2. 6. 2026 | POTC, PR
The Peace Operations Training Centre (POTC) of Slovenia and the European Security and Defence College (ESDC) are co-organising the “Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT)” training activity. The training will take place at the Gotenica Police Training Centre in Slovenia from Sunday, 27 September to Friday, 2 October 2026. Deadline: 10 August
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 the training participants while serving in hostile environments.
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 southwestern 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 of the Hostile Environment Awareness Training include e-learning prior to the in-person training, lectures, guided discussions, role-playing, simulations, and a complex field training exercise. Trainees will address deployment in hostile environments (threat awareness, management of various threats, etc.), medical care, orientation, communications, mobility, etc.
Applications must be submitted via the ESDC’s secure online system, ENLIST, by designated nominators at https://esdc.europa.eu/enlist/login. To apply, a national nominator must first add you to the system, so please contact your nominator as the first step. A list of ENLIST nominators is available on the ESDC website at https://www.esdc.europa.eu/training-and-education/list-nominators_en.
The deadline for submitting the application is 10 August 2026. 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.
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16. 3. 2026 | POTC, PR
Kliknite tukaj za branje članka v slovenskem jeziku.
From 8 to 13 March 2026, the Peace Operations Training Centre (POTC) and the European Security and Defence College (ESDC) successfully co-organised the Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT) at the Gotenica Police Training Centre. A total of 20 participants from diverse professional backgrounds successfully completed the five-day training in the southwestern part of Slovenia (HEAT 2026).
Throughout the week, participants strengthened their security and situational awareness, reinforced a strong safety mindset, and built confidence in handling hostile situations. The programme combined e-learning modules prior to arrival with in-person lectures, guided discussions, role-playing, simulations, and a complex field training exercise. Participants tackled topics such as threat awareness, threat management, medical response, orientation, communication, mobility, and deployment in hostile environments. A strong focus was placed on practical rehearsals of safety and security procedures and on developing the right behaviours to respond effectively under stress.
The training would not have been possible without the dedication, professionalism, and energy of the Slovenian and international trainers who guided participants through demanding and realistic scenarios. A big thank you to all of them for sharing their expertise and experience.
Congratulations to all 20 participants for their commitment, teamwork, and resilience throughout the week. We look forward to seeing the positive impact of this training in future missions and deployments.
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2. 3. 2026 | POTC, PR
POTC’s gender mainstreaming 5-day training programme was successfully delivered. The training took place at Jable Castle in Slovenia. A total of 19 participants took part, and 8 lecturers/trainers delivered the training programme. The training was delivered in cooperation with the European Security and Defence College (ESDC).
Kliknite tukaj za branje članka v slovenskem jeziku.
The programme was tailored for up to 20 civilian experts, police officers, and military personnel, either currently deployed or preparing for deployment to international missions. It was also open to individuals from third countries who are involved in, or plan to join, CSDP, NATO, OSCE, or UN missions, or who are assigned to roles in fragile states.
The training aimed to boost the operational effectiveness by equipping participants with the knowledge and skills needed to integrate a gender perspective into CSDP and international missions and operations. The aim of the training was achieved through our expert speakers/trainers from Slovenia, the Netherlands, Finland, and Kenya.
The certificates were handed to the participants by Ambassador Darja Bavdaž Kuret, Slovenian Ambassador-at-Large for Women, Peace and Security.
POTC would like to thank everyone who helped realise the training: the speakers, participants, and institutional partners, especially the European Security and Defence College and the International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC) of Kenya.
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