Circuit Magazine #18

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Circuit

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Opinion

Intel

Exclusives

The Magazine for Security Professionals

Drugs, Murder, Gang Violence An Ideal Training Ground?

s r e t s g n a G t Interne s e u iq n h c e Motivation T y c a ir P r e t n u Co

Get Working

Don’t leave it to chance Make yourself employable. Here’s how.

Editorial They say time flies when you’re having fun and whilst I’m not sure that it has always been “fun” this year has certainly flown by and at a rapid rate of knots.

Each year, here at Circuit HQ we set ourselves goals and targets and as I sit here penning these words to you at the start of a new year and reflecting back on a productive 2012, I genuinely couldn’t be happier with what the team has achieved over the course of the last 12 v. There have been so many developments that I don’t know where to begin but significantly; we have added more pages per issue, improved the print quality of the magazine, given it a fresh modern design, packed more features into each issue, added an end of year review to our production schedule, absorbed inflated print and postage costs, created a new website to complement the revamped magazine, the Circuit is now available in 88 countries and is downloadable on Apple and Kindle devices. What’s more, we’ve achieved all of this without any price increase to you the reader. In early 2013 through our digital partners, PixelMags, the magazine will soon be available on Blackberry and Samsung devices and we’re hoping to have it on Android soon after.

With the addition of these new means for accessing the magazine our readership has grown and I’d like to extend a warm welcome to everyone who is holding a copy of The Circuit for the first time but I also want to say a big thank you to our loyal readers. There’s no doubting that financially speaking, times are harder than ever and this is why I’m all the more heartened and reassured that we’re delivering a product for which there exists a genuine want

Fire in the hole!!!

Sorry, wanted to start off the first 2013 issue of The Circuit with a bang! Excited about the future is an understatement.

I mean, not to brag or anything, but have you checked out the brand new look of the previous issue? If not, I’m sure by the time you finish what’s in your hands; you’ll know exactly what I’m speaking about. In addition to the production side, I’m also pretty amped up about the growth of the North American Bodyguard Association as well as our British counterpart. Between the two of us, we literally have members ALL OVER THE WORLD. However, what’s even better is that we interact with those members in ways that I feel benefits the entire industry as a whole.

The Circuit provides one of the most prominent delivery systems for that interaction, with knowledgeable and respected contributors providing information, experiences and analysis on a variety of issues that are both contemporary and rooted in the real world. Additionally, it’s not a one way conversation, so once readers have had a chance to check out an article of interest, many of the authors can be found regularly interacting on our social media platforms. Don’t believe me? Hop over to the Official Website (members only –but that’s not a problem for

Editorial

and need. I’m humbled that you have chosen The Circuit as your information source and that you have stuck with us!

However, that said, we’re always looking to improve and we welcome any and all feedback.

The festive period is always hectic no matter which industry you operate in but in our line of work it can be a particularly lonely time if you find yourself in some far flung part of the world away from your family and friends. When opting to pursue a career as a bodyguard you accept that you won’t always be around to celebrate every one of your children’s birthdays or enjoy Christmas dinners with the family, which is why we should all take a moment to reflect on their sacrifices and to pay thanks to the loved ones who have stuck with us through the tough times. Of course, there is a flipside and this is that we also get to see and experience things which normal mortals do not.

And whilst we’re paying thanks let us also take a moment to raise a glass and acknowledge the ultimate sacrifice that has been made by our colleagues whilst carrying out their duties during 2012. The understated reality of our profession is that there is a very real associated danger, something which is easily overlooked by newcomers who are dazzled by dollar signs. Young or old, new guy or old timer we must all constantly guard against our biggest enemy, Complacencey!

With that thought in mind let me be the first to wish you all a safe and prosperous New Year!

Shaun West Editor

you… Right?) and voice your opinion on how you agree (or disagree) with the viewpoints I express in my regular column “Keeping Your Edge”. You can also find us on Facebook, Google +, Linked in, Twitter and even Sewing Digest. (Ok, the last one was a joke).

My point is, so many of the regular contributors to The Circuit are fully vested in the Close Protection industry, and want others to succeed. Don’t believe me? Ask Mark James.

Ask Benjamin Alozie. Ask Hans Van Beuge. Put it to a test, hop on any of the above named social media sites, find them and ask an intelligent industry related question. If they don’t answer you back with a response, I’ll eat a back issue live on YouTube!

In the meantime, dig into this full color glossy in your hands and keep in mind that if you enjoy a feature, we want to hear about it. If you want to see other subjects covered in greater depth, we want to hear about it. And if you want us to increase our presence on Sewing Digest, well, that might take a bit of extra prompting.

Elijah Shaw Managing Editor (US Edition)

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Contents Issue18 16Fraud Prevention 18Clinical Governance 20Keeping your Edge “Internet gangsters” are those that use social media to bully and intimidate the area residents in order to pave the way for their own agenda.

22Search Tactics 28Don’t just manage your teamMotivate them!

Leadership and motivation go hand in hand, like squirrels and trees, peanut butter and jelly, or “halls and walls”. That concept is not new, in fact it is fundamental, yet so many leaders fail to recognize it.

06 20

30Bridle your thought

03Editorial 06The Chinese Bodyguards 10Gun Fighting Fundamentals 12Once Upon A Time In Mexico

42Intel 48Breathing Assessment Following on from his previous article on Airway Management, Prometheus Medicalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chief Instructor, Dean Bateman, continues the series on <c>ABC, with Part 1 of Breathing Assessment, Chest Injury and Management.

56Reviews 58Working Girl 59Comms to HQ 60Classifieds

52Counter Piracy Course Review

12Once Upon A Time In Mexico

Mexico is one of the worlds most violent countries with one of the highest murder rates in the world; 12,903 narcotics-related homicides in the first nine months of 2011 alone. While most of those killed in narcotics-related violence have been members of gangs, innocent persons have also been caught up in the violence and killed.

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Feature

By Paul Johnstone (Defensive Measures International)

Personal Protection in the land of the Dragon On the morning of January 22nd 2003, visitors streamed in and out of the Southern Chinese Shanxi office of Li Haicang. Nothing was out of the ordinary until a lone assassin produced a sawn off rifle and fired a bullet into Li’s body.

Until that fateful moment, Li was the Chairman of a multinational company and 27th on the 2002 Forbes list of China’s richest people. Only several weeks later on 12th February, a Chinese millionaire from the wealthy enclave on Wenzhou in Zhejiang Province, was stabbed to death by 5 men outside his home in a pre-planned assassination attack.

Various media reports indicated that in 2004 alone, around 4,000 people were kidnapped in China. Well known actor Wu Ruofu was abducted whilst driving his BMW and hid in the north of Beijing by a notorious Chinese organised crime group who demanded a ransom, but police were able to track them down after several hours and freed Wu. These incidents are just several in part of a growing number of occupational hazards for China’s emerging ultra-rich; assassination and kidnapping and a reason why many of China’s rich are undertaking precautionary measures which are becoming more and more necessary for the emerging class of millionaires and billionaires.

With around 30% of China’s millionaires believed to be women and a widening wealth gap has made safety an issue for the rich, it’s easy to see that private security and in particular, Baobiao, the Chinese word for Bodyguard is taking off as the nation struggles with some of the side effects of its booming growth.

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A 2004 media report in the China Daily newspaper stated that in Guangzhou alone, the private security industry employed no fewer than 5000 personal bodyguards. This is just a small step in the great wall of Chinese security and protection firms opening up throughout the country.

There are even Chinese firms now specializing in kidnap insurance and from accounts; business is booming.

Australian’s Eddie Wazen and Jason Watson are two industry experts based in Beijing who are leading the way in developing new training programs and services for the Chinese market.

During his time in China, Wazen has trained officers from the police, law enforcement and the growing number of corporate firms offering Bodyguards. He states that a large number of China’s private bodyguards are retired police and/or soldiers from elite units, or former Chinese secretservice members, and furthermore, that there has also been a large number of wealthy Chinese who are turning to female bodyguards in a measure of protection.

Wazen recalls a local executive, who had received threats that his child would be kidnapped, hired a female bodyguard to escort his child to and from school. He says that employers of bodyguards in China are successful people like senior executives of foreign or private businesses, as well as entertainers and a growing number of entrepreneurs. Wazen states that like anywhere in the

The Chinese Bodyguards world, there are those who are jealous of, or simply hate the rich and successful for their lavish and enjoyable lifestyle.

He says that he has seen Bodyguard training programs designed for females advertised at martial arts schools where the training curriculum includes instruction in driving, computer skills, self-defense related laws and “polite conversation”. The teacher’s at these schools are veteran martial artist, former Special Forces soldiers and operational bodyguards. Female bodyguards are becoming more and more popular as businessmen want them to protect wives, girlfriends and children. Like Australia and the western world, there are some schools which are professional and understand the complexities of what constitutes the role of a bodyguard whilst there are many other courses that run their course from an outdated training manual without any formal experience or training.

He says that there has also been a growing demand for private bodyguards being hired by Taiwanese pop singers and prominent entertainers when visiting mainland China.

When asked who makes the best bodyguard he is quick to note that the Chinese have long prized Manchurian bodyguards for their physical size, loyalty and bravery, and

female bodyguards have many advantages of their own.

Furthermore, many bodyguard training programs place a large emphasis on fitness and physical exercise and often the bodyguard will double as a coach in fitness training for their “bosses”.

Many former career military and police officers turned entrepreneur have identified the specialist market of private security and its success in western society and have now turned their focus on China.

Just over a decade ago the industry didn’t legally exist.

Although there have been several security firms who have received China’s Ministry of State approval to do business if their founders have at least five years of security experience, the employment of personal bodyguards in China is still a grey area as far as the law goes and there are no laws yet in China completely governing the industry.

Wazen said that the word ‘bodyguard’ has had a very negative image in China and because of the lack of legal clarity surrounding the private bodyguards it means that their work is often described as “personal assistant” or “advisor” and their multi functions are also reflected in the job description. Some firms have also resorted to calling their bodyguard firm a “business etiquette” firm

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Feature although of late, the Ministry of State insists that the word ‘security consultant’ be used to avoid comparisons with the bodyguard image in America and other western nations.

Many lawyers believe that what is not specifically forbidden by law should be legal however; government officials claim that no firm can legally be registered as a private bodyguard service. There have been a number of occasions where firms have been shut down by the Public Security Bureau.

Wazen states that as far back as the early 1990’s there was a special course in Wuhan, Central China which offered young women the opportunity to train as bodyguards. In 1999, Wazen was invited to teach at the Dalian Peoples Police College where he witnessed firsthand a large number of young, fit and attractive females being trained as bodyguards by a specialist unit within the police. These ladies had been trained in all aspects of body guarding including firearms and Chinese martial arts.

An example of the popularity of females attending these programs was highlighted in a Chinese media report which stated that the Wuhan College of Physical Education received 3,000 enquiries when it first announced that it would begin offering a six month training program to teach women how to become bodyguards. The report stated that of that number, over 700 women formally applied and 150 were accepted.

It’s a special time in the history of China and the country has been in an economic transition. As such, China is no different to many other countries and crimes towards rich people are inevitable. Furthermore, a widening rich-poor gap, the 2008 Olympic Games and the global market are raising safety concerns among the nation’s elite and leaving many of them vulnerable. This is another reason

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why private bodyguard services have surfaced and are increasing each year.

Like their western counterparts, many Chinese performers and business executives employ bodyguards as a symbol of their status and prestige. However; aside from prestige, another reason for the increase in popularity of having a bodyguard is the crime rate. Whilst serious crimes such as robbery, theft and murder are still less frequent than in western society, they are becoming more and more common in China than ever before.

Chinese criminal gangs are also now renowned for carrying weapons including firearms, allegedly bought illegally from corrupt police or military personnel.

Furthermore, there have been a number of major incidents over the past several years including the countdown to the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. Some of these include the March 2008 hijack of a bus in Xian which was carrying Australian passengers and was hijacked by a Chinese man wearing explosives and threatening to blow it up. Furthermore, there was an alleged attempt by Uighur minorities in China to hijack a plane traveling to Beijing in the same year.

Many Chinese are rushing to join the ranks of one of China’s newest and best paid professions and Chinese bodyguards can look forward to salaries of about $2000 - $5000 USD a monthdepending on their military/police background, formal bodyguard training, education, appearance, knowledge of martial arts and foreign languages.

However, whilst many sign up to a world of glamour there are many underlying problems including exploitation of female bodyguards as nothing more than an attractive

The Chinese Bodyguards “With the increase of crime in China including murder, assassination, kidnapping, corporate and financial crime the government is not in a position to be sending police and troops to provide personal protection to private entrepreneurs, local and foreign business executives and for those that require around the clock safety measures.” fashion accessory or for “ornamental reasons”. However; there are those companies that also require a secretary, public relations officer and a bodyguard so in a female they can have all roles put into one role.

The director of a firm that Wazen and his team have previously trained stated that he dresses his bodyguards in matching designer suits and long black coats as a symbol of status and as far as he is concerned, if people see this in conjunction with his latest European designer car then it means success and that they will want to do business with him.

In 2008, security specialist Jason Watson was invited to train students undertaking specialist bodyguard training in the lead up to the Beijing Olympic Games.

He states that the Chinese Bodyguards rely too much on traditional and outdated martial skills which are not relevant to the modern bodyguard. Whilst having these skills is an advantage they are not suited to the close quarter and dynamic situations of the modern era.

Instead, systems such as Street-Edge Defensive Tactics and Bujinkan Ninjutsu are much more suited to the Bodyguard/ High Risk Protection industry.

In early 2012 prominent media reports throughout China and Asia showed young female students at a bodyguard training school having bottles smashed over their heads to prepare them in the event they may encounter this type of attack when they are a body guard. Wazen states that this type of training is more for show then having any real learning outcomes for the students.

Watson says that Chinese law prohibits private security guards from carrying guns, and there are also very strict laws in relation to carrying knives. In theory, Chinese bodyguards do not have any special privileges and they have the same rights and responsibilities as civilians including having no rightor entitlement to carry firearms however; it is often the case that many do carry weapons in complete violation of the law and are often “protected”

by corrupt government officials or because they “know someone”.

There are unconfirmed reports that there may be over 20,000 companies throughout China who are involved in security, body guarding and private investigation work.

Although there are some that are licensed by the state Public Security Bureau (PSB), both Wazen and Watson believes that most of these firms operate underground or in a gray area with little regulation or by paying bribes to local government officials to turn the other way.

With the increase of crime in China including murder, assassination, kidnapping, corporate and financial crime the government is not in a position to be sending police and troops to provide personal protection to private entrepreneurs, local and foreign business executives and for those that require around the clock safety measures.

Furthermore, there are an increasing number of foreign executives, entertainment and corporate businesses conducting business in China and many of these expect the same type of private security found in their native countries.

Over the past several years and since China became a member of the WTO, Wazen has noticed a trend in Chinese Bodyguard firms seeking formal educational accreditation for their bodyguards and security specialist.

As China continues to open up to the modern international world, education and formal qualifications in specialist fields such as personal protection is being sought from renowned “subject matter expert” countries such as Australia, Israel and the United States.

Paul Johnstone is the founder of Defensive Measures International and is a security and intelligence consultant who has over 30 years’ experience within the military, policing, intelligence, law enforcement and corporate security fields.

Paul welcomes referrals and requests for advice so please feel free to contact him at dmint@bigpond.com or jisseninternational@gmail.com

While every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy, the information contained in this article is intended to be used as general information only and should not be interpreted or taken as being specific advice, legal or otherwise.

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Feature

By Mark “Six” James, CPO, EPS

Those of you, who have trained with me, read some of my previous articles or books have often heard me say, “In a gun fight it is more important to not get shot, than it is to shoot, shooting is extra credit.”

It is often not the speed of your draw, but the speed of your movement which can save your life. Below are three considerations which may help you survive a deadly force firearm encounter.

Moving Movement can often compensate for bad shooting. But great shooting and a fast draw often can’t compensate for lack of movement. If you and your adversary stand across from each other and both draw and shoot and neither of you move even if your draw time is a half a second faster than your adversary you are still trading rounds, and both of you may get seriously injured or die. Since most firearm encounters take place inside of 7 yards and often inside of 10 feet, therefore the most important concept I can pass onto you as it pertains to close quarter engagements is to keep it moving; often referred to as getting off the “X.” You may be a far superior marksman to your adversary but, in a close quarter encounter proximity can negate skill. Learn to let them shoot at you where you were not where you are now. Avoid moving straight back to the rear (your six o’clock) as that movement does not require

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the threat to have to track you. So as opposed to shooting you at 3 yards they shoot you at 5 yards. Your movements should make the adversary have to shift their focus from shooting to tracking, which helps buy you precious time to launch your own counterattack.

