Low-Vis Tactical Vehicle Operations

 It's safe to say that a good number of us spend a lot of time in vehicles. Going to and from work, taking the kids to practice, going shopping, visiting friends and family and so on. How would this common activity change if the thin veil of civility we currently enjoy were to slip? Can we still do what needs to be done without ending up a mobile resupply for the bad guys?

Let's engage in a mental exercise, hypothetical in nature, wherein the area you live in has devolved into a completely lawless state. It doesn't matter why, whether it's a financial collapse, foreign invasion, natural disaster or any number of other scenarios. Picture something akin to the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 90's.

You live in a rural area about 20 miles from the nearest town. You receive word via your HAM network that relatives in town are in need of extraction due to a sharp increase in gang activity and looting. Their vehicles have been stolen and/or destroyed and they are barricaded in their home with dwindling supplies.

What would you take with you on this mission?
What would your mission planning look like? 
What would drive your planning process?


Let's look at something a bit less extreme. You need to run a security patrol or recce patrol in an area that is in a condition somewhere in between current day Caracas, Venezuela and Detroit.

How many vehicles would be in your party?
How overt would you want to be?
What would your contingency planning look like?
How would you deal with an unexpected roadblock? 


Now let's say you get a frantic call for help from a loved one and you need to go right now. You are stuck with what is already in your vehicle. Will it support your operation in any meaningful way? 


A vehicle in your party a mile ahead radios that they have driven into an ambush and are disabled on the X. How would you approach this situation? The driver of the down vehicle is unconscious and appears to have a neck injury. How do you extract them in a hurry without causing more damage?

(And while I realize many of these questions are going to be determined by your METT-TC, they definitely deserve your attention sooner rather than later so standard procedures can be developed.)


These are some of the questions we address in the Low-Vis Tactical Vehicle Operations course.

- Vehicle packing - What and how
- Dressing around your equipment
- Tricks of maintaining a low profile
- Route planning
- Contingency planning
- Emergency action plans
- Multi vehicle operations
- Communication and coordination
- Ambush
- Roadblocks - manned and unmanned
- Anti pursuit measures
- Fighting into and out of vehicles
- Crossloading damaged vehicles under duress
- QRF setup and duties
- Vehicle modifications
- Counter surveillance
- Bail out bags
- Down driver and extraction 

This is a two day course with SIM guns and a three day course with a live-fire module. Course involves classroom instruction, hands on demonstration, SIM guns and operating your vehicle in controlled scenarios.

Cost is $400 (2-day) and $550 (3-day)

Check the training calendar for open enrollment dates.