LONE OPERATOR · GAUTENG
Lone Operator Gauteng
12-month programme · Pretoria · One Saturday per month
FITNESS5 / 5
FUNCTIONAL FITNESS
Standing, kneeling, prone and moving between cover. Fitness training at each session.
ENVIRONMENT5 / 5
DAY / NIGHT
Training rain or shine, all weather except lightning.
SHOOTING LEVEL1 / 5
COMPETENCY
Complete novice, we take you from zero to hero.
BEFORE YOU APPLY
Welcome to Lone Operator Gauteng
Thank you for your interest. Please read the Gauteng arrangements, requirements and fees before submitting your application. If you are new to Lone Operator, read the full programme overview first.
GAUTENG TRAINING VENUE
Pretoria — Out There Adventures
Most sessions take place at the Pretoria range. Two sessions take place at other venues. The current page also refers to Ground Zero @ Out There range; please confirm the exact location for your intake.
YOUR COMMITMENT
Lone Operator Is Not a Hobby — It’s a Hard Skill for Real Life
It’s not a weekend pastime and it’s definitely not for people who only want the fun parts of training.
The Lone Operator program teaches life-saving skills — skills we hope you’ll never have to use, but that could one day be the only thing standing between you and the unthinkable.
When violence strikes, it doesn’t wait for clear skies, level ground, or your comfort zone. It happens when you’re tired, disoriented, scared, wet, or bleeding. It happens on gravel, in rain, in tight spaces, or in front of your family.
That’s why this program demands more than attendance; it demands commitment.
We will test your endurance, your mindset, and your ability to perform when everything feels impossible.
This is not punishment — this is preparation. Because when chaos arrives, there’s no time to wipe the stones away so your knees don’t hurt.
You will sweat. You will fail. You will get up and do it again. This is not military training, but it is close in discipline, demand, and expectation.
We teach you to think clearly, act decisively, and fight back with precision and control under any circumstance.
WHAT NEXT
Before Your First Session
Bring a positive attitude and a willingness to learn. Leave any know-it-all attitudes behind. Bring your own licensed handgun, magazines, ammunition, proper holster and belt, eye and ear protection. You must be medically fit enough to participate in physical exercise; the initial fitness assessment establishes a personal benchmark rather than serving as an automatic disqualifier.
Registered students will be added to the programme WhatsApp group, generally about three weeks before kickoff. Programme information and student support are also available through the Fortis Hub.
GAUTENG INCLUSIONS & BONUSES
What You Get When You Join Us in Gauteng
Your programme includes training, resources, community access and additional benefits.
SPECIAL BONUS
3 Months FREE Firearms Guardian Cover
Three months of legal protection and liability cover through Firearms Guardian for lawfully armed citizens, subject to the provider’s terms and conditions.
12-Month Training
Comprehensive 12-month tactical self-defence training and first-class handgun instruction.
Training Resources
Preparedness book, printable tactical targets, 77 home-security tips, Warrior Mindset guide and scenario training video.
Lone Operator Gear
Lone Operator cap, coveted badge and certificate of completion (subject to completing the programme).
Community & Support
Private Facebook group, an exclusive community, experienced instructors and personal instructor attention.
Supplier Discounts
Discounts on products from participating South African suppliers.
Fortis Learning Benefits
Access to selected online courses, structured training content and applicable discounts on standalone FORTIS courses.
- Most Comprehensive 12-Month Tactical Self Defence Training In South Africa
- 3 Months Free Cover With Firearms Guardian
- Lone Operator Cap
- Our Comprehensive Book On Being Prepared For Disaster
- Large Pack Of Different Tactical Targets You Can Print And Take To The Range With You.
- 77 Handy Security And Home Safety Tips That You May Not Have Thought Off
- The Warrior Mindset The Guide To Show You How To Get The Bulletproof Mindset Of A Fearless Warrior
- Scenario Training Video
- Being on LO affords you a discount on products from numerous suppliers in SA.
- Certificate Of Completion
- Private Facebook Group
- Becoming Part Of An Exclusive Brotherhood
- First Class Handgun Shooting Training
- Best Instructors In South Africa
- Personal Instructor Attention
- Coveted Lone Operator Badge
GAUTENG FEES
R940 per month for 12 months
Your main monthly programme range fee is included. Travel, ammunition, additional range sessions, extra kit, food and drinks are excluded. See the full details in the FAQs below.
IMPORTANT DETAILS
Gauteng Questions & Requirements
Read these answers before applying. They cover fitness, equipment, fees, ammunition, dates and missed sessions.
The fitness benchmark is not there to disqualify you from the course.
There are no fitness qualification requirements to enroll on Lone Operator other than functional fitness.
A few important notes on the fitness component of Lone Operator.
Fitness is not a disqualifier. However, you will be expected to participate in the fitness exercises during each module. It also forms part of your overall assessment and becomes increasingly relevant in the later, more tactical modules.