Shooting Based on the cadence of the events, and the subsequent adrenaline rush be prepared for a reduction in your normal accuracy. Your situation should dictate your tactics and since this is a close quarter encounter, there is a critical need to balance both speed and accuracy. Since most handgun encounters are rarely one shot stops, you are probably discharging multiple rounds into the high center mass region of the threat. Your focus should be front sight press or squeeze. While it is critically important to have a positive ballistic impact on your adversary based on the distance your goal however is combat accuracy verses sniper accuracy. The ability to place your hand over the size of your group verses trying to place a quarter over your shot group. If you are trying to shoot quarter size groups you are probably shooting

Gun Fighting Fundamentals

too slow or trying to acquire a perfect sight picture; and you are probably dying. Remember as you are shooting you are still moving toward cover or trying to execute a tactical escape. A tactical escape beats a tactical encounter every time.

Communicating If the fight hasn’t started yet, the way you communicate to the threat and index your weapon may keep you from ever having to fire a round. Your commands should be clear and direct. However you need to be fully prepared that the situation can change in a nanosecond. Holding your firearm at low ready in a CQB situation may send the signal that you really aren’t prepared to engage the threat, and it may lead to your adversary continuing their aggression. Indexing your weapon in the high center mass area or thoracic cavity often says you don’t have to die today, but you need to comply.

Indexing your weapon into the facial area cranio-ocular cavity (between the eyebrows and mustache) often says take one more step and you can cancel Christmas.

Communicating with your partner is critical but secondary

to both of you to staying threat focused. If you are fighting with a partner, family member or client, that communication may be verbal or non verbal. One of you may be covering the threat or laying down suppression fire as the other reloads, advances or retreats. It is important to practice non verbal communication with your partner, family member or client, because in an actual deadly force encounter/gunfight you may not be able to hear each other. Remembering M.S.C. may save your life or that of a partner, family member or client.

For additional safety tips visit www.pantherprotectionservices.com. Mark “Six” James is Founder and Executive Director of Panther Protection Services, LLC. Panther Protection Services is a full service protection agency focusing on Risk and Crisis Management, Executive Protection, Self-Defense Training, and Firearm Instruction.

For firearms or self-defense training contact info@pantherprotectionservices.com

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Feature

By Mark Deane

Mexico is one of the worlds most violent countries with one of the highest murder rates in the world; 12,903 narcotics-related homicides in the first nine months of 2011 alone. While most of those killed in narcotics-related violence have been members of gangs, innocent persons have also been caught up in the violence and killed.

So what was I doing hanging outside a Mexican prison riot waiting for it to kick-off in the blaring sun surrounded by heavily armed, ill tempered Policeman and armed only with some sunscreen and a smile?

Basically, trying to get myself a job in CIose Protection. I had been trying to diversify my skill set and make myself more employable in the CP world. I was a civilian, non-military and therefore with no combat experience and definitely no combat medical experience. How was I going to compete with guys and girls that had just come back from war zones and had experience of dealing with real and life-threatening trauma? I had all the same qualifications as them and exceeded the minimum requirements being asked. But I realised very quickly that no employer is going to choose an inexperienced medic over an experienced one, any day of the year. I therefore had to go out and get involved. Now the obvious option was to join the TA and probably still is, but I found another route.

In just under a month I had been involved in car accidents, stabbings, assaults and numerous emergency incidents, and this was as a British civilian. I was working as a volunteer paramedic and emergency medical technician for the Red and Green Crossâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. I had attended over a period of a few weeks more incidents and accidents than I

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Once Upon A Time In Mexico could have ever seen in a lifetime as a civilian. It wasn’t just the Gucci trauma cases either, I had personally been involved in helping with heart attacks, drug overdoses, delivering babies and stitching numerous people up. Within just a few weeks I had developed into a more confident and capable medic gaining important experience.

I had not been so confident a few weeks earlier, not knowing what to expect, was I walking into a war zone?

I was heading to Guadalajara, the second largest city in Mexico and knew the situation in the North of Mexico with the Border of the USA was critical, murders and gang violence were endemic but was it going to be the same where I was heading, hundreds of miles South and West?

The funny thing was I wanted there to be some violence, I wanted there to be emergencies and medical trauma, why? I needed the experience for one, but it was also very simply that dark desire that nearly all security service personnel or armed forces professionals probably feel. That desire to be part of an incident, they want something to happen so they can experience the real thing, so they can practice in reality what they have been learning. It is that person’s raison d’etre, their purpose of being.

The first day, I arrived and was immediately met by a local guy who drove me to a house and introduced me to the family that I was going to live with for the month I was in-country. It was a relatively young couple and we were right bang slap in the middle of the local population and speaking Spanish mixed with English (my English, their Spanish) from the start. I had not learnt any Spanish before signing up to the programme and had only a couple of weeks to learn from some Rosetta Stone and Michel Thomas CDs and now had the ‘basics’ and I’m glad I put the time in as it was surprising from very early on how many people did not speak English.

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Feature The basics soon developed and after a few days of one to one tutoring and speaking with the family, doctors and nurses I was able to understand critical words and hold a basic conversation. I had to, as the day after arriving I was in the hospital Accident and emergency ward and was being introduced to the head doctor and then the nurses, ‘OK lets get you started’ he said and passed me onto the nurses. Most of whom eyed me suspiciously as a complete unknown entity. Was I going to butcher their poor and defenseless patients or could they use me to their advantage and half their overstretched workload. ‘Do you know how to suture?’ they asked. ‘No not really’ I replied, so they showed me once or twice and then the rest of the day I sutured peoples cuts and wounds, periodically stopping to take peoples vitals (blood pressures, pulse etc). Then day two I cannulated everyone, stopping only to talk to the nurses and paramedics, learning things from them and forming a few bonds. The better they know and like you, the more they will let you get involved I thought.

Within a few days I was getting involved with more serious cases, initially observing, then assisting doctors dealing with fractures, dislocations, chest trauma, surgeries and it was all a consistent build up and at a pace that worked well. If I wanted to spend every hour of the day at the hospital then that was fine, but if I was tired, wanted a break or fancied doing something else I could leave and come back whenever. Within two weeks I had persuaded the ambulance paramedics to take me out and that’s where the fun really started for me.

The last two weeks then went in a blink of an eye, a flurry of incidents and accidents. The paramedics loved having someone different to talk to and teach and it became very apparent from early on that they had very little to work with equipment wise. One ambulance had oxygen, another didn’t, and not one had an AED. Further into my time I changed to another ambulance station and their ambulances were perfectly equipped so it was literally a case of local funding and station management. For a beginner it was perfect as I could get stuck in and didn’t have to worry too much about complicated equipment and could get hands on and involved.

The majority of our call outs were Road Traffic Crashes (RTC’s), though gang and drug violence was always rearing its head and providing plenty of work for us. Guadalajara is comparatively safe compared to the Northern areas of Chihuahua and the border towns where drug gangs fight gun battles between themselves and the police daily. Though as a large city there was never a shortage of incidents.

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Once Upon A Time In Mexico

“The majority of our call outs were Road Traffic Crashes (RTC’s), though gang and drug violence was always rearing its head and providing plenty of work for us.”

After just a month I left the country a more rounded, confident and skillful medic. I had some amazing experiences, met and worked with some unique and fantastic people and even managed to have a few good nights out. Did the experience get me a job? No, in my opinion it played a part in helping me stand out from competition. But it also helped me become more confident in my own abilities as a medic. I know that if something were to happen I could deal with it effectively and to the best of my abilities and I don’t think I could have said that after just completing my courses.

It bolstered my CV and made me more attractive to potential employers no doubt, but without the right qualifications no one would have considered me.

In the close protection industry it is vital to get every opportunity you can to stand out from the competition and get your foot in the door. That is why I have now set up a company to get people out there to experience what I did, to get hands on medical experience and deal with real life trauma. We now have the ability to send medics throughout Mexico and to some of the areas previously considered too dangerous. The ability to deal with Gun shot wounds, ballistic trauma and other serious medical emergencies is now available to all medics, not just those in war zones.

Having the knowledge is one thing, being able to use it in real life is another, but being able to say you have done both can set you apart from the competition.

Visit www.mare-international.com

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Feature By: Robert S Michels

Fraud Prevention

and Protection for Executive Protection Professionals

I am new to the Protection business having come over from the law enforcement side but as I have learned so far, the protection business is not all about catching bullets. What about protecting your client from identity theft and fraud?

These are a few suggestions to safe guard your client and yourself from ID Theft: - Don’t give out personal information, especially on social media sites - Know all of your billing cycles - Actually read your bills before paying them - Run a yearly credit report, quarterly if a victim of ID Theft - Shred all important papers and documents in a cross cut (confetti) paper shredder - Watch what you throw away. Lock your trash container (Criminals and cops go through trash) - Limit the number of credit cards you carry with you and don’t write the PIN on the credit card itself - Don’t use easy-to-remember numbersfor PIN’s (i.e. birthdays, addresses, phone numbers) - Don’t use personal mailboxes to mail important documents, use official post office boxes - Stop your mail delivery if you are going on vacation for a length of time

If you or your client is a victim it will usually be found out after he/she has been victimized. You will have to make a

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charged off. But, before the fraudulent charges to be charged off. But, before you police report in order for line of the account that was compromised. Realistically, most police departments are not going to be excited to take your report of ID Theft. With budget cuts the way they are, you may just get a report number for your trouble instead of actually speaking to an officer. Once you get your timeline and call the police to get that coveted report number, it is time to call the credit reporting bureaus such as Equifax, Trans Union and Experian. Call all three, sometimes these agencies don’t talk to one another and ask to be placed on fraud alert.

Once the call for fraud alert is placed, the job is not done.

An affidavit of fraud will then be sent to be filled out, thus swearing under penalty of perjury, that your ID was indeed taken over and used. This must be filled out or no action will be taken.

These cases in my experience are not solved overnight or even in a week. It may take a few months for everyone to get the word. Start keeping a log of whom you spoke with, what phone number, date and time and what was said. You may be passed from person to person, so get your notes in order to save you headaches. The process of restoring your client’s

Fraud Prevention “The victim’s were reluctant to pursue charges because they were “family”. If these cases are not prosecuted, then the fraudulent charges plus any fees accrued will be the responsibility of the account holder. The application of some “tough love” may be in order.” good name is going to be a process but assure them that their reputation is worth the effort.

One of the other things that I saw on the job was that a small

percentage of the suspects where related to the victims.

When these people were interviewed, the nexus was drug abuse. The victim’s were reluctant to pursue charges because they were “family”. If these cases are not prosecuted, then the fraudulent charges plus any fees accrued will be the responsibility of the account holder. The application of some “tough love” may be in order.

I would be remiss if I did not bring up divorce cases. It was common for each side to complain of ID Theft during divorce proceedings. As long as the divorce is not final, there is no ID Theft. Any alleged wrong doing is a civil matter and most likely handled via the divorce lawyers. Once the divorce is final, then it becomes a criminal matter.

ID Theft is a common crime; it is an easy crime to commit.

But as mom used to say, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. ID Theft should be included in your lists of hazards on your threat assessment because it can affect your client’s life. In addition to protecting the client’s life, you have a duty to protect their reputation which includes their financial reputation as well. Stay safe.

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Feature

By Dr John Oates MBChB BN (Hons)

Clinical Governance; Who’s Looking Out For You?

Clinical Governance explained for security, law-enforcement and beyond

You have been on an advanced first aid course, one of the many courses that cater for the security and CP market. You will have learnt how to deal with catastrophic bleeding, using tourniquets and haemostatic agents. You can insert airways and use a bag/valve mask, splint a fracture with a traction device. Great, but what if it goes a bit wrong?

In the protection environment, it’s never just about doing some first aid, especially if it’s your VIP client that is injured.

So it can be that serious questions are asked if it doesn’t go well, whether you are the operative or employer. Questions like, “Who taught you to do that? Who are you to decide that is an appropriate skill or piece of equipment to have or use?

Who guides and monitors your skill levels and care delivery?

Who’s looking out for you?

What is Clinical Governance?

Clinical governance is the system through which your organisation is accountable for continuously improving the quality of services and high standards of clinical care. Clinical governance was born out of the need for real accountability for the safe delivery of medical services. It was described in the British Medical Journal as: “A framework through which organisations are accountable for continuously improving the quality of their services and safeguarding high standards of care by creating an environment in which excellent clinical care will flourish”.

Why do you need Clinical Governance?

It is now widely accepted that emergency, security and law enforcement services outside the NHS, who are potential first responders on scene, require higher levels of medical training that exceed the traditional ‘first aid at work’ qualification.

With many security and close protection services and operators, in both public and private sectors, now adopting

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this philosophy, casualty care has arguably vastly improved.

This has, however, created a void of responsibility and accountability that leaves first responders and their employers open to criticism and potential litigation. The kind of difficulty and bad publicity that any security company can well do without. Having a robust clinical governance structure in place addresses this deficit and provides the confidence needed to deliver enhanced first aid. It also delivers clear evidence to any investigating body of your organisation’s commitment to safe casualty care. Although clinical governance provision is now on the increase, its application is at best, sporadic.

What should you expect from your Clinical Governance provider?

As a basic guide your clinical governance provider should appoint a medical director who will oversee all aspects of the governance system relating to the client organisation. Annual auditing, location visits and clinical governance meetings should underpin this service. A clinical incident reporting structure should also be implemented where adverse events, incidents and patient contact can be scrutinised by the clinical governance committee and recommendations can be made on the outcome of the committee’s decision. This process may identify a training need, an equipment change or a review of policies or protocol.

The clinical governance committee should be responsible for the following tasks:• Clinical Audit • Training and Education • Critical Incident Reporting • Documentation • Equipment selection • Risk Management

Issue 18

Clinical Governance “...HSE will no longer approve training providers and qualifications although it will continue to manage the standard for first aid by which all courses should be set”

Your clinical governance provider should also offer the facility to debrief the responding team/individual that may have attended a distressing incident. This provides the opportunity to discuss the incident with an experienced pre-hospital care professional who can answer questions and reassure the casualty carer.

Who needs Clinical Governance?

With the ever increasing number of ‘advanced’ first courses available it can be difficult to ascertain whether or not the first aid service that you or your company provides requires clinical governance. Below is an overview of the most popular courses for non-medical professionals in the UK:

Companies currently training or taking employees who are trained to the standard outlined in red should arguably have a clinical governance package in place. (Please note that this is an example list and is no way exhaustive).

To add to some of the confusion surrounding this issue the Health and Safety Executive this year released the statement: “..HSE will no longer approve training providers and qualifications although it will continue to manage the standard for first aid by which all courses should be set. For providers, this will mean that they no longer have to seek HSE approval, removing the costs associated with gaining this approval. For employers, the recommendation will allow them greater flexibility in choosing first aid training, suitable for their workplaces and the risks there-in. For those who are self-employed, there will no longer be the statutory requirement to provide equipment to render first aid to themselves if injured at work”.

This may go some way to remove the ‘one size fits all’ approach to first aid training where an office worker undergoes the same training as a heavy industry worker or indeed security or close protection operative who faces clearly different risks in very different circumstances. It does, however, shift more accountability and responsibility for casualty care provision to the employer. Employers and operatives alike will have to decide what type of firstaid training is required, at what level and what first aid equipment they should carry. It also adds greater emphasis to the need for a robust clinical governance structure to oversee these processes and provide ongoing support. Just because the HSE’s involvement in first-aid provision governance will be less, does not mean the potential litigation will be.

Conclusion Clinical governance should facilitate the safe and effective practice of delivering advanced first aid in the unique environment of close protection operations. The processes employed by an organisation’s clinical governance provider should enhance its service and leave it feeling supported and protected, making sure that someone is looking out for you.

Issue 18

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Keeping Your Edge

Keeping Your Edge

Interesting title for a “Keeping Your Edge” edition, right?

This time I figured I’d roll my sleeves up a bit and deliver a little less subdued column than I traditionally do, beginning right with the title. First off, what do I know about Gangsters? Well, I’m originally born and bred in Chicago Illinois, the Mecca of some of America’s most notorious gangsters. Al Capone made his bones here and Sam Giancana was so infamous they used part of his life story in The Godfather.

I also grew up in the inner city housing projects of the South Side of Chicago, and would not be overstating it one iota by describing my neighborhood as a warzone between two of the largest street gangs in the nation.

