Circuit Magazine #32

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32 www.circuit-magazine.com

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32 VEHICLE SELECTION – GETTING IT RIGHT.

16 18 WHY YOU ARE NOT GETTING HIRED? A RECRUITER’S PERSPECTIVE

44

WORK BY DAY, STUDY BY NIGHT

06 LEADERS 13 VEHICLE SELECTION – GETTING IT RIGHT. 18 WHY YOU ARE NOT GETTING HIRED? A RECRUITER’S PERSPECTIVE 26 THIS ONE’S FOR YOUR FAMILY… 30 MAKING THE TRANSITION: SECURITY OPERATOR TO PARAMEDIC 36 TRAINING A DYING ART OR A LYING ART 40 BASIC LIFE SUPPORT 44 WORK BY DAY, STUDY BY NIGHT 48 VEHICLE SECURITY TIPS: HOW TO STAY OFF THE ‘X’ 53 WORKING WITH ENTERTAINERS: COMMUNICATING WITH THE HOUSE 56 RENAISSANCE MAN 60 KEEPING YOUR EDGE 62 WORKING GIRL 65 CLASSIFIEDS

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Editorial Issue 32 For all of our regulars welcome to Issue 32 of the Circuit Magazine and for those new to the publication, where have you been??

If you are new to the magazine I’m sure you won’t be disappointed, you now have access to what many consider to be one of the best resources available to those working in the Protection Sector today.

Shaun West Editor

Regardless as to whether you’re a regular or newbie to the Circuit, if you enjoy the magazine and feel like you can deliver value to our readers then why not put some words together and submit an article. You don’t need to be an experienced writer to make the cut, anyone can submit articles for the Circuit Magazine, just make sure they are:

• Topical or relevant to the security industry,

• Interesting,

• Written in English.

We can’t promise to publish all articles submitted but we’ll work with you to get your words in the publication and provide feedback where needed.

I was recently asked a question by someone looking to enter the Security Industry, ‘which CP course should I do?’ They provided me with a list of providers and the courses they offer – in fairness, they all sounded fantastic but under the surface do they all deliver on their claims?

Never has there been so many training providers offering so many similar courses. Competition is high and the industry is cut throat, the only way to find reputable providers is to carry out your own due diligence before jumping in. If something sounds too good to be true then it generally is.

There are many courses out there offered by providers who have stood the test of time. In this industry, if a provider has been operating for 5 or more years then it says a lot about them and the service they are offering.

For starters, there will be a large database of former students with recent experience who you can ‘tap into’ for honest feedback to aid you in your decision-making before committing. For the record, there are also some fantastic new training providers striving to improve on the current offering so stay open minded - just make sure you do your research and go into your course feeling confident about the quality of instruction you’re about to receive.

Before embarking on any new chapter in life research should be carried out, so start as you mean to go on. You will learn that before you visit a new venue with your principal you will carry out your research so you are fully prepared, if you’re prepared to conduct that level of research for the benefit of someone else then why not for yourself?

Until next time, Stay Safe.

Editorial Issue 32

Welcome once again to the latest edition of The Circuit Magazine, the #1 magazine for the Close Protection Community.

Within these pages you are going to find article upon article of news, information and topics that are relevant to our industry.

As always, we present said information to you from a Global viewpoint, because we firmly believe that the stories that are of interest to the Protector in Washington, DC are just as important to an Agent living in Paris, France. I have always thought at the essence of Close Protection were building blocks, and each block stacks next to, and then upon, the other to build a stable foundation. Prevention, Due Diligence and when the crap hits the fan Cover & Evacuate, Get off the X. As the blocks begin to stack higher, it is then when we branch off into different areas of expertise and different manners of doing things. Painting with a broad brush, the US approach to CP work is different than the Israeli method, just as the Israeli method has variances with how things are generally done in the UK. Because of that variance of techniques, all originating from a common point, one can see the value of a medium that allows these to exist in the same space for review and analysis. I don’t know about you, but I never plan to stop learning, and considering The Circuit puts a plethora of Subject Matter Experts right at your fingertips, having a subscription is well worth the price of admission. For instance, this issue features an interview with Dale L. June.

While you might have seen his byline occasionally in past issues, did you know that he was the author of the widely regarded book “Introduction to Executive Protection?” Incidentally the book, now in it’s third edition, was the very first book I purchased regarding our industry, many, many, many, moons ago. So to now have him contributing to The Circuit just showcases what I meant about Subject Matter Experts, I mean he literally wrote the book on protection work. But that’s not all, you are going to find gems and jewels galore by the time you finish this issue.

Our work is not restricted by geography, the protection of others is a universal skill and I’m just happy to be continuing our small contribution to the craft.

Elijah J Shaw US Editor

Elijah J Shaw US Editor

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A peek behind the curtain of the Close Protection Industry.

I wanted to give you the reader, a chance to hear from some of the movers and shakers in our CRAFT, those that I have come to know and respect during my time in the business. What do they think about the state of our industry? Where is the field headed? What are the new emerging trends? So welcome to a new feature called “LEADERS” in which I attempt to get candid answers to some of these questions and many more.

Mark “SIX” James is the Executive Director of Panther Protection Services, based in Atlanta Georgia; his clients consist of business executives, legislators,

judicial members as well as celebrities.

Mark is a seasoned protection specialist, combative and firearms instructor, author and keynote speaker.

You come from the corporate world, could you briefly describe what you did in corporate America, and how that translated into what you do now as an Executive Protection Specialist?

Six: I am a former Corporate Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Prior to starting my protection agency I was blessed to have worked for some of the biggest brands in

By: Mark L. Roche EPS

the world like Nike, Coca-Cola, Miller Heiman to name a few. When I traveled internationally I was fortunate to have protection assigned to me to monitor my safety. During that time I got to see what good protection looks like as well as bad.

I have been fortunate to see the business from both sides, that of the principal and that of the protectors. I first got started in the security and protection world by teaching judges, business executives and legislators how to shoot for personal protection.

specialist) with the right client. As for the protection industry business is business.

It still comes down to establishing a point of differentiation in the market, setting a standard and collectively hiring and training to that standard in order to service the type of client you desire to attract.

Do you remember your first detail?

Describe that day briefly if you would.

Six: I remember getting a call from one of my As campaign time would roll around one legislators telling me he wanted me to go of my clients said Mark you are good out with him in the morning. I remember with your hands, you shoot well and you the night before driving the route forward are great with people, and we often find and back 3 times and founding secondary ourselves at the same political events. I and tertiary routes. I then completed the would like for you to handle my security. site advance. All night I had pre-detail My family feels safe when you are around. anxiety and couldn’t sleep. I was scared to As time went on I continued getting death of oversleeping and missing my big more and more requests. A few things I opportunity. knew from my corporate days were most long term successful careers are built on What do you think of the current state personal strengths used by people who of Executive Protection? Has it gotten enjoy what they do. I have always enjoyed better or worse since you entered the firearms and martial arts and have always profession? had an attention to detail. Three critical skills in protective services whether you Six: are talking about executing an Advance I think the industry is in transition. It is or repelling an Attack On Principal. Most a good news bad news story depending people rarely come to a job with 100% of on where you sit. The world is not getting the competencies. Most come with 75 – any safer which means continued growth 80% and you developmental plan the rest. for our industry. However criminals, I had always built high performing teams terrorists and professional predators are throughout my career and building a becoming more and more sophisticated protection agency was just a different type and ruthless. It doesn’t make a of high performing team. As an ex sales difference if we are talking personal leader it was once again just matching safety, compromising data or electronic the right representative (protection piracy. These changes are going to force

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protectors all over the world to elevate their skills and become ongoing students of the craft. There will be a number of protectors and companies which will not be able to adapt and fall by the wayside.

This is not a low cost of entry business and to stay contemporary requires ongoing investments in skill building and not just networking but truly building strategic alliances to both increase your collective competencies and further make your actions scale.

risk of not being in compliance with local or state laws when traveling with a client throughout the USA. As many of us in this profession know, there are a lot of men and women from all different backgrounds trying to get into this industry. Very seldom do they have any experience in EP, and are looking for guidance. What 3 things would be the best initial steps to getting started?

Six: There is nothing like protective services but protective services. However there are a collection of skills that make up our craft that an individual may have developed other places even though they have never done protective services. communication, collaboration, negotiation, protective and evasive driving, basic life support training, attention to detail, de-escalation, To follow up on that question, what surveillance, surveillance detection, would be one thing you would like to see firearms training, martial arts/defensive changed or added to make this industry tactics, stress management, decision better and why? making, analysis skills, foreign language etc. While a correction officer may Six: have never done EP, if they have done I would like to see one standard EP correction for any period of time they credential that is recognized throughout have had to learn de-escalation skills the US similar to a driver’s license. First because every day they work in some of we need to establish a universal baseline the most challenging environments with level of knowledge. I think it should have some of the most dangerous people in the a classroom component and a practical world with no firearm and are consistently application/experience component that outnumbered so they are forced to learn allows you to verify knowledge transfer both de-escalation techniques and how and skill attainment. Second it would to establish mutual trust. Your job is to allow protection specialists to not be at learn how to communicate your relevant As for has the industry gotten better or worse I think is has gotten better. We live in the information age and knowledge, training and skill attainment is readily available. For those who want to go get it. I also think there are more associations for industry members to network in and there is a general feeling of commitment vs. competition while still maintaining your own uniqueness.

By: Mark L. Roche EPS

Just because you read a couple of books, may have attended an academy that doesn’t make you detail ready or qualified. specialness to a potential client or employer.

My first recommendation is to go to a reputable bodyguard training academy.

Most new people don’t understand the vastness of the industry so many don’t know all the potential opportunities that may be available to them. If you are not willing to invest in yourself how can you expect someone else to? Second, take an inventory of your existing skills and ask yourself where are those skills best utilized? Is it dignitary protection, corporate, PSD, or celebrity protection?

Third, you need stamina, for your growth in the industry will be an evolution and not a revolution. Even with your training from a reputable bodyguard academy you are not going to come out as a Detail Leader to start. And it will take time to gain both experience and build a clientele.

Get a professional coach to assist you in your development and advancement.

What annoys you when it comes to this industry?

Six: What annoys me the most is there is still way too much chest thumping in the industry. Too much ego and

testosterone and everyone who does protective services in their respective lane (celebrity, corporate, dignitary, PSD) thinks their ice is colder. The truth is they all are important and the principles of protection really are the same, regardless of the lane chosen they just are applied slightly different across the assorted disciplines. But those who don’t know how to communicate their own points of differentiation or maintain their relevance try to tear others down in an effort to position themselves or protect the status quo.

With the young people in our industry there seems as to be a sense of entitlement that people are obligated to help them.

Just because you read a couple of books, may have attended an academy that doesn’t make you detail ready or qualified.

And while both McDonalds and Burger King desires to see growth in the quick serve restaurant industry they don’t share business plans with each other.

What impresses you when it comes to this industry today?

Six: First it is the adaptability required to produce longevity. Second the speed of

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the business it is ever changing. Third it is seek mentors is most are not necessarily amazing the places this business will take looking for the development phase, they you. are looking for the sponsorship. So many want to constantly call out the names What’s the most gratifying for you, of their mentors when it is convenient about what you do in EP? as a way of transferring credibility. You can’t artificially accelerate the skill Six: development process. A mentor’s job is When a client tells you, “My family really to help you build skills. A sponsor’s job is feels safe when you or your team are to help create opportunities. Mentorship around. “ One of the most rewarding often leads to sponsorship. compliments I got from a client recently was when he said, “I just want to thank If you want someone to work on your you for making my life easy.” schedule, then you want a professional coach. You pay them fee for function You recently wrote a post on social and they too help you build skills. But media about Mentor’s and Mentorship, the reality is most want something for which I thought hit the nail on the head. nothing and mentoring has become a What was the message you were trying euphemism for, “will you train me for to convey for those who didn’t see it? free?”

Six: Mentorship is not a right or an entitlement. It is the result of mutual commitment by two individuals to the mentees development. Most of the time mentors pick their mentees it is not the other way around. The mentoring is usually free of charge but has to often be worked around the schedule of the busy mentor. That is why the mutual commitment is so critical. The mentor is not going to waste their time with a person who is not truly committed. The disappointing thing with many who

What motivating factors or tips would you give to a new specialist that’s unsure of what type of client they want to work with or for? (i.e., corporate, entertainment, etc.)

Six: Find the lane and client that best matches your skill set that is where you can add the greatest value on Day 1. Then think about your lifestyle, values or preferred work schedule. Both will require long hours however celebrities typically have late nights. Business people often have

Lastly you must be able to motivate yourself because no one is going to send a parade to the office for you.

By: Mark L. Roche EPS

early nights but early mornings. While the celebrity world often looks fun and exciting realize everyone is partying but you.

when I get up and put my suit on I understand I am representing myself, my family, my team, my agency and client.

