24. 2. 2025 | HEAT, Peace and security, POTC, PR
The winter edition of the Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT), organised by the Peace Operations Training Centre (POTC) under the aegis of the European Security and Defence College (ESDC), was successfully delivered at the Gotenica Police Training Centre in Slovenia from February 16th to February 21st, 2025.
Kliknite tukaj za branje članka v slovenskem jeziku.
This comprehensive training programme aimed to equip civilians deployed in peace missions and operations abroad with the necessary skills to navigate potentially dangerous working conditions and hazardous situations.
The training covered a wide range of topics, including threat awareness, medical help, orientation, communications, and mobility. Participants engaged in both classroom sessions and practical field exercises, such as 4×4 driving, evacuation planning, and stress management. The course also addressed critical areas like awareness of weapons, mines, and unexploded ordnance (UXOs), as well as kidnap analysis and hostage survival techniques.
The highlight of the training was the Thursday simulation exercise, which allowed participants to apply the knowledge they had gained throughout the week. These scenarios encompassed various challenges that might be encountered in conflict areas, providing a hands-on learning experience that is invaluable for those working in high-risk environments.
The training would not have been possible without the dedication of representatives from the Slovenian Police and Armed Forces and the participation of a diverse group of background players. The staff of the training centre also made sure that the training ran smoothly and aided us when needed.
Overall, HEAT 2025 was a success, empowering participants with the tools and confidence needed to operate effectively in hostile environments. We wish the participants the best of luck in their future endeavours.
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12. 12. 2024 | HEAT, POTC, PR
The Peace Operations Training Centre (POTC), under the aegis of the European Security and Defence College (ESDC), is organising a Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT). The training will take place at the Gotenica Police Training Centre in Slovenia from Sunday 16th to 21st of February 2025.
Kliknite tukaj za branje članka v slovenskem jeziku.
This training activity contributes to security and situational awareness, reinforces a safety and security awareness mindset, and develops confidence in hostile situations. In addition, the training provides guidance on individual and team behaviour to help deter, detect and react during and after threatening events, thus increasing the overall personal safety and security of participants while serving in hostile environments. This year’s HEAT will be conducted in a winter environment.
Up to 20 professionals with different backgrounds, working or aiming to work with national or international (non-)governmental organisations, academic or private sector are eligible to apply for participation in the training.
The participants will join an experienced group of Slovenian and foreign trainers for a five-day intensive course in the southwestern part of Slovenia. The training is designed to:
• improve participants’ knowledge about multiple threats present in hostile field environments and learn how to deal with them in an effective manner;
• rehearse and practice safety and security procedures according to specific threats;
• develop skills and behaviours to deal with different stressful situations.
Activities include e-learning prior to the in-person training, lectures, guided discussions, role-playing, simulations, and a complex field training exercise. Trainees will be addressing deployment in hostile environments (threat awareness, management of various threats, etc.), medical help, orientation, communications, mobility, etc.
Apply to the training activity here: REGISTRATION FORM
The deadline for submitting the application is January 10th, 2025. The selection of participants is done by POTC and ESDC after the deadline, and both selected and unselected applicants will be notified.
You can find all the information regarding the registration process and the training delivery here.
Link to Goalkeeper Schoolmaster – Published Course.
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26. 3. 2024 | HEAT, POTC, PR
The Peace Operations Training Centre (POTC) is organising a Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT). The course will take place at the Gotenica Police Training Centre in Slovenia from Sunday, 2nd to Friday, 7th, June, 2024.
Kliknite tukaj za branje članka v slovenskem jeziku.
HEAT’s purpose is to train professionals to deal effectively with risk-associated and emergency/critical situations while deployed in hostile environments abroad.
Up to 25 professionals with different backgrounds who work or aim to work with national or international (non)governmental organizations, the academic or private sector, are eligible to apply for participation in the training.
The participants will join an experienced group of Slovenian and foreign trainers for a five-day intensive course in the southwestern part of Slovenia. The training is designed to:
- improve participants’ knowledge about multiple threats present in hostile field environments and learn how to deal with them in an effective manner.
- rehearse and practice safety and security procedures according to specific threats,
- and develop skills and behaviours to deal with different stressful situations.
Activities include lectures, guided discussions, role-playing, simulations, and a complex field training exercise. Trainees will be addressing deployment in hostile environments (threat awareness, management of various threats, etc.), medical help, orientation, communications, mobility, etc.
You can find all the information regarding the registration process and the training delivery here.
Apply to HEAT here: Application Form (open until May 5th – extension to May 15th)
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22. 10. 2018 | HEAT, PR, Security
Civilians deployed in missions abroad can be subjected to potentially dangerous working conditions and hazardous situations. It is essential for them to be aware of the risks and challenges such a workplace embodies. That is precisely the focus point of the Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT), as it aims to educate civil experts on a wide range of topics and equip them to be more suited for the challenges that may occur in a conflict area. Three day training was organised by the Centre for European Perspective (CEP) in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Slovenia, Slovenian Police and Slovenian Armed Forces.