I say all of this to say, that I’ve got a bit of a historical pedigree when it comes recognizing badassness. (For some it’s a word) In short I know gangster. Gangsters do deeds that run the risk of punishment from the powers that be, and live by a code (however corrupt) that forms a philosophy

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that they latch onto. They do the crime, and even those that think they are invincible know somewhere in the back of their head, that if caught they must face the consequences -in many cases ending with incarceration or even death.

And then there are what I like to term the “Internet Gangsters,” those that use social media to bully, and intimidate the area residents in order to pave the way for their own agenda. Much like in the streets, they try and claim territory, except in this case, instead of neighborhoods and blocks, they try and stake their claim on message boards and news groups.

You know the type, just like the flashy mobsters of old; they try and impress the denizens with tales of their prowess. The give flowery examples of their superiority with a handgun, or hand to hand combat. They hint at their extensive client list that OWES them their life, and boast to whoever’s logged on at the time that they KNOW someone “legendary” that’s

Elijah Shaw done SOMETHING “impressive.” Which I assume by default, makes them legendary as well.

In the urban areas there are two types of gangsters, “OG’s” or Original Gangsters. Individuals who have lived the life ages ago, and by virtue of that past pedigree have the influence and respect of their peers. They often can get away with what other’s cant because they have “been there done that” even if it was 3 decades ago. Then there are the “BG’s” or Baby Gangsters, which are the newcomers that have just entered the gangster lifestyle, and are trying to “earn their stripes” by proving how tough they are.

Unfortunately in the Executive Protection community we have both types of gangsters, plying their trade on Social Media, those that look down on civilians and warriors alike for not having their level of experience, as well as those that overdo it so aggressively in an effort to gain recognition and respect that it’s almost comical. If it only affected themselves, that would be one thing, but remember, intimidation is a tool of tradecraft for the Gangster.

That means that on social media their outlet is usually those who are younger, more inexperienced, and less inclined to opposition. In the message board “neighborhood,” you see it play out in the form of comments and post. The new guy will ask a new guy question, and the response from the

“OG” is how dumb a question it is, or reply back in such a condescending manner that the questioner runs for the hills.

And then there’s the “BG” who writes a post or responds to one with such a tall tale about “their client” or the “50 man detail they were involved in” that it’s beyond belief.

The only one spared these attacks? The person that the Original Gangster sets his sights on, for grooming into the gang. That person, usually young and inexperienced, is typically spared the virtual lashing when they ask a question, and encouraged when they write a post that seems to focus more on the negative than the positive. They are being inducted, and without the proper interventions, suddenly they are exhibiting the same traits as the other gangsters.

Gang violence is an epidemic in some communities, and unfortunately it’s also starting to gain a foothold in social media. I mentioned earlier that I grew up in a gang infested neighborhood. One of the things I attribute to making it out of there (relatively) unscathed is the fact that there was “community policing” in the form of concerned citizens who said, “not on my watch, not on my block.” They didn’t stop the gang’s activities but they did make their presence unwelcome and by sheer force of will more than force of arms, compelled the gangs to take their activities a bit further in any direction but there. I vote do the same for Internet Gangsters.

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

Issue 17

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Feature

By Yoni.C

Being out of work for a long time is every operator’s nightmare.

90% of men and women on the circuit have experienced periods with a shortage of work and it certainly isn’t a pleasant experience.

With Iraq and Afghanistan coming to an end in the future, Marsec gigs fewer and far between, it seems the circuit is becoming tougher and tougher.

and LinkedIn, spamming the Internet for work has never helped anyone in finding employment; that way of doing things actually has a reverse effect puts people off.

Many are literally craving for employment, competition is fierce and salaries have dropped dramatically.

Searching for employment is not to be taken lightly and it should all be planned like a military operation.

Companies are out there to make money, and some are so ruthless they would rather employ operators from third world and eastern European countries who are willing to work for 100$/day rather than more experienced personnel who can provide the right service and who have spent thousands of pounds on adequate training.

You need to start as you mean to go on, and when searching for employment you should act the same way as you would when you are on task.

At the same moment that I am writing this article, thousands out there are currently out of work and doing all they can to either get back into employment or get their foot in the door.

Being and acting desperate, begging for work on Facebook

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Discipline, careful planning, carrying out prior intelligence and due diligence, motivation, and keeping your head up even when the going gets tough are just a few things you will need to make it and get employment.

Just remember: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going”

Search Tactics

Be harsh on yourself and don’t leave any room for amateurism.

The more time and effort you put into your job search, the greater your chances of being employed quickly.

Study and assess your own profile, for example if you have no military background do you really have enough qualifications and knowledge to target the Hostile Environment CP industry? Would it not be better to target the UK CP market or European based CP jobs?

You should view the job search as a competition and you should wake up every morning without feeling depressed but rather like a fighter who intends to win the competition.

If you have no military background, bare in mind that the other operators applying for the HE jobs often have + 10 years military experience with tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

How and where do I start?

First of all, plan ahead and study the industry you want to work in (CP or Marsec etc..)

The aim is to get yourself into employment quickly, dreaming of something that isn’t going to happen will waste yours and also the recruiter’s time.

What is your background? Are you former military or civilian?

What qualifications do you have and do you have the necessary qualifications to enter the CP/Marsec industry?

A few exceptions have been noted however concerning non military background CPO’s who have made it and succeeded in HE work, they are a minority and it is better sticking to realistic goals if you want to be employed fast.

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Feature Always try and be realistic, and before starting your job search do make sure you have the right qualifications as sending a CV without sufficient qualifications is the first step towards getting a bad reputation, your CV will be binned, your email address blocked, and you will be known as a person who can’t follow simple instructions as most job offers give clear indications on the qualifications needed in order to apply.

Once you have realistically defined where your profile, background and qualifications can take you, you should now plan accordingly and it is much easier to search when you know what you are looking for.

Contact all Companies Once you know what type of work you can do and where you can do it, you need to start your research.

You can easily create a list of companies by using Google.

A simple search term like “close protection” can bring up hundreds of results.

You can target the location you would like to work in and the following often works, for example the search term “Close Protection Iraq” will help you find various companies operating in Iraq.

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Another great way of searching for companies is to join the Asset Protection Index (Aprodex) They have quite a large database of companies. http://www.aprodex.com/ They have large lists of companies providing CP, Marsec, Surveillance, TSCM, Security Management and other security related services.

Open a word or Excel document to list every single company you come across.

This isn’t pleasant and it is hard work but it helps a lot.

In the document, write down the name of each company you are interested in applying to, email address, phone number, website, and a few details like the history of the company, name of CEO, year the company was formed, places it has operated in, Google the company and get a general feel of its reputation.

The last thing you want is to find yourself working in a remote location for a brand new company headed by utter walts who have not paid you and who are now not answering your calls…Or even worse finding yourself in a Papua New Guinea jail.

Search Tactics Send your CV to each company, without forgetting to include a cover letter.

Do not forget to mention various things about the company you are writing to, this shows you carried out research before applying.

Follow up a few days later with a phone call.

This can be done the other way around and you can also start by phoning the company and politely asking if you can send them your CV, give the person your name and then mention in the email the phone conversation so that they can remember you.

WARNING: Do not send one single email with 500 companies in cc.

I have seen this done before, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lack of respect and your CV will be binned right away. It takes time but you will need to contact each company individually.

Tip: Use your excel document to tick off the companies you have contacted, tick off when you follow up, write what their response was and write down the date you need to contact them again if they ask you to resend your CV a few months down the line.

Your own contacts Let all your contacts know you are out of work, even past employers you left on good terms, past training providers also.

Ex military operators usually have a better chance of finding employment using this method as many friends/people they served with work in the CP or Marsec industry and can put them forward for positions.

Social Networks Facebook can be a way to keep in touch with your contacts and to find employment.

Make sure you have the right security settings on your Facebook and that only your trusted contacts can view your page and what you write on it.

Many operators on Facebook share job vacancies, they talk about jobs, and a lot is done via PM also.

If you have many ex mil contacts then Facebook can be a good way to find a job.

Some companies also have a Facebook page and post various jobs on their page.

The last thing you want is to find yourself working in a remote location for a brand new company headed by utter walts who have not paid you and who are now not answering your callsâ&#x20AC;ŚOr even worse finding yourself in a Papua New Guinea jail.

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Feature

Twitter is another way in which you can follow companies and many big companies use Twitter to post their Job vacancies.

LinkedIn is perhaps the best social networking site on which you can find employment.

You can connect with the top CEO’s and companies, other operators, you can view job vacancies that are posted, you can create your profile and put your whole CV and skills on your profile, people you know can write recommendations for you on your profile, people can endorse you, and you can join various groups dedicated to CP, Marsec, Surveillance and anything else you are interested in.

Job vacancies sites Add job vacancies websites to your favorites tab on your PC so that they are ready to be browsed at every morning as you wake up.

Simply open your PC and go into your favorites tab and browse each site for new vacancies each day.

You need to be on the ball and as the saying goes “First come first served”, many vacancies are often filled in 24 hours so apply fast and always be ready to deploy on short notice.

Here is a list of a few sites with regular vacancies on: British Bodyguard Association www.the-bba.org.uk

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United Nations Careers https://careers.un.org/lbw/Home.aspx Conflict Area Management www.conflictareamanagement.com/ Close Protection Domain: www.cp-domain.com Close Protection World www.closeprotectionworld.com/current-vacancies/ Associations I have bought memberships with many associations and spent fortunes.

The only membership I renew year in year out is to the British Bodyguard Association.

It is my 5th year as a member and during the past 5 years I have found jobs, made a few very good contacts, and I have learnt a lot through the BBA forum as well as through the articles on the Circuit magazine.

Keeping in sync with the industry by reading magazines Keeping in sync and up to date is very important when you are looking for employment, our industry is constantly changing and things move very fast.

Ex Mil recruitment www.ex-mil.co.uk/

I remember the days when the FAAW (First Aid at Work) was enough, the med standards have certainly changed and without the FPOS-I, it seems your chances of finding employment are very low these days.

International Security Jobs www.internationalsecurityjobs.blogspot.fr

Make sure you get every issue of the Circuit magazine, it is written by operators themselves therefore you get up to

Circuit Magazine

The Academic Edge date and accurate information on the current happenings throughout the industry, qualification requirements, new equipment etc...

Various US Gov websites also have up to date information on DoS and DoD contracts around the world and which companies are on these particular contracts.

Forums Forums are probably one of the best ways to find employment.

Private Military is also a good website to gather intelligence. www.privatemilitary.org/

You can make good contacts by joining forums, you will get daily industry news, you can chat with other operators that work in various parts of the globe, daily job vacancies.

Information travels very fast on forums, you can get quick advice and responses to any of your questions, you can get help on various issues and the greatest thing about forums is that you can be in the UK and in a matter of seconds you can get an answer to what is going on in Libya from an operator that is on the ground and right in the thick of things!

Close Protection World is a forum that has been going for a few years now, job vacancies are posted daily, there is some good information to take from it, but the downside to CPW is that it has no security measures in place and anyone can join the forum making it easy for people with bad intentions. www.closeprotectionworld.com Close Protection Domain is a new forum.

This forum is professional and members have to be vetted in order to gain full forum access.

It is the most secure CP/Marsec/Surveillance forum out there and threads are not open source.

Job Vacancies are posted daily and threads are interesting.

The downside to it is that it is still fairly new and there aren’t a large number of members on it. www.cp-domain.com There is a US based forum called SOCNET, which isn’t too bad also.

No security measures in place and all posts are open source, but some good information can be taken from it. www.socnet.com Intelligence gathering Gathering intelligence is of high importance when you are looking for employment.

Various websites can help you gather intel which puts you one step ahead in your job search.

I particularly like Intelligence Online which often provides intel on contracts the big security companies have. www.intelligenceonline.com/ This means you can send your CV to the company before the information on the contracts even gets out and about.

Wired www.wired.com/dangerroom/ David Isenberg from the Huffington post also writes many interesting articles www.huffingtonpost.com/david-isenberg/ Various blogs/sites with good information Bodyguard Careers www.bodyguardcareers.com/ Feral Jundi http://feraljundi.com/ Security Clearance http://security.blogs.cnn.com/ Networking in person Do try and attend networking meetings through the BBA or other associations; attend events also such as the Counter Terror expo.

Conclusion Remain professional at all times, never give up the job search and be highly motivated each day, help others along the way.

Help others as much as you can and you will get that back.

Appearance, CV & cover letter, and the Interview stage have been left out deliberately as this will be touched upon in a later Circuit Issue.

I won’t wish you the best of luck as finding employment isn’t based on luck, it is based on how much time and effort you are willing to put in!

I do hope this article will help fellow operators.

Stay safe Yoni.C, Close Protection Specialist

Keeping in sync and up to date is very important when you are looking for employment, our industry is constantly changing and things move very fast.

Issue 18

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Feature

Don’t just manage your teamMotivate them!

By Russ Saunders

Leadership and motivation go hand in hand, like squirrels and trees, peanut butter and jelly, or “halls and walls”. That concept is not new, in fact it is fundamental, yet so many leaders fail to recognize it.

In my last article I spoke of the importance of attitude in leadership. This time I want to share the importance of motivation. Being able to motivate those you lead is important, indeed paramount to success. It is equally essential to recognize leaders and potential leaders within your organization, and to cultivate and inspire them to reach their full potential. It does not matter if you are a protection agent a police officer, or work in retailleadership and motivation is vital to your success.

When I became a new Security Supervisor, I immediately set out to learn about the folks that worked at the agency.

At a meeting of the troops, my first question was “Who wants to be the next Agent in Charge at this agency?”

Understandably there was some trepidation in the room and no hands went up immediately. After all, no one wants to make their boss think they are out to take their job away! After a few seconds and a few nervous glances a hand went up. I commended the person for having the courage to make her intentions known under the circumstances. I then explained to the group that I felt it was important to understand everyone’s goals and where they wanted their career to go. I was happy to see that this person aspired to be a top Protection Agent, and I was also going to help her achieve that goal. I further explained that in order for the agency to continue to be successful and effective, it is vital to help future leaders become successful leaders. I asked the question again and this time several hands went up.

Recently I viewed a video on YouTube that was very motivating and inspirational, called Transformational

“The player thinks he is only going 20 yards or so, but in the end he travels the entire length of the field while carrying his teammate- a feat he thought was impossible.”

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Leadership Example. I highly recommend that you spend a couple minutes looking it up and watch it. It is a short story about a coach that is trying to motivate his team for a big upcoming game. The coach sees that a particular player has the gift of leadership and that all the others on the team look up to him. The coach proves to the player (and the others) that by giving your all, everything is possible. In fact he proves that you can achieve more than you ever thought if you don’t give up. Although the video has a predictable ending, it is the technique used by the coach that makes it so powerful.

In the video as the player struggles down the field (blindfolded) with the weight of a team mate on his back, he is close to quitting many times. The coach however will not let him quit and pushes him past his own limits. The player thinks he is only going 20 yards or so, but in the end he travels the entire length of the field while carrying his teammate- a feat he thought was impossible. This is very metaphorical of all leaders and followers. In order to keep the team moving forward and maintain a high level of motivation, we as leaders must find ways to help others achieve victories. When we do we prove that the team can reach the goals we set-even if the goal is a difficult one.

As we win these victories along the way the entire team begins to have a sense of solidarity. They see others doing well and in turn want to do well themselves.

The lesson is two-fold. It is not only a great motivational piece, but it also serves as a reminder how important it is to recognize the other leaders in your organization and to use their talent in your overall plan to lead and motivate.

Find your “influential players” and let them help you lead.

After all, isn’t that what “team” means?

It is important for you as a leader to take notice of the individual attributes, attitudes, dreams, and goals of those you lead. Doing so allows you to help them to find the leadership potential within so it can flourish and grow. Remember that there is more to it than just giving someone information and skills. They must have a sense of pride and value in their own leadership abilities. You

Motivate them!

should offer encouragement when they are challenged and assist them when they are in need. Let people know that the work they do makes a difference! Being recognized by others (especially the boss!) is a great motivator.

Just like the player in the video, sometimes people may not realize the potential that they have. As a leader you should be helping them realize their potential. Many years ago I worked for a security company in California installing and servicing burglar and fire alarms. The company’s owner was a retired police officer with a legendary background. He was the kind of person that succeeded in whatever he did. Even through adversity and hardship he always came through and shined.