The second thing is our business can be unforgiving. An attack on my Principal’s For those that ask, “What does it take to brand can be just as fatal as an attack on make it in this industry?” what would their physical well-being, so there is no you tell them Mark? time to warm up you are always on even when others may be relaxing.

Six: Patience – the clients nor the money will Who would you rather on a detail with be there initially so understand that and you, someone with a lot of training, or a don’t get discouraged. Opportunity is lot of experience? the function of readiness and availability.

Both must be present. Sometime you Six: will find you have readiness and there Both can be valuable. It is your job to is no availability. Other times there determine how you maximize their is availability and you aren’t ready. ability to add value to the team or on You must remain flexible as you will this particular detail. As a Detail Leader find yourself constantly in different or any leader, your job is to make your environments, i.e., cultures, religions, actions scale. You can’t always be the ethnicity or socioeconomic status. You first and last line of defense. And while must have physical stamina the job takes a person may be new to EP it does a toll on you. Because you have to always not mean they are new in a particular be ready and often miss your share of functional area or discipline. Also we special days you need an understanding should not always equate experience with family. Lastly you must be able to excellence because some have been doing motivate yourself because no one is going a job poorly, but for a long time. to send a parade to the office for you. If you need the constant limelight this is not Lastly Mr. James, to take a question the job for you. from Mr. James Lipton of the Actor’s Studio, When End of Watch comes for What motivates you Mark to get up you, what would you like to hear GOD every day and practice the craft? say to you when you reach the pearly gates?

Six: My sense of commitment to myself. My Six: client will never have a higher standard Relax now Sir, job well done. We got it for my performance than I have for from here. myself. However I realize every morning

By: Douglas Smith

VEHICLE SELECTION – GETTING IT RIGHT.

A few times in my career I have been charged with purchasing vehicles for safely transporting clients.

Sometimes the decision has been simple because a principal has favoured a particular marque and is in charge of the money. Other times budget has been a restricting factor and that refines your selection before you even start.

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Recently I was tasked with purchasing new vehicles for a client who said “I don’t care what you get”. On the surface this sounds like you are now a kid in a candy store right? Like you know that ’69 fastback you always wanted? Or how about a troop carrier? Or what about a stretch?

The reality is, this decision is kind of a poison chalice. What he really meant was “I’ve got bigger things to worry about, you make the decision and I will judge you on it.” What I was actually left with was basically a potentially career limiting decision.

To build some rigor around the decision making process I created a series of categories that I felt best defined the features that I was looking for in a vehicle.

Models were selected based on how well they satisfied those criteria. The final car was chosen and justified under those headings. I didn’t write War and Peace, but I felt that having some transparent logic and reasoning behind the decision would set me in good stead should the argument come back ie… ‘Why the hell did you choose THAT?’ Safety

no side impact protection… nothing. Sure they look cool and are fun to drive, but they don’t even warrant a look in when it comes to protection.

Reliability This is also a safety concern. For example, breaking down on a blind corner; failing to start after an event in the city surrounded by drunken revellers at midnight; losing power to steering while cornering in the wet and so on.

Reliability also affects image and brand for example being late to a public event or important meetings.

Also you are going to ruin your Principals day and make yourself look bad even when it isn’t your fault.

For this reason I also always recommend new cars because all the working parts are new and nothing has worn excessively yet.

Image projection If they are an introverted bank executive, they might not want to turn up in a stretch Hummer to crowds of people waiting to see if a pop star is arriving.

Again this affects the client’s brand.

A primary concern for protecting any Bentley’s and Rolls Royce’s are great cars, human asset on the road - one of the most but is that what shareholders want to see dangerous environments available in most you driving around in, or will they think situations. Vehicles should contain latest your Principal is egotistical and foolhardy spec safety features such as ABS braking, with money? electronic stability control, traction control, maximum number of airbags etc. Personally I love Range Rovers. You can I have had to sell this to Principals who see over the traffic, you have plenty of prefer driving in vintage cars! We are power, the high end interiors are lovely, talking drum brakes, no power steering, you have plenty of options for getting

By: Douglas Smith off the X when you are in traffic as you can mount the curb in a heartbeat and drive just about anywhere. I’m still yet to convince a client to use one for a security vehicle though. They just don’t feel it’s “them”.

This can be a fine dance between satisfying the personality of your Principal, accommodating the external image of a larger company and driving in something discreet enough to make your own life a lot easier.

Road presence I love road presence. I describe it as “an undefineable quality which improves movement in traffic”. People are less likely to drive aggressively and are generally more polite in traffic around cars with good road presence. Contributing factors include – brand, size, colour, design.

Have you ever noticed when you are driving your girlfriends ten year old hatch that you get less respect on the road?

Then you jump into a high end European luxury car and people let you in traffic and don’t tailgate you?

Let’s face it, no one wants to get into a bingle with a car that’s worth more than their house, and also some cars just look damn intimidating, like a blacked out large sedan looming in your rear view mirror.

This is a category that is way harder to pin down than defining by dollars or kilowatts but I am convinced that it is a worthy inclusion into the selection criteria. I can’t think of any science to back this criteria,

so you are going to have to go with your experience and your gut on this one.

Carrying capacity OK this may vary. A family that travels all the time might need a van. A single guy that never travels might want enough room for golf clubs and that’s it. My criteria is I want to comfortably able to carry three full size adults and carry two full sized suitcases and two full sized carry-on luggage pieces in the boot. And when I say comfortably, I mean these people should be able to use laptops or open folders and work on the move.

Remember if you have too much room nothing happens.

If you don’t have enough room… well that causes problems. People are sitting in cars with bags on their laps holding a suitcase between their knees. Err on space.

Let’s face it, no one wants to get into a bingle with a car that’s worth more than their house, and also some cars just look damn intimidating, like a blacked out large sedan looming in your rear view mirror.

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Editorial: Issue 32

Value for money Look, if your Principal wants something and they’ve got the cash, this is a no brainer. Get what he/she wants. If you are in a corporate environment however, you should be able to model responsible corporate expenditure with your purchase and at least be able to justify your car when a bean counter asks why you didn’t buy a Prius.

Power Cars should generate enough power to escape dangerous situations with a full payload. By this I mean it should be able to MOVE with three large adults and a boot full of baggage. A larger sized car will require more power. I would run with a risk assessment on this one. If you think you have a pretty good chance that you are going to have to get out of Dodge fast or outrun an attack then get the most powerful and best handling car you can get your hands on. If a risk assessment shows that this is going to be an unlikely occurrence for you then you can afford to sacrifice some go power. I have found that some of the long wheel base variants such as the Jaguar XJ and the Audi A8 do not come in a V8 option.

Both cars have 3 litre Turbo Diesel, six cylinder engines. For my needs I’m happy

with the power of the sixes as long as it gives me that leg room in the back. I have driven both and I have found that when you become familiar with the operation you can definitely make them answer the call when you put the foot down. The trick here is spending the time learning how to make them move, familiarising yourself with things like sports modes, paddle changers etc. Am I going to be able to outrun a V8 in a chase? Probably not. Am I going to be able to get myself out of trouble in just about every other occurrence? I like my chances.

Colour Ok let’s start with the obvious. Black.

Some principals just want a black car.

Personally I think they look great, until it rains, or you drive through dust, or drive for more than a day at a time. They show the dirt like nobody’s business. But you know, for some reason, everyone seems to like black. Maybe they’ve seen too many black limo’s on TV, I don’t know. I know that once I got a guy a white car and he HATED IT. He said it made him look too much like a government official. We live and learn.

Black and grey are supposed to be the easiest colours to forget. For this reason I generally wear black and grey when

There is NO WAY I would pick a non-standard colour like green or orange or red without an express wish from a client. Do I like these colours on cars?

By: Douglas Smith doing foot surveillance. People just tend to forget seeing you. I find it much harder to get burned wearing black and grey. It seems to translate to the road as well and especially with the sheer weight of silver and grey cars out there, I think you are going to blend a lot better in day to day traffic. If that appeals to your needs, then I think grey and silver would be a great choice. And you will be washing your car half as much as you would with a black car.

great in hot weather because they shade the car reducing cabin temperature when you park. I am now a convert to these screens. When I see celebrity vehicles with windows blocked out by towels or those awful suction cup one size fits none window shades I just think it looks really amateurish.

Armouring OK this one is out of my scope. I have never bought an armoured vehicle. All I know is that I have heard of disasters with There is NO WAY I would pick a nonpeople armouring cars that were never standard colour like green or orange designed to carry that extra weight. Door or red without an express wish from a handles breaking off, centres of gravity client. Do I like these colours on cars? being thrown about (which RUINS Yes. Some of these less common colours handling) and so on. So please don’t be look fantastic! Aston Martin does a getting out the oxy welder at home and Volcano Red that I think looks amazing. welding steel plates to your door skins.

I mentioned it to a client and he said it Given this, I would only ever consider looks like a footballer’s car, which in his purchasing an armoured vehicle designed mind was probably the worst thing he and built from the ground up. If your could think of. risk assessment tells you that you need an armoured vehicle, I suggest seeking Long story short, colour is really a counsel from an expert in this field personal choice I would run by the client. because the stakes are definitely high in Expect the answer to be black. If you don’t your game. want to be washing your car all the time push for a grey or silver.

I hope that by sharing my selection criteria for new car purchasing for clients Screening I have given you some ideas of your own.

Some cars have some really nice screening You might have needs that I haven’t even options on the window. Like an interior thought of. The main idea I wanted to roller blind that you can see out of but give you in this article is that it is good to people can’t see in. At first I thought that have a methodology behind you to back these would attract a lot of attention and I you up in your decision making. So when didn’t use them much but lately I have at someone asks you why you chose your least left the rear one on all the time. The vehicle you can turn on a dime and send screens in the Jaguar XJ are very discreet, them a reasoned argument that ensures from the outside you can barely notice that they never try the mistake of second them, you just can’t see in. They are also guessing your expertise again!

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Feature: Issue 32

WHY YOU ARE NOT GETTING HIRED? A RECRUITER’S PERSPECTIVE

This article will address the most common mistakes made

by Protection professionals while searching and applying for jobs.

I will not pull any punches here so if you don’t do well with constructive criticism or feel the need to argue with the scores of people I contacted to write this article, read something else. On the other hand, if you are not getting hired and are willing to consider that it might just be you, remain open-minded, and consider the following, you might just discover the reason you are reading this article instead of working.

I am no better than anyone else reading this, but I have been there, done that, learned from my mistakes and am sharing what I have learned with you. I wrote this in first person, so bear with me, there is a reason.

I as many others, started in this industry as an operator, progressed through years of working under and behind others, made mistakes, survived, and progressed to owning my own firm. I found so many “operators” in the industry that really didn’t know what they didn’t know and I began to teach. After many years as an operator and

a business owner, I have learned firsthand what it takes to work as a successful security operative, how to find the right candidates for my company and what recruiters, other companies and clients are looking for in a real Operator or Protector.

Most recruiters have been operatives before.

They are quick to identify the needs of both client and operative alike. While many will share with a client the reasons an operative was not picked, they seldom share those reasons with the operative.

In the security industry, it is extremely important to find the right candidate for the right job. Due to the nature of our services, we don’t have the privilege of making a mistake. I would rather interview and reject 100 qualified candidates to find the exact fit for my client, than have my client reject my choice even once.

Here is a collection of the top complaints from Recruiters, Protection firms and

By: Denida Zinxhiria

Clients. If any of these even remotely apply to you, it may explain why you are being passed over.

■ You applied for a job that you are not qualified for.

Understand that time is extremely valuable and going through hundreds of Curriculum Vitae’s, or CVs, and Resume’s is both time consuming and labor intensive. Additionally, researching your background can be quite expensive, so please apply for a job you can prove you are qualified for. Viewing resumes from people with irrelevant experience or training brings to mind two things:

1 a) You either don’t pay attention to details and what the assignment requires, or 2 b) You are just sending out inquiries for any job vacancy.

If your only job is to find yourself a job, and that seems like a lot of work, imagine how it looks to me when I have to go through so many candidate’s CV’s and Resume’s, evaluate their information and narrow the field down to the 6 to 10 I will interview.

However, if you can see that you don’t have what it takes for the specific assignment, you can always send your CV with a note

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Feature: Issue 32

professional clothier to help dress you.

Meaning that you will not wear button-down shirts with a suit and that your tie is the right color and length and that your shoes and belt match….And ladies, avoid over applications of make-up and hair products. If you seem ■ Pay attention to the whole job application “high maintenance” in an interview or photograph, you will not be chosen for work. process. PAY EXTRA ATTENTION TO A team of Operatives and more especially WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR AND WHAT YOU SHOULD INCLUDE WITH the Client won’t wait on you to get ready.

And don’t use a combat photo from Iraq if YOUR APPLICATION. you are applying for a suit and tie position in an Executive security assignment.

