|
Mindworks believe that there are many strategies available to help the individual and the company develop their skills and resources both inside the office environment and outside of it. With this in mind we have developed some of the most empowering course available today. Our highly successful "Who Dares Wins" survival weekends are courses available a perfect example of this. They are not training workshops but an EXPERIENCE that surpasses all others. Personal and team development should not stop in the seminar room. What we achieve in one weekend on the mountains takes most people a lifetime to learn and that is adaptation to changing environments, facing up to physical and psychological challenges as well as the ability to take control of their mental states under the very real pressures of survival.
 As you can see from the following information these courses are held in the Brecon Beacons National Parks, South Wales and although the Beacons are one of the most picturesque National Parks in the UK the weather can change dramatically. This can turn a pleasant stroll into a challenging walk. It is this reason that the SAS use the Brecon Beacons for their twice yearly selection process and why the Instructors here at Mindworks choose them for their Survival Courses.
Our Instructors are of the highest calibre and all have been trained by the military and are ex-serving members of the SAS and the Parachute Regiment.. This means that instruction is second to none and you can rest assured that your safety is of the utmost importance. They also utilise the most up to date methods of training with regard to Escape and Evasion, Fieldcraft, Camouflage and Concealment as well as Survival Training, Map Reading and Navigation.
The courses start on Friday evening and finish Sunday evening with the bulk of the instruction taking place on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday evening is usually spent having a drink and informal chat around the campfire. The Base Camp is situated at the Talybont Reservoir campsite, the perfect starting point for the weekend adventure. The camp site has hot water and toilets so there is an opportunity for people to stay fresh and keep clean. Very good for morale! All Campsite fees, 13 piece Survival Kit, Instruction and Travel from a central location in Birmingham are included in the price.
To book your place please read and complete the enclosed booking and consent form. However please remember that these courses are in demand and places book up quickly. This is because the courses are limited to 15 persons to ensure a high standard of instruction.
We can also tailor courses to suit your agenda and your group. This is one of our main strengths. Give us your desired outcome and we will come up with a course to suit.
What can I gain from a weekend survival course?
Improved self-esteem, confidence and the ability to motivate yourself when the going gets tough.
Just what do we learn on the course?
You will learn the essential skills of survival - How to build a shelter, how to keep warm, finding food for free, knowing where you are, map reading and navigating in different conditions. Part of the course involves military techniques of escape and evasion, fieldcraft, how to track and not be tracked yourself . All of these are taught then set as tasks allowing you to think for yourself and work as part of a small team. You also learn about yourself, your behaviours and how you can change them for the better.
Will I be able to learn these skills in Just one weekend?
Our instructors are trained in communication at a very high level and also utilise the techniques of accelerated learning as their methodology. This means that you will be able to leave the course having experienced and practiced new skills and learning methods.
What types of courses are available?
We run weekend courses which take you through the basics of Survival training, Map reading and Navigation, Fieldcraft and a simple , but fun, Escape and Evasion Exercise. This is a very good starting point for those wanting an introduction to survival. The cost of the course is £185 per person.
We also intend running an extended Escape and Evasion Course twice a year at a cost of £375. This course is of six days duration and will take place over three weekends. The first weekend consists of classroom theory at a venue in Birmingham. You will learn the basics of Fieldcraft, Navigation, Group Motivation, Tactical Movement, Camouflage, the Psychology of Survival, Personal Motivation Strategies, and Tracking Skills. The second weekend is out in the field at a location in the Brecon Beacons putting into practice the skills you have learned in the classroom. This will help the teams develop camaraderie and gain a better understanding of the material presented in weekend one.
Weekend three will present you with the challenge of trying it all out under the strict guidance and supervision of our instructors in the field. You will be dropped off at an unknown location with enough equipment to keep you going for the two days. You will attempt to evade capture by a hunter force who will be bent on catching you within the designated time period. You will meet agents on the way at pre-set co-ordinates. They will then give you the next location. One of these agents will compromise the team and this is when the fun begins!
"ON THE RUN"
You are a group of special forces operatives trapped behind enemy lines with a hunter force in pursuit. They know your initial insertion point and are about one hour behind you and closing in fast. Your mission is to extract a downed pilot in your locale and get him and his information safely back to base with out loss of men or compromising your patrol team.
You must therefore evade capture , map read and navigate effectively both at night and during the following day across the Brecon Beacons avoiding contact with the hunter force through personal and team skills.
These skills will be taught on day one and will include the following:
MAP READING & NAVIGATION
 |
An essential skill for anyone venturing onto the hills anywhere in the world and an absolute must for members of the SAS. This lesson is key to your success in finding the downed pilot and finding your way back to base. Your instructors are excellent map readers and superb teachers who make navigating fun. |
CAMOUFLAGE & CONCEALMENT
| To observe but not be observed is another core skill in effective Escape & Evasion. In their role as surveillance experts members of the SAS understand the importance of staying hidden from the enemy. This is done in a number of ways some of which are taught on the Saturday. Each team will be given camouflage clothing and camouflage cream and then taught how to conceal their location. |
|
FIELDCRAFT
 |
Without good field craft skills patrols can easily get compromised and captured. Field craft is about crossing country without being seen, tactics and standard operational procedures (S.O.P/s). You will be taught by our instructors how to cross difficult terrain quickly and efficiently and allow you to utilise camouflage and navigation effectively. |
PLANNING & OPERATIONAL ORDERS
Without good strategic planning and a clear set of orders patrols will fail to achieve their objectives. This lesson teaches you how to plan the effort and give clear orders to your patrol members. Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance as the say in the army! |
|
UNARMED COMBAT
Left alone behind enemy lines a trooper may need to defend himself without recourse to weapons. This is where close quarter combat skills come in useful. You will learn these skills with Bob Spour who has 36 years experience in these techniques. Understand Threat Awareness, Threat Evaluation and Threat Avoidance; the
foundations of effective personal protection.
Typical schedule:
Arrive Brecon Beacons Saturday 0900hrs
0930 Briefing and introduction to the teaching staff
1000 Team designations and equipment allocation
1030 Map reading and navigation
1130 Navigation exercise
1230 Introduction to Fieldcraft
1330 Working lunch. Overview of the mission.
1430 Camouflage and concealment
1545 Planning the extraction
1800 First aid on the hills
1930 Unarmed Combat
2030 Final Planning, Radio checks and drive to drop off point (As darkness descends)
Once units have been dropped off all movement from now on is tactical. You could be compromised or captured from here on in. Instructors will monitor all progress and be on hand to ensure the safety of the teams involved.
During the evening and the final day teams will come across 'friendly forces' who will give them clues and information to ensure the success of the mission. Approach with caution as they could compromise your position to a vigilant hunter force.
The exercise should be completed by 1700hrs on the Sunday . Failure to do so means a failed mission.
At the end of the day all members will be debriefed and an analysis of the event given by the instructors and course director of staff Bob Spour.
All equipment other than boots will be supplied by Mindworks Technologies so it is important to have a fall list of all participants and their statistics.
Course will cost £250 per person inclusive. Payment to be made 2 weeks prior to course start. All student will leave with a handsome certificate of attendance and a 13 piece Combat Survival Tin to take away as a memento.
If you wish to have us tailor the courses to suit your available dates contact us now and we will make the necessary arrangements. | 