I truly admired him. He knew that I had always wanted to be an Executive Protection Agent, but unfortunately I lacked the confidence to pursue my dream at that time. Many times he would tell me that I should follow my dream, but I always had an excuse. Thankfully, he was not about to let me defeat myself. I enjoyed the alarm business but my heart was elsewhere-and he knew it.

One day the boss took me and two other co-workers to a business that had been burglarized to give an estimate for a new security system. The client was a very well known celebrity so it was a pretty big deal. There were a couple of officers on scene as well as a detective. They all knew my boss very well and began talking about old times. They asked him for his opinion on the burglary and where he thought the thieves made entry, and what other measures he thought the victim should take to ensure the security of their home and family. He smiled and waved his hand towards me and said “Russ as an aspiring protection agent I’d like to hear what you think.” I immediately felt two things. The first was fear. Why would seasoned officers care what I thought? The second was an epiphany of sorts. I realized why the boss put me on the

spot-it was my chance to shine. It was an opportunity to gain a little credibility with those that I may soon work with. I had completed several EP classes and even worked some details.

I was very familiar with the physical aspects of security and knew a thing or two about protecting people as well. I gave it my best shot and offered up a few suggestions. I was thrilled when everyone agreed with my recommendations. As insignificant as it may seem, in that one moment I proved to myself that I had the ability to do what I had always dreamed of. Obviously I ended up pursuing my dream and doing quite well. To this day that old boss of mine stays in touch with me and is still a true mentor. Wouldn’t it be satisfying to know that you made that kind of difference in the life of someone you lead?

The coach in the video makes a lasting impression on those players he leads. He has helped them perform at their best and realize anything is possible. That’s what great leaders do. If you think back to a leader in your own life that made a difference and stood above the rest, I bet that leader did so through motivation and nurturing. Motivating you to be the best you can and nurturing your natural leadership abilities not only makes you better, it makes the entire team better.

I want to close with a quote that I heard recently at a conference. I was sitting at a table with the CEO of a local security company in a nearby city, as well as several others in the protection and security business. This particular CEO was leaving his current agency for another job at a larger company on the west coast, and was talking about his upcoming move.

One of the other executives at the table asked him if he had been grooming any of his employees or upper management people to take over when he leaves. The CEO replied without hesitation “I have been grooming 107 people to replace me.”

Guess how many people work for that company. That is a true leader!

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Feature

By Benjamin Alozie

Protectors are your thoughts and tongue bridled, or out of control?

The tongue is said to be one of the most exercised muscles of our body. Estimates have it that in a typical week, the average person will speak enough words to fill a 500 page book! However, for the protector, the use of the tongue must be a matter of careful forethought and discipline.

The reference to a “bridle” in text such as biblical verses is like the leather harness and bit placed in a horse’s mouth to control it. In the same manner, Professional protectors must allow the core teachings and values of this profession to bridle their thoughts and tongue, if they sincerely want to bring restraint to their words and succeed as true professional protectors.

In today’s protective services industry both the old and new professional protectors have to be wary of the untrained protector whose love for this profession ends after they receive the pay check.

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Some have questioned the wisdom behind the outspokenness of some in our industry acting as selfappointed custodians of the core protector’s craft and creed. I can recall once when my associate, Eric Konohia, offered one of the best reasons ever in stating that “Protective services to some of us are not a hobby but a way of life”. This reason for me is good enough reason we fight to protect the core craft from dangerous influences trying to erode the core values of this great profession simply to satisfy their ulterior motives for entering the industry.

This article should be seen simply as a timely reminder to all professional protectors who may have in the past been guilty of making unrestrained and unfiltered comments & posts out of just personal sentiment and not facts. This article will equally help new professionals in our midst by reminding them to think deeply of the comments

Bridle your thought and tongue “Some stick to their guns and refuse to take correction by allowing unnecessary arrogance lead them to a state of continued believe of their misinformation.” they make on social media in the light of their continued professional growth and success especially on issues with religious, racial and political nature.

Before, during and after the just ended US election season, I particularly noticed and read with dismay a lot of unbridled and sometimes extreme comments from a lot of professionals. Some of these very comments even came from professionals that I have an enormous amount of respect for. The point of the matter is that in social networking forums we need to be neutral as well as being extremely careful how we project our racial and political biases to other professionals and potential employers.

An important question to ponder is this; For security reasons, would it make any sense for an employer to knowingly employ an agent they already known from their social media presence to hold very strong and extreme views on a subject matter X, to protect a client known to hold moderate or an extreme opposite views on the same subject matter X; especially since it would now be a matter of record that the agent has no problems bringing their extreme views into their professional life?

Maintaining a very professional neutrality on very controversial issues is a hallmark of a true professional protector and we don’t need to look further than the professional protectors working for the United States Secrete Services to find these caliber of men and women held daily to these standards from the day they enter the services to years after they leave the services.

Some may feel this article is talking directly to them and may say to themselves, that they have valid reasons for their actions and even convince themselves that they can draw a line between work and their professional life even if they do air controversial views on social media. Experience has thought me that when push comes to shove we only speak out from the abundance of our heart and mouth, and as such if we spend years honing to be “unbridled” without thoughts and tongue, there is no miracle that will make you do anything different without being labeled a hypocrite that preaches one thing and practices something else. Practice what you preach both in your private and professional life.

One of the things that recently made headlines around the world was the shocking announcement that “C.I.A Director David Petraeus Steps Down” Immediately after the story broke, social media was afire.

I was surprised to read several insinuations made by protectors statig very outrageous possible reasons why the C.I.A chief decided to step down. Some went to the extent of saying he was stepping down because of the so called conspiracy of the Benghazi attack and there where others who equally made more bizarre insinuations and all these insinuations came before the actual facts of the matter which is that the C.I.A Director decision to step down was based on a very personal and private reason which he clearly stated was “A poor Judgment that led into an extra marital affair” What is surprising is that even after these protectors make these unverified or even false insinuations they become like snails when it comes to correcting their comments, which by the way is on record. Some stick to their guns and refuse to take correction by allowing unnecessary arrogance lead them to a state of continued believe of their misinformation.

Painfully, some of those protectors guilty of spreading misinformation (from having unbridled thoughts and tongue), forget that there are new agents in our midst looking up to them and that some of these new agents may still have impressionable and inexperienced minds and even start seeing these types of actions as one of the favorable qualities necessary in a protector.

The Dangers to Protectors a. Hypocrisy of the Tongue and actions b. Acceptance of bad behavior as the new normal over time. c. Accountable for all our Words The Possible Cure Approach a. Honest Self-Assessment b. Ask a trusted friend to tell you the truth about you and your tongue c. Acknowledge and accept their honest assessments no matter how negative it is d. Start working towards solving the problem and don’t procrastinate If you realize that your thoughts and tongue are out of control, I urge you to quickly start seeking a remedy before it becomes ingrained in your character and therefore more difficult to cure.

Issue 18

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Feature

The art of procrastination Dr. Amy Burrell

Procrastination is a favourite pastime of a great many people, and it can present some serious challenges to success.

This article tries to unlock some of the most common reasons for procrastination and provide some practical advice for tackling it. The good news is that, even if procrastination remains a problem, there are in fact tactics for using it to your advantage.

So, what is procrastination and why is it a problem?

Procrastination is the term used to describe when highpriority actions are replaced with lower priority tasks, or putting something important off to do something fun. It is normal for people to procrastinate to some degree, but when it impedes on everyday life, it becomes a problem.

Procrastination can lead to stress, lost of productivity, and a sense of perpetual crisis. Failure to meet responsibilities or commitments is also a common problem. The main risk with chronic procrastination is that the important tasks get delayed or simply never get done. Unfortunately, the resulting feeling of helplessness can lead to further procrastination, and so a cycle of missed deadlines continues.

Why do we procrastinate?

Life is full of tasks and it can be difficult to prioritise them.

Sometimes it can feel like there is far too much to do and so focus is placed on doing the smaller, quick win tasks rather than work on those that are time-consuming or difficult.

This allows people to cross lots of things off the “to-do list” which provides reassurance and a sense of achievement even if very little of value has actually been accomplished.

It is common to procrastinate about tasks that are unpopular (e.g. the ironing) or anxiety-ridden (e.g. writing that report for the Board). Both of these are understandable but procrastinating can make the task worse; for example, the pile of ironing reaches epic proportions and the creases are harder to iron out, or the report to the Board is delivered by

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someone who feels totally unprepared.

How do you get past procrastinating?

So, how can procrastination be stopped? It’s an interesting question and different people are motivated in different ways. Here are some ideas that might help:

• Break it down. Often people procrastinate because tasks feel enormous. The task becomes easier if it broken down into manageable chunks. For example, when writing a report, draft the structure and then write one section at a time. Add each section as an individual item on the “to-do” list as this will allow more items to be ticked off more frequently, providing reassurance that the big task is moving forward. Chunks must be manageable and achievable in a relatively short timeframe to allow tasks to be regularly checked off.

• Rewards can be useful for motivation. This can be as simple as a cup of tea or as extravagant as booking a holiday. Clearly matching the scale of the reward to the scale of the task is a good idea!

• If a reward doesn’t work, bribes might. For example, some people give a friend £50 with the instructions to donate the money to a hated cause upon failure to complete the designated task. A harsh approach perhaps but it also has the hint of genius!

• Set deadlines. Some tasks fall off the priority list because there is no deadline so it is important to set one. Make sure it is realistic but also focused enough to encourage task completion.

The art of procrastination How to make procrastination work for you There are examples of great success due to procrastination.

For example, Fabius Maximus, a Roman general from 3rd Century BC, was infamous for his procrastination and was known as the “delayer”. In what is now termed as Fabian Strategy in military circles, Fabius Maximus avoided battles with the enemy in favour of wearing down his opponent through a war of attrition. His reluctance to engage with the enemy (Hannibal) is cited as helping to turn the ride of the Second Punic War. The strategy has now been successfully used in a number of wars including the Hundred Years War and the American Revolution.

Although this example is fairly extreme, it does highlight that procrastination is not always a bad thing. In fact, it can be successfully used to get other tasks done. The key idea to grasp is that procrastinators are not lazy; it is rare a procrastinator does absolutely nothing. Instead they prioritise less important tasks to put off doing other tasks. Take for example, working from home. Some people can be really productive whereas others find it a struggle. These are the people who’ll find lots of housework to do instead of actually working. So, although they don’t achieve any work aims, they are likely to have fresh laundry, clear kitchen benches, and a sparkling bathroom at the end of the day. So, contrary to popular belief procrastinating can actually be useful so long as tasks are actually completed.

Of course, the big important tasks do always need to be completed. The key is to get the procrastinator to buy into structured procrastination; that is structuring the tasks as

normal with the most urgent and important at the top but also including less important or urgent but also worthwhile tasks on the list. The rationale is that the procrastinator is likely to do these tasks to avoid doing the ones at the top of the list. Thus, the procrastinator can be motivated to do difficult, timely and important tasks, as long as these tasks are a way of not doing something more important.

Summary Procrastination can be fun, but it can also lead to stress and anxiety and is not always conducive to getting things done. However, it is important to recognise that everyone procrastinates sometimes, and it can be used to achieve worthwhile tasks so long as the conditions are right.

About Perpetuity Training Perpetuity Training offer a range of short courses, including Level 4 professional awards in Managing Security Surveys, and Security Management. All of our short courses can be adapted to meet the needs of individual businesses and delivered as an in-house training course. We also offer bespoke training services. Perpetuity Training is proud to be associated with the Security Institute (SyI) and to be the provider of the Institutes two membership qualifications the Certificate in Security Management (Level 3 Advanced Certificate) and the Diploma in Security Management (Level 5 Professional Diploma).

For more information log onto www.perpetuitytraining.com, call us on 0116 222 5550 or email training@perpetuitygroup. com

Issue 18

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Feature

By Robert Kaiser, PPSS Group

Helping Personal Protection Specialists To Understand Concealable Bullet Proof Vests Before going into concealable bullet proof vests there is one thing I must say right at the beginning of this article: To look after, or to be responsible for the personal security and safety of another human being is without question one of the very best and most rewarding professions one can be part of.

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Helping Personal Protection

If you are new to this industry… be proud of yourself, you are looking at exciting times ahead, but be also assured you are going to experience some of the most challenging, stressful and truly life-changing decision making moments in your life.

Your own security and personal safety If you can learn to collect and analyse all available relevant information, and turn it into real intelligence… then you will do an outstanding job in improving the personal security of your principal, as well as your own safety, as good intelligence will help you plan a few steps ahead and put effective ‘safety nets’ in place.

However, the matter of fact is that sometimes things don’t go to plan. That’s exactly when you really have to think and act quickly, make crucial decisions and rely on the gear you have invested in, prior to your assignment.

A good quality concealable bullet proof vest must be part of this gear, and this blog will hopefully provide you with information, which will allow you to ask specific technical questions prior to your purchase… ensuring you end up with the RIGHT body armour for your most realistic operational duties, risks and threats.

Please be aware that beside your weapon… your concealable bulletproof vest will be the only piece of equipment that really can make all the difference between your life and death… between coming home safely or not at all!

Ballistic Protection Standards Concealable bulletproof vests are always designed as soft body armour. Very rarely do they feature front and rear pockets for additional hard trauma plates… that’s something you will find in overtly worn body armour, primarily in use in conflict or hostile environments e.g. war zones or politically unrest countries.

Subject to their stated protection level, concealable bulletproof vests can offer excellent protection from even the most powerful handguns and ammunition. Tested and certified protection can be offered from .38 Special and 9mm Parabellum, to .44 Magnum and .45 Magnum rounds, as well as Israel’s rather famous Uzi sub-machine gun.

Many countries around the world have their own ballistic protection standard. However, the best-known and most respected one is known as National Institute of Justice (NIJ) standard. The NIJ standard is recognised and respected all over the world, in comparison to the British, German or other standards, which in most cases are more dominant or relevant within homeland security services in their own country or region. Personally I wish there would be a single International Ballistic Protection Standard all body armour manufacturers have to comply with, allowing them to manufacture larger volume and offer them to government and homeland security agencies at a much better price… but I guess that’s a little too political for this article. However, let me make it clear here… a single International Ballistic Protection Standard would make it MUCH easier for everyone to understand what exact protection level is the ‘right’ one for them.

Looking at this most recognised ballistic standard NIJ, what would be the best possible protection level you should be looking for? Well, the answer is simple. I strongly suggest you go with the highest possible protection level for ‘soft’ concealable bulletproof vests, which is the NIJ IIIA ballistic protection level. I will get to the much-discussed weight and thickness issues in a few moments.

A NIJ Level IIIA tested and certified concealable bullet proof vest will guarantee you protection against 9 mm Full Metal Jacketed Round Nose (FMJ RN) bullets rom close range, with nominal masses of 8.0 g (124 gr) at a reference

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Feature velocity of 436 m/s (1430 ft/s ± 30 ft/s) and .44 Magnum Semi Jacketed Hollow Point (SJHP) bullets, with nominal masses of 15.6 g (240 gr) at a reference velocity of 436 m/s (1430 ft/s ± 30 ft/s). It also provides protection against all handgun threats a body armour tested and certified to NIJ Level IIA and II will offer.

Only a very few concealable bullet proof vests manufacturers have recently taken ‘safety’ even to another level and offer body armour with additional protection from Tokarev Ball 7.62 x 25mm and Makarov 9 x 18mm, which is of great benefits to Personal Protection Specialists operating in Eastern European countries or the Russian Federation, or those facing realistic threats origination from this region.

Another thing I want to point out here is the risk of Far East manufactured body armour, especially those manufactured in China. I fully understand the financial pressure many of us are currently under, but when it comes to the purchase of a potentially life saving piece of equipment… please think at least twice! We have to accept that a Rolex is more expensive than a cheap watch, a Rolls Royce is more expensive than a Skoda and a trip to Kaiteriteri Beach in New Zealand is more expensive than a trip to the local coast (unless you are lucky enough to live nearby).

A tested and certified high performance body armour will not be cheap… but there is no doubt it can make a long operational day in the heat less demanding and is more likely to save your life than a body armour we have no real idea on HOW and WHERE it has been made.

Weight Body armour technology, manufacturing capabilities and body armour design have evolved a lot over the past 10 years. Body armour worn by the police and other enforcement agencies in most countries weigh in excess of 5kg or even 6kg and are often thicker than 20 or even 25mm.

Please let me assure you that this is totally unnecessary. It is a well-documented fact that such weight will lead to stress, fatigue and subsequently to potentially fatal human errors.

Innocent members of the public could get severely injured or lose their lives if a Personal Protection Specialist suffers from fatigue due to the excessive weight of his body armour, and subsequently makes the wrong decision, within what will most likely be an ‘extremely stressful situation’ to start with.