Generally speaking, most job ads give you The reason you may be asked to provide all the clues you need to apply and what a professional photo is that in some cases, you should include with your application.

With this said, I prefer to receive ONE email depending on a client’s needs, we want to make sure your image and body posture or letter per applicant with all requested can blend in or fit with the specific detail. documentation. Failing to pay attention to No we are not interested to see if you are the job description and application process handsome or pretty. In many cases the and having to e-mail me 3 or 4 times for client may request someone taller or shorter, clarification or further instructions won’t get you hired. It will give me the impression or that the Operative not have facial hair. that you either don’t pay attention to simple The Client may be wanting a person with details or you can’t follow simple guidelines lighter or darker features or to not have a military appearance in order to blend in to and directions. Either one will get your CV the environment. Also, when we ask for a tossed in the trash. Dealing with hundreds of applicants by E-mail is tedious but having photo that means a recent one, (no older than 1 year). It should reflect your current to search through hundreds to match three from the same candidate is impossible. I will appearance. If I grant you an interview and you do not look like your photo, your delete the email. I need to keep track and interview will be very short and your resume have all your info in one e-mail. will go in the trash as soon as you leave.

Photo-editing is not acceptable. It is the ■ If you are asked to include a photo with same as lying. your application that means a professional head shot or full body ■ Be extremely honest with the information photograph. you provide in your CV.

I will emphasize the words professional If you have attended training from which photograph. Pictures taken in your home, you don’t hold a certificate or you have during your training or holidays or those been working for companies you can’t taken of you in the field are not considered name, DO NOT include them in your CV. professional. Neither are the ones you Most reputable agencies or firms verify have cropped yourself out of. Professional means suit and tie for the men and business a candidate’s training and professional background. In fact, most Firms have the attire for the ladies. DO NOT WEAR phone numbers and names of the major SUNGLASSES in your professional photos. training providers and we all know or know Avoid the ear pieces. If you are really of each other. So if you can’t back up your on top of your game, you will seek out a requesting consideration for any future opening that may come available’’. This is not only acceptable but actually leads to more offers than “padding” or falsifying a resume ever will.

By: Denida Zinxhiria training and employment claims with a certificate or reference letter, then don’t include it.

Be honest when I ask you why you left your previous assignment. If I ask you how much you were making on your previous assignment, it may have nothing to do with what I am offering you now, so answer honestly. I may ask you this to determine if you were out of the job due to budget cuts, contract ending or because you didn’t fit in well. It is possible that you may have either been terminated or you quit for some good reasons. Being terminated due to budget cuts or the contract ending is acceptable but being fired because you made critical errors in judgement or because you were toxic to the team or working environment will keep you from being hired. If you did make a mistake that can be explained, you may want a letter from a supervisor or previous employer to detail the events on your behalf.

see if you will be honest. I have had people giving much higher pay rates than what they were actually earning and when I asked to see an old invoice or check stub, they couldn’t or wouldn’t produce it.

■ If I ask you details about your previous client or employer, I have a good reason.

I want to see how much information you are willing to share. Your answer to these questions should be “I prefer not to answer a question that would compromise mine or my previous client’s integrity or the safety of the client or the team currently in place there.” This shows candor, honesty, integrity and class. Also during this interview, I want to see how you respond. Can you hold a simple conversation? Your professionalism is measured by appearance, integrity, oral and verbal communications skill and references.

■ Changing companies every few Be diplomatic. This means, don’t toss out months doesn’t look good on your accusations about your former employer or CV but it is not a death sentence if client. Keep a professional tone and give only you can explain it. professional justifications. If you are blaming your former employer or team manager for If we see candidates that change companies being unprofessional or unfair to you, this often, that is not the same as changing clients may be seen as an excuse for your conduct. in the same time frame. In either case, you should be ready and able to explain the If I ask you how much you were making in your old job, make sure you provide a 100% reasons for having multiple employers. true statement. No I’m not the IRS and I’m ■ Have a properly printed resume not interested to see how much you were making and how much you were declaring. I ask that question for two reasons, a) see how Your resume is my first impression of you. It is the first tool I use to determine much you ‘’sell your services for’’ and b) to

If I grant you an interview and you do not look like your photo, your interview will be very short and your resume will go in the trash as soon as you leave.

Photo-editing is not acceptable. It is the same as lying.

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Feature: Issue 32

your eligibility for employment. It is extremely disappointing to see someone with exceptional experience who presents a poorly written resume. Errors in spelling, grammar, font size, letter and paragraph spacing, paper quality and color are al determiners to a lack of detail. Many security operators will spend thousands of dollars on a close protection training course and education in technical qualifications, then Hundreds more on clothing to enable themselves to work in the protective services industry, and then fall short when it comes

to gaining employment because they have a poorly written resume or “CV�.

In order to be successful in gaining employment it is important that an employer, when reading a CV, gains an accurate picture of the person they are reading about. The CV should highlight the operator’s key skills, if former military, then maybe operational experience or if not then transferable skills to the workplace such as leadership and management. Understand that there is a real difference between a CV

By: Denida Zinxhiria

and a Resume’. In very general terms, a CV is what you can do, what you have done and how you are qualified, and a Resume’ is who you have done it for.

■ Have a good, positive and professional presence during your interview. Present yourself professionally.

If you want to be considered as a professional then you have to start looking and behaving like one. When it comes to your appearance, have a clean cut look, if someone is going to hire you to be close to important clients and dignitaries then he/she must be sure you can blend in with the environment. I always recommend being clean cut.

You can always grow your hair back but you can’t shave it off in the interview.

If you are used to having a beard or mustache and don’t want to shave it, it is appropriate to ask the employer what is acceptable. If they prefer clean cut, do not try to qualify their request, just shave. And please loose the pony tail and hair gel. Both suggest that you have a weak self-image. Be aware of personal hygiene, it is sad how some people think it’s acceptable to have a specific natural body scent or unpolished shoes or dirty or jagged fingernails. If you are operating in some PSD assignments, it is acceptable but not if you are operating in Corporate Security or for Executive Protection in the western world. And in this case make sure you invest some money in professional and comfortable suits and shoes. Those will be your work tools along with your firearm. Ignoring details in your appearance is seen as a sign to how you will operate.

On an additional note, just because you don’t own a company doesn’t mean

you can’t print some business cards.

You never know who you might meet.

People that can be potential clients for you or can forward your contact details to other people, potential employers or even contacts in the field who you need to work with such as Law Enforcement, all deserve a card. I have heard many stories of colleagues that after talking with people, had to offer their contact details only to have to hunt for a pen and a paper….and yes, I have made the same mistake myself when I first started working in the security industry. I still remember the embarrassing situation when I met an ambassador who was thrilled about female close protection services and when she asked for my contact details I wrote on a napkin. I have only made that mistake once. If you use a card, keep it simple and professional.

Avoid bold or aggressive. Many colleagues use a plain card on thick stock simply stating the person’s name and a telephone number. That number rings to a 24 hour call center which then forwards the message to the person. More on this in another article. Stainless steel cards are cool but if you present bold and arrogant, you will be seen as such. Bold might get you lucky and get you an assignment to work alone but you will never be hired by anyone if you appear arrogant.

Concerning E-mails: Use an email address that you use only for business. It should contain at least your last name to make it easier to search for you. Avoid e-mail addresses that reflect weapons or martial arts or other fieldcraft in the address. (Afganfighterdude.net…)

Avoid using AOL, Yahoo or Gmail accounts for employment inquiries as these appear adolescent. If you use Linkedin, for a posting of your professional life, never contact the client or potential employer this way. Choose

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instead to communicate with them through E-mail and encourage them to do the same.

In the beginning of this article I mentioned that I am not working for you, BUT I am ■ Pay attention in your network appearance working with you. I am a recruiter. As such, disagreeing with me or harassing me over and activities. the contents of this article won’t help your cause. I have spent a lot of time talking to It is sad but people in the security industry those who hire you. I am but the messenger who are affected by personal issues here. sometimes can act unprofessionally. Do not to take part in on-line forums ‘’fights’’ As a recruiter I am paid by the company or a or talking bad about other colleagues or client to find the right candidate to fill a job. companies. You need to remember that before you are hired, you represent yourself. I am not paid to get you a job. There are also guidelines I have to work within so if you get After you are hired, you represent everyone passed over, it is not personal. you have ever worked for. These days companies and clients are monitoring social Having been in this industry as an operative network sites and if they see you posting unprofessional comments about other people and agency owner I have a good sense of or companies, they will assume that you will what the current market is looking for, what the standards are, and what the pay rates do it to them. Regardless of how unfair you are. If you have what the company/client is might have been treated by a colleague, a client or a company you must always act and looking for, I can try to negotiate your fee with them. I can also advise you or guide talk professionally about them, even after your resignation or dismissal. Avoid posting you during your application process, so diplomacy, patience and consideration is pictures or comments about your social or expected and appreciated. family life, conquests or challenges. These lend the viewer to visions of substandard moral or security behavior, and can unfairly ■ Be polite It sounds so simple but many candidates fail influence them when considering you for a to be polite during and after an interview. higher level security assignment.

A simple thank you is more than enough.

■ Be serious if you want to proceed further Even if you don’t have what the current company/client is looking for I can help you with the selection process. with another job opening if I see that you are a genuine and polite professional. Also, You will have all the needed job details to handling rejection with grace and good decide if you are interested in proceeding manners can land you an offer from the further. Think it through completely before person that just turned you down. committing to contacting someone for an interview. We don’t like to have spent our Build a good relationship with your recruiter. time with people who decide not to show If you are transitioning from military or up on a later interview. If you have other proposals and you would like to think about Law Enforcement to private security, note it, let me know. If you decide not to proceed, that we do understand how stressful this can be for you, not to mention when you have call us. This can go a long way if you decide to contact us again for future opportunities. bills to pay or families to feed. What does There is nothing we appreciate more than an not work is calling or emailing me twice a week to complain about how badly you need honest conversation.

By: Denida Zinxhiria

Handling rejection with grace and good manners can land you an offer from the person that just turned you down. a job. I know you may be desperate but so are several hundred others. In this case, the squeaky wheel does not get the grease. I will flip past 30 resumes that came in a month ago and place an operative that came in this morning just because the candidate is the right height and has manners.

■ If you don’t fit a specific placement opportunity but you know someone who does, please make a referral!

The recruiter as well as the potential candidate will both remember you.

This will also go a long way in showing me that you have a positive teamwork mentality which is a great referral by itself for other opportunities.

Finally, I would like to point out that the

job search and application process can be challenging and time consuming. There are many phases consisting of recruitment, civil and criminal background checks, physical and psychological testing, and meeting each specific company’s standards as a prerequisite of employment. Make sure you complete all the necessary steps and remember that the best time to look for a new assignment is while you currently have one.

Denida Zinxhiria Founder & CEO Athena Worldwide LLC Athena Academy Nannyguards® www.athenaacademy.com www.nannyguards.com

26 THIS ONE’S FOR YOUR FAMILY… Feature: Issue 32

Recently I was talking with a friend who has a long career in close protection and I asked him for ideas for my Circuit magazine feature.

By: Dr Liz Royle KR Trauma Support Whilst he pondered this, his wife jumped straight in and asked for “something for the families!” We got talking about how many people work so hard to build a better future for themselves and their loved ones only to find it having a negative impact on their home life. Quite apart from the long hours and time away from home, it is usually the adjustment to home life that causes most issues. Similar to returning home from an Armed Forces tour of duty, there is often a need for great adjustment.

go from a situation where you always need to be on high alert to suddenly becoming relaxed and calm. You can’t flick a switch just because you take them out of that situation.

It’s like going from 100mph to standstill.

Expectations of everything being “back to normal” and relaxed will add to the pressure so it’s best to be prepared and accept the situation for what it is.

Everyone is unique and reacts in their own individual way but here are some of the more common difficulties. You may notice some, From the family member’s perspective, it can all or none of them! be very difficult to know what to do for the best or even to understand what’s happened. Becoming withdrawn They can feel helpless, confused and You may feel that your partner seems like worried. Their partner may withdraw from a “closed book” and avoids talking about the relationship, or be emotional or angry their experiences. Although they have come with them. They may have a range of post home to you, they may spend more time traumatic stress symptoms and sometimes talking with people who do similar work or it can feel as though the “old person” is gone be extremely secretive about their time away. and life will never be the same again.

When in a hostile environment, this secrecy I could write a book on this subject and how and reliance on buddies was essential and is to help with the transition but let’s start with hard to readjust to. understanding what exactly is happening.

