LOCATED AT GDBA’S 112-ACRE TRAINING CAMP, PROTECTORS FROM CORPORATIONS AND AGENCIES AROUND THE WORLD HAVE ATTENDED THIS ACADEMY.
Incorporating survival practices from Gavin de Becker’s bestselling book, The Gift of Fear, and pioneering protection strategies described in Just 2 Seconds, his full immersion, live-in program offers intense experiential training and real world application.
The Essential Protection Skills Certificate Course is seven days of full immersion training, day and night, at our training camp. All housing, meals, and local ground transportation are included in the $17,500 course fee. GDBA provides some qualified people with all-expense paid scholarships to attend the Essential Protection Skills Academy (usually select candidates who might later be offered employment).
The 7-day curriculum includes:
- Field Operations
- Surveillance Detection
- Firearms Techniques
- Emergency Medicine
- Threat Assessment
- Safe Custody
- Water Survival
- Stress Inoculation
- Simulated Combat
- Aircraft Emergencies
Senior Instructors
James Hamilton served 17 years as a Special Agent in the FBI, where he developed the Bureau’s Close Protection Training Course and served as security adviser to the Director of the FBI and the U.S. Attorney General. His specially designed training courses are still taught to protectors at the FBI, NSA, NYPD, and many other government agencies.
Josh Becker leads our Training Division and created GDBA's Highly Traumatic Event Medical Response program detailing how to respond to mass casualty events. He has trained thousands on lifesaving emergency medical skills. Josh is a licensed Paramedic who previously served in Los Angeles County, responding to thousands of 911 calls.