Many body armour manufacturers are now capable of developing body armour less than half of the above weight, using high performance materials such as DSM’s Dyneema® SB51, Dyneema® SB71, or Honeywell’s Gold Flex® or Gold Shield®, leading to a noticeable reduction and stress, fatigue and any other negative side effect.

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I strongly feel that in case you are looking for a concealable high performance bullet proof vest, your body armour should certainly not weigh any more than 2.2kg in today’s day in age. Manufacturers have been competing hard in order to develop the lightest body armour in the world.

They have pushed each other to completely new levels, hence concealable bullet proof vests weighing less than 2.0kg are now on the market, offering extraordinary ballistic protection.

Blunt Forced Trauma What is ‘blunt forced trauma’?

Blunt Forced Trauma is the non-penetrating injury resulting from the rapid deformation of armours covering the body. The deformation of the surface of a body armour in contact with the body wall arises from the impact of a bullet or other projectile on its front face. The deformation is part of the energy absorbing process that captures the projectile. In extreme circumstances, the blunt forced trauma may result in death, even though the projectile has not penetrated the body armour. An escalation of the available energy of bullets and the desire of armour designers to minimise the weight and bulk of personal armour systems will increase the risk of blunt forced trauma in Personal Protection Specialists.

In order to be concealable or covert a bulletproof vest needs to be as thin as possible. Now this is not as easy as we all would like it to be. The reason behind is the extremely dangerous risk of blunt forced trauma injuries. All modern materials being used to manufacture bulletproof vests make it literately impossible for a ‘bullet’ to penetrate. The much higher risk is the risk of blunt trauma injuries. The thinner the body armour, the more attention the manufacturer must pay to protect the wearer from such injury. I am sure you don’t fancy seeing your body armour stop the ‘bullet’… but die later on in hospital from internal bleeding or other internal injuries!

Concealability The aspect of concealability (is this actually a proper word?) is of immense importance… for you personally anyway, but even more likely for your principal. Of course, there are a number of high profile musicians, actors and other type of artists out there, who get a real kick out of being surrounded by ‘hundreds’ of massive guys who look as when they can easily crush you in one hand. However, the type of principal I had in my mind when writing this blog is the high profile business executive and political, religious or cultural leader, who are much more likely to want you to blend in and be more ‘unnoticeable’ to the public. You might even be required to adapt to their dress code, which can range from wearing just about anything starting from a suit and casual wear right up to golf clothing and other sort of training

Helping Personal Protection gear… so your concealable bullet proof vests really wants to be 100% CONCEALABLE! Please note a good modern bulletproof vest panel can be less than 10mm thin. In fact, some concealable high performance bullet proof vests are as thin as 7mm and with the assistance and backing of specially designed trauma liner they still outperform existing body armour, which used to be heavy, bulky, thick and restrictive.

Comfort Comfort is about how you feel when you wear your concealable bulletproof vest. Weight, thickness and flexibility are three of the many aspects, which everyone should carefully consider before purchasing this type of protective equipment.

The wearability especially in hot and humid environments is also an important aspect. Please let me assure you that wearing a bulletproof vest will always make you sweat. The question is just how much?

In Middle Eastern countries, Australia, South America or Africa we have to accept the fact that temperatures can often exceed 40 degrees Celsius. For a Personal Protection Specialist wearing a concealable bullet proof vest in such condition is a serious ‘burden’ and this professional must be able to get on with the tasks on hand without excessive body heat implications or severe risks of dehydration.

Temperature regulating fabrics, such as Outlast® space technology (as used for all PPSS Bullet Proof Vests), or moisture-wicking technical fabrics, such as Coolmax® are now being used as base layer for high performance bullet proof vests, making them ideal for those Personal Protection Specialists operating in hot and humid environments. I urge you to find out if your potential future body armour is offering this level of ‘luxury’.

In case you have any question please contact my team or me and email info@ppss-group.com, call+44 (0) 845 5193 953 or visit www.ppssgroup.com

Issue 18

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Feature

By Eric Konohia

I truly believe that the best specialists in this industry are comprised of Alpha males and females. What I am talking about is that there is an innate, built in composition that drives us to succeed at every level and make sure that we align ourselves with people of the same caliber and fabric.

These specialists are very proud of their station in life and are vocal about it. Even the newest of members in this elite fraternity find themselves coming out of the shadows when it comes to industry interaction. In order for a knife to be sharp it MUST rub against something, otherwise it will remain dull. No one person can learn all there is to know about this industry by closing their eyes and learning through osmosis.

Conversely, those that have the knowledge did not gain it through some magical saturation.

Social media has made some of the best of these individuals, lazy, unrealistic and selfish. A person can now frequent some of the top groups on the internet and read a post that will enlighten you on best industry practices. There should be a warning after these posts, “Do not try this without proper supervision of a seasoned professional.” Just because you can clearly articulate a multi-vehicle arrival and departure DOES NOT mean that you have learned the procedure. In fact, if you employ this “Hot” without actually learning it in a

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school, you will be putting your Principal in danger. Even if the post [or a book] included pictures in the description you cannot and should not replace the most important part to the procedure, the one-on-one instruction from the training cadre who can show you how and WHY you do it a certain way.

Recently, I blogged and posted on my experience as a company owner and specialist where my company was allowed to work “Inside” the inner circle of the United States Secret Service Presidential Protection Division on four separate occasions, twice where my Principal was given the privileges of Head of State. This allowed me and my team to operate within the most inner restricted space. On one occasion we protected a high profile individual that allowed us to work inside the PPD where the current sitting President and 3 former presidents were in attendance. My company has also had the occasion to be “Embedded” as part of the protective sphere for one of my clients who was afforded a

You cannot have it both ways Department of State escort package. I operated as the tactical commander on several occasions and in the protective formation. Each day, when my Principal arrived at the venue that was secured by the DSS, we operated within the protective bubble of the Head of State’s DSS coverage. During our time, we were even allowed to take our breaks inside the DSS “down room”. It took no time at all before for a large contingent of DSS Agents to accept us as part of the overall security presence.

My post was about proper protocols and the order to properly and effectively make initial contact with official protection teams. I specifically spoke about chain of command, how you get their contact information, how you represent yourself on that initial phone call and that most important face to face meeting. Additionally, I specifically advised on exactly what information was needed to convey to them once you were told you could work within this restricted space. The more you appear prepared the better they feel about having you in this sacred ground. I wrote about how important your presentation was and how a mediocre or failed attempt could land you outside the first check point watching your principal being allowed entry while you wait to reconnect with them after the meeting or event.

professionals have so much to offer the industry and specialists looking for direction; however, they’d rather be viewed as disgruntled and mean. In some ways, this is a fraternity and you have to earn your respect to be accepted as worthy to share information, but hazing unnecessarily only makes you look bad and degrades YOUR reputation.

The bottom line to this evolution and inclusion of social media is that you cannot have it both ways. You can’t sit back and read posts or TTPs and think that you’re able to perform them OR can you think that your affiliation with a specific group will elevate your status or experience in the industry. Just because you are one of the 830+ members on the Facebook NABA page does not mean you are on anyone’s call-sign list. However, if you are one of those members that has regular interaction through posts, and comments, it will bring attention to you. What you post and how you post will determine if that attention is positive or negative. Personally, I have used members from that group on details this year and will continue to do so in the future. I can show you how each of their interactions on social media put them on my watch list for further consideration.

You can read that blog over and over and be able to regurgitate it word for word, but you should never feel that by my sharing you will be able to ease through the process.

You have to see it being done in person in order to really appreciate how it flows and unfolds. Trust me when I say that at any portion of the process you appear unsure, doubtful, and lastly inexperienced, you will have to explain to your Principal how you failed.

The reverse is also true. I know that some of the social media snipers are highly experienced and highly qualified, yet their negative interactions caution me that they may do the same on a detail where they may feel that a specialist is not experienced enough. From a service provider’s perspective, it is not worth taking the chance and have any of them ruin the morale of an active detail. It is disheartening because the junior specialists would have gotten a chance to work alongside some of the industry’s knowledgeable Protectors.

Then you have the seasoned professionals that have circled the globe numerous times and have global experience yet won’t share at all. The worst of these are the ones that fall into a term called “social media sniping.” They pick and choose targets in these groups and make comments that are less than professional and worse, degrading. The seasoned

There is a clear result from inaction OR improper interaction.

The result is the same, a huge chasm in the industry. You are not going to advance in your career through virtual hide-andseek NOR can you sit back with a fully equipped toolbox and fix every problem with a hammer. You cannot have it both ways.

Issue 18

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Feature

By Raffaele Di Giorgio

The Renaissance protection specialist, is it the direction for you?

“Life is pretty simple: You do some stuff. Most fails.

Some works. You do more of what works. If it works big, others quickly copy it. Then you do something else. The trick is the doing something else.”

Leonardo da Vinci “What skill should I specialize in?” or “What course should I take next?”. These are the two questions I hear the most, out of up and coming protection specialist as well as those established specialists who are trying to increase their marketability. Most of this is directed towards the medical discipline as it is a core competency for me as well as one of my passions. What I try to explain is that there is no magic “one size fits all” skill set that guarantees continued employment in this field.

The beauty of the Da Vinci quote above is that it speaks both to the newcomer and the experienced in any profession, but especially well to ours. Speaking from past experiences, in the early years, there were a lot of courses, mentors and

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unfounded suggestions that I followed, which unfortunately failed me horribly.

“Life is pretty simple: You do some stuff. Most fails. Some works. You do more of what works”.

Where I lacked experience and core skill sets in the beginning, I made up for with my ability not to chase a failing technique. Back then it was pretty easy since my successes and failures were directly proportional to the balance of my checking account. As is often said, experience can be painful, but it is an excellent teacher and you do learn from them.

As the years progressed, I entered what I refer to as the “do more of what works” phase. One especially important lesson was that the end of the week paycheck was not the litmus test as to whether my future was secure in this career field or not.

Just as I learned the total number of years in this field was/ is not directly equivalent to, or a testament to your actual experience/aptitude in this field.

The Renaissance So fortunately, with the help of some great mentors and some hard life experiences I learned that it was not a matter of whether I was an extremely competent individual in any one skill set, but my ability to have a solid proficiency over several skill sets that would keep me gainfully employed.

As a natural progression took place over the years, I then noticed that more people “copied” what I did on details. This to me was the indicator that I needed to take the next step and decided to make my move into starting my own business, -- the “then do something different” phase.

When the businesses became profitable, it was time to “do something different”, yet again. This has turned into a neverending cycle of pursuing new skill sets, the sustainment of current ones, delivery of services to different customers (celebrity, high net worth individuals, government & high threat environments), constantly being a protégé to some, as well as a mentor to others.

With all of the different avenues that are available under the family of protection services. The questions I ask back to inquiring professionals are; where do you want to go? What do you want specialize in? What is your passion? The fact of the matter is, it’s pretty staggering just how many people cannot answer these three questions succinctly.

My advice would be as it has always been – First pursue the skill sets that are of the most interest to you. This stacks the deck in your favor and gives you the best possibility of reaching an acceptable competency level in that particular skill. Understand that does not negate the fact that additional skills are still necessary and important not only to your personal development, but to your professional standing as well. There will always be certain skills that different people will not enjoy doing, but are still a requirement of the profession. Whether we like it or not as professionals we are expected to have competency and proficiency across the board.

This “Renaissance” aspect is what separates the continuously employed protection specialist from what I have classified the intermittent employee/ contractor. The ability to cover any position on the detail is one that absolutely multiplies the opportunities afforded any individual in this profession. If you’re only skill is driver, medic, advance, DDM et. al., then it would stand to reason

that the only time you could be called is when one of those skills has an opening. As a Renaissance professional you separate yourself from the pack, not only because of your multiple talents, but also because of your ability to see across the different skill sets and actually be able see the overall picture.

As a final caution, having learned these lessons painfully, make sure you conduct your due diligence investigations before you invest your time or money in courses, instructors, employers, and most especially your mentors. These four aforementioned areas, more so than anything else, will shape and mold the rest of your career.

“A renaissance man or polymath is a person who is skilled in multiple fields or multiple disciplines, and who has a broad base of knowledge.” Could this be you? These concepts have been successfully practiced for hundreds of years.

Just ask Mr. Da Vinci.

Raffaele Di Giorgio is the CEO of Global Options & Solutions a consulting firm that provides a wide range of Medical and Security solutions to clients. www.GOS911.com

Intel: World Report

Intel: World Report

AFRICA CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC Chad deploys troops to help fight CAR rebels: Chad sent troops to the Central African Republic (CAR) to fight rebels who have seized Bria, a key mining town in a diamond-rich region. CAR President Francois Bozize reportedly asked the neighboring country for help after his own army failed to repeal the attack. The rebel coalition accuses Mr Bozize of failing to comply with the terms of a peace treaty signed in 2007. The CAR has had a series of rebellions and coups since independence in 1960.

NIGERIA Gunmen seize French engineer: A group of 30 gunmen used dynamite to force their way into a well-guarded compound in northern Nigeria and seize a French engineer. Two Nigerian guards were killed in the attack. As the unknown group fled, they attacked a police station. Katsina has been relatively unscathed by months of violence in northern Nigeria carried out by Boko Haram Islamist militants. Pirates attack ship and kidnap crew: Gunmen attacked an oil tanker off the coast of Nigeria, stealing personal belongings and kidnapping five Indian crew members. The SP Brussels is said to have been boarded by “heavily armed pirates” about 65km (40 miles) off the coast of the oil-producing Niger Delta region. On the same day, gunmen kidnapped six employees of a South Korean firm. Kidnappings are common in the Niger Delta, Africa’s main oil region.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC of CONGO Ngudjolo acquitted of war crimes: Former Congolese militia leader Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui was acquitted by the International Criminal Court of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The case related to the 2003 killings of 200 residents of Bogoro village in the mineral-rich Ituri region of the DRC. The court in The Hague heard reports of victims being burned alive, babies smashed against walls and women raped. Mr Ngudjolo denied ordering the attack, saying he learned of it days later.

SIERRA LEONE Violent strike at diamond mine: Foreign staff were held up at the biggest diamond mine in Sierra Leone, which has been hit by a violent strike. Hundreds of local workers at the mine in the eastern town of Koidu. The army was deployed to Koidu where two people

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were killed in clashes. It is said to be the worst conflict to hit Sierra Leone’s lucrative diamond industry in recent years. The government has been trying to improve the sector after “blood diamonds” sold on the global market fueled the decade-long civil war that ended in 2002.

SOUTH AFRICA Zuma re-elected as leader: Jacob Zuma has been re-elected as leader of South Africa’s governing African National Congress. He received an overwhelming majority of votes cast by some 4,000 delegates at the party’s Mangaung conference. He had been favorite to secure the leadership after he was challenged for the top job by his deputy Kgalema Motlanthe. Mr Motlanthe has been replaced by anti-apartheid era hero Cyril Ramaphosa as deputy president. The ANC, which has governed South Africa since white minority rule ended in 1994, is widely expected to win nationwide elections due in 2014.

Bomb plot foiled: A plot to bomb the national conference of South Africa’s governing African National Congress was foiled. Four white suspected right-wing extremists were arrested. President Jacob Zuma and other top officials were at the heavily-guarded conference in Mangaung, where the ANC were electing its leaders.

AMERICAS MEXICO Jailbreak leaves 17 dead: On December 18 at least 17 people were killed during an attempted jailbreak in Mexico. Eleven inmates and six guards died in a shootout in the city of Gomez Palacio as the prisoners tried to escape through tunnels. The incident happened a day after President Enrique Pena Nieto announced the creation of a national police force to help tackle crime and violence. Those deadly clashes, which occurred in the state of Durango, appear to have happened when wardens tried to prevent prisoners from fleeing ASIA AND PACIFIC AFGHANISTAN Landmine blasts kills girls: At least nine young girls were killed and three more injured in a landmine explosion in eastern Afghanistan, officials say. The girls were collecting firewood when one of them hit the mine with an axe, a provincial official said. It is unclear if the mine was recent or one left over from a previous

conflict. Meanwhile, one person was killed in an explosion on the outskirts of the capital, Kabul. Several more were injured in the blast, which took place just off the Jalalabad road, home to many NATO bases and compounds housing international staff. The explosion happened near the offices of an international construction company, but it is unclear what the target was.