Knowledge and understanding are always They may fear that you wouldn’t understand the first steps to having control. their experience or, more usually, are trying to protect you from it. Many people A good analogy is that of a deep sea diver. compartmentalise their lives and don’t They have a need to resurface slowly so as want to talk about their work for fear of to allow their bodies to adjust to the change “contaminating” their precious home time. in pressure. Without this, there would The downside is that you feel shut out. be serious issues. Psychologically there However, like the deep sea diver, it takes is also a need for “decompression” when time to acclimatise and be able to open somebody has been under intense duress up. This may not even happen until years for an extensive period of time – even if afterwards. If they do open up and talk, they enjoy and get a “buzz” from the work. remember your job is simply to listen. You Mentally and physically, it’s not possible to don’t have to fix. You just have to be there

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Feature: Issue 32

you can’t numb the bad feelings without also numbing the good ones. Previously The raging volcano enjoyed activities may feel unappealing In high adrenaline work, the human survival and the person may slip into a low mood response is to fight or run away. Targeted or depression. There is sometimes a loss aggression in that setting involves making of libido or sexual difficulties and this is a split second decisions that may involve lethal real problem just as you both hope for (and force to remain safe. Anger may become an expect) emotional and physical intimacy. easily triggered response and expressed more Both parties can feel rejected and a failure if readily or it may have been suppressed for they don’t realise that these are subconscious safety reasons and is only now, once they are survival processes. home and safe, leaking out. It often comes out as inappropriate aggression at home, for It’s important not to take their anger or example over-reacting to minor issues. withdrawal personally but accept that you too will sometimes feel frustrated and Some people will notice their partner is helpless. Look after your own needs and driving aggressively, faster than necessary, make sure you have support in place for you. or having accidents or even road rage. At Reassure your partner that that you value work, remaining safe may have required and care for them even when their behaviour unpredictable and rapid lane changes, means that they can be difficult to live with. straddling the middle line and keeping other They will often be terrified of losing you. vehicles at a safe distance. This is obviously a problem on the roads at home and being However, if the difficulties in adjustment stuck in queuing traffic can trigger a feeling do not subside, or if they intensify, consider of danger. The brain can take time to reduce seeking further assistance. It is best if they can the urge to remain on high alert and realise be gently encouraged to do this themselves that bag of rubbish at the roadside is not an but many people fear seeking psychological IED. support. Crucially, if you ever fear they may become a danger to themselves or to someone You’ve lost that loving feeling else, you must put safety first and seek There may be more general detachment and immediate professional advice and support. a failure to display emotions. Controlling There is more information on our website and your emotions is critical for mission blog www.powertorecover.com success and this suppression can become so practiced that it’s hard to switch back Your partner will be helped by you maintaining on. Additionally, one of the effects of the or returning to a normal routine as soon as human survival response is that emotions possible but encourage inclusion. They may are numbed. This is helpful within a lifefeel like a spare part and that life has moved threatening situation but is also protective on and this will add to the detachment. In an afterwards as the brain protects the person earlier article I talked about the importance of from being overwhelmed by difficult keeping up to date with the trivial aspects of sensations and feelings. The downside is that life. It can be the small changes (e.g. a child has

By: Dr Liz Royle KR Trauma Support a new best friend) that can make people feel like a stranger in their family unit.

Becoming a control freak!

Having been away for some time in an environment where control was important, settling into a shared and relaxed home can feel disordered and chaotic. Your partner may become angry when someone moves or messes with their stuff, even if insignificant.

Maintaining control of a weapon and gear is necessary for survival away from home.

However, the survival part of the brain can’t always differentiate between the need to keep weapons and kit under tight control and the need to relax about people moving other nonessential possessions. This can lead to conflict especially with children. The survival system in the brain can view “missing” car keys as the loss of a means of escape from danger.

Someone may have simply tidied them away only to be faced with the volcano erupting at this “threat.”

surroundings and reacting immediately to sudden changes. This can result in the individual feeling constantly edgy or anxious – we describe that as hyperarousal. Carrying a weapon may have been mandatory and drummed in as necessary for safety. If your partner was used to having a weapon available, they may feel you and they are vulnerable without this.

This hyperarousal, and constant vigilance for danger, can be exhausting. It can take time for the survival part of their brain to begin to calm and accept the threat is no longer present. Hyperarousal can leave people overly sensitive to loud noises, sudden movements and bright lights. If you have a busy home, this can be difficult for them to manage continually and they may need regular time out. Make sure that they have a private, quiet space to go to when they need this.

Encourage them to do the activities that The tight discipline and control of a usually switch them off, particularly active working environment may lead to inflexible, ones that require focus e.g. golf, mountain demanding interactions with family and biking, wind surfing. We all have a favourite friends. You may feel like you are expected to one – what is your partner’s? They may follow orders and that your partner is trying to not feel they would enjoy it if they are run the house like a military unit. This can lead experiencing numbing of pleasurable to resentment when you have all managed to emotions so think about whether a friend cope very well with life up to that point! can help you to gently encourage them.

It can help for everyone involved to recognise all this as behaviour that is being driven by an urge to keep everybody safe (through discipline and control) and simply a symptom of still “coming down.”

Life’s not safe In a hostile environment, survival depends on being aware at all times of your

As someone who cares for them, you are an important part of their adjustment and there are things that you can do. Remember that the things that are causing difficulties now are the very things that kept them safe in a hostile environment. Take your time and accept that small steps are the quickest way to get to where you both want to be.

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MAKING THE TRANSITION: SECURITY OPERATOR TO PARAMEDIC

We last heard from Jon back in 2013 as he was setting out on his quest to make the career jump from security management to medical responder.

At that time he’d just taken his first serious steps in completing a Pre Hospital Medical Technician course, so we thought now would be a good time to check back in and see whether everything was going to plan.

to continue working out of hostile environments and it quickly became apparent that the AREMT Remote Paramedic qualification was going to be the best option for me to realise my ambition.

Following on from the PHMT course, which I completed with Medipro Training in mid 2013 (Editor: You can read Jon’s review of the course in issue 22) I then returned to Kabul in my capacity as a project Risk Manager and immediately set about looking at ways to become a registered paramedic and completing the transition from security operative to medic, which was always the long term goal.

Weighing Up The Options I exhaustively researched many training companies and found Merit Training to best fit my requirements. Not only did their Industry Paramedic course enable me to register with AREMT as a Remote Paramedic but the cost of the course included all the required ‘add on’ qualifications; ACLS, PALS, Advanced Trauma Management and even the clinical placements at no extra cost. The MD Aebhric O’Kelly was incredibly attentive and always made himself available to answer my numerous questions either by

I knew, at that time, that I did not want to work in the UK, at least not in the immediate future, opting instead

By: Jon Dennison

phone or email. I’ve actually called Aebhric on several occasions whilst responding to medical incidents and he’s always been there to help and advise.

to study most days. This was especially advantageous in so much that it allowed me time to spend with the family, while at home on leave, rather than having to give up every spare moment to studying - that said, I still managed an hour or 2 most days. My aim was to get the course completed in as short a time as possible and quickly get working as a medic and thereby justifying the cost (£6000 for the Industry Paramedic course when I did it). In all honesty if you are considering taking this on you must be prepared to sacrifice most of your social/family life for the duration or it will either take an age to complete or will become a huge emotional and mental struggle.

One thing that became apparent to me pretty soon after I’d begun researching potential training providers was that most just didn’t seem to want to ‘go the extra mile’ or make any real effort when dealing with potential clients. An awful lot of companies I emailed requesting information either ignored my email or simply replied with a link to the company website! Aebhric was a breath of fresh air and actually called me several times in person to talk me through the process in simple terms so that I had a clear idea of what the training would, 1 - cost, 2 - consist It became apparent pretty quickly that of and 3 - what an accurate timescale this course was way above anything I would look like. had done before (It’s a level 5 academic course) and would therefore require 100% Considerations & Requirements commitment to give myself a fighting For me the biggest issue was going to be chance of passing. For good measure I finding time to study, the Merit training, decided, after completing the PHMT Industry Para course is a 1400 hour course and before undertaking the Industry commitment as a minimum. 1000 hours of Paramedic training, that instead of guided online/classroom learning working enjoying some well-deserved R&R, I would through the ‘paramedic bible’, Nancy gain a Diploma in Anatomy & Physiology!

Caroline’s ‘Emergency Care In The Streets’ In hindsight maybe I should have taken a followed by written and practical exams break but it did give me the knowledge that and assessments, all of which is then put I would ultimately need for the academic to practice with a minimum of 400 hours side of the Para course, so, although hard front-line clinical work. work it benefited me in the long run.

After spending a month in Malta in July Fortunately, when I embarked upon this 2014, completing exams and practical plan I was still working in Kabul on a 6/6 assessments I then went to Moldova for rotation. The job had its moments but it 45 days to work as a frontline ALS medic also afforded me plenty of free time and which allowed me to register with AREMT I was able to commit to a couple of hours as a Remote Paramedic. We worked 24hr

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I achieved what I set out to and have put myself in a position where I am very comfortable, financially, I’ve had some incredible experiences and I’ve learned a huge amount shifts rotating between the ambulance, A&E and ICU departments thus gaining vast and broad experience working alongside English speaking doctors who also act as mentors for trainees.

at university and is a level 5 academic qualification so I am able to do 1 year dayrelease at university here and then register as a UK Paramedic.

Expenditure During my time in Malta I started applying So, all in all, what has it cost me? At a for positions across the Middle East as rough estimate I would say somewhere a ‘Tier 2 Medic’ and was lucky enough in the region of £25-30k for training and to walk straight into a position as the travel cost, over the course of 5 years. lead medic for a locally owned company Additionally, depending on your situation, in Basra. Here I gained vast experience you may also have to factor in a loss of in dealing with everything from heart earnings too as it is highly probable would issues to lung infections and all manner need to become unemployed to dedicate of traumatic injuries. I held this position yourself to the hours required. I do know for 14 months I decided to call it a day. people who have taken a similar route to Having spent the better part of 12 years me and stayed in work but it has taken prior to that working in and out of hostile them a lot longer. So, if you’re not in a environments I felt it was the right time rush to qualify and you’re looking for a to come back to the UK and attempt to more cost effective route then it could be a establish some ‘normality’ in my life, consideration. whatever that may be!

Lessons Learned Due to the fact that the AREMT Soon after becoming qualified an qualification is not recognised in the UK I opportunity presented itself, which I had to do yet another course to enable me turned down but in ‘hindsight’ perhaps I to work in the UK. I completed a 2 week should have taken. I was offered a position conversion course and managed to get an with RMSI working as a remote paramedic interview with Yorkshire Ambulance Trust on a rescue team based in Mogadishu and have since been offered a position as Somalia. I was earning well above the an advanced Technician. It’s not working average for medics at the time and so I at paramedic level but the trust will put turned it down, but thinking about it now, me through university so I can work as an it would have been fantastic experience HCPC paramedic in the UK eventually. for me and would have broadened my The AREMT course equates to 1 year medical knowledge massively. Ultimately

By: Jon Dennison

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we need to decide whether it is the $ which is driving us or not, I am now in a position where it’s not purely about the money but like so many in this industry I was very driven by the dollar for a long while. Looking at it retrospectively, I think maybe it was my need to justify the massive financial outlay to both myself and my wife

that kept in in Iraq when I could have gone to Somalia and earned less but developed more.

Present Day As I wait to start with the UK ambulance service, this is a good point to reflect and when I look back over the last 5 years

By: Jon Dennison and consider whether the thousands of pounds spent and the hundreds of training hours consumed over the last 5 years have been well invested? Ultimately, yes, I believe so. I achieved what I set out to and have put myself in a position where I am very comfortable, financially, I’ve had some incredible experiences and I’ve learned a huge amount, which conclusively reaffirms my belief that medicine is the field where I want to spend the rest of my working life.

SIA course and heading out to the Middle East, there is a shortage of properly qualified, registered medics in these hostile environments, for the time being. As a qualified medic there are opportunities all over the world, such as working for the many established oil companies, so we are not only limited to the Middle East, which no longer seems to be the place to earn decent wages anymore. Becoming qualified is neither an easy option, nor a cheap one and there are certainly no short cuts but the end result is well worth it. People sometimes look at me strangely when I tell them how much time and money I have spent but to me the end result justifies the sacrifices I have made to get here.

I have re-registered with AREMT and will continue to do so every year just in case the ‘dream job’ comes my way, Qualification Portfolio never-say-never, as they say.

As an idea of how many courses you can expect to complete to make Final Thoughts yourself a well-rounded, qualified To anyone thinking about medic these are the qualifications making the transition from I have amassed to date; FPOS (I), security consultant to medic MIRA, Remote Team Medic (First I would wholeheartedly line response), Pre Hospital Medical recommend it. If you’re Technician (Medipro Training), considering working long IHCD Ambulance Technician, term in theatres such as Iraq, City & Guilds Food hygiene + Afghanistan, and so on then you safety, Diploma in A&P, Diploma need to make yourself as employable in Pathology, Industry Paramedic as possible. In the current climate, (Merit training), AREMTone of the best ways to do that is Paramedic, ACLS/PALS, Difficult to become a well-qualified and Airway Course (Merit training), experienced medic. Where the Assessment and treatment of security industry is flooded with trauma, PHTLS, Pharmacology for guys leaving the forces, doing an the remote medic.

