PMCI July 2016 | Page 12

pmcimagazine.com into the night, reduced sleep patterns to see how they would reacted and if they could still function! In other words get their client a product. PMCI: What areas of training did you undertake? RSG: The training was focused on enhancing our skills in Covert Rural Surveillance and Technical Surveillance. In today’s world of surveillance, an operator has to be capable of working in any environment as well as being able to utilize advanced technical equipment. The most successful surveillance typically includes both a well-trained organic team whose efforts are enhanced by skillfully placed technical equipment. CROPS: That’s right, we always come across situations where the target location or the threat level of the subject makes it difficult or sometimes imposable to deploy an organic team, here we must still achieve our clients aims, so the only way is to deploy a technical, this in the form of a camera system. We demonstrated and practiced this with RSG in the importance of having both, organic and technical assets on the ground. As the RECON team learned on day one, the ‘importance of blending in to their environment’, after running the practical stork lane where the team was spilt in half, one half observing from an OP, while the other half moved covertly towards the target. This real was an eye opener to the RECON guys, with their vast experience in hunting, they were amazed at how someone can be spotted so easily if they don’t stick to the rules (70/30) of camouflage and concealment. PMCI: How did you find the guys from CROPS? 12 RSG: The guys from CROPS went above and beyond in all aspects off their training service. Their military background combined with the way they deliver their training made for the most productive training program I have even been involved with. And to make it even better, the CROPS guys are just great guys that any operator would trust to protect their 6. CROPS: That’s cool to hear, it’s always great receiving good feedback. PMCI: You mentioned a technical phase, without giving to much away, can you tell us more about this? RSG: The technical phase of the training integrated by CROPS further enhanced our skills and capabilities. Just like with our organic experience, CROPS technical training has enabled us to