CHINA School knife attack leaves 22 children injured: A man with a knife wounded 22 children - at least two of them seriously - and an adult at a primary school in central China. The attack happened at the gate of a school in Chenpeng village in Henan province. Police arrested a 36-year-old local man at the scene. Security at China’s schools has been increased in recent years following a spate of similar knife attacks in which nearly 20 children have been killed. NORTH KOREA Mass rally to celebrate rocket launch: North Korea staged a mass rally in Pyongyang to celebrate December’s long-range rocket launch. State television showed huge crowds cheering to mark the launch, which has been condemned by many nations as a banned test of missile technology. South Korea, meanwhile, says its navy has retrieved debris from the rocket and will study it. The first stage of the rocket fell west of the Korean peninsula. South Korea’s navy located it shortly afterwards. It was North Korea’s first successful use of a three-stage rocket to put a satellite into orbit. North Korea said that more launches would go ahead.

PAKISTAN Medical staff killed: A wave of assaults on Pakistani polio vaccination workers left 9 dead during a string of coordinated attacks - four were killed within 20 minutes across Karachi. A UN-backed program to eradicate polio - which is endemic in Pakistan - has been suspended in Karachi. No group has said it carried out the shootings, but the Taliban have issued threats against the polio drive.

Market bomb kills 17: At least 17 people were killed and more than 70 hurt in a car bomb attack on a market in the Khyber tribal area in north-west Pakistan. Women and children were among those killed in the blast at the market in Jamrud, the main town in Khyber. The explosion took place close to the offices of the tribal administration.

The injured were taken to hospital in the nearby city of Peshawar. No group has said it carried out the attack as yet. The bombing came a day after a 15-hour stand-off between militants and security forces in the vicinity of Peshawar airport. At least 10 militants were killed in the clash, many of them ethnic Uzbek fighters. The Pakistani Taliban said they carried out that attack.

SOUTH KOREA Park Geun-hye defeats Moon Jae-in to win presidential election: Ms Park, the daughter of former dictator Park Chung-hee, defeated her liberal rival Moon Jae-in on December 19. She will be South Korea’s first female leader. Votes were still being counted, but Mr Moon has admitted defeat. Turnout was high in a poll dominated by economic and social welfare issues. Ms Park, 60, will replace her party colleague Lee Myung-bak. He is stepping down as the law requires after his five-year term.

EUROPE AND FSU TURKEY Patriot missile batteries to be deployed: The US has agreed to send Patriot missiles to Turkey. Defence Secretary Leon Panetta signed orders to deploy two batteries and 400 military personnel along the border with Syria to defend Turkish civilians against attacks by missiles or aircraft. Germany and the Netherlands are also sending two batteries each to southern Turkey. All six will be placed under the command of NATO and are scheduled to be operational by the end of January. It was revealed that the Syrian military had

resorted to firing Scud ballistic missiles at rebels in an attempt to slow their advance.

UNITED KINGDOM UK to withdraw 3,800 troops in 2013: David Cameron told MPs that 3,800 British troops - almost half of the current force serving in Helmand province - are to be withdrawn from Afghanistan in 2013.

Troop numbers were already reduced from 9,500 to 9,000 before Christmas. And numbers would fall to about 5,200 by the end of 2013, Mr Cameron told MPs. All NATO operations are due to finish by the end of 2014, with responsibility being transferred to Afghan forces.

Press photographer’s home targeted with pipe bomb attack: A pipe bomb was discovered at the family home of a press photographer near Newry in County Down, Northern Ireland. Mark Pearce, from Mayobridge, described the attack as a “terrifying” experience and said he believes he was targeted because of his job. The PSNI helped to evacuate six homes in their street. Army bomb disposal officers dealt with the bomb which was declared viable.

MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA IRAQ President Jalal Talabani in coma: Iraqi President Jalal Talabani fell into a coma in hospital after officials and media reported he had suffered a stroke. A statement on his website said President Talabani was in a stable condition and was being treated for blocked arteries.

He has struggled with his health in recent years and has often been treated abroad, analysts say. German doctors later said Mr Talabani’s condition had improved sufficiently to permit travel. A veteran of the Kurdish guerrilla movement, Mr Talabani, 79, is Iraq’s first president from the ethnic group. Bomb attacks kill 12: At least 12 people were killed in a series of bomb blasts in northern Iraq. A truck bombing left seven people dead in a village near the city of Mosul inhabited by families from the Shabak ethno-religious minority group. Two car bombs also exploded in a Shia district of Tuz Khurmatu, a town 70km south of Kirkuk, killing five people.

ISRAEL UN steps up pressure over settlements: The UN is stepping up pressure on Israel over its settlement building on occupied Palestinian land in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The secretary general and all Security Council members except the US demanded an immediate halt to new construction. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his government would press ahead with settlement expansion.

The US protects Israel at the UN but the state department accused Israel of “a pattern of provocative action”. Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said settlement activity put the goal of peace “further at risk”.

SYRIA Interior Minister Mohammad Shaar in Beirut hospital: Syria’s interior minister was admitted to hospital in the Lebanese capital Beirut after being wounded in a bombing in Damascus. Mohammad Shaar was apparently caught up in an attack on the interior ministry in which several people died. The exact nature of his injuries isn’t clear but they are not believed to be critical. At the time of the triple bomb attack, official Syrian media said he had not been injured.

News team released: NBC News’ Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel and members of his network production team were freed from captors in Syria after a firefight at a checkpoint, five days after they were taken prisoner. Engel said that they were traveling with Syrian rebels when a group of about 15 gunmen captured them.

Meanwhile, Russia’s foreign ministry has said that two of its nationals have been kidnapped in Syria, along with an Italian man. The abductors were demanding a ransom from the men’s employer, a steel works in the Mediterranean port town of Tartous, it added.

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Intel: Africa

Tunisia

The Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) cancelled the general strike planned in December.

Libya

Algeria

Morocco

The country is using its UN Security Council presidency to rally international attention to the Mali conflict, terrorism, transnational crime and other threats to Sahel security.

The Algerian‐Sahrawi parliamentary committee of friendship and brotherhood was installed at the Algerian People’s National Assembly.

Officials stated that Libya could proceed with a new oil exploration and production deal, though the country’s main focus is restoring pre‐ war production levels.

Egypt

Authorities detained Mohammed Gamal Abu Ahmed for questioning in Cairo in connection with the 9/11 Benghazi consulate attack. US officials stated Ahmed’s group was suspected of a role in the attack, though it is unclear if he was personally involved.

Mali

The UK and ECOWAS called for an immediate return to civilian rule following the ousting and replacement of PM Cheick Modibo Diarra.

Nigeria

Kamene Okonjo, the mother of Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi OkonjoIweala, was kidnapped from her home in the oil‐rich Delta state. She was later released.

Ethiopia

Ethiopia’s Federal High Court handed out lengthy jail terms against two opposition figures who were convicted of having links with proscribed terrorist group, the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF).

Kenya

Officials vowed to undertake a major security operation targeting illegal Somali immigrants blamed for the rising cases of insecurity in the country.

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Focus On: The Middle East Egypt

Civil Unrest

Demonstrations continued throughout Egypt as tens of thousands of protesters gathered outside the presidential palace in Cairo, with some breaching the outer perimeter, though no substantive damage was done.

In December President Morsi announced the annulment of his decree elevating him above judicial review, though the December 15 referendum will continue as planned. Despite the annulment, protests continued unabated throughout the country. Morsi also gave the army the power to arrest civilians, ordering them to aid local police in maintaining the peace in the days before the constitutional referendum Thousands of opposition supporters gathered outside the presidential palace, calling for President Morsi to postpone the referendum. The protesters managed to breach the concrete barricade around the palace, but did no damage while pro-Islamist protesters countered by gathering in support of the draft constitution.

President Morsi’s reliance on the military for protection and enforcement of the rule of law during this time of political turmoil is worrisome. Despite promises that the power to arrest will be withdrawn after the referendum, as well as statements by the military’s leadership that they had no intentions of intervening in the politics of the country, Morsi’s dependence on the military indicates the de facto power the armed forces still maintain within Egypt.

Political

Also in December, the army postponed unity talks announced by Defense Minister Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, citing a low level of acceptances from those invited. The opposition coalition announced its intentions of attending the talks despite boycotting reconciliation talks hosted by President Morsi. The postponement of talks, combined with the opening of expatriate voting has likely weakened the oppositions position. Despite this, the opposition coalition called for a ‘no’ vote, as opposed to boycotting the referendum outright as some of the opposition has suggested. Despite the protestations of the opposition, the constitutional vote commenced on December 15, and was spread across two days, with December 22 as the second day. The change was motivated by many of the judges insistence to oversee the referendum boycotting the elections and the need to stagger the elections in order to have ample judicial oversight.

Economy

On December 11, the Egyptian government decided to postpone a $4.8 billion loan from the IMF for one month, saying it wanted more time to explain its new economic policies after initially facing pushback from the media and public over the reforms. While new taxes would give the Morsi administration much needed revenue, the current political situation is such that any increase in taxes would likely weaken the Muslim Brotherhood’s (MB) clout with voters. With the constitutional referendum approaching, the call to postpone the IMF loan, coupled with the economic and tax reforms it embodies, was likely a shrewd maneuver by the regime to retain voter support. The postponement also potentially serves to obtain the adoption of the draft constitution, while still being able to secure the IMF funds later on after the constitutional vote.

Moving forward, the Egyptian government undoubtedly faces challenges with regards to securing its economic future. The IMF loan includes requirements undesirable to many Egyptians, to include tax hikes and reductions to government subsidies, and it is likely that the MB will utilize its various lines of credit throughout the region as a bridge while it slowly reduces its current spending levels down to those required for the loan.

Economic reforms are unlikely to take place before parliamentary elections, which would only follow the passage of the draft constitution. The Morsi government will likely take care to slowly introduce new economic policies after the constitutional and parliamentary votes, as not to enflame an already mobilized populace even further, risking a loss of electoral support or even a coup.

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Kenya

Terrorism

In December, an explosion in the predominantly Somali area of Nairobi killed five civilians. At least eight people were also wounded by the blast.

The explosion, caused by a grenade thrown at worshipers leaving a mosque after evening prayers in the district of Eastleigh, came two days after an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded in the same area on Thursday, killing one person.

Kenyan authorities vowed to undertake a major security operation, targeted at illegal Somali immigrants suspected to be a cause of the rising insecurity in the country. Internal Security Permanent Secretary, Mutea Irngo reiterated this, that Somali refugees had fled their designated camps for the areas of Eastleigh and Garissa, both of which have seen an uptick in violence as of late. Over 92 suspects were reportedly arrested in connection with the Eastleigh bombings, and the Permanent Secretary gave assurances that the government had adequate security in place to prevent further incidents.

Recent violence, either inter communal clashes or acts of terrorism commitied by Islamist militant elements in the country are cause for concern in the lead-up to the March 2013 elections. While steps have been taken by Kenyan government forces to mitigate the risk, the possibility of a repeat of the postelection violence that occurred five years ago likely remains foremost in their planning. The destabilizing effect of the conflict with al-Shabaab in neighboring Somalia and the influx of refugees will likely continue to exacerbate tensions. The recurring attacks in Eastleigh show signs of planning, though it is unknown whether the same group is responsible for all of them. Regardless, Kenyan security forces will likely keep up their tempo of arrests in an effort to snuff out militant elements within the country.

Somalia

Open conflict Puntland commandos carried out a raid on al-Shabaab operations bases located in the Golis Mountains. The bases, located along the mountain range near the villages of El Dibir and Dudun, approximately 45km (30 mi) west of Galgala village, reportedly housed senior members of the militant group. The Puntland Security Force (PSF) counter-terrorism unit marched to the base on foot for nearly 20 hours and inflicted heavy casualties on militants at the location, seizing weapons food and supplies after the surviving militants fled into the nearby valleys and caves.

Also that day, Somali troops and African Union (AU) forces captured the town of Jowhar from al-Shabaab militants. The joint forces encountered no resistance when they entered the town, as the militants had fled the previous night. Jowhar, located 90km (55 mi) north of Mogadishu, was the largest town remaining under the control of al-Shabaab. The capture of this stronghold is a boon for the Somali government, as it commands access to rich agricultural areas as well as Somalia’s largest road linking the middle and lower Shabelle regions of the country.

The successful attack on the northern al-Shabaab redoubt by the PSF is encouraging, as it would indicate the military leadership has the ability to obtain actionable intelligence and act on it in a timely fashion to achieve their objectives. It remains to be seen if this will be a permanent change in the demeanor of operations in Puntland.

Also, the consolidation of Somali government control around the southern cities of Mogadishu, Kismayo and Jowhar will likely continue to help to disallow al-Shabaab freedom of movement in the south. Those fighters, in turn, will likely travel north to militant controlled areas within the Golis Mountains and Puntland. As the Puntland security forces have seen recent success in their counterinsurgency operations, they may be able to restrict al-Shabaab’s ability to resupply and maneuver to a degree that renders them unable to launch sustained attacks on government infrastructure or replenish their manpower and materiel.

Sudan and South Sudan

Civil Unrest

Protests erupted in Khartoum after four students were found dead in a canal near Gezira University, south of the capital. The deceased students disappeared after participating in a sit-in at the university demanding an exemption from tuition fees that a presidential decree required. The demonstration was broken up by supporters of the ruling National Congress Party two days earlier spurring Sudanese youth activist groups, Change Now and Girifna to issue statements blaming the security establishment for the deaths and calling for protests. Hundreds of students from the University of Khartoum, Sudan University and alNeelain University marched through the center of the capital, shouting anti-government slogans, pelting police vehicles with stones and setting a government bus on fire. Riot police responded with batons and tear gas, arresting nine Change Now activists and injuring two other demonstrators.

The Sudan Liberation Movement’s Abdel Wahid (SLM-AW) and Minni Minnawa (SLM-MM) factions, along with the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) issued statements condemning those responsible for the deaths of the students.

This latest bout of civil unrest in Sudan highlights the continuing tension within the country, with no immediate remedy in sight. The death of these four students, all Darfuri, hints at the institutionalized ethnic bias within Sudan. Tensions are likely to remain high throughout the country as the al-Bashir regime is unlikely to make any substantive efforts at reconciling tensions.

Military

The South Sudanese People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) killed at least ten civilians when it fired on demonstrators angry at the decision to relocate a local council headquarters in the northwest town of Wau. The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) stated that six people were killed when the SPLA attempted to remove road blocks established in protest to the change. Four more people were killed when a group marched into the town to petition the move. While the decision to move the headquarters was not endorsed by the state’s parliament, government officials stated that the move was constitutional. The local government took emergency measures to ensure security in the area following the killings by sending additional police forces to reinforce the SPLA unit in Wau.

The European Union approved plans to deploy 400 military trainers and troops from the beginning of 2013. Those troops would be employed with the intentions of supporting nearly 3,000 Malian troops and their efforts to restore stability in the North. Additionally the US and its partners have been fomenting resources including personnel from the AU and ECOWAS to prepare an African-led military operation. However, pending a probable delay, planners will likely reassess the strategic battle space in the future and allocate resources accordingly.

Meanwhile, this setback has the potential of biding time for al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and other militant organizations. AQIM has been consolidating resources including equipment and personnel around strategic strongholds. More recently, AQIM has been faced with the challenge of uniting militant groups around a community of interests to fight conventional forces. Certain militant groups have already fled the region. AQIM will likely utilize the extension of time to prepare defenses and possibly recruit forces from outside Mali.

Wherever you work in the world…

This event emphasizes the challenges facing the South Sudanese government in the wake of independence. The SPLA, the causal factor in this event, is comprised mainly of former militiamen and guerilla fighters with little to no training and have routinely been accused of human rights abuses. Also, the popular sentiment among local citizens that the new government has done little to improve living conditions or deliver on their election promises is a cause for friction. Clashes are likely to continue, as South Sudan appears to neither have the ability to appease the populace politically, or adequately handle protests and demonstrations without the use of excessive force.

Mali

Geopolitical

In December and less than 24 hours after PM Cheick Modibo Diarra submitted his resignation under pressure, Mali’s interim president, Dioncounda Traore, appointed a replacement. Diango Sissoko, a longtime civil servant and the newly appointed PM, will likely be confronted by the same challenges as his predecessor. Those challenges, which aided in Diarra’s ouster, involve former coup leaders opposition to foreign intervention in the North. Diarra, who supported UN backing of an intervention, was arrested during an attempted flee to France.

Now that Diarra is gone and the volatility of the government has been exposed, intervention forces will likely suspend their participation until a new civilian-led government is ordained.

Moreover, given the unconstitutional ouster of the PM, the West and its partners would likely hold back until a legitimate government is established.