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TRAINING A DYING ART OR A LYING ART In the United States, expectations rise when people see the letters EPS following the name of someone who performs executive protection professionally.

Ideally, Executive Protection Specialists earn the right to use the post-nominal letters EPS because they have a hefty amount of training and experience in personal safety as a discipline. To uninformed and unsuspecting clients, hiring executive protection specialists means their personal safety is secure and they can shift their focus back on their business. In reality however, executive protection as a discipline encompasses a wide spectrum of special skills.

Understanding the depth and breadth of special skills possessed by every member of a protective team may save the life of

both the client and protection specialists.

Consequently, I partner with executive protection specialists only if we’ve trained together or, they’ve been trained by a professional I trust. Under these conditions we know how best to support each other. This approach leverages our capacity to protect a client’s life—and ours.

As an owner of a full service protection agency and a trainer, I have heard every excuse in the world from “specialists” who say they’re not ready to upgrade their skills. It is a bit remarkable when people

By: Mark “Six” James CPO, EPS, CAS who include EPS with their signature tell me they have no time for training because they’re working two jobs. After all, it is the combination of industry specific experience and training that justifies the EPS title. I find it humorous when a colleague says, “As soon as my money gets right, I’ll get with you.” Although that excuse sounds funny to me, it’s doubtful that a paying client would be amused by a protection specialist’s lack of current training because of finances. I offer this insight to bodyguards that use these excuses: Money will never be right, and time will never be available if you don’t change your approach to operating as a professional. Build your skills. Find a way to develop relevant differentiation.

“Why pay someone for training when I can get it online for free?” First I will say training only exposes you to concepts, only proper practice builds skills. When all of your knowledge acquisition comes from online learning, or merely watching and never doing, or you have no one to validate what you are doing is correct, how do you confirm you are doing it properly?

Aristotle once said, “Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” No disrespect to Aristotle but repetition only breeds habit it doesn’t breed excellence unless the repetition is technically correct and stays relevant to the needs of the dynamic market it is serving. In a business Many people aspire to do something great like protective services unless you are continuous calibrating or benchmarking but do not exercise the discipline to build your standards against the ever changing the competency necessary to actualize client needs or risks and threats of today the aspiration. A master craftsman at and the projected future needs, then work often makes the work look easy to how do you know if you are ready? Also novices. But easy is rarely a pathway to is the way you were trained in the past excellence. I was reminded of this when still relevant to your job of today. Is the a student in one of my training classes application of that skill in your current said, “You make shooting look so easy.” I explained that easy is the illusion forged by capacity still the same? Probably not. I recently taught a CCW Holder’s Response countless hours of unseen repetition. It’s the scar tissue that results from the tumbles to Surviving an Active Shooter and Other Mass Casualty Incidents training class. In and falls, bumps and bruises, or cuts and scrapes. It is the simplicity of task driven by that class I had a student who was a 15 year federal law enforcement veteran. Before the refinement of action and economy of the class told me he had attended a number motion. It is what allows the untrained or of active shooter training classes and he the naive to think, I can do that. had been shooting for many years. I told him great so that means we don’t have In today’s world of search engines, social to spend a lot of time with basic weapon media and live streaming access to manipulation we can focus on application information has never been greater. And of tactics. After the class he said, “I now with that access many people feel they see how I was trained as a law enforcement don’t need to train or consider investing officer and the application as a protection in a training provider. They often say,

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Feature: Issue 32

specialist or an armed civilian is very different. It was a totally different filter. As it pertained to his marksmanship, I gave him one small tip that also enhanced his shooting tremendously. The benefit of professional, competent instruction is that it helps shorten the learning curve.

What are you doing to accelerate your learning curve or actual development?

When it comes to refining your skills and ultimately your marketability you must be committed to excellence. Long-term sustainable growth can never be achieved through random acts of brilliance. It is only achieved thorough consistent measurable achievement. What makes a Top 5 percenter is consistency in execution.

Excellence is defined by demonstrated competency with the ability to deliver on demand. Because in the world of protective services, we rarely get a “doover” and attacks on our client’s safety or their brands reputations will never be convenient to us, we must stay ready. And if you have not prepared/trained for success it will be impossible for it to happen in that moment of truth.

When we look at a brand like Starbucks Coffee, many people believe Starbucks is a great advertiser and marketing company, but in fact they spend very little money on marketing they spend more money on training their people than on advertising.

They allow their employees work to be

their best advertisement. So ask yourself are you actually training to develop your skills, are you procrastinating or are you lying to yourself and your clients about your readiness? Poor security and protection fools no one but the person providing it. Commit to training and making investments in your future. When you look at the best companies in the world even in tough financial times they never abandon their commitment to training and development. They believe a well-trained employee is not an expense item but a point of differentiation. It is an investment in client satisfaction, increased marketshare and incremental revenue.

Helen Thomas put it this way, “Everyone with a cell phone thinks they’re a photographer. Everyone with a laptop thinks they’re a journalist. But they have no training, and they have no idea of what we keep to in terms of standards, as in, what’s far out and what’s reality. And they have no dedication to truth.”

So training must be ongoing. It can’t be relegated to just an event, but an ongoing commitment both to the activity and the implementation into your standard operating procedures. The pursuit of excellence isn’t an option it’s a standard.

It is a lifestyle for those who desire to be the best. So without ongoing training excellence can never be achieved or maintained. Best of luck in your ongoing development.

Mark “Six” James is Founder and Executive Director of Panther Protection Services, LLC. He is an internationally published author, keynote speaker, security consultant to educational institutions and frequent contributor to a number of print, broadcast and online media. Panther Protection Services is a full service protection agency focusing on Risk and Crisis Mitigation, Protective Services, Self-Defense Training, and Firearm Instruction. www.pantherprotectionservices.com

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40

Medical: Issue 32

BASIC LIFE SUPPORT

Cardiac Arrest can happen at any time, to anybody. Yes; some people are at higher risk of cardiac arrest with certain medical conditions or co-morbidities but very occasionally it ‘just happens’.

By: Kate Owen Dip IMC RCS (Ed) Photograph © Prometheus Medical Limited

CPR is crucial. If a cardiac arrest patient receives bystander CPR, their chance of survival is about 1 in 5. If they don’t receive bystander CPR, the chance of survival is less than 1 in 20. Basic Life Support (BLS) training is something we’ve all undertaken as part of maintaining our employment skill set. It is widely accepted that these skills diminish over 3 – 6 months after initial training . Therefore, it’s worthwhile refreshing these skills on a regular basis so that, if we ever find ourselves in the position of having to administer BLS to someone suffering from cardiac arrest, we can feel confident that the treatment we provide offers the patient the best chance of survival.

In this article, we will go back to those basics with a recap on the principles of BLS. The most important thing to remember is the three S’s.: Safety to Self, Scene and Survivors – in that order. Hazards and dangers may not be apparent immediately so be cautious as you approach. If it is not safe then withdraw until help arrives.

In 2013, in England alone, the ambulance service attended approximately 28,000 people suffering an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest . The survival rate to discharge from hospital is only 8.1%. It is known that early cardiac arrest recognition, early Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), early defibrillation and early advanced life support from trained professionals are the key factors in the chain of survival.

Check for a response. Shout as you move closer. Then as you arrive at the patient’s side, gently shake their shoulder and ask them if they are alright. If the environment allows, call for help immediately. Ask for someone to fetch a defibrillator if one is available.

We continue with the <c>ABCDE approach. Never forget catastrophic haemorrhage in a cardiac arrest situation.

If you do, then it will be ‘game over’ as soon as you start. Control any visible catastrophic haemorrhage before looking

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Medical: Issue 32

at the airway. Once controlled, move on.

Look, clear, open and maintain an Airway.

Visually inspect inside the mouth. Clear any obstruction (debris or fluid) you can directly see. This may involve turning the patients head and sweeping out the obstruction with your finger. Never perform a blind finger sweep. Only do this if you see an obstruction.

Simple ways of opening an Airway include the head tilt, chin-lift manoeuvre. This provides a clear open airway by moving the tongue from the back of the mouth allowing air to pass through into the lungs.

This technique should be (where possible) avoided in traumatic cardiac arrest and a jaw thrust should then be used if you have been trained. These techniques have been discussed in previous articles. For those of you that have been trained in airway adjuncts such as the Oro-Pharyngeal Airway or Naso-Pharyngeal Airway, then now is the time to insert one.

Now your patient has a clear airway you must look, listen and feel for breathing.

Keeping the airway positioned and open, place one hand on the patientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chest and lean down to listen at their mouth to see if they are breathing normally. This should be done for a maximum of 10 seconds. If the patient is UNRESPONSIVE and NOT BREATHING NORMALLY, commence CPR. Your patient is in cardiac arrest.

It is important to recognize that agonal breathing, often described as gasping, is sign of cardiac arrest.

The above process will take less than 20 seconds if there are no immediate dangers

to yourself, the scene or your patient.

It is important that you now summon appropriate help. Call the emergency services and try and establish if you have anyone available to get access to a defibrillator. You now need to start cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Start with cardiac compressions. Place the heel of your interlocked hands onto the centre of the patientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chest. Press firmly down on the sternum (breastbone) approximately 5-6cms deep. This should be at a rate of 100-120 times per minute or twice every second. Ensure that you allow the chest to spring back into place between each compression. You need to perform 30 compressions. Then you need to give 2 rescue breaths.

When breathing for your patient, you can use mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-mask.

If you have been trained with Airway adjuncts then you possibly may have been trained with mask ventilation. Ensure you have achieved an open airway with a head tilt, chin lift (in traumatic cardiac arrest, this may be your only option if you do not have a face mask for ventilations), and then provide your patient with 2 breaths by pinching their nose and blowing into their mouth. Continue then with compressions and breaths at a ratio of 30:2. Keep interruptions to chest compression to a minimum.

If or when someone arrives with a defibrillator, and they or you are competent to use it, then attach it as soon as it arrives and follow the instructions. Continue with CPR once it is safe to do so following defibrillation.

By: Kate Owen Dip IMC RCS (Ed) Only stop CPR if any of the following occur: 1. It is too dangerous for you to carry on.

2. The patient shows signs of life by regaining consciousness. This would be coughing, opening their eyes, speaking, moving AND they must be breathing effectively.

3. Help arrives and somebody appropriately trained takes over or asks you to stop.

4. You are physically exhausted and can no longer carry out CPR. The flowchart, produced by the Resuscitation Council (UK), offers a simple algorithm to follow during adult cardiac arrest. It is advisable to read and refresh yourself with this algorithm as frequently as possible, as you never know when you will need to use it. Regular refresher training every six months will ensure your skills remain current and improve your ability to manage a medical emergency.

Available from: www.resus.org.uk

References: www.resus.org.uk/resuscitationguidelines/adult-basic-life-supportand-automated-external-defibrillation/ - process[Accessed 23 October 2015] www.bhf.org.uk/~/media/files/ publications/ohca-consensus-paper.pdf [Accessed 23 October 2015]

Kate Owen is one of Prometheusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Senior Instructors and has over 16 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience working with the UK ambulance service. She currently works as a HEMS Paramedic.

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Feature: Issue 32

WORK BY DAY, STUDY

BY NIGHT

It is not often that you can say that you have your cake and are eating it too, but part-time postgraduate study alongside working in the industry can actually be one of those times.

The prospect of leading a dual life – employee one day and student the next - may not seem overly exciting at the outset, but I’ll tell you why it is.

I am a recent graduate from a 2 year parttime master’s course in London. Whilst studying on this course I also maintained relevant part-time employment in Birmingham. For 2 years I spent the most part of the working week with my employers. I would then spend the latter days of the week commuting to my institution in London to study. Weekends were reserved for assignments or revision.

Work colleagues would remark at how little time this must leave for socialising, peer students would remark at how little time this must leave for unwinding the mind, but both were wrong. This is not to say it was easy, but it was certainly a rewarding 2 years. I learnt so much

more than just the content of my master’s course, and I didn’t have to totally sacrifice my social life or ‘unwind-time’ in the process. In this article I will discuss my personal experience of studying as a part-time postgraduate student alongside employment. Whilst I’ll be focussing on postgraduate study specifically, many of the topics I will share with you may extend to other forms of part-time learning.

Reasons to study It’s an expensive activity just to gain a few more letters after your name, so we are probably driven by a much greater desire to study. When I decided to pursue postgraduate study I was working fulltime in a job I enjoyed, yet I still wished to expand my knowledge and skills. I wanted to gain a deeper analytical understanding of my own profession and practice.

By: Leah Ashmore-Hills

Although I did not realise at the time, it was the ethos of evidence-based practice (EBP) driving me to further my studies.

The answers to these questions will largely dictate whether a) you are looking for a part-time taught degree or b) you are looking for a distance learning course.

