PMCI May 2015 | Page 5

PROJECT GECKO When and where did you start running your courses? We started officially in the beginning of 2014 in Germany. The first program focused on Patrol basics and land navigation under difficult weather conditions within a mountain environment. The program was physically difficult and mentally challenging to the average person as the participants faced long exposure to low temperatures (-10c) and a serious lack of sleep. The program was a success and a great satisfaction for me personally, but what really hit me was long after this program I kept getting messages from the guys who attended the programs, sharing with me their impressions and how much this ‘basic’ training helped them not only on the professional level, but on a private level as well. Whether it was a civilian, business man or a military personnel, they were pretty much influenced from that training. From that moment on I kept developing that training concept and found it even more useful towards CQB development courses, That´s why CQB became our main goal for 2014, and I think we pretty much nailed it with over 10 programs oriented around CQB topics within less than a year. TRAINING: a quiet, shy guy with no confidence became a leader after a three day intensive CQB course, and how a police officer gains more confidence in his skill. The point is, every person has potential, but to get to that potential you have to walk down the hallway and knock on each damn door. Most people simply continue to walk rather than trying to open a door. I hate to talk over my military background as it contains the two letters ‘SF’; two letters, which a wide spectrum of people like to use and abuse. But that experience within special forces brought me the ability as described above, the ability to create the possible out of the impossible on a daily basis. Whether by proving that it is possible to ruck around 200km a week or climbing up a hill with 60% body weight, it is all possible, the potential is there, but the question is are YOU there ? What exactly do you specialize in? Project Gecko currently is specialize in wide selection of topics. Our goal for 2014 was to increase and develop a strong basis towards our CQB courses. In 2015 our goals are to establish a solid ground for our SUT & Land navigation courses. Aside from what we call ‘routine programs’ Project Gecko is also specialized at building & fulfilling expeditions to remote locations. Those expeditions normally contain a very specific educational topic & training concept. Last year Project Gecko performed a five5 day expedition to the Austrian Alps, and is expected this year to release 2 more expeditions. The topics are mountaineering & SUT oriented. Our strongest capability is working outside with nature. We already have a rich background of multiple types of what we like to call ‘’Green Side’’ programs. And we definitely look to push it even further. In the future we will offer Firearms training (which are currently available only via request) & sniper courses which are currently still under development. Who do you see as your target customer for your courses? We welcome anyone who would like to join, but of course with a reasonable manner. We look to those who are aligned with our core values and vision of helping others. Those types of people you will meet quite often at our courses & programs. To be more specific, our spectrum of customers is quite wide and flexible. It contains all type of backgrounds, from Military to Police, and from Hunters to Bankers. It is quite interesting to see this raw material once forged in a training. While we do open courses which contain the mix mentioned above we also have the privilege and honour to work privately with different government \ non-government organisations. pmcimagazine.com