The village of Gotenica in Slovenia was the setting of a Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT) between 20 – 25 October 2019 with activities organised by the Centre for European Perspective (CEP), with support of Slovenian Police and Slovenian Armed Forces. Training was organised under the auspices of the project European Union Police and Civilian Services Training (EUPCST).
HEAT is an intensive four-day course that trains professionals to effectively deal with risks-associated and critical situations while deployed abroad. The course in Gotenica offered a unique opportunity for individuals to:
- improve their knowledge about multiple threats present in hostile field environments and to learn how to deal with them in an effective manner;
- rehearse and practice safety and security procedures accordingly with the specific threat;
- strengthen individual skill dealing while with different stressful situations;
- strengthen group dynamics while dealing with multiple stressful situations.
The ENTRi certified training is designed for professionals who are working or are aiming to work with national or international organisations (e.g. EU, UN, OSCE), international non-governmental organisations, governments, the academic or private sector and the ones who want to efficiently prepare for work in conflict areas and hostile environments.
This HEAT edition included 24 participants from various governmental departments and institutions from 11 countries: Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia and Romania. Activities, sharing of best practices, workshops and practical exercises facilitated by experts from the Slovenian Police, Slovenian Armed Forces, psychologist and others contributed to a multidisciplinary approach to the challenges that individuals and institutions might face when deployed in a potentially volatile environment.
