Sixteen women from across the country gathered at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) for three days of intensive vehicle survival, personal protection, and tactical decision-making training during the 2026 DRIFT Academy, held June 9–11 at the world-renowned motorsports facility near Danville, Virginia.
Nestled on the banks of the Dan River and known as one of America’s premier road racing circuits, VIR has challenged professional drivers since 1957 with its elevation changes, technical corners, and demanding road courses. The iconic facility provided the perfect backdrop for a training experience designed to teach ordinary citizens how to prevail in extraordinary circumstances.
Unlike a traditional defensive driving course, DRIFT Academy focused on surviving violent encounters, avoiding danger, and maintaining control when circumstances suddenly turn chaotic.
Participants spent three days behind the wheel learning advanced vehicle tactics that few civilians ever experience. Students trained in emergency swerving techniques to avoid threats, driver-down rescue procedures, pit-avoidance tactics, slide recovery, technical lane driving, rollover response, and vehicle ramming techniques. Every exercise was designed to build confidence under pressure while teaching students how to think and act decisively in high-stress situations.
The driving curriculum was led by instructors from RFH Tactical Mobility, a tactical training organization headquartered at VIR that specializes in mobility, firearms, and situational awareness training for military, law enforcement, security professionals, and civilians. RFH’s programs draw upon decades of experience from U.S. Special Operations, military, and law enforcement communities.
Leading the instructor cadre was Rick Henson, a retired U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret and Lead Instructor with RFH. Henson was joined by an accomplished team of professionals that included U.S. Marine Corps veteran Matt Black, U.S. Marshal Kelton Jago, intelligence and risk management expert Angie Jago, Deputy Clayton Myers, and professional race car driver Colin Garrett.
Together, the instructors brought decades of experience from military special operations, federal law enforcement, intelligence, executive protection, motorsports, and public safety, giving students a rare opportunity to learn from professionals who have operated in some of the most demanding environments in the world.
Garrett’s professional racing background provided students with a unique understanding of vehicle dynamics, traction management, and operating at the limits of vehicle performance, while the tactical instructors translated those principles into practical skills for avoiding danger, escaping threats, and maintaining control under pressure.
Beyond the driving exercises, participants attended classroom and practical training sessions covering situational awareness, threat recognition, bullet ballistics, nonlethal defensive options, and firearms tactics. The combination of mobility, mindset, and defensive skills created a comprehensive approach to personal protection that emphasized avoiding danger whenever possible and responding effectively when avoidance is no longer an option.
Throughout the event, students were challenged to solve problems under stress, communicate effectively, and make rapid decisions while operating vehicles in dynamic environments. By the conclusion of the academy, participants had experienced scenarios that pushed them far outside their comfort zones and developed skills that could prove invaluable during real-world emergencies.
“Most people spend years learning how to operate a vehicle, but almost no time learning how to survive a crisis behind the wheel,” said Robyn Sandoval, President & CEO of A Girl & A Gun. “DRIFT Academy gives women the opportunity to develop capabilities that most people never even realize exist.”
The three-day program reflected a growing interest among women in advanced self-defense, personal security, and emergency preparedness training. Participants left with a greater understanding of vehicle dynamics, personal protection strategies, and the confidence that comes from successfully overcoming challenging and unfamiliar situations.
At the end of the event, one lesson stood above all others: confidence is not built through comfort. It is earned through challenge. For 16 women at DRIFT Academy this week, that challenge came at speed.
DRIFT Academy is an immersive training experience offered by A Girl & A Gun that combines tactical mobility, defensive driving, situational awareness, firearms education, and personal protection skills. The event is designed to empower women with practical knowledge and hands-on experience that can be applied in real-world situations where awareness, decision-making, and action matter most. Learn more at AGirlandAGun.org/drift.
The Women's Outdoor News, aka The WON, features news, reviews and stories about women who are shooting, hunting, fishing and actively engaging in outdoor adventure. This publication is for women, by women. View all posts by The WON
Start the Conversation