Selecting the course There are also a handful of opportunities There are so many options when it comes that combine these two options â&#x20AC;&#x201C; courses to postgraduate study. The good news that run predominantly via distance is that if you are considering studying learning but with occasional week or alongside employment then you can weekend long workshops of taught input. immediately filter your options to courses For me, I knew that I learn best when designed to suit your needs. The questions receiving regular face-to-face taught to ask yourself are: sessions. Therefore, I searched for courses 1. Do I want to change my working in my area of interest that offered partpattern, or do I want to fit my studies time study options, with modules on set around my full-time work schedule? days each week to facilitate part-time 2. Do I want to attend taught sessions, or working agreements with employers. I do I want to read and complete the found my ideal course, applied, and was course material by myself? accepted.

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Feature: Issue 32

Preparing for postgraduate study The start of the academic year involved a lot of change. I commenced the course, my part-time employment, and quickly learnt how to metaphorically juggle. Being one of only a few part-time students on the course, we soon discovered our own unique employee-student challenges, and devised the most efficient solutions to counteract them. I have summarised the challenges in the diagram below, and will go through each of my solutions in turn.

The financial cost Managing the financial aspects of studying whilst working on a part-time

The financial cost Competing demands

basis was a challenge but manageable.

When researching the tuition cost of my chosen masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s course I also budgeted for additional costs such as commuting, printing, thesis binding, and sustenance.

Being aware of the full range of costs involved in studying helped to eliminate the possibility of nasty surprises along the way.

Competing demands The workloads for both my course and employment competed for priority at times. This was a difficult challenge to experience, but I found the solution was to plan in advance when I predicted a

Researching all costs in advance and budgeting accordingly Pre-planning where possible

THE SOLUTIONS

THE CHALLENGES Finding time Switching mind-sets

Deciding on fixed times and places to study Compartmentalizing

By: Leah Ashmore-Hills

Managing the financial aspects of studying whilst working on a part-time basis was a challenge but manageable. surge in demands for one or the other would occur, e.g. assignment deadlines, predicted projects at work, etc. Working to a clear pre-planned schedule helped to pace both workloads.

after a short while I began to learn to compartmentalize my time and this became a new way of life.

The advantages The degree transcript, letters after your Finding time name, and potential for improved future The biggest challenge was learning how career prospects are all obvious benefits and when to find time to study. My of postgraduate study. However, the postgraduate course required many advantages of the study experience do hours of independent study, and finding not end here. Studying whilst working suitable fixed time to complete this took in the industry enabled me to apply practice. I found that the commuting newly learnt material from the classroom trains became guaranteed hours to read directly to my own practice in situ. The course materials, and a couple of hours unique position of being able to do this each evening with all communication also allowed me to consolidate the theory devices turned off became a good time to and research taught in the classroom. focus on studying.

Conclusion The different mind-sets Whilst juggling part-time employment Academic study and a working life and postgraduate study had its required two very different mind-sets. challenges, I found the advantages Whilst I found it easy to adopt the right far outweighed the tricky bits. I am mind-set when walking into each of the graduating with a masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree and environments, the challenge came when a newly acquired skill set that only dividing my own time. Initially it was came from the experience of easy to become distracted by thoughts of studying and working in the industry work errands when attempting to focus simultaneously. on studies, and vice versa. However, Leah holds a BSc with honours in Psychology and an MSc in Forensic Mental Health Research. Leah works as the Network Facilitator for the Crime Linkage International Network (C-LINK, see www.crimelinkage.org) based at Birmingham City University. She has also worked as a consultant for Perpetuity Training who specialise in security training (see www.perpetuitytraining.com).

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Feature: Issue 32

VEHICLE SECURITY TIPS: HOW TO STAY OFF THE ‘X’

Providing protective services requires a mind set that differs dramatically from the norm. This line of work demands a forward-thinking anticipation of what might occur and developing solutions on how to mitigate those risks.

How does this differ from the norm?

Half of the people on this planet are categorized into below average intelligence. Humor aside, this is not a knuckle dragger’s profession.

The strongest weapon you possess must be your mind.

When considering the dangers associated with your average principal, the most significant threats are most probable to manifest themselves while in transit.

Additionally, if you were to research incidents on protected individuals, you

will find the majority of attacks occur in or within close proximity to their vehicle.

This being the case, vehicle security is paramount and should be heavily reflected in your training hours, research, protective intelligence, etc.

In order to justify the case further and use published statistics, let’s consider the most commonly ambushed demographic on US soil, our Law Enforcement. The DOJ, FBI and IACP provide data on violent ambushes on law enforcement officers, in which the average encounter lasts about

By: Joseph M LaSorsa

three seconds. However, the average response to the threat is over five seconds.

Keep in mind this is the average response of trained law enforcement officers. As you may be able to conclude, the rest of us who are limited by having to pay out of pocket for training should spend our time and training dollars effectively in order to be more prepared for such a probable attack methodology.

So the next question is, “How can we train in order to reduce that reactionary gap?” By training awareness, and more appropriately how to be aware, what to be aware of and the need to avoid complacency. To that end, in our training programs, we cover topics such as Behavioral Analysis, Human Factors and Counter-Surveillance. These topics

are a critical component to employing awareness and proactive measures to reduce these risks and reduce reaction time. We discuss things such as identifying armed individuals through body language and clothing indicators as well as “Pre-Attack” indicators, like assaultive body language, biometrics and kinesics. Knowing these can make the difference of a two second reaction time, to a 3 second reaction time which will keep you off of the ‘X’ and ensure you and your principal go home that night.

Below are some of the tactics, techniques and procedures that can be effectively used to avoid an ambush, decrease your reaction time and increase your probability of survival:

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Feature: Issue 32

Get off the “X”!

If you find yourself in a vehicle ambush, you should look no further than to the U.S. Military for an answer. While vehicle ambushes are relatively rare in CONUS+, they are most commonly experienced by our military forces who therefore have the strongest reason for developing a solution to this problem. Their training and equipment has been designed to meet and exceed this challenge, so let’s try to learn from their experiential knowledge and skip learning it the hard way. “Get off the X” or “Driving out of the Kill Zone” is as simple as it can be. An ambush will always put you at the disadvantage; you will not have a say in where you get attacked. Exiting your vehicle to counter the ambush is not preferred as you remain in the kill zone. Driving off the X or even using your car as a weapon is going to be

a much more effective solution in most cases.

Smart Staging-Area Selection A very vulnerable time of being in transit is when you are staged, standing by or waiting for your principle. Not only could an attack occur directed at you or because of simple association with the vehicle but this is where the plan of an impending attack can be developed. When selecting a staging area, ideally you should select a secure location where unknowns cannot approach your vehicle. At least, you should select a location in which you can be vigilant of the immediate area, scanning for potential threats and aware of any surveillance or intel gathering activities. Scan parking lots and intersections as you enter them and always have an escape plan, parking your

“Don’t focus so hard on the lion across the valley that you miss the snake at your feet.”

By: Joseph M LaSorsa vehicle for a rapid exit.

Counter-Surveillance Use mirrors often (keep them clean), constantly observe those around you and make sure you aren’t being followed.

A vehicle following you after few turns should give you an idea that you may be in danger. Make eye contact with others when you can; a rule that we live by when conducting surveillance operations is not to make eye contact to avoid exposing yourself – make eye contact to assist in identifying their intentions and pay particular attention to those that avoid looking at you. (The interested/ disinterested behavior)

approach you while you are sitting in your vehicle. This is tricky in some regions where drivers can be less courteous, such as NYC or Boston, etc. Be especially cautious when cars stop suddenly in front of you. When someone exits their vehicle, pay attention to the first thing they look at as well as if they leave their door open.

These be behavioral cues could be assist in identifying their intentions, whether they are planning on attacking you and running back to their car or just shaking off a spider.

Lastly, and on a side note: Use Your Seatbelt!

If anyone tells you that they don’t wear their seatbelt because they are trying to Utilize Route Variance maintain mobility is only going to succeed Try to avoid using the same routes to and in maintaining their mobility while being from a destination, particularly if this is ejected in an accident. In my research, a daily commute. This effort should be I have yet to see a vehicle ambush at stressed while driving home or back to highway speeds…and you won’t survive where you came from after a public event exiting at those speeds anyway. In or any time when your principal’s location CONUS+ you are more likely to get in an was published. accident, an unintentional incident if you will, than a vehicular ambush, especially Optimize Your Reaction Time/Space if you have been trained to be proactive.

Remember to leave space between your As a practitioner from one of the most vehicle and those around you. (a good dangerous places in the world once told rule of thumb is to ensure you can see me while we were training together, where the rear tires of the vehicle in front “Don’t focus so hard on the lion across of you contact the road) Whenever it is the valley that you miss the snake at your possible to do so, avoid letting someone feet.”

Joseph M LaSorsa is currently employed as a senior partner managing and conducting: Protective Operations Training Courses, Executive Protection & Bodyguard Services, Risk Management Consultations & Seminars, Workplace Violence Prevention Seminars & Intervention Services, Security Consultations & Seminars, Private Investigations and Technical Surveillance Counter-Measures with LaSorsa & Associates – an International Protection, Investigations & Security Consulting Firm. https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephmlasorsa

By: Sam Alicea

WORKING WITH ENTERTAINERS: COMMUNICATING WITH THE HOUSE

The Saga continues, day after day, night after night as you travel from one city to the next visiting Theaters, Amphitheaters, Concert Halls and Arenas.

You are in full tour mode, arriving at locations in the wee hours of the morning ready to hit the ground running but not knowing exactly what to expect. Everyone is preparing for the big show while you are preparing a “show” of your own. You have ten hours to evaluate your locale as well as designate and coordinate the key players in your show. However, successfully navigating the security measures at venues and modifying them to your advantage can be a daunting task.

you will be ready for show time. However, you know one intangible is always the uncertainty of the venue security staff. It’s a given that they may have varying levels of security knowledge depending on the location, regulations and staff on hand that day.

On this date you are at one of the most famous arenas in the world, with a crowd capacity of 20,000, a security force of 150, and a police presence assigned to the venue that consists of 25 Officers 3 Sergeants and When you arrive at the venue you a Lieutenant. So how do you interface with immediately begin your advance. these various elements when your objective Methodically and carefully you conduct your is to ensure control of the venue from a walk through as you check off every item on security standpoint? How do you handle your Site Advance List. Egress points, safety an event of this magnitude with so many of the stage, arrival & departure routes, moving parts; administration, security Artists parking, security check points, etc. personnel and police? How do you bypass Feeling confident having have addressed all of the “you can’t”, “it’s not permitted” everything on your list you now believe and “there are no exceptions”? How do you

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Feature: Issue 32

walk into a security briefing with all of the key players and their “set in stone” security methods and successfully have them adapted molded and shaped to fit your specific needs?

as well as your own. Remember, the administration has to deal with venue concerns day in and day out, and at times they already have a preconceived notion about the traveling security. The speaker may have a stern, non The key to navigating through all of these compromising posture and you obstacles is not in hand to hand combative know you will have to win his techniques or precision marksmanship, trust. One way is simply by but rather solid and direct communication. stating” I know this is a security The art of expressing yourself, making your briefing, but relax we are not point, sharing your idea, negotiating and the enemy, we are here to help making deals. This is the one tool that will make this event go as smooth as dull without use and that we must remember possible.” Quickly break down to continuously sharpen. At the end of any barriers you notice and the day, the goal is to make your principals be personable and receptive. arrival, temporary stay and departure as Don’t fold your arms and puff uneventful and as smooth as possible. One up your chest at the end of the of the keys is to speak plainly and keep it conference table. Instead, relax, simple. The security briefing is not the place lean in toward the speaker to to throw around your eloquent knowledge show interest. Use open hand and philosophy of executive protection. gestures when talking as it tells The ability to express yourself, listen, the listener you are approachable compromise, negotiate and understand body and you are someone with language is all part of the process that will whom they can work. Nod your help you achieve your goals. head when they are speaking as this also sends a positive signal.

Listen.

In order to be a good communicator you

need to be a good listener. When you are Negotiate. in that security briefing, listen attentively You’ve got to act like a and show some interest. Take mental businessman, a negotiator, a deal and written notes. Once the individual is maker and compromise (within finished speaking you can address your limits of course). Remember, concerns and respond to the most important your Principal and your team hurdles in your way. Listen and identify are counting on it. When you their greatest concerns. You may find that are faced with the “you can’t” their greatest concern is pretty far down on and “there are no exceptions”, your list and addressing early makes things you need to be able to overcome go much smoother. those obstacles by negotiating and making deals. Find out Observe. the reason for why you CAN’T Make note of the speaker’s body language and work on a way to bypass

By: Sam Alicea

that. Remember to make sure that they get something out of the deal as well. Promise them the sink but deliver them the house.

Solid communication skills are essential

to the Protectorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success if the intent is to rise above glorified bullet blocker. Just as we train in marksmanship and martial arts, verbal judo is an art the specialist needs to master.

