SECFOR360

Route Mapping for Protection Professionals

Instructor Rick Sweeney
PSC RM-110
Available August 2020
Online Education
Self-Paced | 24/7 Access
info@secfor360.com
+1.619.273.3934
Course Overview:

When traveling through elevated risk areas, we spend a good part of our time in the planning phase
prior to our trip. In the age of smartphone navigation, GPS, and other tracking technology, why
would anyone need to put together a hard map of their routes? After almost 30 years of traveling
to hostile environments, I have learned that all the electronics in the world might not allow me to
quickly find my closest safe-haven, medical asset, and alternate routes when the time comes.
Whether we are working with an NGO medical group in a non-permissive environment or on a
protective detail in Mexico, hard maps used in conjunction to our electronics has been the
difference between safety and disaster. Having a clear vision of our exact location, and the ability
to see our next safe-haven, hospital, red cross station, military checkpoint, and all routes to get to
these points is key. Hard maps allow us to navigate without having to rely on a battery-driven
device that may not have signal/data and the screen view to allow us to plot ahead while in route.

When traveling to high threat environments, our teams typically utilize electronic mapping
platforms in conjunction with hard maps. This course will show participants what systems are
readily available, how maps can be shared and edited between team members, as well as utilizing
hard maps to accomplish most navigation tasks. You will learn quick and easy methods to layer
the map with hospitals, safe-havens and multiple routes, as well as how to alter shared mapping
when on the ground, while making sure that the entire team receives the real-time changes. This
course will benefit the following categories including, but not limited to:
• Protection Personnel
• High Risk Travelers
• NGO/Humanitarian Teams
• Executives & Employees
• Government Staff and their families
Intellectual Property: All presentations are owned exclusively by SECFOR International and
protected by United States and International Intellectual Property and Copyright laws. It is not
permitted to screen-shot, screen capture, video-capture, transcribe or replicate this information
without express written permission from SECFOR international. It is equally not permitted to
transfer course access, present the course to unauthorized individuals or groups without written
authorization from SECFOR International.
Course Cost: $155 USD. Payment accepted via Credit Card, Stripe, Pay Pal
Financing: Yes, Three monthly payments of $55 USD each

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Course Objective:

Participants will become familiar with SECFOR’s Route Mapping system in order to set up and
prepare a computer-based security route map utilizing our 5-phase system. The participant’s
final map will be suitable for navigation and site mapping, with sufficient detail to associate
mapped landmarks with terrain features on the ground. Upon completion of the program,
participants will be able to:
• Identify equipment and programs necessary to build a computer-based route map
• Utilize SECFOR’s 5-phase system to complete four (4) computer-based route maps
suitable for presentation and/or printing
• Prepare route maps whereas on-the-ground terrain features can be matched to mapped
landmarks utilizing satellite imagery
• Assemble and utilize hard maps
• Understand and utilize commonly available programs to add layered assets to you maps
Course Breakdown
The course will be broken down in the following manner:

Introduction – Why mapping is important and how we utilize it while traveling in

high threat environments
Sample Mapping – Participants are exposed to basic final maps to observe the end
goal prior to learning the skill
Demonstration – Instructor(s) will provide a step-by-step demonstration of a basic map
build utilizing open-source programs before moving onto the layering of assets on the
basic map and finally electronic integration, team sharing, and adjusting maps on the
ground
Assignments & Critique – Participants will be assigned four mapping projects to be
completed one at a time. Each assignment will be graded as Pass or Fail and
instructor
Prerequisites
This course has no prerequisites however, to complete the final assignments and earn the
certificate of accomplishment, students should have access to computer equipment, a laptop or
desktop computer works best, but a tablet may work, and an internet connection with access to
one of the free open-source mapping platforms utilized during the instruction.
Course Access:
This course can be accessed at this link: https://courses.secfor360.com/mapping

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SECFOR360
Course Sections:

Section 1 – Introduction
1.1 Introduction Part 1 24 minutes
1.2 Introduction Part 2 21 minutes
Section 2 – Sample Route Maps
2.1 Juarez Map Example 17 minutes
2.2 Arizona Map Example 21 minutes
Section 3 – Beirut, Lebanon – Basic Route Mapping Demonstration
3.1 Beirut Set up & Cut 14 minutes
3.2 Beirut Drag, Arrange, Title 11 minutes
3.3 Beirut Labels & Arrows 12 minutes
3.4 Beirut Markers, No-go zones, & Street View 22 minutes
3.5 Beirut Hospitals & Safe Havens 7 min

Section 4 – Bogotá, Colombia – Route Mapping – Step by Step

4.1 Bogotá Set up & Cut 19 minutes
4.2 Bogotá Drag, Arrange & Title 7 minutes
4.3 Bogotá Street View & Markers 9 minutes
4.4 Bogotá Labels, Arrows & Marker Insertion 24 minutes

Section 5 – Map Assembly & Use

5.1 Kazakhstan Map Assembly 1 minute
5.2 Map Use & Terrain Association (On-the-ground Video) 7 minutes
Section 6 – Layering & Final Map
6.1 Layering Map Assets 1 14 minutes
6.2 Layering Map Assets 2 15 minutes
6.3 Building a Clean Map 4 minutes
Section 7 – Testing
7.0 Basic Mapping Key Points PDF
7.0a Arizona Map Sample with notes PDF
7.1 Summary & Testing Introduction 12 minutes
7.2 Assignment 1 – Mongolia – 1.5 hours 90 minutes
Section 8 – Mapping A to Z – Manila Detail
8.1 Mapping A to Z 10 minutes
8.2 Emergency Routes and Finishing Touches 16 minutes
8.3 Landmarks and Map Recon 4 minutes
8.4 Your final cuts 5 minutes
Section 9 – Assignments 2, 3 & 4
9.1 Assignment 2 – South Africa – 1.5 hours 90 minutes
9.2 Assignment 3 – Ukraine – 1.5 hours 90 minutes
9.3 Assignment 4 – Brazil – 1.5 hours 90 minutes
Section 10 – Resources
10.0 Resources and Links n/a
Approximately 11 hours total coursework

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Lesson 5.2 – Map Use & Terrain Association

We utilized 360
video and matched the
terrain to an actual
map in order to show
course participants
actual on-the-ground map
use

Nagorno Karabakh

Upcoming: We have recently worked in several conflict zones including Syria and Nagorno Karabakh
during the war. We will be posting relevant on-the-ground video as it relates to the protective advance and
mapping process including lessons learned.

Partner with us:

If you are familiar with our courses and would like to apply for affiliate status, let us know. Or if your
organization would like to add the SECFOR Route Mapping program as part of your curriculum, contact us.
+1.619.273.3934 or info@secfor360.com

© SECFOR International All rights reserved | +1.619.273.3934