EU Surveillance & Reconnaissance

Enabling officials to conduct surveillance and reconnaissance to regional and international standards.

The EU Surveillance & Reconnaissance Course (EUSRC) combines foundation and advanced technical and physical surveillance courses with specialist reconnaissance, covert entry and search programmes as prescribed by international and regional curriculum. Students learn progressive and technical surveillance, reconnaissance, defensive tactics, covert infiltration and exfiltration techniques. The course draws particular focus to regional and international standards, security and policy.

Introducing students to surveillance, the course takes students with an existing knowledge of intelligence to the position of recognised surveillance operators.

Target Audience

The course is oriented towards trained and experienced intelligence professionals operating in complex environments and has historically attracted the following representations. Therefore, in addition to the usual minimum requirements for all Institute training, applicants should also posses regional training in:

  • intelligence on the operations, analysis or command track, equivalent to the EUIOC, EUIAC, EUIMC, or similar; and
  • hostile environments equivalent to the EUHEC or similar.
Internationals: Representatives from EU, UN and other international agencies, missions and institutions. Nationals: National intelligence, military and law-enforcement delegates attending on behalf of European states.
Non-Profits: Functionaries in a position of public trust representing the media, NGOs, charitable and other third sector organisations. Others: Professionals from the private sector, academia and other organisations.

Learning Objectives

Surveillance Concepts: Understand the role of the surveillance operative and the function of surveillance and reconnaissance in intelligence. Understand surveillance methodology including the stages of surveillance, surveillance triggers, cover plans, exposure and more.

Planning & Preparation: Plan reconnaissance, surveillance and surveillance detection operations. Prepare for deployment in various environments. Conduct operational briefings and debriefings, pre- and post- deployment.

Progressive Surveillance: Progress from static observation posts (OPs) to foot and mobile surveillance applying stakeout, follow, handover, housing, pick up and other tactics and techniques for each. Conduct extended day and night operations in urban and rural environments. Develop contingency plans and compromise procedures fore units and operators.

Technical Surveillance: Develop, deploy and operate improvised and manufactured covert technical surveillance devices for audio and video capture, location tracking, multispectral and other forms of covert collection. Maintain technical surveillance equipment in the field. Utilise technical support for disguise, props, cover and operational support. Penetrate communications networks and computer systems.

Surveillance Detection: Understand surveillance threats, develop an awareness of surveillance activity and identify potential sources of surveillance. Deploy technical surveillance countermeasures (TSCM), anti-surveillance tactics and counter-surveillance where appropriate to ensure personal and operational security. Utilise tactics to detect when surveillance countermeasures are being deployed.

Surveillance Equipment: Conduct surveillance photography using simple concealable and overt capture devices with optics. Employ video and audio capture from static and mobile positions. Communicate using surveillance radio procedure over a covert secure network. Employ common and specialised technical surveillance equipment as required.

Reconnaissance: Conduct zone, area, route and close target reconnaissance (CTR) in various environments. Employ cover, camouflage and concealment to operators and equipment to avoid detection. Infiltrate, tactically move throughout an area of operations, construct/deconstruct a hide and exfiltrate. Utilise cover teams in reconnaissance, surveillance, surveillance detection and in support of other intelligence operations.

Covert Entry & Search: Develop a covert entry and operational conduct action plan. Conduct lock and security reconnaissance and recognition. Identify security vulnerabilities for exploitation and bypass. Pick, strip and decode locks. Impression, cut and copy keys. Demonstrate urban and rural search techniques, including covert searches of persons, vehicles and premises.

Course Format

The EU Surveillance & Reconnaissance Course is designed to develop regional skills and knowledge in the field of surveillance and reconnaissance. To develop these skills a variety of formats and delivery methods have been used including:

  1. Flexible Delivery: Workshops and exercises as well as traditional lectures.
  2. Communal Activities: Travel passes and visits to historically significant sites throughout the area offering valuable networking opportunities with colleagues on the course.
  3. Coaching & Mentoring: Career advice in the security sector from recognised experts, assistance and support with course content and sustained aftercare.

The latest information that you need to conduct surveillance and reconnaissance throughout Europe will be delivered in a two week intensive programme.

Day 1
Induction & Security

Day 2
Tactical Planning

Day 3
Static & Foot Follow

Day 4
Mobile Surveillance

Day 5
Technical Surveillance

Day 6
Reconnaissance Techniques

Day 7
Surveillance Countermeasures

Day 8
Covert Entry & Search

Day 9
Exercise Compass

Day 10
Exercise Compass

Optional Training (OTA's)DeliveryCost
Covert Operations Command P/T (Evening) €270

Dates & Times

The course begins on the first Monday in September each year and runs for 10 working days over two consecutive weeks. Applications take approximately 4 weeks to process and security vetting may take up to 6 months to complete for applicants who lack a current security clearance.

Assessment

Assessment may be by any valid and accredited competency assessment meeting course requirements. However, competency is most commonly evidenced through the following combination of assessment methods:

  • A pre-selection dossier including validated: security vetting, professional/academic reference checks, higher education certification (degree-level or equivalent), fitness/medical checks and evidence of a relevant career history and assessed knowledge in European security.
  • A score of greater than 49% on the intelligence operations section of the MCPE or an equivalently balanced examination of similar content.
  • Submission of a portfolio of work satisfying the criteria for at least a pass according to the candidate handbook.
  • An approved assessor's independent testimony of observed competency across the surveillance domain of the Integrated Competency Framework (ICF) for Intelligence throughout at least 10 hours of supervised professional practice.

Standards

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

Certification

The course delivers a dual-award, one from an external service provider and the second the Institute's EQF Level 3 Award in EU Surveillance Operations (6 credits at approximately 60 guided learning hours). Both courses are delivered consecutively.

Fees & Discounts

Not including accommodation, the course is delivered at a cost of €3000. Payment is accepted by bank transfer, card or PayPal. The following discounts are available:

Member's Rate: If you have a current membership, log in with your user ID and password to receive a €150 discount when making your payment online.

Group Rate: If you are booking on behalf of a group, further incentives may apply. Please contact the head of the training and directing staff for further details.

Induction Fees: Candidates using the Institute to obtain a security clearance for the first time must also complete the Intelligence Security (INTSEC) awareness course. Those who have not studied with the Academy before must complete the Intelligence Foundations (INTFND) selection and induction course. Fees for these online short-courses are €350 and €150 respectively.

Downloads

 IEIS Candidate Handbook (PDF, 365KB)
 EUSRC Syllabus & Curriculum (PDF, 257KB)

Location

Dublin.