Anti-Kidnap & Targeting Indications Detection (AKTID) Programme: Module 3

The third and final course of the Anti-Kidnap & Targeting Indication Detection Programme, designed for personnel who may be targeted for kidnap or surveillance while operating in hostile, complex, or high-crime areas. The course provides a deep understanding of how hostile actors identify, surveille, and select targets; and teaches how to recognise, disrupt, and avoid that targeting process. Participants will learn proactive personal security measures, behavioural awareness techniques, counter-surveillance skills, and contingency planning.

The aim of this course is to prepare individuals at risk of kidnapping or hostile contact, such as NGO staff, journalists, and military personnel; to effectively respond during all stages of a kidnap event. Participants will develop practical survival strategies, psychological resilience, and negotiation awareness to maximise personal safety, support recovery, and enable reintegration. The course combines real-world case studies, behavioural science, and scenario-based training to enhance decision-making, situational awareness, and post-incident adaptation in high-threat environments.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Recognise the signs of an impending abduction or hostile contact and take immediate protective action.
• Understand and manage the physiological and psychological effects of stress during high-threat encounters, including the adrenal response.
• Apply escape and evasion (E&E) techniques suited to diverse environments and threat levels.
• Maintain mental and emotional control to optimise survival chances during captivity.
• Analyse case studies to extract key lessons from real-world kidnap and hostage situations.
• Understand the psychological impact of captivity, including trauma, resilience, and coping strategies.
• Develop mental resilience techniques, including passive resistance, adaptive cooperation, and cognitive self-regulation.
• Utilise physical survival methods in captivity or hostile terrain, including covert signalling and resource improvisation.
• Gather and retain critical intelligence while in captivity for future use in debriefing or operational planning.
• Understand the principles of hostage dynamics and negotiation, including managing perception and building credibility with captors.
• Apply practical negotiation survival techniques, including communication strategies and behavioural adaptation.
• Navigate post-release reintegration, addressing legal, security, and psychological considerations in recovery and debriefing.

Upon successful completion of the course, participants will be able to:

1. Identify behavioural and environmental indicators signalling the onset of a kidnap or hostile encounter.
2. Demonstrate effective decision-making under extreme stress, informed by an understanding of the adrenal response.
3. Employ effective escape and evasion techniques, including terrain navigation, concealment, and movement planning.
4. Manage emotional responses, maintain mental clarity, and demonstrate self-discipline under duress.
5. Assess the psychological effects of captivity and implement personal coping strategies to sustain morale.
6. Demonstrate passive resistance and strategic cooperation techniques when physical escape is not possible.
7. Recall and document key information during captivity that may support intelligence gathering and post-incident analysis.
8. Interpret the stages of negotiation and hostage management, enhancing survivability during prolonged detainment.
9. Maintain credibility and influence captor perceptions through non-aggressive negotiation posturing.
10. Apply key concepts from international case studies to contextualise decision-making in future hostile encounters.
11. Participate constructively in post-release debriefings, contributing valuable information while managing psychological wellbeing.
12. Recognise the legal and personal implications of captivity and implement strategies for reintegration and ongoing support.

The course covers the following key subject areas:

• Recognising the Onset of a Kidnap or Hostile Contact
• Decision-Making Under Duress: Adrenal Response Mechanism
• Escape & Evasion (E&E) Techniques
• Mental & Emotional Control
• Case Study: Hostile Contact in Syria
• Psychological Impact of Captivity
• Building Mental Resilience
• Passive Resistance & Cooperation
• Physical Survival Strategies
• Memory & Intelligence (INTEL) Gathering
• Case Study: Hostage Survival in the Philippines
• Understanding Hostage Dynamics
• The Negotiation Process
• Basic Negotiation Survival Techniques
• Managing Credibility & Perception
• Case Study: Hostage Negotiation in Colombia – Ingrid Betancourt
• Physical & Psychological Recovery
• Effective Debriefing Process
• Legal & Security Considerations
• Reintegration Support
• Case Study: Post-Release Reintegration in Iraq
• Global Kidnapping Trends (2020–2024): Numbers & Geographical Distribution
• Case Studies of Kidnapping Events
• Case Studies – Military Personnel Kidnappings
• Case Studies – NGO & Media Personnel Kidnappings

The course is aimed at, but not limited to the following target audience:

• Security personnel, protection teams, and high-risk corporate travellers.
• NGO staff, media professionals, and contractors operating in kidnap-prone regions.
• Government and private sector personnel tasked with travel security or close protection.
• Individuals requiring enhanced situational awareness and personal protection capability.

• Must have attended and completed both Anti-Kidnap Training & Targeting Indications Detection (AKTID) Programme: Module 1 and Anti-Kidnap Training & Targeting Indications Detection (AKTID) Programme: Module 2.
• Previous completion of a basic hostile environment or personal security course is recommended but not mandatory.
• English proficiency (or the language of delivery) is required for safety and operational effectiveness

Upon completion of this Course, course participants will receive a Certificate in Anti-Kidnap & Targeting Indication Detection Course: Module 3

Click on either the ‘Buy Course £495 GBP’ button in the page banner (NOTE: the button will only be visible if there are dates showing in the Course Calendar), or you can select the required ‘Sign Up’ button in the Course Calendar at the bottom of this page. This will take you a course booking are on our Partner site (VIRSEC.org). You will need to create an account before continuing. Please then select the course date and make payment via the eCommerce gateway. We will confirm your booking within 48 hours. If you wish to pay by an alternate method, please email us at: [email protected] and we will respond accordingly.

At Special Projects Group, we offer competitive bulk discount pricing for companies and organisations looking to purchase our courses for multiple employees. Whether you’re equipping anything from a small team to a complete department, we provide scalable pricing options to suit your training needs. Discounts are applied based on the number of participants, with greater savings available for larger groups. To discuss your specific requirements and receive a personalised quote, please contact our training coordination team by email at [email protected], and one of our team will happily assist you.

The course is held at our Strategic Partner’s Venue at Canada House, 3 Chepstow Street, Manchester, M1 5FW, United Kingdom. An information Pack will be emailed to the delegates email address used at the time of purchasing the course. If you are interested in bulk purchases, we will provide you details at the time of receipt of your email enquiry.

SPG are a signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant (AFC) and as such, we offer former, and current serving members of the UK Armed Forces a 15% discount. Contact us to secure your discount code prior to booking or email us to pay by BACs / Bank Transfer and we will provide you with the relevant payment details.