Why fitness matters
Fitness is not separate from self-defence—it is a core part of it.
If you cannot move, you cannot fight. If you cannot sustain effort under stress, your skillset falls apart.
We focus on functional fitness. This means training your body to perform under real-world conditions—not just lifting weights or running, but building the ability to:
- Move efficiently in and out of shooting positions
- Get to and from cover quickly
- Control your breathing and heart rate under pressure
- Maintain strength and coordination while fatigued
In a real situation, you may need to sprint, drop, get up, move laterally, or hold awkward positions—all while thinking and making decisions.
There is also a physiological reality: the fitter you are, the better your body handles trauma. A stronger, more conditioned body manages stress better and can, in very real terms, give you more time when things go wrong.
Session One’s fitness will be taken as a benchmark.
It is not a disqualifier of any kind. You compete against yourself.
The test consists of:
- 2.4 km run – your time is recorded
- Sit-ups – max reps over 2 minutes
- Push-ups – max reps over 1 minute
- Pull-ups – max full reps (no time limit)
- Shuttle runs – 25m x 10, timed
All of the above contributes to a score out of 100, which serves as your benchmark for the year.
You need at least your own licensed handgun, 3 x mags and proper holsters with good retention for both gun and mags. You will also need a good quality belt to ensure your gun sits sturdy on your person. Proper range attire, hardworking clothes and closed shoes. Proper ear and eye protection. You cannot shoot with your normal reading or sun glasses. You need ballistic protection. Sunblock, hat and your own chair. And also your own food and drinks for a long day. Watch the video below.
The course will cost you R940 pm for 12 months. Included in this fee is the main session’s range fee.
Included in this fee are the following
1. Range fees for the Lone Operator program (1 session per month)
2. Access our online portal with videos and notes on lessons
3. Lone Operator Cap
4. Free access to some of Fortis’ online courses
5. Discount on Fortis Stand Alone courses (where applicable)
Excluded from this fee are the following
1. Travelling to and from venues used for training
2. Ammunition needed for training
3. Range fees for courses outside the normal program
4. Any kit needed over and above what you currently have
5. Food and drinks
You will be informed on your team WhatsApp group what is needed for each session, including attire. Range clothes will be pants, a shirt, and closed shoes. Remember we are shooting from all positions so your clothes must be able to handle dirt and wear and tear. A hat and shooting glasses are good. We do have shooting glasses and ear muffs you can use on the range if you don’t have your own. Sunblock can help.
Included in your monthly payment is your main session’s range fee. Any other sessions you attend you will need to pay the range fee on the day in cash.
You can supply your own ammo. Or you can buy ammo from the instructors – NB – this ammo cannot be taken home and has to be used on the range as per law. The logistical arrangements around this will be sorted with each group on their first session.
You can work on 100 rounds per session – sometimes 150 sometimes 50 – average it out on 100 rounds per session
In Gauteng we mainly use Ground Zero @ Out There range https://maps.app.goo.gl/6U9gXER4B5TvWfQ36
Training is done on Saturdays, except for the final SERE session which starts on a Friday eve at 18h00 and runs to the Saturday eve.
The first 11 sessions are just 1 day (set aside the whole day for them) and 1 module is a night shoot. The 12th session is a night/day session and culminates the course.
For logistical reasons and range safety, we urge you to please stick to the year program. The dates are given in advance (all 12 sessions) so you can plan your calendar in advance. We do however understand that life happens and that you may miss a session. You will then need to check the calendar to see when that session is repeated with another group and see if you can slot into that time slot. Then make arrangements with our admin team to ensure you are added to that module. The onus rests on you to sort this out, as you know your own calendar. If you have not completed all the modules by the 12th module, you will not receive the LO patch and certificate of completion of level 1. You will then have to catch up all missed sessions before receiving patch and certificate.
Note that you pay 12 months, irrespective if you miss a session. You then need to arrange the catch up, but as specified, we prefer that you arrange your calendar accordingly.
OUR COMMITMENT
100% Money-Back Guarantee
We are committed to your success and satisfaction with our 12-month Lone Operator programme. We offer a 100% money-back guarantee if you are not a better shooter after 12 months. Terms and conditions apply.
FORTIS HUB
Your Lone Operator Journey Starts Inside the FORTIS HUB
Train with structure, not guesswork. The Hub brings your programme information and support together.
- Upcoming training, modules and sessions
- Progress tracking and evaluations
- Drills, lessons and training resources
- Accounts, billing, support and bookings
- Calendars, credits and course progression
- Weather predictions and programme updates
Turn ownership into competence.
GAUTENG APPLICATIONS
Ready to Apply?
Choose from the available Gauteng starts, review your course selection and complete your application and payment securely through the FORTIS HUB.
Applications are subject to available places and programme requirements.