Exercise Solo

Assessing core individual competencies in the human-domain to regional and international standards.

The exercise war-games scenarios and tests human-domain intelligence readiness and preparedness at the individual level as prescribed by international and regional competency frameworks. As a full field training exercise (FTX), the exercise is oriented towards qualified human domain specialists or those shortly to qualify and undertaking the culminating exercise (CULEX) as a competency assessment for professional membership. 

The exercise is only open to aspiring specialists currently enrolled in the CSC, EUAHC, EU3IC, EUPPC or EUCIC. It places particular emphasis on compliance with professional standards, ethics and law.

Target Audience

Participants should familiarise themselves with their language option, the subject of arms-trafficking and be prepared to conduct clandestine human intelligence collection in complex environments. The exercise should not be attempted without having completed: extensive advanced regional and international training in the fields of interrogation/interview, agent operations or protective operations.

Exercise Format

In a one or two week intensive exercise, Ex. SOLO is designed to assess regional skills and knowledge in the human domain. Throughout the individual competency assessment a variety of assessment methods have been used including:

  1. Practical: Participants are exposed to a live situation in the real world and are required to solve problems and take actions in response to ongoing events.
  2. Simulation: Participants are required to answer questions, resolve problems and perform tasks based on changing circumstances provided within a realistic simulated environment.
  3. Observation & Sampling: Participants are observed taking on a particular role within a human intelligence cell with their output deliverables scrutinised.

Exercise Overview

"North Africa is a tinderbox waiting for a spark. Shaken by the Arab uprisings, authoritarian leaders ignore the indications of rebellion. The shadow of radicalism looms, waiting to fill any power vacuum left from revolutionary change. Arms trafficking and refugees spill into a politically hostile Southern Europe, and hostile intelligence services stoke the fire from afar. Europe's counter-insurgency support programme could pour oil on troubled waters. Alternatively, it could ignite the very conflict it seeks to avoid."

- Exercise scenario, Ex. SOLO Player Handbook

Ex. SOLO is loosely based on the UK MI6 FTX of the same name. However, sufficient material has been altered so prior knowledge will not aid participants. Over two weeks and several nation states, participants will be will be expected to apply the appropriate techniques in the collection of sensitive information in order to achieve mission objectives. Participants will be forced to adapt to constantly changing operational conditions over long hours in a high-pressure environment.

The exercise begins with an introduction and background briefing from the instructors, after which participants will be divided up into operational cells to assign roles amongst themselves. Managing large volumes of conflicting information while participants develop and maintain covert agents in a semi-permissive environment will be routine.

Participants will face ethical, legal, administrative and operational challenges in covert activities throughout the FTX and will be expected to respond under the challenge of limited resources. Participants will be expected to update operational management teams and the CI/HUMINT operations manager twice a day. During the exercise participants must assess potential agents, identify at least one for recruitment, conduct one-time, recruitment and agent contact meetings while maintaining at least an agent dossier (inc. reconnaissance reports, contact sheets, communications plans, lead development reports, operational reviews and biographies).

Towards the end of the exercise participants will be expected to assemble a package and briefing for senior commanders detailing their findings. The final day of the exercise involves monitoring events in real-time, reflecting and evaluating as a group. Throughout the exercise instructors will be looking for an awareness of the legal regulations and ethical guidelines governing intelligence and the strength of character to adhere to them under duress. Honest interpretation, accurate reporting, adherence to policy, procedure and best practice will also be assessed rigorously.

Dates & Times

The exercise begins on the fifth Monday of July or the first Monday of August each year and runs for 5 to 12 consecutive days depending upon the options chosen. Applications take approximately 4 weeks to process and candidates must have completed pre-requisite e-learning prior to entry which may take up to 14 months depending on their access route.

Standards

Exercises are fully accredited for compliance with international standards. For further details on Institute requirements, international standards and accreditation, view the Accreditation page.

Fees & Discounts

Not including accommodation, the fees for the 5-day exercise are included in the course fees of the CSC, EUAHC, EU3IC, EUPPC and EUCIC. An extended 12-day version includes an additional 7 days of accommodation and travel at a cost of €4500 to which group rates and corporate or government dispensations may apply. Payment is accepted by bank transfer, card or PayPal.

After the exercise has been evaluated for competency, those passing the exercise and meeting other requirements for registration are celebrated at an annual awards ceremony. Ceremonies are black-tie events held in venues of historical importance to mark the admission of graduates into the Institute and to celebrate outstanding achievements of previous graduates.

Location

Vienna, Spain, Gibraltar & Morocco.