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Photo courtesy: Keith Maude

Feature All Photographs ©Prometheus Medical Ltd 2012

Breathing Assessment, Chest Injury and Management: Part 1

By Dean Bateman Following on from his previous article on Airway Management, Prometheus Medical’s Chief Instructor, Dean Bateman, continues the series on <c>ABC, with Part 1 of Breathing Assessment, Chest Injury and Management.

Thoracic (chest) trauma is one of the leading causes of death in the seriously injured patient. Given the specific organs that are housed in the thoracic cavity, it is not surprising that these injuries can be so deadly.

The thorax consists of a bony cage, which protects some of the most vital organs within the body:

• Heart

• Major blood vessels

• Lungs The lower ribs protect the spleen and liver, which are delicate organs contained in the upper part of the abdomen rising up into the thoracic cavity.

Accurately assessing the chest in the pre-hospital environment is notoriously challenging and the mechanism of injury plays a key role in determining what injuries the patient may have sustained.

The two main categories of injuries can be classified as penetrating and blunt.

Penetrating Trauma Penetrating trauma, more often than not, is caused intentionally, e.g. with a knife or gun. On occasion, it may occur in combination with blunt trauma, for instance a fall from height onto spiked railings or an RTC combined with a

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penetrating injury caused by a tree branch.

Penetrating wounds to the thorax can be found during careful examination of the chest wall. Examining for injuries requires careful attention – wiping away any blood or debris, looking for wounds up into the axillae (armpits) and always checking the patients back.

Remember that the external wound bears no relevance to the underlying structures that may have been injured. For example, a large open wound caused by a slashing mechanism may have caused no underlying damage, whereas a small puncture wound caused by a sharpened bicycle spoke may be barely visible but have penetrated several organs and major vessels.

Blunt Trauma A typical mechanism of blunt trauma would be an RTC or a fall from height. The injuries are caused by direct impact from the object, such as a steering wheel or pavement hitting against the chest wall, causing direct injuries, e.g. rib fractures. These may cause underlying injuries as the sharp ends of the bone lacerates underlying organs and vessels.

Blunt trauma injuries are difficult to find and often there is no external blood loss. Therefore, it is essential the rescuer has a high index of suspicion, meticulously looking for any

Breathing Assessment

bruising, abrasions or surgical emphysema (air trapped under the skin).

environment and, where possible, maintain the patient’s modesty.

Chest Assessment Due to the time-critical nature of major chest injuries, a fast and effective method of assessment is essential in order to diagnose and treat any wounds found.

Hands on chest assessment should be carried out using the RISEN format.

On approaching the patient look for signs of respiratory distress such as increased respiratory rate or accessory muscle usage. This can be recognized by tensing of the muscles between the ribs and around the neck during inspiration.

If the patient is conscious, ask them, “How does your breathing feel?” If the patient is unable to speak in full sentences or is complaining of shortness of breath, then it is safe to assume they have a serious chest injury.

While it is essential to expose the patient’s chest by removing any clothing, you should remain aware of the

R =Rate Look at the chest wall for movement, listen for breathing and place your hands on the front of the chest to feel for movement.

Look/Listen/Feel for 15 seconds, then multiply by 4 to give the respiratory rate over 1 minute. Normal respiratory rate is between 12 – 20 breaths per minute.

Common causes of increased rate may be:

• Exercise

• Pain

• Hyperventilation

• Partial occlusion of the airway

• Blood loss/shock

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Feature Common causes of reduced rate may be:

• Exhaustion

• Drug overdose

• Head injury

• Hypothermia

• Pre-terminal state

Feel for crepitus (broken bone ends rubbing), surgical emphysema (air trapped under the skin which feels like bubble wrap), and tenderness if the patient is awake.

I = Injuries Firmly place your hands on the chest wall, inspect and feel the front, sides, axillae (armpits) and back.

S= Symmetry With your hands placed on the chest, look and feel for symmetry. Are both sides of the chest moving equally? If not, this could indicate a possible pneumothorax (collapsed lung).

Examining Chest 1

Inspect for any open wounds, bruising or abrasions. Any open wounds should be managed at this stage.

E = Effort Assess the breathing for effort - normal breathing is effortless.

Look for signs of respiratory distress and accessory muscle usage (muscles tensing between the ribs and around the neck).

N = Neck Check the front of the neck for any open wounds, bruising or crepitus to the trachea (wind pipe). If the casualty is conscious and complaining of difficulty swallowing after an injury to the front of the neck, treat as time critical due to the threat of possible swelling to the airway.

Auscultation and percussion are both effective tools for assessing the patient’s respiratory status. However, in the often chaotic and noisy pre-hospital environment they are of limited use and often very time consuming.

In summary, chest injuries can be life threatening and time critical. A good hands-on assessment is required to identify any life threatening injuries in a timely manner. Often chest injuries are hidden and we can only assume the patient has a serious underlying injury due to the nature of the incident that the patient has been involved in.

Examining Chest 2

Examining Chest 3

Feel for crepitus (broken bone ends rubbing), surgical Fe

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In Part 2 of ‘Breathing Assessment, Chest Injury and Management’, I will be covering the different types of chest injuries and their management.

Dean Bateman is Prometheus’ Chief Instructor and has 20 years of experience of responding to medical emergencies in ambulances, fast response paramedic cars, physician supported units and helicopters. In addition to his work in the UK, Dean also has experience of teaching in immediate medical care and providing medical cover in hostile environments across Africa.

Breathing Assessment “Auscultation and percussion are both effective tools for assessing the patient’s respiratory status.

However, in the often chaotic and noisy pre-hospital environment they are of limited use and often very time consuming.”

Feature

By Chris Brooks

Counter Piracy Course review

I was having a conversation recently about The Circuit magazine and it was suggested I try and put an article together on an Anti Piracy Course I attended, a course review I suppose? I am not accustomed to writing publically, so although I was happy to do it I was rather concerned it might be a load of poo, so here is my attempt at it.

I left the military last year having gained a little maritime experience, but had no commercial maritime experience whatsoever prior to joining the “Circuit” on the maritime side of things. I carried out my research and had investigated a lot of courses and spoken to loads of mates who I already knew were in the industry and finally decided to fork out my money and go to MAST (Maritime Asset Security and Training) for my Counter Piracy training, as they are one of the market leaders in the industry.

The course is based in Malta (although MAST does run some other courses in the UK). You sort out your own travel and accommodation prior to arriving, and just let them know where you will be and when you will arrive.

You have to pay for the course up front for obvious reasons. The course is set outside of the main tourist towns and uses the same training accommodation as the STCW 95 courses that MAST run. Although it would be nice to be in the town, it would be a distraction. I know I visited! Your joining instructions give advice on suitable

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hotels locally and where to stay. I stayed in a hotel down on the sea front in a local village, which is only a few minutes away from the training ground and was relatively cheap compared to the more popular areas. Your lunch meal is included in the cost of the course.

I already had my Seafarers Training and Certified Watch keepers basic ’95 (STCW ’95) course so I only wanted to do the MAST Counter Piracy Course. There are a few phases to the course the main part being the International Maritime Organisation (IMO Model course 3.23) on Anti-Piracy and Armed Robbers. MAST is an IMO accredited provider of this course. In addition to that phase MAST also deliver their own aspects of training and have presentations on Rules on the use of Force and “Actions on,” and include table top exercises which are based on the Internationally agreed standards laid down by the Security Association of the Maritime Industry (SAMI) and self defence as defined by the United Nations Convention of Laws at Sea (UNLCOS). Weapons handling is covered, theory and practical. Throughout the

Feature

maritime industry there are a variety of different weapons being used by the security companies. Although MAST doesn’t have access to every type of weapon system in use, it does have access to a wide range of different variants. For purposes of disclosure I will not cover these in this article.

However, for legal reasons you will be assessed on weapon handling on the weapon systems you deploy with something that it is vital is up to scratch, poor weapon handling could easily cost the company a contract. The weapon handling culminates in a morning on the range, ensuring that every man is confident handling a live weapon system before he passes the course. If your weapon handling skills are unsafe, you will fail the course.

Depending on availability you will be taken around the harbour and port area on a tourist type craft so that you get close up to commercial vessels and will discuss the vessels and difficulties you may encounter in your role.

I can say that it is very beneficial to anyone looking to work as a Maritime Security Officer, (MSO) not only for wanting to join MAST (which it is mandatory) but also for your CV should you already work for or want to work for any maritime security company. MAST stipulates you must attend their course if you wish to join their company, but it is open to anyone who wants to attend. The reason you must attend their course it is so that you have a common understanding and internationally recognised level of training across the board for all operators.

Attending the course with relatively little if any maritime experience of any relevance to becoming an MSO, I quickly became aware of the benefits of the course. Taught by two highly experienced Instructors who still operate as Team Leaders, that way ensuring they are up to date. It covers a variety of aspects ranging from generally what to expect coming into the industry, weapon familiarisation and handling, table top exercises and theory and practical’s on preparing a ship’s hardening correctly. The tabletop exercises are invaluable for “actions on” escalation of threat on the Rules of the Use of Force. All exercises and practical’s incorporate nautical terminologies giving you some knowledge of the language you expect to hear on board a commercial vessel. Rules for the Use of Force (RUF) are a major issue within the private security industry. As a contractor it’s easy to forget that you no longer have the

comfort blanket of the military to back you up, if you make a mistake you are subject to either local or international law.

The course covers RUF in depth and should leave no man with any qualms about where he stands on the issue, be it working for MAST or any other security company. There seems to be far too many contractors in the industry who have very little knowledge on RUF and therefore subject themselves to the potential for prosecution in foreign territories.

It’s not unusual to see guys who when adapting to civilian life after leaving the military struggle to leave the ‘squaddie’ banter behind. Personal conduct on board any vessel plays a big part in setting the correct professional image for any company and ensures that contracts aren’t lost because of bad personalities or personal drills. Ship’s protocols are covered on the course in the form of lectures and presentations and are especially good, enabling them to have an understanding that when in the corporate environment it’s entirely different to a lifestyle in barracks or even in other areas of the industry. The course ensures that MAST only employs contractors with the correct attitude. Chart work and navigation are covered and includes the basics on latitude and longitude navigation, this is something that very few people on the course had any knowledge of beforehand and involved tabletop exercises. As an MSO and especially if you make the position of Team Leader you will often find yourself offering tactical advice to the captain and the ability to read a chart is invaluable. It’s a skill that is very beneficial within the industry as you can often find yourself on vessels where the amount of spoken English is very limited and therefore enables the operators to still have knowledge of positions and timings relative to the higher risk areas.

Other elements covered on the course include; communications at sea and the use of VHF channels, general kit guidance and what to and not to take, the general layout and terminology of vessels, the terminology of the maritime industry and seafarers in general and what to expect when first being employed as an MSO. In general the course covers all the essentials to become an MSO and is very beneficial to anyone looking for work within the industry, further information can be found at: www.mast-commercial.com

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Feature

A E Solutions (BI) Ltd (AES) have developed an analytical system for monitoring a person’s physiology during normal working and/or training conditions which can help to understand how an individual is reacting to different activities either individually or as part of a team.

This information supports Duty of Care and training programmes in ensuring that individuals and teams are provided with accurate information to help reduce undue stress and enhance performance.

Stress in the Workplace Within today’s society, it is very important to identify actions and activities that cause this undue stress to individuals and/ or teams. Whilst short term stress enhances performance, prolonged exposure is both detrimental to health and can be a danger when operating in hostile environments. The effects of stress will cause reaction times to be slower and may lead to irrational decision making thereby reducing the operational effectiveness of personnel.

In this current state of affairs supported by the Human Rights Act 2000 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000, and as reported by the BBC in March 2002, employees are more willing to sue their employers when they have been subjected to undue stress and their employer has failed to recognise this.

Physiological monitoring can be undertaken in any working environment, and has been utilised by the United States Marine Core, UK MoD, and within the UK Emergency Services; Police motor cyclist units, Police training, Crime Scene Investigators, Fingerprint experts, operational Fire Fighters and Fire Fighters involved in breathing apparatus

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training.

Monitoring Physiological Conditions Current research has revealed a number of methods, many of which are subjective, that can be used to assess a team or individual person’s ability to perform to a required standard whilst operating in a stressful environment. AES have developed an objective method which utilises the measurement of the body’s physiology (including heart rate, breathing rate and skin temperature) whilst undertaking tasks within a natural working and/or training situation.

Each person wears a physiological monitoring device which has the capabilities of transmitting live data via Bluetooth and also stores the data within itself for post action analysis.

Live- and post-analysis is then applied to assess the individual, the team as a whole and individuals against team measurements. When measured against working activities, they can be analysed to suggest when the individual is reacting to a situation which causes an increase in bodily functions that may determine that the person is being subjected to an intense activity even if the individual does not realise it. Suitable training and exposure to live incidents will condition the body and can be objectively monitored thereby enhancing personal and team development. The cost of undertaking this type of monitoring is far less expensive financially than funding the cost of a single lawsuit.

Enhancing Operational Effectiveness Operational Effectiveness through Monitoring Relevance to the body Like a polygraph test the human body will not lie. An increase in heart rate, temperature and breathing broken down by activity will give a commanding officer/team leader improved information on team and individuals’ responses under different external influences as well as a team’s potential reaction times in situations that need quick reliable decision making.

Improved Training In training, most people cope with basic drills when rehearsed repetitively and develop well-disciplined routines as the stress element is removed. It is in these training situations that some outshine and adhere to discipline better than others. The test programme provided by AES along with the equipment supplied will take the results from these tests and directly compare them with more realistic results from an impromptu test. Subsequently, training programmes can be adapted in order to specifically target the identified problems or areas for improvement.

Operational Duties When undertaking operational duties a commanding officer would be provided with additional information enabling the deployment of specific personnel to get the best operational results.

This information is vital when tasking members of a team as to who will react best to a circumstance that invariably will never go as it should.

Equipment Testing Operatives can also be tested to determine how they react with the level of equipment they are expected to carry for

each operational requirement (if necessary), and in turn making them combat effective for a longer period of time.

It will also advise as to who has the quickest recovery times at rest.

This information will allow the commanding officer to determine where best to place operatives.

Close Protection Teams and Specialist Units The above initiatives can be applied to the testing of an operative prior to or on joining a close protection team or specialist unit as they provide the added benefit of ascertaining who is really suited to the tasks at hand. These initiatives enable a reduction in the risks posed to others whilst utilising the operatives’ best skills and abilities, as it will highlight operatives that are more focussed and disciplined in dealing with unplanned situations.

It will also provide the opportunity to maximise the efficiency of the team deployed and give the client the best protection available offering the best value for the cost of their protection. This will

• offer the best operative in the most appropriate place best suited to exploit their abilities

• allow the company to offer the best service to the client

• allow the company the benefit of who to deploy where and why

• allow a training institute to offer further training if a CP operative is as suited as the rest to the tasks

at hand

• allow the training team to give advice if the CP

operative is in the correct profession

• let other members of a team who have had the

same tests know that they are can dependably rely on each other if the operation goes live

iPhysio For further information, please visit our website www.a-esolutions.com or contact the company on 01386 839423 or via email enquiries@a-esolutions.com

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Review

Correction In the Issue 17 Product Review feature on the IFAK (Individual/Improved First Aid Kit) by Benjamin Alozie we incorrectly listed the website for the product. You can learn more information or purchase the IFAK at www.TheBodyguardKit.com.

Garmin ® Foretrex 401 Personal Navigator® Some of you may recognise this GPS as the one the military issue.

Although identical in their casing, this model is the updated 401 and has a host of new built in capabilities that previous versions didn’t have.

By Scott D.

I’ve had this for just over 8 months and it pretty much goes everywhere with me. I personally use it to map and record my efforts when out on training runs. It is similar to wearing a bulky watch. However, it has lots of additions that other Garmin’s don’t have, and depending on your needs will decide whether this is the model for you or are on the look out for a wristwatch training aid. Unlike other the 401 can’t run continuously due to the battery issue its uses AAA’s and wont last more than around 50hours. When turning it on the satellite syncing always takes a wee while to locate the signal.

It needs to be set up before doing any activity.

The model is a definite RTFM, without reading the manual it is a quite complicated unit as it has so many available options and settings, you can change either what it measures in, Nautical, Metric or Standard, also you can define what information is actually shown to you on each page, of which it has 5, with the option of a 6th separate timer page. It has a compass and can be also set up using previous routes or waypoints that you have uploaded into it.

