King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Centre

The King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Center (KASOTC) is indeed a one-of-a-kind facility in the region. It was conceived to be a training hub for elite forces, law enforcement, and counter-terrorism operators not only in the region but worldwide. KASOTC offers trainees a unique opportunity to gain experience and knowledge and to interact with similar forces from other countries, which will create a pool of highly qualified professionals who can meet the challenges of cross-border threats.

The center’s instructors come from all over the world and were carefully selected in light of their very strong qualifications and solid experience, which is a tremendous asset to all those who participate in training at KASOTC.

KASOTC derives extraordinary success from this unique combination of elite instructors and advanced technology. When knowledge is combined with experience, a maximizing effect occurs to skills obtained, making the KASOTC experience unique to all other training facilities. It is the only reality-based, live-fire training facility of this kind in the world. Operated as a commercial enterprise, it is uniquely integrated with the Jordanian Armed Forces. This relationship is a bold innovation; providing access to military equipment and support that expands all training horizons.

Located north of Amman, Jordan in an old rock quarry, the twenty-five (25) square kilometer facility is safe, secure, and isolated. It is equipped with multiple distance ranges; from a 1300-meter unknown distance range to a 300-meter, moving target range to accommodate most firearm requirements. It has a four-story, close-quarters battle (CQB), live-fire structure and the largest mock city in existence, 67 buildings, which include numerous arrangements from an Afghan village to an embassy. Special battlefield effects, live-fire compatible throughout, with a fiber-optic network connecting the Range Operations Control Center (ROC) to the hundreds of cameras, microphones, target systems, and simulators make testing the user's creativity in tactics, techniques, and procedures a reality. Together with on-site lodging, dining, gym, pro-shop, weapons/equipment rental, and storage; people can easily see why KASOTC is the ideal place to do what in necessary to prepare forces for the challenges of 21st-century armed conflict.

As a turn-key facility, the center is ideal for pre-deployment training, joint and combined military exercises, or enhancing proficiency of unit requirements. All curricula are scalable to unit size and training needs. Courses begin in the classroom, where trainees master abstract concepts and discuss creative solutions. Trainees then apply their knowledge and skill in a variety of field exercises; simulating real-world conditions including live-fire & maneuver. Performance is observed, measured, and evaluated using state-of-the-art feedback systems.[3]

The Urban Area contains a wide range of urban and village facilities (56) to simulate realistic neighborhoods, including embassy, residential areas, commercial and industrial facilities, and government buildings; a public square; villas, apartment complexes, and servants quarters; community center, garage, gas station, and shops; light industrial areas; office complexes; and water reservoirs.

Urban Area

An Airbus 300 houses a full-scale A300 aircraft model and control tower with a helicopter landing pad. The A300 also includes some B777 aircraft features and includes initiating targets to stand up from their seats, introduction of smells/sounds of the battlefield and video/audio capture of all training inside and out.

A300 and CQB

The close-quarters battle (CQB) house is a two-story armored facility with an adjoining three-story tower that provides room-to-room combat practice using live fire. Designed to train for assaults on a major stronghold using a variety of methods including simultaneous foot, vehicle and helicopter approaches. Assaults can be conducted using entry techniques on multiple levels including assaults through multiple floors and rooms.

KASOTC facilities that utilize battlefield effects

All the aforementioned facilities takes full advantage of the battlefield effects controlled by the Range Operations Control Center that are audio/video captured using 350 cameras that are fixed through the training areas; the cameras vary between day/night and indoor/outdoor. This capability provides for two purposes, firstly it can be used for the training officer to direct the troops on the ground remotely from the control center, and for the After Action Review (AAR) exercise in which the performance is observed, measured, and evaluated with the trainees.

The Method of Entry (MOE) facility is a suite of facilities to allow the tactical training of method of entry techniques. The facilities contained in this area include various breaching stations, steel cutting station, the Method Of Entry Building and a space for construction to meet client’s specific request (mud walls, etc.). The MOE building is a two-story structure used to train forces in methods of entry techniques.

The 8 story Commando Tower is also a platform for wall climbing, fast roping and rappelling.

The electronic shooting ranges have provide for Moving Target Engagement and Falling Plates, Grouping and Zeroing, and Weapon Testing.

The Driver Track enables Non-Emergency Vehicle Operations (NEVO) to safely instruct and practice non-conventional driving techniques, such as evasive maneuvering, high-speed turn negotiation, skid control, and vehicular pursuit. The range is designed to allow travel in both directions, so that a trainee can practice making turns and maneuvers in opposite directions. Vehicles and maintenance provided on-site.[4]

The Annual Warrior Competition is an annual combat-oriented competition that is based on physical ability, team work, communication and individual accuracy which takes place at the King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Center KASOTC in Amman, Jordan. KASOTC created the competition in May 2009, this year the 8th Annual Warrior Competition is scheduled for May 2–6, 2016.

The Annual Warrior Competition is designed to build team spirit among contestants partnered against terrorism. The competition also facilitates sharing of best-practices, technology, and hardware; through gear and weapons display and live demonstrations by international retailers. The competition breeds cohesion within Special Operations Forces and Law Enforcement units, and provides a yardstick for unit performance, and exposes strengths and weaknesses in unit and individual skill sets.

Every year the competition undergoes a transformation in the way it is designed which redefines the standard at which terrorism is faced and combated, taking the challenge to an unprecedented international height that echoes the ever-changing threats. The transformation is reflected in every quest of the competition where the competing warriors demonstrate competencies and adaptability of marksmanship, endurance, teamwork, tactics and communications on the battlefield. The competing warriors capability will be observed and judged by a panel of reputable international experts from various professional military and law enforcement backgrounds in the industry. Over thirty international and local teams participate every year, they will demonstrate their skills through the various stages of the challenges that reflect the global capability in fighting terrorism.[5]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Center.

• KASOTC Official Website
• Overhead KASOTC Location Map
• Annual Warrior Competition Official Website
• Belgian SFG Training at KASOTC Jordan