Alton, VA (AGirlandAGun.org) — Fifteen women from across the country gathered at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) for A Girl & A Gun’s DRIFT Academy, a one-of-a-kind training experience designed to develop real-world skills, sharpen decision-making, and build lasting confidence.
Over three immersive days, participants progressed from foundational mindset training to high-intensity, hands-on vehicle applications. Day One began in the classroom, where students focused on situational awareness and countersurveillance, learning to recognize patterns, stay alert, and better understand their environment before action is ever required.
Training quickly shifted into dynamic application.
Students engaged in controlled vehicle contact exercises, learning how to use a car as a defensive tool when necessary, including how and when to ram another vehicle to create an escape opportunity. The experience was loud, intense, and empowering, pushing participants to expand their comfort zones while reinforcing control and intention behind the wheel.
On the skid pad, attendees developed critical driving skills, including managing traction, recovering from slides, and maintaining control in unpredictable conditions. These drills built both technical ability and confidence, preparing students for more complex scenarios.
Day Two culminated on the racetrack, where participants integrated awareness, vehicle dynamics, and decision-making at speed. Through evasive driving exercises, students learned to respond, adapt, and stay in control under pressure, demonstrating that true skill emerges when everything happens at once.
“This is about stacking layers of defense. Awareness comes first. Then positioning and movement. The vehicle becomes another tool you can use to solve the problem. When you put those layers together, you’re not reacting, you’re in control,” said Rick Henson, Lead Instructor, RFH Tactical Mobility.
The final day elevated training even further with advanced vehicle-based scenarios. Participants tackled high-speed kart training to sharpen reaction time, precision, and control. They experienced vehicle rollover simulations, learned about bullet velocity for various calibers, and worked in and around vehicles with nonlethal and lethal defense options. The day culminated with exercises on the realities of vehicle ballistics, gaining a clear understanding of how vehicles perform as cover versus concealment.
DRIFT Academy continues to set a new standard in experiential training by integrating mindset, mechanics, and movement into a cohesive, high-impact curriculum. Participants leave not only with advanced technical skills, but with the confidence to apply them in real-world situations.
Through programs like DRIFT Academy, A Girl & A Gun continues to lead the way in delivering innovative, experience-driven training that equips women with practical skills and lasting confidence.
Three days. Real skills. Real confidence.
You can watch it, or you can be the one doing it.
For more information about upcoming DRIFT Academy events, visit AGirlandAGun.org/drift.
A Girl & A Gun (AG & AG) is the nation’s largest and most influential women’s firearms organization, with members in every state and hundreds of host ranges nationwide. As the premier organization dedicated to women in shooting sports, AG & AG inspires thousands of women to live lives with strength and confidence through expert firearms education, competitive opportunities, and a vibrant, supportive community.
AG & AG is more than a club; it is a movement redefining who belongs in the shooting sports. Their signature events, including Girl’s Night Out and the National Conference, offer transformational experiences that welcome beginners with warmth and guidance, while providing elite training and competition for seasoned shooters.
For ranges, instructors, and corporate partners, AG & AG provides a valuable platform to engage a passionate and growing community of women shooters. By partnering with AG & AG, businesses can expand their reach, enhance program offerings, and contribute to breaking down barriers in self-defense, pistol, rifle, and shotgun disciplines.
At the heart of AG & AG is a dedicated team of qualified instructors and mentors who ensure every woman, regardless of background or experience level, feels confident, capable, and inspired. Together, AG & AG and its partners are building a thriving community where women not only learn to shoot but gain the skills to thrive.
Whether you’re a woman seeking connection and growth or a business looking to partner with a powerful movement, AG & AG offers a unique opportunity to be part of something bigger. For more information about A Girl & A Gun, or to learn how to join, please visit AGirlandAGun.org. Follow AG & AG on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and LinkedIn for social media and corporate news.
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