Whilst generic training has its place, the Folke Bernadotte Academy is also able to provide training tailored for specific operations or missions. In a custom training course, which can accommodate groups of up to 50 persons, it is possible to select from all of the tools available to the academy be they experts, facilities or partners in order to get a the most effective combination of e-learning, theoretical lectures, practical training, simulation exercises and much more. All this with the aim of giving the participants direct and realistic preparation specifically suited to the needs of the mission or operation in question.

One example is the recently completed EU Mission Security Officer Certification course, a collaborative effort between the Security Office of the Secretariat of the Council of the European Union and the Folke Bernadotte Academy. The course was developed as a result of growing awareness of the duty-of-care for the safety and security of EU staff deploying to potentially hostile environments in the framework of ESDP. The course was designed to develop the first ever EU roster of Mission Security Officers to be deployed in existing and future ESDP missions. During the ten day course lectures were given by experts from both the Folke Bernadotte Academy and the Security Office of the Secretariat of the Council. Coupled with the theoretical training were simulation exercises as well as a full day of field exercises in realistic conditions to put into practice lessons learnt from the lecture hall.

Another custom training is the concept for mission-specific training developed by the Folke Bernadotte Academy in cooperation with other Swedish agencies which, like the Academy, are responsible for the recruitment of staff for international peace missions such as; Swedish Armed Forces, Swedish Police, MSB, Sida and FOI. Typically this training is conducted jointly between the Folke Bernadotte Academy and other agencies engaged in the same mission or conflict area. Participants from other countries going to the same mission can also be invited to join the training. The training focuses on aspects to give each participant the tools to become an efficient operator on arrival in the mission area, such as: • Knowledge about the mission, the specific mandate, and historical context of the mission • Information about the host nation(s) including politics, culture, religion, history, local environmental condi- These trainings can vary in length from hours, in case of urgent deployment, up to ten days when necessary.

The Academy also offers generic basic and refresher training for civilian field personnel. The objectives of this training are to provide participants with the necessary knowledge of the duties and conditions relevant for working in a mission led by, for example, the UN, the EU, or the OSCE, as well as increasing the understanding and capability of personal security and safety. Whilst most of the places on these courses are reserved for Swedish personnel others can be considered on a case by case basis. Custom training can be held at the academy’s campus at Sandö or if needed at a suitable national or international site.

The cost for a custom training will vary according to the number of participants, length and content of the training. For a quote, discussions on possible cooperation or further information, please contact the Education and Training Unit at the following address: courses@folkebernadotteacademy.se