Musketry and weapons proficiency are essential core skills to any Risk Solutions Operative. Bastion Akademie applies a non-compromising approach to weapon safety and the application of sound musketry principles. Musketry and weapons proficiency are essential core skills to a Risk Solutions Operative. Hence Bastion Akademie’s noncompromising approach to weapon safety and to the application of sound musketry principles.

On successful completion of the 5-weeks Bastion Weapon Training Course, you will obtain the following accreditations (qualifications):

• Legal Aspects
  
• Handle and Use of a Handgun
  
• Handle and Use of a Handgun for Business Purposes
  
• Handle and Use of a Shotgun
  
• Handle and Use of a Shotgun for Business Purposes
  
• Handle and Use of a Manually-Operated Rifle
  
• Handle and Use of a Manually-Operated Rifle for Business Purposes
  
• Handle and Use of a Self-Loading Rifle
  
• Handle and Use of a Self-Loading Rifle for Business Purposes

During the Bastion Weapon Training Course, you will be trained to handle the following weapons:

• 9mm CZ-75 Handgun
  
• 9mm Beretta Handgun
  
• Pump-Action Shotgun
  
•  .303 Lee Enfield Manually-Operated Rifle
  
• AK-47 Self-Loading Rifle
  
• LM Self-Loading Rifle
  
• FN FAL (R-1) Self-Loading Rifle
  
• AR-15 (M-4) Self-Loading Rifle
  

However, our Bastion Akademie Weapon Training Course teaches you the following skills with each weapon category, something rarely taught by any other weapon training institution:

• The Fundamentals of Musketry
  
• Safety Rules and Safety Precautions
  
• Stripping and Assembling (blindfolded against time)
  
• Cleaning and Maintenance
  
• Shooting Range Orientation and Procedures
  
• Basics of Tactical Combat Shooting

Map Reading and Land Navigation are additional core skills of any Risk Solutions Operative: In your line of duty, you not only have to plot a land navigation course for vehicle movement and for foot patrols, but also have to correctly plot Rendezvous’, caches, and Landing Zones (LZ’s) for fixed-wing aircraft and loose-wing aircraft (helicopters; gyrocopters; etc.).

During the 2-weeks Map Reading, Land Navigation and Air Photo Interpretation Course you will learn to:

• Pack and carry your personal combat equipment according to Special Forces’ standards.
• Prepare a map for tactical security operations.
• Plot your position on a map.
• Plot a navigation course.
• Navigate with instruments (map and compass).
• Navigate without instruments, i.e. navigation by means of the sun, moon, stars, nature, etc.
• Conduct elementary (basic) air photo interpretation by identifying basic natural land artificial features.
• Tactical navigation by day and night.

During your Bastion Basic Training, you have to master the following soft skills in addition to Bastion “Vasbyt” in order to pass the Bastion Basic Training Phase:

The daily routine activities refer to all other training and activities not necessarily included in any of the aforesaid courses and which not only still form an essential part of the entire training programme, but which also form part of the make-up and training of a Risk Solutions Operative.

These skills and activities include:

• Drillwork
  
• Inspections
  
• Discipline and respect for seniors, elders, ladies and somebody else’s property.
  
• Physical Training (marble PT; pole PT; fitness progress tests; long-distance walking; etc.)
  
• Food preparation and presentation.
  
• Conducting guard and sentry duties.
  
• Accepting responsibility for one’s actions and for others’ property.
  
• Cleaning and maintenance.
  
• Operating hand tools (spades, picks, gardening equipment, tools and spanners, etc.).
  
• Quiet Time, reflection and spiritual growth.

“VASBYT”

1.1 What Is “Vasbyt”? The term ’’Vasbyt’’ is an Afrikaans word meaning ’’to bite down hard and to never let go’’. The Bastion “Vasbyt” follows directly after the Bastion Basic Training Phase and entails 4 (four) important things:

• • Bastion Akademie includes a polygraph test into the Bastion “Vasbyt” to examine each student’s level of integrity and truthfulness, qualities rarely found and desperately required by esteemed international companies.
  • The Bastion “Vasbyt” is a 1-week external evaluation of all Bastion Junior Students regarding all the skills taught during their Bastion Basic Training Phase. This external evaluation is conducted by former members of elite South African military and Law enforcement units such as the South African Special Forces Brigade, 1 Parachute Battalion, 32 Battalion and the South African Police Special Task Force.
  • The Bastion “Vasbyt” is a Selection Course, testing each Bastion Junior Student’s physical ability, attitude, and ability to apply all recently acquired skills to simulated operational scenarios.
  • The Bastion “Vasbyt” is a prerequisite for all students who wish to continue with the 9months Bastion Specialist Training Phase which will qualify them as Bastion Risk Solutions Operatives.

1.2 Aim of the Bastion “Vasbyt”. The aim of the Bastion “Vasbyt” is to select students for the 9-months Bastion Specialist Training Phase based on the following criteria:

• • Attitude
  • Discipline, especially self-discipline
  • Physical capability and endurance
  • Leadership
  • Initiative
  • Attention to detail
  • Sense of urgency
  • Ability to perform under pressure
  • Attention/concentration span
  • Practical application of skills acquired during the Bastion Basic Training Phase

1.3 “Vasbyt” Curriculum. The Bastion “Vasbyt” comprises of the following elements:

• • Truth Verification Tests. During the polygraph tests, all students are tested for truthfulness and with compliance to Bastion Akademie policies and procedures. Questions to be asked include but are not limited to truthfulness during formative and summative assessments, integrity, drug use and possession, etc.
  • Entry Tests (Fitness Tests). The Bastion Entry Tests are the exact same fitness tests all students do every Saturday morning. Refer to par. 12.2 for the entry tests.
  • Simulated Security Operation. During the Bastion “Vasbyt”, we create an operational security scenario with circumstances very similar to what he/she can expect when placed as a Risk Solutions Operative. Students are intensely observed and evaluated throughout for all aspects mentioned already.