UK HEAT 3 DAY TRAINING

Applying a simple-to-complex methodology: HEAT often takes participants out of their comfort zone; we are dealing with extreme situations that a typical worker could be exposed to. However, we don’t drop our trainees in at the ‘deep-end’; we use a progressive building block approach to ensure students are prepared for what’s coming next and to enable them to develop the basic-to-advanced skills and behaviours.

There are three classifications of scenario to provide escalating levels of intensity to test participant reactions:
• Live Scenario/Benign: This will test participants in a realistic environment but without additional distractions, allowing participants to concentrate on the task at hand or test a participant’s ability to assess risk and not overreact.
• Live Scenario/Distraction: This type of scenario will put participants in an increasingly pressurised environment to test their coping strategies and resilience whilst only having to deal with a particular task.
• Live Scenario/Hostile: This scenario is designed to be high impact and will test a participant’s capacity to react to a hostile situation. Participants will be tested for their emotional resilience, physical fitness/ robustness as well as the ability to think quickly and adapt to a rapidly changing situation.

2. STYLE OF TRAINING.

Spearfish recognise that well-structured, innovative and accessible training materials can both transform the learning experience during a training course and support improved retention of the skills learnt after training. As a rule, we operate on a 5:1 trainer ratio (or lower), which we believe sets us apart from other trainers. Utilising a blended learning approach, we use a mix of theoretical and practical modules. There will be periods where the participants are ‘in exercise’ and there will be periods when the scenarios have been suspended and this enables learning and feedback to be delivered.

For the immersive scenarios they are approached as if we are in a real-life situation under threat, participants and trainers throw themselves into the sessions as if their own personal safety was at risk. Positive encouragement is used for those who are far out of their comfort zone, but no one is put under pressure or forced to do something they are not happy with.

3. CURRICULUM.

We have devised a 3-day HEAT timetable that demonstrates quality and completeness. The objectives behind the course are aimed at equipping travellers with enough skills and experience to facilitate travel to high-risk states and local government areas. The course will be modelled on our Spearfish generic HEAT syllabus, which includes classroom instruction, practical training and live exercises to realistically simulate the types of situations the staff/consultant might experience.
Course delivery will be in English. Course delivery will contain a pre-read information pack outlining course content.

The HEAT course – for all staff involved in programmatic activity, including those in very high-risk areas, for example, staff working in close to the frontline line or areas likely to be directly impacted by conflict.

The following elements make up the core modules of our HEAT course, and will be tailored to suit the exact needs on the day:

• Threat appreciation: Overview of likely threats to be faced by teams operating on the ground. A round table discussion will draw out previous experiences and knowledge and current security situation.
• Situational awareness: Theory and practical sessions to enhance the student’s understanding of the environment and how to identify and avoid and deal with dangerous situations. Training and exercises will include situations such as:

• incident preparedness and response
• checkpoints – official & unofficial
•  Identification and navigation
  o actions on attack – current modus operandi various,  direct and indirect fire
•  UXO/IED/ERW/mines awareness and identification, extraction from a minefield
• Chemical, Biological, Radioactive, Nuclear – Awareness and identification
• Civil unrest
• Disasters – including natural and manmade prevalent to the operational context.

• Journey management: Utilizing intelligence and planning procedures to manage travel. Any existing client travel security protocols will be used as a foundation to the training to ensure they are fully understood and utilized by staff.

• Location and travel security.

• Office and accommodation security and safety
   Fire
   Crime

• Managing confrontation and incident response: Students will be taught to defuse situations and to remove themselves from physical threats. Practical sessions will introduce simple techniques to protect themselves in a physical assault.
• Kidnap and ransom: An immersive scenario tests student’s reactions. Likely outcomes and responses will be de-briefed and discussed. The different phases of a kidnap and likely effect this will have on the individual will be taught.

• Hostile reconnaissance – Awareness and identification
  o Information, data, and Operational Security (OpSec)
   Social media profile
   Digital profile and hygiene

•First aid: Focus on the treatment and triage of catastrophic and traumatic injuries. Improvised methods of treatment including tourniquets, bandages, slings, splinting and carrying methods.
• Cultural understanding: For any international staff there will be an underlying theme throughout the course to emphasize the importance of observing local customs and traditions.
• Personal Security Awareness: To include advice on sexual harassment and sexual assault.
• Stress Management and emotional resilience: Identifying signs of stress in ourselves and others. Preparation and coping techniques.

4. FIRST AID CONTENT.
Spearfish have taught first aid as part of their generic offering for training to individuals going into hostile environments, but a great component of the syllabus is equally valuable to anyone who might be faced with dealing with a medical emergency, either at home, in the office or in the field. Students receive a minimum of 8 hours of First Aid instruction during the 3-day course