Protection Officer Training Proposal

Protection Officer Training Proposal

Personal protection has become a fundamental issue because of the increased insecurity. More people are finding it necessary to have personal protection. When choosing personal protection it is important to check that the person is qualified in all areas. It is no longer satisfactory to know about physical protection. Trainers have seen the importance of teaching basic medical skills in addition to physical fitness and other innovative techniques. Training will include classroom lectures from qualified specialists in the field such as paramedics, army officers and police officers. This is in addition to the practical lessons to be conducted in the field. The unit will be taught in a modern, fully equipped building with all the latest technology. Personal protection training includes awareness, defense and avoidance techniques.

Personal protectors are different from ordinary bodyguards. They are required to be knowledgeable and have a wide range of skills. This includes having the knowledge of different weapons, explosives, knowledge of security systems such as CCTV, communication and skillful driving skills among others. Sometimes, protection does not involve confrontation. In some cases, the best alternative is usually avoidance through escape and this is difficult without the necessary driving skills. The trainees will be taught about defensive driving and vehicle safety. The right vehicle is the one that is bullet resistant and has few limitations. It should be fast and the driver should be able to manage it easily.

The trainees will be trained on how to conduct a proper vehicle search for any dangerous weapons such as bombs. The unit will be trained on security maneuvers, how to evacuate during emergencies, how to work a motorcade, evasive and defensive maneuvers, vehicle positioning, limitations and strengths of different types of vehicles, identifying safe zone locations, different secondary routes, identifying landmarks and the importance of surveying the routes. The unit will be taught about enbus and debus procedures, these procedures include stopping the vehicle close to the entrance or exit, entering the vehicle, keeping windows and doors locked, being observant, keeping alert, keeping body cover and flexibility (Hunsicker, 2010).

People who need protection are usually dignitaries, business executives and celebrities. They usually socialize with people of the same class and status. This means that personal protectors will need to know how to dress and behave in such situations. They need to learn the right manners and decorum so that they can perform their work effectively (International Foundation for Protection Officers, 2003). They must be able to blend in with people from different cultures and religion. Some habits that are common to the protector may be offensive to another group of people. They should be sensitive enough to know what other cultures allow and what they prohibit. The unit will be taught different social skills and common customs and traditions. They will be taught how to greet and socialize with people and how to communicate with them.

Principals may sometimes be forced to deal with the media, and they need to know how to speak in such situations. Protectors know their principal’s business and if they are not careful, they can reveal confidential information, which may be damaging to their principals. Social skills also include knowing dining etiquette. Some principals may invite their protectors to dinners and other celebrations. The protectors need to know how to eat in formal settings. They should dress in an appropriate manner and avoid drawing attention to themselves. Dress determines the amount of respect that a person is given. The protector must dress in such a way that he or she will not embarrass the principal. The protectors clothing should not prevent him from carrying out his duties properly. The protectors dressing should enable him or her to run quickly, defend properly, draw his or her weapon quickly and conceal the weapon.

Protectors need to be physically fit and this can only be achieved by doing intensive exercises daily. Training will include sports such as swimming and running and this will increase the trainees’ endurance. Exercises such as weight lifting and sprinting are important for developing strength and power. High-speed running is emphasized in this field and it will be one of the most performed exercises. Other exercises will target strengthening different body parts such as the hands. Trainees will be taught different martial arts skills and these exercises will enable them to learn quickly. Martial arts skills are important especially during confrontations. They will be taught different defensive techniques, which they will be expected to use when necessary (International Foundation for Protection Officers, 2003). Some defensive attacks include the six zone attacks, where the protectors are taught to manage the six windows of opportunity where attacks are more likely to happen.

Training will include knowing about different explosives and other weapons of terror. This includes knowing about chemical and biological weapons and any other improvised explosives. The unit will be taught what to do after they have received a bomb threat. Low explosives include smokeless powder and black powder and they are used in ammunition and small arms (Hunsicker, 2010). The unit will be taught to identify the powders, which are commonly used, and their effects. All protectors should have thorough knowledge on the use of firearms. They need to know how to carry, conceal and use a weapon. This is not only to the benefit of the one they are protecting, but it is also for their own benefit. Carrying and using a firearm in the wrong manner can lead to fatal injuries and can cause problems with the law.

