
• Protecting the Principal; Interdicting and Redirecting Potential Threats
• Increasingly Complex, Scenario-Based Practical Exercises

VCDT Phase II Course Fee: $425.00

VCDT Phase III: When It Turns Serious (Prerequisite: VCDT Phase I & VCDT Phase II)

The third phase of the VCDT program focuses on tactics and techniques that are indispensable when a situation turns serious, and potentially lethal weapons are now a part of the equation. While the most basic tenet of secure transportation and close protection operations is to do everything in one’s power to avoid just such an encounter, if – as always, IF being the operative word – happenstance or circumstances are such that the Security Driver is armed, he or she must be able to effectively defend against a similarly armed adversary while being fully capable of retaining their own weapon. The focal points of this third phase of the program include:

• Review of Phase I & II Tactics and Techniques
• The Unarmed vs. the Armed Protector
• The Unarmed vs. the Armed Adversary
• Practical Weapons Retention and Disarming
• Realistic, Intensive, Scenario-Based Practical Exercises

VCDT Phase III Course Fee: $425.00

2025 Training Dates

VCDT Total 3-day Package:

Discounted Price: $1,175.00

Location	Course Date
Pocono	May 16-18
Pocono	October 3-5

Also available as separate one-day programs, as follows: