Description
The AK Operator & Designated Marksman Course is one of Europe’s most comprehensive civilian AK operator training programmes. Delivered across six modular weekend blocks at our Juliet7 range complex near Sofia, Bulgaria, this course takes you from fundamental weapon handling through to advanced Designated Marksman techniques — firing over 600 rounds on multiple AK platforms and calibres, including the Dragunov DMR.
Designed for students based in Bulgaria who train at weekends, the modular structure lets you build genuine, progressive AK operator skills at your own pace — without committing to a full residential package. Each module stands alone and is priced individually. All six must be completed within an eight-month period to qualify for Video Certification based on the AK47 Annual Personal Weapon Test (APWT).
This course is part of our Citizen Soldier Programme — a structured civil defence training pathway for individuals who take their own preparedness seriously.
The Six Modules at a Glance
Each module runs on the second and fourth weekend of every month. Book one module at a time or plan your full pathway from the outset. You are booking one module per transaction, not all six.
- Module 1 — Safety & AK Platform Fundamentals — €139.99
- Module 2 — Weapon Handling & Static Drills — €139.99
- Module 3 — Dynamic Movement & Cover — €139.99
- Module 4 — Teamwork & Communication — €139.99
- Module 5 — Optics & Designated Marksman Techniques — €139.99
- Module 6 — CQB & Video Certification — €155.00
Full Course Curriculum — All Six Modules
Students who complete all six modules of the AK Operator & Designated Marksman Course will have covered the following skills and drills across the programme. This list represents the complete curriculum and is delivered progressively across modules:
- Normal Safety Procedures (NSPs)
- Introduction to AK variants and calibres
- Stripping, assembling & weapon maintenance
- AK Marksmanship Principles & Fundamentals
- Emergency & deliberate magazine changes
- Shooting from multiple positions (prone, kneeling, supported, standing, sitting)
- AK-specific stoppage drills & malfunction clearances
- Static & dynamic shooting
- Shooting from and around cover & concealment
- Shoulder transitions (left & right)
- Immediate Action (IA) drills whilst moving
- Moving target training
- Snap & instinctive shooting
- Fire & manoeuvre in pairs
- Team communications: verbal & hand signals
- Introduction to team assault & defence from position
- Shooting with optics: DMR scope, red dot, holographic, magnifier
- Precision shooting at distances up to 150 metres
- Shooter/observer teamwork
- Introduction to Close Quarter Battle (CQB)
- AK47 Annual Personal Weapon Test (APWT) — Video Certification qualification shoot
This course is also linked to our 3-Day/2-Night Infantry & Fieldcraft Training for Civilians, which is the natural next step for students who wish to apply their AK operator skills in a field environment.
Module 1 — Safety & AK Platform Fundamentals
The foundation of the entire course. Module 1 covers everything a student needs to handle, operate and maintain an AK-pattern weapon safely and correctly before firing a single round in anger. Instructors introduce students to the full range of AK variants and calibres available on our armoury, establish the ground rules for all subsequent modules, and conduct initial live-fire zeroing from multiple positions.
Module 1 covers:
- Normal Safety Procedures (NSPs)
- Introduction to AK variants and calibres
- Stripping, assembling & weapon maintenance
- AK Marksmanship Principles & Fundamentals
- Initial zeroing & static shooting from multiple positions
- 80 rounds on static targets
Price: €139.99 per person
Module 2 — Weapon Handling & Static Drills
With the fundamentals from Module 1 firmly in place, Module 2 pushes students hard on weapon handling and manipulation drills. Emergency and deliberate magazine changes, stoppage clearances and timed shooting exercises are all covered in detail. Students engage targets from multiple static positions and are expected to apply the marksmanship principles under increasing time pressure.
Module 2 covers:
- Detailed static shooting — prone, kneeling, standing, supported, sitting
- Emergency & deliberate magazine changes
- Instinctive shooting & snap drills
- Stoppage drills & malfunction clearances
- Timed shooting exercises
- 80 rounds on static and snap targets
Price: €139.99 per person
Module 3 — Dynamic Movement & Cover
Module 3 introduces the student to dynamic shooting — the skill of engaging targets whilst moving. Use of cover and concealment, shoulder transitions and Immediate Action (IA) drills are all introduced in the context of live-fire movement. Students fire 80 rounds during dynamic exercises and begin to understand how weapon handling skills must adapt when the body is under stress and in motion.
Module 3 covers:
- Introduction to dynamic shooting
- Moving & shooting drills
- Use of cover & concealment (barricades & obstacles)
- Shoulder transitions (left and right)
- Immediate Action (IA) Drills — reloads and stoppages whilst moving
- 80 rounds during dynamic drills
Price: €139.99 per person
Module 4 — Teamwork & Communication
No operator works alone. Module 4 introduces the student to the basics of small-team tactics. Verbal communications and hand signals are taught alongside live-fire fire-and-manoeuvre drills in pairs. Moving target engagement and an introduction to team assault and defence from a position bring the skills of the first three modules together in a tactical context. This module is a significant step up in complexity.
Module 4 covers:
- Team communications: verbal & hand signals
- Fire & manoeuvre in pairs
- Moving target engagement
- Introduction to team assault & defence from position
- 80 rounds — moving targets & team drills
Price: €139.99 per person
Module 5 — Optics & Designated Marksman Techniques
The Designated Marksman (DM) role sits between the general rifleman and the sniper: engaging targets precisely at extended ranges using optics, whilst remaining part of the fighting team. Module 5 familiarises students with the full range of optics available — DMR scopes, red dot sights, holographic sights and magnifiers — and requires them to engage targets at ranges out to 150 metres, including moving targets. Shooter/observer teamwork is also introduced.
Module 5 covers:
- Familiarisation with optics — DMR, red dot, holographic, magnifier
- Precision shooting at distances up to 150m
- Engaging moving targets with optics
- Shooter/observer teamwork
- 65 rounds at longer ranges — DMR focus
Price: €139.99 per person
Module 6 — CQB & Video Certification
The final module brings everything together. Students are introduced to Close Quarter Battle (CQB) techniques — room and area entry methods and shoulder transitions under stress — before completing the AK47 Annual Personal Weapon Test (APWT) as a video-certified qualification shoot. This is the culmination of the entire Citizen Soldier Programme pathway, and students leave with a recorded certification of their AK operator standard.
Module 6 covers:
- Introduction to Close Quarter Battle (CQB)
- Room & area entry methods
- Shoulder transitions under stress
- AK47 APWT — Video Certification Qualification shoot
- Competition or scenario-based drill
- 100 rounds — CQB & dynamic marksmanship
Price: €155.00 per person
Who Is This Course For?
The AK Operator & Designated Marksman Course is designed for:
- Civilians who want to develop serious, practical AK operator skills in a structured, progressive environment
- Ex-military and law enforcement professionals refreshing or extending AK platform skills outside of their service environment
- Students of the Citizen Soldier Programme working through the full civil defence training pathway
- Shooters and enthusiasts based in Bulgaria who want a more demanding, military-standard training experience than a typical range day provides
- Overseas visitors who want to train on real AK platforms in a country where it is legal, well-regulated and professionally delivered
No prior firearms experience is required for Module 1. However, students attending later modules (particularly Modules 3–6) must have completed the preceding modules or hold an equivalent demonstrated standard. All students are assessed on arrival at each module.
If you are unsure which module to begin on, contact us and we will advise you based on your experience level.
Why Train With PrepYou.Eu?
PrepYou.Eu and Juliet7.Com operate from a purpose-built range complex near Sofia, Bulgaria. Our instructors are ex-military professionals with operational backgrounds and extensive training experience. We have hosted students from across Europe, the UK, the US and beyond — and our AK operator courses have been featured in the Daily Mail Online following a full write-up by one of their journalists who came to Bulgaria to put the course to the test.
Bulgaria offers the rare opportunity to train on real, fully-functional AK-pattern weapons — including the Dragunov DMR — in a legal, controlled and professionally run environment. There is nowhere else in Europe where civilians can train to this standard, on these platforms, at this price point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need prior firearms experience to join Module 1?
No. Module 1 is designed as the starting point for students with no previous experience. All safety procedures and weapon handling fundamentals are taught from scratch.
Can I join at Module 3 or later if I have prior AK experience?
Possibly — contact us before booking. We will assess your claimed experience level on the day of your first module and confirm which module is appropriate for you.
Do I need to own a weapon or bring my own equipment?
No. All weapons and ammunition are provided. You do not need to own or bring a firearm. Bring appropriate field clothing and footwear.
How long between modules can I take a break?
You must complete all six modules within eight months of starting Module 1. Beyond that, you will need to restart the programme.
What language are the courses delivered in?
English. All instructors are either native English speakers or fully fluent. Translation support for Bulgarian-speaking students can be arranged — ask us in advance.
Is the course suitable for women?
Absolutely. We welcome students of all backgrounds. The course is physically demanding but there are no gender-specific restrictions. Female students are assessed on the same standard as all other students.
Where is the range?
We operate from the Juliet7 Range Complex near Lozen, approximately 20 minutes from central Sofia. Full location details are provided upon booking.
What’s Included
The following is included in the price of every module:
- Weapon hire (AK platform appropriate to the module)
- All ammunition (round count varies by module — see module details above)
- Professional ex-military instructors
- All targets
- All range safety equipment
Please note: Students must bring appropriate clothing, footwear and load-carrying equipment. This is a field-standard training environment — dress accordingly. Casual sportswear is not appropriate.
What’s Not Included
- Food & beverages
- Transport to and from the range/training centre
- Accommodation
- Load-carrying kit (webbing, belt kit, shooter’s belt, chest rig, patrol pack or bergen)
- Additional ammunition — available to purchase on the day at the range
Group Size & Booking
Each module runs with a minimum of four and a maximum of twelve students per session. Modules run on the second and fourth weekend of every month. Book your first module to secure your place on the programme, and plan your subsequent module bookings from there.
Each booking is for one module only. You will need to return to book each subsequent module separately.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.