VAT 69 : Training

Initial Selection

Once a year, PGA officers and men from all formations will gather at Northern Brigade Camp at Ulu Kinta, in the state of Perak to undergo the selection process. All trainees are required to posses these main criterias :

Basic Training

Basic commando training are divided into three phase.

Trainees will spend most of their time mastering patrol techniques.

In this phase, all trainees will learn skills and lessons such as tracking, communication, field medical and explosive. This also involves making 'D.I.Y' booby traps, explosives and demolition techniques.

Final movement test where the trainees are tested in all aspects of skills and lessons that they had learned. At this moment, special attention are given to trainees that have the potential to be a patrol leader.

Parachute

Parachuting in VAT 69 was started in 1978 when 65 officers and men were sent to Hua Hin, Thailand. They were initially trained by instructors from Thailand's BPP (Border Patrol Police) Para Training School. Basic Parachute Training is conducted for one month where every trainees were exposed to static jumping. Each of them must complete 10 jumps including one in water. After receiving their wing, all trainees will then move to free-fall or advanced course (HALO / HAHO).

VAT 69's Para Training Unit are responsible to supervise all sorts of parachute training from basic to advanced courses including rappelling & abseiling from helicopters. In fact, VAT 69 also trains its own riggers.

CQB (Close Quarter Battle) & Hostage Rescue

CQB training is conducted by VAT 69 own instructors. This course is prepared especially to expose the trainees in tactics and techniques of counter-terrorist operations. Among the exercise that has been organized is CQB / hostage rescue missions in buildings, trains and aircrafts.

Diving

Another new expertise that has been set up in VAT 69 is diving. Until now, almost half of its personnel can carry out any diving operations. After finishing one month of basic diving course, all trainees will continue to withstand the 'Dive Master' training. With the capability to dive 150 feet deep, VAT 69's divers also have the skill to operate from helicopters.

In general, all successful VAT 69 personnel will have the chance to master skills and expertise such as guerrilla / jungle warfare, FIBUA / OBUA / MOUT, sniper, SAR, parachute, CQB, unarmed combat, communications, combat diving, medicine, close protection as well as boat handling. VAT 69's decision to adopt the cross-training policy has made all its personnel to have more than one skills and expertise. Several members of VAT 69 were also sent to overseas military training institutions every year.