This year’s HEAT took place between the 16th and the 18th of October, and was organised in the Police training facility Gotenica, as it includes all the capabilities needed for a successful training. The event brought together 16 participants from three countries, representatives from the Slovene police force and Slovenian Armed Forces, other civil and security experts and a wide range of volunteers helping in the concluding simulation.
The participants were a part of a simulated European Union mission from their first step in the training, and worked together to resolve the crisis situation happening on their doorstep. They were subjected to multiple challenges that tested their experience in theory and practice. Working in smaller groups, participants improved their team dynamics, while their physical and cognitive capabilities were challenged to the breaking point by different circumstances, no different from a potential real mission. They were included in presentations, workshop and practical exercises on the topic of their personal security in the field, orientation skills, medical assistance, communication skills and many other useful technical capabilities. The peak of the training was a simulation with different scenarios that encompassed all the knowledge gained throughout the past days.
The training successfully concluded on Thursday evening with an evaluation session of the gained experience and a closing ceremony, also attended by Mr Vladimir Pocek, Head of Division for International Police Operations of the Slovenian Police. The participants all successfully finished the course and are equipped with new experiences, techniques and knowledge that will, if needed, prove to be beneficial to their current or future work posts.
7. 9. 2018 | HEAT, PR, Security
International staff often operates in unstable and dangerous environments: armed conflict, organised crime, theft, assault, hostage taking, etc. The most important duty of care of states and organisations, sending their personnel to dangerous environments, is to assure their safety and security. Hostile environment awareness training (HEAT) presents a fundamental training for anyone working in risk-associated, insecure or hostile environment.
CEP is this year again organising an intensive three-day course that aims to train professionals to effectively deal with risks-associated and emergency/critical situations while deployed in hostile environments abroad. The training provides a comprehensive approach to the relevant issues in this area and is designed to put participants in stressful situations, preparing them for worst-case scenarios. Simulations of real-life situations complement essential classroom theory. The course is designed for people who are or will be working in a conflict area to understand the required behavioural requirements.
HEAT intends to:
- improve participants’ knowledge about multiple threats present in hostile environments as well as how to deal with them in an effective manner;
- rehearse and practice safety and security procedures accordingly with the specific threat;
- trigger individual skill dealing with different stressful situations;
- trigger group dynamics dealing with multiple stressful situations.
The training consists of five modules. Activities include lectures, guided discussions, role plays and simulations. Trainees will be talking about being deployed in hostile environment (threat awareness and management of various threats, etc.), medical help (vaccinations, personal hygiene, and first aid), orientation, communications (GPS, radio, satellite phone) and off road vehicles driving. Practical activities and field simulations will be dedicated to practicing newly gained skills and will intentionally expose trainees to situations they are likely to encounter on a mission.
Training is organised by the Centre for European Perspective in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Slovenia, Slovenian Police and Slovenian Armed Forces.
DATE and LOCATION
Training will be held between 16 and 18 October 2018 at the Police Training Centre Gotenica located in the south-eastern part of Slovenia, 60 km from Ljubljana Airport. Gotenica is a training village with the capacity of hosting 150 people with all needed training facilities as well as full board accommodation for all participants.
REGISTRATION
Please register by using the application form below to Nina Čepon ([email protected]).
Note: All participants need to have a valid driving license in order to drive 4×4 vehicles.
In order to acquire more information please contact Ivana Boštjančič Pulko ([email protected]; +386 (0)1 560 86 03).
COSTS
Training fee: 1.500,00 € (tuition fees, course material, full board accommodation).
Local transportation to Gotenica for trainees from other countries will be organised by CEP.
Logistical information HEAT 30-08-2018
HEAT_CEP Application Form 2018
HEAT 2018 CEP Declaration of Exclusion of Liability
25. 10. 2016 | HEAT, PR
Centre for European Perspective (CEP) has started an intensive four-day Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT) at the Police Training Centre Gotenica. Training is organized in close cooperation with Slovenian Police and Slovenian Armed Forces and will conclude on Friday evening.
15 participants from Afghanistan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Finland, Libya and Slovenia are taking the course. Most of them already deployed or are about to be deployed in civilian crisis management missions abroad. The training started with Ivana Boštjančič Pulko’s introduction to the training, followed by team building and presentation on personal security in the field by Mr Aleš Grudnik. The course will continue with classroom and field exercise, such as 4×4 driving, evacuation planning, orientation skills, management of threat related to gatherings, protests, demonstrations, medical training and stress management, awareness of weapons, mines and UXOs, as well as kidnap analysis and hostage survival.
The course is aims to deliver the tools the participants need in order to survive in hostile environments and deal with all levels of stress should they occur.