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Feature: Issue 32

noun 1. a cultured man of the Renaissance who was knowledgeable, educated, or proficient in a wide range of fields.

2. (sometimes lowercase) a presentday man who has acquired profound knowledge or proficiency in more than one field.

Every once in a rare while one has the opportunity to encounter an individual whose depth of knowledge surpasses what seems possible. Whether a teacher of multiple martial arts, an architect with buildings around the world, or an artist that works in multiple mediums, these individuals share one common characteristic: the constant desire to explore, learn, create, and share their accumulated knowledge.

Dale L. June is one such individual. His resume reads like a laundry list of desired security positions: city police officer, Army military policeman, U.S. Secret Service Agent (Presidential Protective Division), U.S. Customs Intelligence Specialist, private investigator, and Executive Protection specialist. And this list doesn’t begin to touch the other side of Mr. June’s career: professional educator.

He holds a B.A. (Public Administration)

and M.A. (Criminal Justice), is the cofounder of Henley-Putnam University - he created over 40 of the university’s courses - has written numerous books, and has nearly three decades of teaching experience in subjects as varied as religious studies and criminal justice.

He is also a member of the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame.

I had the opportunity to speak with Mr. June and discuss a bit of his history, his take on the current state of the Executive Protection world, and gain some insight into the latest edition of his classic book: Introduction to Executive Protection, Third Edition.

I’d like to start with a question that you ask in your book: “What was it about EP that interested you and what made it your choice of career?”

By: Miguel DeCoste DJ: It’s really very simple. Basically, I knew from when I was real, real little that I was going to be in law enforcement. I felt it was natural for me. Graduated Sunday night, Monday morning I was signed up for the military. After the Army, I started on the college security patrol. They put me in because I had MP experience. And since the program was sponsored by the Shasta County Sheriff ’s Department, I did that next. During my year off I worked at the Redding Police Department and when I transferred to Sacramento State, I worked for the Sacramento Police Department. By my senior year of college, I decided that the work wasn’t for me anymore and I wanted something new.

EP since you entered it and when do you think that change occurred?

I considered the CIA, but that didn’t seem right for a few different reasons, so I thought, “Secret Service!” I took the test and graded in the top three. And they did the background check and everything and I was in. I’ll never forget my first day: I walked in and the boss said to the secretary, “Show him to his office”. She walked me across the hall and opened a door…and I was literally in the janitor’s broom closet. I had a tiny folding table and chair. That Wednesday I was driving one of the candidates for the Presidency.

That was the beginning of 12 and a half years in the service.

Things really started changing in the ‘00’s.

With the happenstance of 2001 the word “terrorism” really came to the fore. It had been going on for years and years, but “not in my backyard”. So you had a few schools like ESI, but not really anyone else. I would say 2001. Once in awhile I’ll have a young person ask about entering the field with no experience. You know, they see the “glory” side of things. Not the downsides: the sleepless nights, the missed meals, the family life. They don’t see the reality.

DJ: In the 80’s, you could look in the telephone directories and not find anyone who did EP work. There were security companies that had “executive protection” services but all they would do would be set up an alarm system installation. So if anyone wanted someone for that type of work, they would hire a private detective or private investigator that had concealed weapons permits, but they didn’t have any training. There were a few of us doing the work, but even we had to educate ourselves as far as the private sector was concerned.

For most people in the field, this “reality” is just another part of the job and it has always been a constant.

This is what I am. This is what I’ve done Do you think that the challenges are all my life. Even when I was a kid I was the one who fought with the bullies. It was different from the early days of EP? a natural progression for me.

DJ: The job has definitely become more How have things change din the field of sophisticated. The field has branched

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Feature: Issue 32

out. In the early days, EP was for the political field or very, very wealthy business people. High profile individuals, but not necessarily under any type of serious threat. They just knew that they needed some protection if and when they travelled. Now, we have all kinds of security!

they get in a shootout? The department?

The individual who hires them? I see it as a potential trouble spot.

We have more people doing celebrities and professional sports and athletes.

And this has been a good thing because we are starting to have more and more people who are trained in it. Because we have such great schools such as ESI and Henley-Putnam that specialize in the field, we have more individuals who know the work. It’s not just a body in a suit anymore.

DJ: What I tell all my students is to take just enough courses to fill the requirements for what you want to do. Everything else should be sociology, history, English, the arts. Be multidisciplinary. Explore other areas.

And continuing education is key. I try to use my life experiences to help others learn. I’ll use a book to find a good course of subject matter and bring to the table what I’ve learned from my experiences.

What do you see as the positives and negatives of how the business has changed?

DJ: The training aspect is a great positive.

We’re seeing that more and more individuals in the field are educated.

You need a full, well-rounded education.

Because you don’t know who you’re dealing with on a day to day basis. It can be a President one minute and a homeless person the next. You have to show both individuals the same respect to be effective.

I do have to say that I’m not really excited about hiring off-duty police officers. If a police officer is working while he is “off duty” is he really off duty? Who’s liable if

You are a big proponent of continuing education. Do you think it is more important for an agent to be specialized or to have a broad view, jack of all trades approach?

Is that why you wrote this 3rd edition of Introduction to Executive Protection?

DJ: When I did the first edition, it was almost all Executive Protection. When I did the 2nd edition, I added over 200 new pages of stuff. In this edition I changed a lot and added material on assassinations and much more. And I still left things out!

The intent of executive protection is to “protect against harm”, right? If a person uses critical thinking then you can resolve anything. Every problem has a solution; you just need to take the time to figure it out. In this field you are limited by only your imagination (if you can think about it can be done), your finances (if you can

By: Miguel DeCoste afford it, you can make it a reality), and common sense. And not enough people are using common sense. Hopefully this book will help develop some of that.

Think like your adversaries. They aren’t dumb. They study like we do. They train like we do. This book shows that.

How can EP specialists – whether they are novices or veterans – best use your book and what can they learn from it?

DJ: The biggest thing is what I just mentioned: learn to think. Become a critical thinker. Take an Advance for example. Everyone has checklists and ideas of how an Advance on a location should be done. But how many people attack their own plan? It’s what I call a ‘Mirror Advance’. The more I know about you, the more I can predict with 99% accuracy where you are going to be and what you are going to be doing. So this is exactly what an attacker does.

If they know that a VIP is coming all they have to do is watch for the security people. You can pick them out. They’re walking along with a clipboard. All they have to do is just follow them. Security makes a plan. The attackers make a counter-counter plan. Security makes a plan to counter that. So what security needs to do is look for those individuals.

Again, it’s just common sense.

to implement those plans in the best way possible. Learn to think outside of the box! Overlooking one thing can be the literal death of you. You can’t get lazy or complacent.

You share some of your thoughts on the future of security and Executive Protection in this edition. Can you give a glimpse of that? And where does technology fit into all of this.

DJ: In terms of security generally speaking, I see where the Police are going to be focusing more and more on surface matters and security companies will be doing the neighborhood patrols.

It’s already happening. That’s the wave of the future. I’m also seeing that people are seeing the importance of Executive Protection. But the price is dropping, which is bad. I see more education, which is good.

Unfortunately, there is more reliance on technology to do Advances. I’m not a big fan of that. You can’t see everything.

Technology has a place and we’ll be using it more. But people are falling too much into it. Do your research everywhere, not just online. And use common sense.

I had a supervisor when I was on the President’s security detail and he would come around all the time and ask, “What did you learn new today about My book (The 3rd edition of Introduction Protection?” And that’s what I do. I keep questioning and trying to find new to Executive Protection) allows you to answers. Like I said earlier, “That’s what I develop not only the checklists but the am”. I want to remain curious. critical thinking skills which allow you Dale L. Junes book, Introduction to Executive Protection, 3rd Edition is available internationally on Amazon.com

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Editorial Issue 32

I think it’s no secret that I love our industry, the business is rewarding on so many different levels. While not easy, with the proper preparation, education and window of opportunity, it can take you around the world and back again.

With that said, there is one thing that drives me up the wall -- it’s the demographic of “know-it-alls” that have to prove EP superiority by criticizing and critiquing any and everything that comes across their radar. I call these men (and women) Armchair Quarterbacks.

Now many have heard the term before, however my definition is slightly different.

One might categorize the Armchair Quarterback as someone who comments on the job but has never done it before. The mental image conjured is an overweight guy sitting on the couch screaming loudly at how lousy the sports team is playing and telling all who are in earshot what they should be doing to win. However, the irony is that it’s pretty apparent that this guy hasn’t played the game in decades, if ever, and certainly not on a professional level. This guy is all bluster, and usually his commentary comes in a condescending manner, because, of course, he could do it better.

My take is that in the Close Protection industry, our Armchair Quarterbacks are oftentimes doing the business on multiple

levels to varying degrees of success, but instead of enjoying that success and motivating and inspiring others, they spend a noticeable degree of time criticizing every play someone else makes. They do this even though they have no influence on the outcome of the event, and in each and every situation they let you know how it should have been done and of course how they would have done it better. This to me is the same as the guy on the couch with the giant bowl of popcorn and the six pack of beer yelling at the screen. –It accomplishes little.

The inexperienced Armchair QB’s are one thing, “Father forgive them, they know not what they do, “usually I put these individuals in the “fake it to make it” category. They are blustering for the audience, and usually their preferred method of expression is via social media. The internet is an amazing tool, and can give you the same amount of “liquid courage” that a 6-pack can. They figure no one call tell they are on the novice end of the spectrum if they criticize another Agent for an error (real or imagined) particularly if it goes with the court of popular opinion that social media message boards are rife with.

Keeping Your Edge By: Elijah Shaw “That agent should not be with that client, he’s looking in the wrong direction.” Never mind that photos, and even videos are a “snapshot in time” and things are not always what they appear.

this person with a fine glass of wine and a juicy steak watching their big screen TV and shaking their head, “wrong, wrong, wrong, in my 20 years of Executive Protection work, I would have done this…”

More annoying, or rather disheartening to me is the senior level Protection Specialist, who always has commentary on what this person or that person is doing wrong. This individual almost always “leads with the resume,” meaning they inevitably start of the conversation with telling you how long they have been in the business and what they have seen and done. While those might be facts, the fact that they need to be repeated over and over, (in many instances to the same people), means that the focus of the conversation really doesn’t have much to do with the other person’s success or failure, but with the need to show that no matter what, they could do it so much better. Instead of beer and popcorn on the couch, I envision

Sometimes it’s just plan braggadocio, designed to make them look better by crapping on someone else. Then of course there is the segment that do it because directly or indirectly they are trying to sell something. Don’t get me wrong, as a practitioner of the craft, and a training provider, I’m a big advocate of Whitepapers, and I believe some of the greatest lessons can be learned by the observation and analysis of mistakes. I just want us to be honest with ourselves, what’s our intent when we criticize, is it to make someone else better, or just to announce to the world that we are better, and use someone else’s error to help us shine a little brighter?

Elijah Shaw is the CEO of Icon Services Corporation and The National Director of the North American Bodyguard Association

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Regular Issue 32

Working Girl Business has been busy of late on the surveillance side of things and one thing that happened recently has stuck in my mind.

Whilst being part of a large team I was parked up in a side road in central London. side of me, further down the road was a couple of takeaways and an Indian restaurant. I was not eyeball but waiting several streets away for an “off ” when and if the subject of enquiry was spotted.

Behind me I heard the sound of a couple arguing and as they walked past I could see the young female was inebriated, she staggered towards the open gates of the building site and stopped. Her boyfriend was obviously fed up with her drunken behaviour and insisted he needed to go to the supermarket round the corner; she opted to wait where she was for him.

Operations Director Optimal Risk Management Ltd

The street was badly lit and a large hoarding with gates which opened up to a building site was one

After the boyfriend walked away the female half stood half leant on the open gates, I then saw three males who had been standing outside one of the takeaways walk towards her, they hadn’t seen me sitting with a colleague in the car. They walked past the young girl then circled back, one of them was using the phone, another male

www.optimalrisk.com By: Jacquie Davis appeared and I can tell you the atmosphere was electric.

It was obvious what they had in mind, young female drunk on her own and they were circling their prey. I had two nines dialed into my phone but before I could enter the third nine they made a move towards her, my colleague put on the cars headlights and suddenly the men were aware we were there.

They stopped moving towards the girl and tried to look into the car but blinded by the lights they were like rabbits caught in a trap.

Suddenly the girl made her move, she pushed passed them into the main street and away from the dark entrance to the building site.

As she wobbled across the road her boyfriend reappeared with supermarket shopping in hand and the four men slunk back towards the kebab shop.

The things you see when on surveillance are amazing and sometimes you have to do the right thing without completely showing out.

There was no way was I going to let a young girl

be assaulted when I could have done something to stop it without compromising the job in hand.

As I write this the news I hear is that “Jihadi John” has been killed in a drone strike.