Trainees will be taught about safety, how to operate and maintain a gun, different shooting techniques and shooting from different positions. They will also be taught how to carry and conceal a weapon, and how to draw properly and fire accurately. They will be taught about ammunitions, holsters and other different weapons and equipment. They will be exposed to different shooting scenes where they will be able to apply the knowledge they have learnt. The unit will be taught walking and protective shooting styles, foot movements how to react to attacks (Executive Protection Institute, 2011). The unit will also be taught how to use different shielding equipment or preventive gear such as bulletproof vests, and slab and slash protection. Bushes, buildings, trees and cars can be used as shields. The trainees will be taught about various formations such as diamonds and squares, which shield the principal (Holder & Hawley, 1997).

Personal protectors must have basic first aid skills and know how to do a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The unit will be taught how to handle different medical emergencies such as gunshot wounds, cuts, fire and smoke injuries, heart attacks, shocks, and complications that come about because of too much heat among others. They will be taught how to respond to various emergencies and will have practical lessons on some of them. Lessons will include first aid on cuts, burns, scrapes, head injuries, smoke inhalation, animal and insect bites nosebleeds, gunshot wounds, dislocations and fractures. Protectors will sometimes have to take their principals to the hospital and they will have to deal with doctors and nurses. This training will teach them about the basic responses to give to the doctors in case of any emergencies. They will need to know the medical conditions of their principals so that they can give the necessary information to the doctors. Training will include how to move the injured person in cases where there are no ambulances and where the hospitals and other health centers are far. The unit will be taught about the necessary items and equipment in a firs aid kit.

Most protectors usually work as a group especially if the principal is a high ranked dignitary. The protectors need to find a way to communicate with each other without being obvious. Miscommunication can lead to problems, which can at times be fatal. The unit will be taught different formation and communication methods. Various formations ensure that the principal is protected. Some of the formations include the reception formation, banquet formation, stage formation, protective formation and elevator formation. Protectors use different formations when traveling on a ship, airplane or helicopter. Communication methods include visual signals. Protectors can use arms, hands, and strobe lights, pyrotechnic and ground-to-air signals. Visual communications are especially important in emergencies where the protectors cannot use radios. The protectors in a team should know the meaning of each signal since they are usually prearranged (Hunsicker, 2010).

Training will include communication procedures and the unit will be taught the rules of communicating through the radio and the telephone. These rules include speaking clearly and slowly without any accents and dialects, avoiding interference with other transmissions, assuming that anybody can listen and transmitting complete and concise messages. The unit will be taught phonetic alphabet which is used to spell out difficult and unusual words, transmit isolated letters and transmit each letter of abbreviations. In addition to this, the trainees will also learn procedural words, which are used to avoid confusion. Security violations are common and it is therefore important to protect information. Communication security includes using authentication, approved codes, monitoring radio receivers and limiting the use of radio transmitters, turning off radios at the same time and operating radios on low power (Hunsicker, 2010).

Personal protectors should have computer skills and be conversant with information technology and workings of the internet. This is because they will need to record information and communicate with the principal and other team members. He or she will have to create a principal’s profile. This profile will include information such as knowing the places where the principal often visits, knowing the people the principal associates with, knowing the principal’s preferences and prejudices, his or her private lifestyle and political persuasions. It would be impossible to have such information without the use of technology. This information is relevant to the protector since it will help him or her serve the principal better.

A protector’s work is a daily affair and they are in constant interaction with the principal. This means that they should get along well to avoid any conflicts and misunderstanding. Technology will also enable the protector to work various security devices such as surveillance systems and figure out encrypted messages and different codes. The unit will be taught about different technology and commonly used codes. They will be taught how different surveillance systems work, and how to collect and record information to include in their principal’s profile. This will be an intensive course and only those who pass it will be qualified.

Not everyone in the field of training personal protectors have the necessary resources or the needed knowledge to train protectors effectively. It is therefore important to choose a training facility, which has all the necessary equipment and resources required. In many cases, trainers concentrate on training protectors defensive techniques while leaving out protocol and ethics. What they fail to realize is that there are few opportunities where protectors have to show their combat skills and their firearms expertise. On the other hand, the protectors spend a lot of time with their principals and the principals judge them by how they behave. No principal want to be embarrassed or lose an opportunity because of his or her protector. Many protectors have lost their jobs and positions because they failed to behave properly or they let out information that they were not supposed to.

 

 

References

Executive Protection Institute (2011). EPI courses. Retrieved from http://www.personalprotection.com/courses.cfm

Holder, P., & Hawley, L. D. (1997). The executive protection professional’s guide. Oxford, UK: Butterworth-Heinemann

Hunsicker, A. (2010). Advanced skills in executive protection. Boca Raton, FL: Universal-Publishers.

International Foundation for Protection Officers. (2003). Protection officer training manual. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier.

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