By R. E. Rick Colliver

As a former Emergency Medical Technician and Rescue Diver, I have seen first aid and trauma kits of varying sizes, shapes and colors that included enough equipment to operate a MASH unit at the site of a catastrophe for a month.  On the other hand, the most experienced flight nurse/combat medic I’ve ever known once said that if he had a 2X2 bandage and a pair of rubber gloves, he was “good to go” for almost any occasion.  This illustrates that it’s the “carpenter and not the tools” that usually gets the job done, and thus competent, recurrent training becomes an essential component in the protection specialist’s toolbox. 

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Gear Down! Staying Below the RADAR in Protective Operations

By: R. E. Rick Colliver

Let’s face it; we all like gear! More importantly, we like the kind of gear that the high-speed operators endorse. Whether we intend to use it every day in a demanding environment, or throw it in the trunk of our car “for that day”, we want to know that we are using what the experts recommend.  We are proud of our gear, and we want our peers to know that we wear, carry or shoot, only the finest. Many of us have seen (or owned) the T-shirt that says “If you die first, we’re splitting up…”; enough said.

However, when working in the often-misunderstood field of protective operations, calling attention to our gear is usually a mistake. It lets others know who we are, and it often alienates or worries the very people we are assigned to protect.  If we think back to the principal focus of a protective mission, it is not only to prevent the intentional or unintentional injury to the protectee, but also to prevent embarrassment. And, protection can only be successful if the protectee and their organization are cooperative and engaged.

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1) Weak Executive Protection Foundation

Today’s EP specialists are professionally trained. Gone are the days of hiring a big and menacing individual. If you do not have training on your resume, consider investing in your future by taking courses with one of the better schools we’ve recently highlighted at this website.

2) You’re Not Conducting Due Diligence

You say you’ve sent out 30 resumes, but have had no response? Well, have you done your part and taken the time to investigate the companies or individuals to whom you’ve sent your materials? Are you certain they are hiring? Did you carefully follow the submission directions? I recently posted an ad for an associate who needed applicants with a Bachelor’s Degree. Do you know how many resumes I received from individuals who did NOT have a degree?  The ad didn’t say “Bachlor’s Degree preferred but not required” (which would mean it’s fine if you don’t have a degree). Sending resumes for a position, when you don’t have the required skills, is a waste of time and energy. It sends a message that you can’t follow directions.

3) Where’s Your Tenacity?

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As you’ve read from our interviews with professionals in the field, they all strongly encourage individuals to invest in career training. It will set you apart and above from individuals with military or police training alone. Also, to hire someone without professional training can be a liability. I recall a few years ago when a major basketball star hired friends for personal protection-well, there was some sort of altercation and these untrained bodyguards injured private citizens and there were very costly consequences to their actions. The basketball star was ultimately held liable for his friends’ behavior.

First, it is important to understand that “officially” there is no such this as “certification” in this field. There are no government standards to which schools are expected to adhere. It is not like medical school or studying to be an attorney where you must take standardized tests, passing boards or exams to be considered “certified” or “licensed” to practice.  However, some educational programs are accredited with the state, and certainly programs teach individuals about the specific licensing requirements to carry firearms, and use of force laws. What this means is that any school claiming that upon completion of their program that you are a “Certified Protection Specialist” simply means that you’ve completed that particular program’s coursework. It is not the same as receiving a diving certification, or even being CPR certified…there are no regulations or standards in the EP field in the United States. If you are already on the inside, you understand this. The “certified” designation is intended more for the benefit of the individual who is hiring you, or to sell newcomers on the idea that said “certification” implies you are in accordance with some regulating body. There is no regulating body that accords individuals “certified” upon completion of EPS coursework.

That being said, it is certainly meaningful when I see Executive Protection course work from a reputable school on an individual’s resume. By reputable, I mean a program that is run by individuals who themselves have stellar credentials and years of experience in the business. At the end of this story you will find our top picks.

There are several important factors to consider when selecting an EPS training program:

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According to Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary INTEGRITY Main Entry: in·teg·ri·ty Pronunciation:\in-te-gr-t“\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English integrite, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French integrit©, from Latin integritat-, integritas, from integr-, integer entire

Date: 14th century

1 : firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values:

incorruptibility

2 : an unimpaired condition: soundness

3 : the quality or state of being complete or undivided: completeness

synonyms see honesty

Contrary to the dictionary’s definition, as a general rule, when working in the area of personal or executive protection, the word “integrity” is more aligned with the word “loyalty.” This can cause problems if you are an especially moral person who will be greatly bothered by the less-than-honest behavior of the principal under your protection.

From the perspective of the private life of your principal, he or she is entitled to complete and absolute confidentiality, which may or may not “fit” with your personal code of ethics or morals.

Here’s an example: You are protecting a celebrity principal. Let’s call him Mr. Brown. In the course of an evening out on the town, your boss tells you to take him to an address that belongs to a young woman who joins him in the back seat of the limo, for a brief or a lengthy period of time. A few hours later the detail heads for the principal’s home and the interim shift takes over.

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