Hopefully the Russians have taken revenge for the awful killing of the 220 passengers killed when a plane came down over the Sinai dessert, a suspected bomb being the culprit.

I’ve worked in Egypt many times and some of their airport security leaves a lot to be desired, lazy sleeping guards, CCTV that doesn’t work and just a general lethargic and lax approach to security.

I have spoken to senior Police officers who work at main airports in the region and I am informed that they feel like they are losing a battle with untrained staff and a general feeling of “it wont happen to us”.

So next time you are held up by security at Heathrow or JFK think how lucky we are to have robust security measures in place.

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W - www.abisolutions.co.uk Amanda Campbell A highly motivated and experienced female operative both CP and Surveillence training T – 07596542249 W - www.amandacampbell.org.uk E - ac@amandacampbell.org.uk Ambassador Security Management ASM MK Lions Arena, Grafton Court, Snowden Drive, Winterhill, Milton Keynes, MK6 1AJ, GBR. After successfully gaining ACS (Door Supervision and Manned Guarding) along with ISO 9000, we here at ASM have a dedicated management team with hundreds of years combined experience in the security industry.

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E: Office@arkprotect.com T: +0044 01634 845526 Argus Europe County Durham Argus Europe has been providing specialist training for high-net worth clients and their families for close to 20 years, worldwide. Argus Europe now offer accredited training for CPO’s, Surveillance Operators and Private detectives.

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W: www.arguseurope.co.uk T: +44 (0) 8456 123 843 Atlantian Business Solutions Group Rutland, LE15 6SD, GBR Atlantian Business Solutions has been designed to help both individuals and New Companies build for the future as well as support others with training needs.

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W: www.briareussecurity.com E: info@briareussecurity.com Mark Corder - Chief Executive of Carmdale Ltd Suite 3 219 Bow Road London E3 2SJ Mark is a former Senior Police Officer specialising in counter-terrorism; firearms; public order; training and also physical, Critical National Infrastructure and nuclear security, having had responsibility for the security of the UK’s nuclear deterrent. A former Head of Operations, Operational Support and Training, Mark has been involved in a number large-scale incidents (including 7/7) and has also worked at the Office for Security and Counter Terrorism (OSCT) at the Home Office as part of a review into Critical National Infrastructure security.

Mark has an MBA via the OU. E: mark.corder@carmdale.co.uk T: +44 (0)844 995 9900 W: www.carmdale.co.uk Alastair Christie Advice on site security, perimeter fencing, lighting, CCTV and manning requirements.

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65 specialising in Risk consultancy and Security project management. Providing a comprehensive portfolio of Risk mitigation solutions to assist Businesses and individuals to plan for, manage and mitigate risk.

T: 01432 277693 W: www.custodia.co.uk DF Risk Management Solutions DF Risk Management Solutions N.I. is a modern, professional risk management company, with a diverse range of global strategic experiences and a team of executives who possess dynamic but complementary backgrounds.

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W: info@g6-global.com T: +44 (0)1454 610050 Gordon Russell Highly trained frontline Close Protection Operatives available for UK and International contracts. Our experienced CPO’s can offer bespoke packages to meet all clients needs, including a variety of language skills. All SIA licenced, BBA member E: Bodyguard-cpo@Email.cz T: +44 (0)7917 281 004 Gareth Evans - CPO, MSO Reliable dedicated hard-working security professional, with outstanding communication skills. Strategic approach to problem solving combined with exceptional interpersonal skills, quick to grasp new concepts and information. Highly motivated, results-driven and thrives under pressure. Strong leadership and management skills with proven experience committed to continuous personal and professional development.

E : evansgareth1979@yahoo.co.uk T : +44 (0)7900058603 James Izett All close protection task undertaken, including training tasks. Medic (Registered with the HPCSA, Registered FAAW instructor and Assessor E : J.Izett@gmail.com T : +971 (0)505 574 350

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To place a classified lineage or box advertisement telephone our sales team on: +44 (0) 191 6450 865

Janice Gurney Proficient and diligent Security Professional gaining extensive knowledge and experience within the security sector. Proactive individual who has a logical, flexible and conscientious approach to all challenges undertaken, ability to work as a member of a team or as an individual willing to work anywhere.

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T: + 44 (0) 1423 712265 W: www.intelsecurity.co.uk Jason Morris Security Hertfordshire, UK Providing a wide range of Door supervision/ security for V.I.P and prestige venues, Concerts, Functions, Corporate and Personal Security, Weddings, Private Parties, Gala Dinners, Business Awards & School Proms, Close Protection and Body Guarding Static Guarding and Stewards.

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oriented skills and managerial experience in the Security Industry, interested in a challenging position, which would fully utilize competences gained and provides opportunities for professional and personal development. With 15 + years of international experience in the sector at all levels and a military background (National Service) as well as a practical Close Protection experience in an executive environment, corporate intelligence and investigations.

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E : benshearman10@hotmail.com T : +44 (0)7930 277586 Spotllght Protection Services Essex based business which provides a broad and growing range of security services to businesses and organisations large and small.

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layered RSA/AES combination and a changing session key which modifies the encryption algorithm every second. € 1,398.00 + VAT. All prices include new Nokia N73 phone. BBA Member.

T: + 357 7777 7276 W: www.protechcy.com/new TPT Firearms Training Bratislava , Slovakia and Rome , Italy We know from our extensive experience within the industry that it can be daunting when initially carrying a firearm and being responsible for protecting a clients life, but learning the proper techniques and having the ability to understand the weapon will make the job a lot easier and more enjoyable. Hopefully you will never have to use the weapons you carry, but should this prove necessary you will be confident and knowledgeable enough to handle the situation professionally and effectively.

T : +44 (0) 7734101910 E : info@tacticalprotectionteam.co.uk W : www.tacticalprotectionteam.co.uk Security Concierge Group SCG Special Projects Ltd, Avenida, Bartolome Vicente Ramon No 10, B16, Ibiza, 07800, ESP Security Concierge Group is a privately owned and fully independent provider of exceptional security services to an interesting and varied range of clients.

T: 00 34 600 665 275 W: www.securityconciergegroup.com E: joe.buckle@securityconciergegroup.com Americas Bodyguard Careers Bodyguard Careers is an informational site with the purpose of providing bodyguards with all the information and tools necessary to succeed in the Close Protection Industry Info@BodyguardCareers.com www.BodyguardCareers.com Canadian Use of Force Systems 7975 Yonge St. # 7124, Innisfil, ON, L9S 1L0, CANADA A professional Use of Force and Defensive.

Tactics organization teaching a full range of controlled response options for Self-Protection and Use of Force considerations in public and professional environments. BBA Associate Member.

T: + 1 705 456 4333 W: www.canadianuseofforce.com Contact Front Photography Contact Front Photography is the world’s 1st photography studio dedicated to the Close Protection Professional. Stop putting generic or pirated photos on your website; instead commission custom shots to best represent you or your agency.

T: +1 (612) 369-6134 E: Info@ContractFrontPhotography.com W: www.ContactFrontPhotography.com Decisiones Estratégicas Buenos Aires – Argentina Executive protection specialists we have experienced in all Latin America, for multinationals companies, also providing support in project throughout Latin America to consulting first the US. and UK. We have a team

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To place a classified lineage or box advertisement telephone our sales team on: +44 (0) 191 6450 865

of specialists and psychologists in assistance and crisis negotiation.

T: +54(911) 6415 1941 E: jbenitez@d–estrategicas.com W: www.d–estrategicas.com Detective Lacerda P.O.BOX 25996, São Paulo, 05513-970, BRAZIL Providing the full range of security and investigation services throughout Latin America.

BBA Member.

T: + 55 (11) 3452 4388 W: www.detectivelacerda.cjb.net Giovanni Rossi South Africa Doctorates in Criminology, Vessel Security Officer, ASP Instructor, ISSPC Member, BBA Member, IAPPA Member, American Bodyguard and Protection Instructors Association - Lifetime Member E: rossi1@mweb.co.za T: +2783 415 9205 USA Global Bear Protection PO Box 11488, Jackson, Wyoming, 83002, USA Provision of British and US Ex Special forces security/medical specialists.

T: 307 413 3619 W: www.globalbearprotection.com E: bear@globalbearprotection.com Icon Services Corporation 1043 Grand Ave. #312, St. Paul, MN 55105, USA A full service security and investigative agency specializing in providing high-level security and bodyguards to international celebrities, public figures and corporations. Licensed, bonded and insured, our diverse roster of clients reads as a virtual who’s who in the corporate, motion picture, fashion and recording industry. Entering into our 10th year, Icon has been the hand picked choice to provide Executive Protection to everyone from Superintendents to Supermodels.

BBA Member.

T: + 1 651 695 8778 W: www.Industry-Icon.com Imperial Protective Service, LLC 15849 N. 71st Street, Suite 100, Scottsdale , Arizona, 85254, USA Imperial Protective Service’ (IPS) is a security consulting and services firm founded in 1978.

IPS provides both national and international corporate, executive and celebrity protective services. BBA Member.

T: + 1 480 281 1588 W: www.executiveprotect.com Panther Protection Services 3695F Cascade Road, Suite 2207, Atlanta, GA 30331 Panther Protection Services is a full service protection agency offering such services as threat assessment, executive protection, self-defense training, firearms instruction, and high risk tactical protection. Our executive protection specialists have over 75 years of experience.

Panther can handle your protection needs whether around the corner or around the world.

Member: BBA and NABA T: (404) 349-9117 W: www.pantherprotectionservices.com Rouven Rohler - Security Consultant / HSE liaison Romania

I am a very fit and mentally robust Security Specialist with quality experience gained in the security (Military, Maritime and Commercial Operational Security (Oil& Gas). I have improved the effectiveness of protection teams and significantly enhanced clients’ awareness. My career commenced in the Australian Army, which included hostile environment deployments to Iraq and the Solomon Islands and I have since been operating on various contracts throughout Afghanistan and Iraq. I am now looking to make a continued significant contribution within similar High Risk contracts.

E: rouven@y7mail.com T: +40 (0)746 642 739 SILVER STAR PROTECTION Executive protection, site and event security with global experience. Serving southern Minnesota with integrity and professionalism. Former USSS, ICON Alumni. available for domestic and international travel. Robert E. Jones Manager/ CEO W: www.silver-star-protection.com E: rejones@silver-star-protection.com TSICS (T6) Miami, Florida, USA TSICS (T6) provides the following services in Central America: Executive Protection, Individual Bodyguard, Close Protection Training, Corporate Invest.

W: www.security-professionals.org/members/ saldrix E: tsics.t6@gmail.com T: +502 6645 6822 Tony Scotti’s Vehicle Dynamics Institute 1162 St. Georges Ave, Suite 277 , Avenel, NJ 07001, USA The first name in advanced driver training, offering our highly acclaimed Protective/Evasive Driving Programs. Designed specifically for today’s executive chauffeurs, executive protection professionals and others who are responsible for providing safe and secure transportation services.

BBA Member.

T: + 1 732 738 5221 W: www.vehicledynamics.net Vindex Personal Protection & Investigation Inc. 497 Hooksett Rd #365 Manchester NH 03104 603.289.3161 / Full service Private Investigations & Executive Protection. 10 years combined Law Enforcement, Private security, close protection work, & security contracting. NY Mayors, U.S. President’s, NFL owners, and VIP’s are some of the protection work I’ve gained experience with. ICON alumni, NABA member.

T: + 1 732 738 5221 E: vindexinc@aol.com W: www.vindexinc.com Asia Pacific Asia Protective Group Ltd Asia Protective Group (APG) is a Hong Kong based risk management company, specializing in executive protection, overseas travel security and security consultancy services. APG has an extensive network of security specialists operating throughout the Asia Pacific region.

W: www.asia-pg.com E: jim@asia-pg.com E: yvonne@asia-pg.com

The Team: Editor Managing Editor International Editor Art Direction

Shaun West Jon Moss Elijah Shaw Peter Falkous

Contributors: Mark L. Roche EPS Nicholas Stumpf Joseph M LaSorsa Mark “Six” James Douglas Smith Leah Ashmore-Hills Denida Zinxhiria Joseph M LaSorsa Dr Liz Royle Sam Alicea Jon Dennison Miguel DeCoste Kate Owen Jacquie Davis Our Sincere Thanks to all those that continue to contribute their wisdom and experience for the enjoyment of others The Circuit is compiled, edited and published in the UK and US bi-monthly.

W: www.circuit-magazine.com E: info@circuit-magazine.com T: +44 0191 645 0865

DISCLAIMER While every care has been taken to ensure that the information contained in this magazine is both accurate and up-to-date, The Circuit accepts no liability in any part for loss or damage incurred by reliance on information contained in this magazine through omissions, errors, howsoever caused. ©COPYRIGHT Copyright remains with the authors and contributors at all times. No part of this publication can be copied or reproduced in any way whatsoever without permission from the publisher AND the author / contributor.

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