NSC HECPO Course June 2009 Review
Posted 26-06-2009 at 09:17 AM by The National Security College
charlie85: I have just completed the National Security College (formerly PSD Training) H.E.C.P.O. course. Before I write my personal review I would like to clarify a few things:
1) Yes, I have written a review of the Ronin S.A. CP course and I stand by my words. The course I have just attended is something that Ronin do not teach so please don't ask me to compare the two. I have no idea how good the NSC CP course is as I haven't done it.
2) I took up a sponsored place on this course (I paid nothing for it). There was no prior arrangement, "we will give you the course for free if you say nice things about us." I don't know why the NSC decided to sponsor two places on their course but they did and I took the opportunity of some free training.
3) This is my review, the opinions are mine, the words are mine, the spelling mistakes are mine.
Right, formalities over. Are you sitting comfortably?.........Then I shall begin:
National Security College H.E.C.P.O. Module June 2009
The joining instructions I received covered all the bases and the directions were good enough to get the taxi driver to the front gate from Bournemouth train station with just 4 wrong turns! Pulling up to the huge manor house with its immaculate grounds I was slightly worried that I had got the address wrong and I was trespassing at a private estate, thankfully I was met by one of the instructors who gave me a lift to the main house, and what a house! The facilities are fantastic, shared rooms are clean and tidy the classroom is comfortable and an easy environment to learn in. Breakfast cereal and bread for toast are provided and lunch and dinner are cooked for you and the standard is high, I never went hungry and it was all delicious (thanks Bex). The indoor pool and Jacuzzi are awesome and a real bonus at the end of a long day to soothe aching bodies!
The training itself is intense and very physical. The kit is that is issued is designed to be as close to realistic weight as possible and that means heavy! It has to be carried everywhere with you as if you are operational and even as I sit here in my kitchen I keep looking for my M4! The weapon systems are airsoft replicas but as authentic as they can be in the UK and the handling drills are taught and tested as per the real thing. They also teach and test handling drills on the AK series and have drill weapons for practice and stripping down. The instructors are all hugely experienced and the scenarios used are taken from operations they have been part of. The main thing that stood out for me was the attention to detail and realism. They push you hard and make you think constantly, at the end of each day I was exhausted mentally as well as physically but also growing in confidence with every exercise. I am not going to go into detail about the exercises, if you want to know, do the course!
There are a few things to take into consideration if you are going to go on the course, I will call them (and I quote) “Hints and Tips”!!
1)It is a physical course, make sure you are fit to attend
2)Take clothes you don’t mind being destroyed, T-shirts, combats, comfortable boots.
3)You will get cut, grazed, bruised etc so a personal first aid kit is essential
4)Black tape for running repairs to plate carrier, helmet straps etc
5)Be a team player, my course was brilliant, all good lads and we helped each other out, leave the ego at home it will only hold you back.
In summary, the NSC run a brilliant HECPO course, I would recommend it to anyone wanting to deploy on a PSD contract or indeed to those wanting to refresh their skills and learn some new ones. Thanks to AM, DPW and AB for the top class instruction and to Eve and Bex for the admin and great food. Also (although through gritted teeth) thanks to the enemy for making it as real as possible and giving me some war wounds to show the kids! I should also thank my fellow students, Rad, Daz, Tom, Mark and Stevie, cheers for a great week lads and good luck with the jobhunting.
Quote of the course “NAKED POOL!!!!!!”
Keep smiling guys
Charlie.
1) Yes, I have written a review of the Ronin S.A. CP course and I stand by my words. The course I have just attended is something that Ronin do not teach so please don't ask me to compare the two. I have no idea how good the NSC CP course is as I haven't done it.
2) I took up a sponsored place on this course (I paid nothing for it). There was no prior arrangement, "we will give you the course for free if you say nice things about us." I don't know why the NSC decided to sponsor two places on their course but they did and I took the opportunity of some free training.
3) This is my review, the opinions are mine, the words are mine, the spelling mistakes are mine.
Right, formalities over. Are you sitting comfortably?.........Then I shall begin:
National Security College H.E.C.P.O. Module June 2009
The joining instructions I received covered all the bases and the directions were good enough to get the taxi driver to the front gate from Bournemouth train station with just 4 wrong turns! Pulling up to the huge manor house with its immaculate grounds I was slightly worried that I had got the address wrong and I was trespassing at a private estate, thankfully I was met by one of the instructors who gave me a lift to the main house, and what a house! The facilities are fantastic, shared rooms are clean and tidy the classroom is comfortable and an easy environment to learn in. Breakfast cereal and bread for toast are provided and lunch and dinner are cooked for you and the standard is high, I never went hungry and it was all delicious (thanks Bex). The indoor pool and Jacuzzi are awesome and a real bonus at the end of a long day to soothe aching bodies!
The training itself is intense and very physical. The kit is that is issued is designed to be as close to realistic weight as possible and that means heavy! It has to be carried everywhere with you as if you are operational and even as I sit here in my kitchen I keep looking for my M4! The weapon systems are airsoft replicas but as authentic as they can be in the UK and the handling drills are taught and tested as per the real thing. They also teach and test handling drills on the AK series and have drill weapons for practice and stripping down. The instructors are all hugely experienced and the scenarios used are taken from operations they have been part of. The main thing that stood out for me was the attention to detail and realism. They push you hard and make you think constantly, at the end of each day I was exhausted mentally as well as physically but also growing in confidence with every exercise. I am not going to go into detail about the exercises, if you want to know, do the course!
There are a few things to take into consideration if you are going to go on the course, I will call them (and I quote) “Hints and Tips”!!
1)It is a physical course, make sure you are fit to attend
2)Take clothes you don’t mind being destroyed, T-shirts, combats, comfortable boots.
3)You will get cut, grazed, bruised etc so a personal first aid kit is essential
4)Black tape for running repairs to plate carrier, helmet straps etc
5)Be a team player, my course was brilliant, all good lads and we helped each other out, leave the ego at home it will only hold you back.
In summary, the NSC run a brilliant HECPO course, I would recommend it to anyone wanting to deploy on a PSD contract or indeed to those wanting to refresh their skills and learn some new ones. Thanks to AM, DPW and AB for the top class instruction and to Eve and Bex for the admin and great food. Also (although through gritted teeth) thanks to the enemy for making it as real as possible and giving me some war wounds to show the kids! I should also thank my fellow students, Rad, Daz, Tom, Mark and Stevie, cheers for a great week lads and good luck with the jobhunting.
Quote of the course “NAKED POOL!!!!!!”
Keep smiling guys
Charlie.
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