Hostile Environment Awareness courses - what our delegates say

Posted: 30/09/2016

29 September 2016 - RPS Partnership

We don't usually post testimonials from our course participants, however in this case we thought it may be good to give a feel for how much our delegates have enjoyed our courses. Contact us on [email protected] for more information on training, crisis management, general travel security awareness training.

This was an email from a delegate who recenrly attended a bespoke HEAT course prior to travel to Iraq. This is what he said about his RPS Partnership trainer.

I have never felt better prepared to address the risks in an environment for the type of project we were setting out on.

I have a ton (sic) of experience in some sad-mad-bad places and the simulations we were put through were as accurate as I would frankly like to get.  They triggered some deeply held experiences in both Ezz (my colleague) and myself.  The border check point simulations particularly were spot on!

The medical briefing we got from RPS Partnership was on point as you would expect and it was very comforting for each of us to know that the buddy was drilled in life saving basic procedures and could execute them effectively.  That we had witnessed each other perform those drills gave us no end of comfort and confidence in our ability to deal with a situation that might arise.  RPS Partnership's advice on med (medical) kit was perfect.  Everybody out there (in Iraq) carries 3-4 tourniquet kits (mixture of sizes – 2 not considered enough by most), at least two celox bandages and gloves and scissors as standard. Some added a nasal airway to that kit.  Nice and small. Lifesaving.

As it turned out Iraq was very successful for us professionally and there were no life threatening incidents although we did have a suicide bomber detonate across the river from the IZ (International Zone) in the first week.  We heard the explosion (17 killed) but there was no impact on us at all.

The country briefing from RPS Partnership's trainer was spot on.  The animosity toward foreigners has dropped off somewhat and the conflict seems more internalised somehow.  The airport was a very relaxed encounter and we had no difficulties.  To be fair we had a facilitator take us through the airport and we encountered no negative episodes with the officialdom at the airport as a result. The rest of the time we were at Dojo’s (a restaurant in Baghdad) or in the Strategic Studies Centre (a military facility) again incident free.

Once again thank you for fitting us in. My sincere compliments on the training and simulations and grateful thanks for organising the two day refresher for us.

Contact us on [email protected] if you are interested in attending our courses, or have a look in our gallery to get a feel for what we do.

Photos; RPS Partnership HEAT course simuation training

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