Personally I like distance covered and speed, and this can be in simple large display mode or several pieces of info on one page, again depends on your choice. This model also has an Altimeter, barometric pressure, can link to heart and/or cadence monitors, so is also useful for cycling and climbing, off-piste skiing, or any outdoor challenge. It also can be used by skydivers and has specific set-ups for that. When you have finished your activity it allows you to upload all you

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information onto the Garmin Connect® website and you can access all your activities, it also has further opportunities to add temperature, weather or any information you think is relevant, you can also share your information and has a sort of community based forum for training.

You can over lay your routes onto Google Earth maps so you can see exactly where you trained, it also displays your elevation gains or losses on a graph which is useful when looking at your training improvements. I tested it against a ships GPS navigation system for accuracy and found it to be very accurate. The GPS is not live time so this type of model is no use as a tracking device if you need a live feed facility.

Just on a PerSec note, recently when working away I was able to work out when staff from a local embassy were likely to be going training and what likely routes they would take which was all obtained from the information they had uploaded historically onto the Garmin connect® website. You can limit this access though.

Pros

Cons

Accurate Numerous options of data viewing Price

Size Can’t be used as a watch

Holds lots of data

Awkward to set or change settings on the move Velcro wrist strap is starting to lose its grip

Yellowbrick® GPS

Yellowbrick GPS tracker

®

By Scott D

Okay, what it says on the tin is correct, “Its yellow, and about the size of a small brick” (Luckily it doesn’t weight the same as a brick though). So at least it doesn’t breach any advertising laws.

I was recently asked to test the Yellowbrick® v3 (YB) during a voyage across the Indian Ocean and was quite impressed with it so thought it would be worth sharing with other members.

We use this primarily as a GPS tracking beacon for team safety.

The YB is linked via the Iridium satellite network and has full global coverage, including both Poles and has been used by various Extreme Challenges and Expeditions as a safety and messenger device.

I was handed it without instructions or information and was slightly unsure about playing around with it, as I wasn’t sure if it was “Squaddie proof ” but even without an idiots guide it was easy to work through and you cant go wrong with it, the menu is a simple set up. It is a sealed unit and fully waterproof, its charging system is accessed via a screw-in crown to access the sealed USB charge unit. It has an “panic” button for emergencies and doesn’t turn off and will basically continue working until it runs out of power, which according to the manufacturer are 2000 pulse signals per charge. This can be altered ‘on the go’ either from the base station or via the handset itself to suit your needs, on constant pulse, it will last around 6 days without any charge, and obviously the greater the gap between the pulses will increase time between charging.

I played around with the frequency of transmissions to test the battery drain and apart from when it was on constant pulse where it was heavy on the juice, but over the course of the 6 days it only consumed around 10% battery power and I had it on 2 hourly transmissions. I used it within the bridge of the vessel to see if it could still operate normally within the steel hull, and it continued as normal. The YB allows you to monitor whether it is functionally properly live time, so you know if its not managing to transmit a pulse to the outside world. The advantage over other tracking systems is that the YB is also a twoway messenger, which is an added bonus for users on board ships, where communications with the outside world are very rare.

The unit has a limited messenger facility built into its system, which we tested and worked. Using the unit to reply is limited in its capability but how this unit will stand out is that Yellowbrick are currently just awaiting authorisation for a second App from Apple

will if you possess an iOS® smartphone or ipad® then you can download a YB App onto your smartphone or ipad then that allows you to link via Bluetooth® and your own YB account to write and receive emails with anyone via the device. This will be the same for Android® OS phones in the future. This is allegedly going to be easy to set up and with an account and then you just Bluetooth the link through your devices. It means that each team member can have communications with the outside world via their own account and as its PAYG they are responsible for their own accounts. The route we took was tracked and then printed up on Google Earth showing our progress. The YB is clearly a reliable unit as can been seen from the high profile customers that use and endorse it, including Rolex® yacht racing, Ellen Macarthur Trust, the Trans Global Ocean Race, and on land based Expeditions, Mark Beaumont from the BBC on his many treks and the Royal Marines and many, many more.

As a simple, rugged and lightweight GPS tracker where size is not too much of an issue, this is great bit of kit. You could use this covertly as a surveillance device depending on your needs and. For me the USP is the two-way messenger facility for communications with your Operations Room or welfare for your Team Members keeping in touch with home this is a great piece of equipment in my opinion. My only observation that I cant comment on as a user is that I didn’t have the opportunity to test it with the Bluetooth link on my smartphone as we only used the built in system, but given the ease of the rest of the product I’m sure it would be simple to connect and use.

NEWS FLASH!

Just before going to print I have been informed that a V4 is due out, the V4 comes with basically the internal guts, more buttons, enclosed aerial, better charger access, Is also available in Grey.

YellowBrick: because of Wizard of Oz “Follow the yellow brick road”. Not sure how they will market the “Follow the Grey brick road”?

There are obviously several outlets where you can obtain these from MAST Ltd are resellers of these products, the POC is Tim Vince and can be contacted through MAST UK office.

Yellowbrick® is the registered trademark of Yellowbrick Tracking Ltd. www.mast-yachts.com

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Regular

WORKING GIRL

I have just returned from the Epic Life force conference in Las Vegas, this event was put together by two American training companies EPI and ESI, both have been training Close Protection or Executive Protection agents as the Americans like to call them for many years.

The conference speakers came from large corporations with a worldwide influence, Microsoft, McDonalds, Target to name a few, they set about telling us how their Risk Management worked and how their command centers came about. Due to super storm Sandy which battered the east coast of America these command centers have been very busy. What was very interesting was the difference in the various heads of security of these corporations ideas, one wanted ex military and a lot of gun time on the range and another said he couldn’t care less whether you could fire a gun or not as most of his executives traveled in Europe where most CPO’s were unarmed.

On a lot of security forums you will see the same questions asked, I’m not ex military so can I still do CP or I have done five years in the Military so can I do CP. As you can see from the above the answer to both is yes, it just depends who you are going to work for.

The one thing about the conference which did disturb me was the fact there were only 5 females out of 300 attendees and at least three of those females would have been sent home if they turned up dressed they way they did to work on a detail, short skirts and knee length boots are not a good look especially if you are over weight and unfit.

If I’m honest the men did not fair a lot better, unkempt and over weight with neck tattoos, again will not get you hired on corporate security details. Of course there were people whom had made the effort to wear a suit and stay fit, I found them to be pleasant and social individuals, whereas the guys and girls whom didn’t take the time in their presentation didn’t seem to be able to string a sentence together let alone introduce themselves and more importantly sell themselves to me as a prospective employer.

This is now the traditional quiet time of year for CP unless you end up on a skiing detail in the French alps or are lucky enough to have a principal who loves the Caribbean for the holidays, so if you are having a quiet time then get your paperwork in order, do a course or two and rewrite your CV. Be ready for the spring when the main season kicks in again and be the best CPO you can be.

I wish you all a great 2013 Stay safe Jacquie Davis

Jacquie Davis is Director of Protective Services at Optimal Risk. Web: www.optimalrisk.com

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Comms to HQ We like to hear all of your comments and suggestions, and welcome the opportunity to answer your questions or offer advice so please send them in to: info@circuit-magazine.com

I am fascinated by the role of a bodyguard it all looks very exciting stuff, is it as much fun as it looks?

Lauren S, Wigan Hi Lauren you do get to see and visit some fantastic places in this profession however it is definitely not all glamour, 90 percent of the job is exteremely hard work and involves an awful lot of waiting around and patience is a quality common to all good bodyguards.

I was on Ebay the other day and I saw that you could buy a certificate in Close Protection, what is there to stop people doing this and obtaining work with one of these certificates?

Steve L, Colchester Hi Steve these certificates aren’t worth the paper they are written on and 99 percent of employers would spot them immediately. This is where licencing works really well, since the SIA came into effect some 7 years ago it has made it very difficult for anyone to operate in the UK who does not have the credible qualifications.

I’m a British CPO and hold a valid SIA licence and have done since they were introduced. It’s about to expire again but I’m contemplating whether to bother renewing it, given that I have never needed to use it (I’ve always worked outside the UK) and I’ve heard the SIA is coming to an end within the next 12 month. What would you advise?

Eric N, Sunderland My advice would be to renew your license. Things change daily in this industry and you may have a fantastic opportunity that comes up which you cannot apply for if you do not have a license and you may live to regret it. Whether the SIA folds, changes hands or not there will certainly be a transition period and your license will still be valid during this period.

I am seeking some career advice. I have never been in the military or police though I do have some experience as a doorman. I have saved enough money to retrain and get

qualified in a new area within the security industry but I’m unsure whether to do a CP course or the Maritime SSO course. I’d prefer to do the SSO but some people have told me I wont get work. What do you think?

Nick H, Poole I think that you will find most companies who employ people for Maritime Operations like them to hold both an SIA license as well as an SSO qualification. Whilst the SIA is not a prerequisite for maritime work it is highly desired and I think you would find it extremely difficult if you did not hold both of these qualifications and considering the lack of a military background.

I’m new to the industry having just passed my SIA CP course in September but I’m still waiting for my first job. At this stage of my career is there any point in joining an association and what are the benefits?

Kevin M, Hull With you being new to the industry it is a fantastic time to join an association as you will hear of more job opportunities and will get to expand your network greatly with fellow professionals and in this game, networking is key!

I have been working between Afghanistan and Iraq for the last 5 years and would like to make the switch to commercial CP in the UK and Europe but I don’t know where to start.

What advice can you give me?

Jonathan H, Hereford The first bit of advice I would give you is to not walk from your current job until you have something in place. Times are hard at present and this side of the industry is saturated with more operators than what there are positions, so don’t jump to soon! Utilise all of your contacts, network like crazy, get your CV in order, fire it out and follow up all leads quickly and in a professional manner. Also, be sure you fully understand what you’re taking on and that it’s right for you. Despite sharing a lot of commonalities the roles are actually significantly different.

Issue 18

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Classifieds

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

ClassifiedS United Kingdom

3D Security Ltd Taunton, Somerset, TA1 1TG Based in Taunton 3D Security provides security services for a wide range of clients. Whether you need a security guard in Somerset, event security in Leeds or Close Protection in London we will provide a solution for your needs.

T: +44 (0)1823 253 001 W - www.3dsecurity.org E - enquiries@3dsecurity.org.uk A.B.I. Solutions A.B.I Solutions is a dynamic, forward thinking company, specialising in surveillance, security and investigations with local, national and internationalexperience. A.B.I provides a wide range of services to the corporate sector and individuals alike.

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.

W: www.asmsecurity.co.uk E: scott@asmsecurity.com T: 08458335750 Ark Personal and Asset Protection Ark, 2b Crow Lane, Rochester, Kent, ME11RF, GBR A small, efficient, highly descrete company employing ex special forces and detectives for all civil and corporate covert needs.

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. Argus Europe is an operational company working globally with an extensive variety of contracts.

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.

T: 07725970954 W: www.atlantianbsgroup.com E: info@atlantianbsgroup.com

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Briareus Security Our aim is to give a complete, discreet and professional service to all of our clients, be they large corporations, small businesses, local authorities or private individuals, all tailored to meet their individual needs.

W: www.briareussecurity.com E: info@briareussecurity.com

Alastair Christie Advice on site security, perimeter fencing, lighting, CCTV and manning requirements. Monitor and advise on guard force setting up site procedures and guard SOP’s.

T : +44 (0)7736 328112 E : ally.c9496@yahoo.co.uk Control Risk Management Solutions - CRMS Ireland Executive Close Protection Operations & Training (B Tec Level 3 Diploma Edexcel) Threat & Risk Assessments, Consultancy Services.

W: www.crmsinternational.com E: martin@crmsinternational.com Crest Security & Surveillance Ltd 51 The Crest, West Heath, Birmingham, West Mids, B31 3QA, GBR Highly experienced Security Consultant with a proven record of accomplishment in the field of protective security. Skilled in all phases of risk assessment, operational planning, logistical organisation, implementation of security measures, security team leadership, project coordination, and delivery of security advice to a high profile clientele.

E: info@stephencahill.co.uk T: 447977071427 CSI Protection Ltd International, GBR A well established security consultant and personal protection operative providing high or low Key protection to high risk and prestigious clientele. Specialising in the maritime industry as a consultant for private vessel protection on super yachts world wide.

W: www.csi-protection.co.uk E: gary@csi-protection.co.uk Custodia Custodia is an independent client focused Specialist Security & Risk Management Company, 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.

T: +44 (0)7837642686 +44 (0)7758743918 W: www.dfriskmanagementsolutionsni.com Executive Protection Officer Worldwide CP services W: www.executiveprotectionofficer.com

First Class Executive Security Nottingham, UK, Nottingham based, full-service company specializing in Bodyguards and Security Consulting services. Extensive experience in VIP security, also caters for public and private sectors.

W: www.firstclasssecurity.co.uk T: 0115 9266466 G6 Global G6 are specialists in all types of radio, telephony and satellite communications for both voice and data with particular emphasis on covert communications installations in both vehicles and fixed locations. In addition, our range of personal covert radios and bespoke accessories is extensive.

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 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 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.

T : +44 (0)7885 793061 E : janice382006@gmail.com International Centre of Special Training International Centre of Special Training is an international training and security company based in the United Kingdom. Its priority objective is to provide services to the highest level.

W: www.icost-team.com T: +44 796 736 55 65 IPSS Security Northfield, Aberdeen, AB16 7EX Security and protection services - UK and overseas.

BBA Member.

T: + 44 (0) 1224 69455 W: www.ippssecurity.co.uk ISS Training Ltd Riverside Cottages, Nidd Walk, Pateley Bridge, Harrogate, HG3 5NA ISS Training Limited are providers of specialist covert surveillance training courses and publications to the security and investigative industries, enforcement agencies and specialist military units. Formed in 1990, we are the longest established surveillance training company in the United Kingdom. Our credibility and reputation

is widespread and we offer nationally recognised qualifications. BBA Member.

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.

T: 01462 478900 W: www.jasonmorrissecurity.co.uk E: agosselin@jasonmorrissecurity.co.uk John Featherstone Security professional with operational experience gained in a variety of theatres. Main specialities close protection and surveillance.

T: 24hrs : +44 (0)7702 740722 E: john@johnfeatherstone.co.uk W: www.johnfeatherstone.co.uk K9 Support Services Ltd K9 Support Services UK Ltd is a supplier of specialist drugs and explosives dog/ handler detection service (which includes arms & ammunition) to individuals, businesses, and the public sector.

T: 0845 643 6393 E: info@k9support.org.uk Logas International Tyne & Wear, SR1, GBR Front line SIA, International CPO. Private Investigation and Surveillance operator.

E: wscarr@logasinternational.com MLK Security and Protection Services Swindon, UK Close Protection Officer and Door Supervisor E: mattleekane@hotmail.com T: 07917654978 LJE Security Services North Yorkshire, HG1, GBR Close Protection, Residential Security, Asset Protection, VIP red carpet Security and Private Investigation.

E: leanneedmondson@yahoo.co.uk One Events Grantham One Events offers you a stress free solution in the organisation, putting together and running of an event. Thisis accomplished by having a group of specialised companies from different industries working together for a more complete service for you.

TEL: 0870 974 6779 W: www.oneevents.info Plymouth Close Protection Highly versatile, physically fit and accomplished security professional with cumulative experience in the areas of security management, close protection, crisis management, risk assessment, emergency management, asset protection and security training.

E : chris@plymouthcp.co.uk W : www.plymouthcp.co.uk T : +44 (0)1752 500807 PPSS Group Body armour and stab vests provide a functional solution to individuals who require extra protection in their chosen vocation. All PPSS (formerly ASEO) body armour and stab vests are certified by the UK’s Home Office (HOSDB) and offer unrivalled protection from blunt trauma caused by a punch, blow or kick. Based on our professional frontline experience and extensive research we can confirm that an impact based assault is a more likely event than an attack

involving an edged weapon or firearm.

T: +44 (0) 845 5193 953 F: +44 (0) 1765 603 512 E: info@ppss-group.com W: www.ppss-group.com Presence Security Presence Security (“ PS ”) is a bespoke security company providing protection for private individuals and VIPs, as well as security services for businesses and organizations.

T: 0800 002 9734 E: info@presencesecurity.co.uk Prestige Risks LTD 27 Old Gloucester Street, London, WC1N, 3AX, GBR. Close Protection Secure Chauffeurs Surveillance Residential Security Executive Protection Security Guards Asset Protection T : +44 (0)207 5588182 E : info@prestigerisks.com W : www.prestigerisks.com Prometheus Medical Ltd Prometheus deliver unrivalled bespoke emergency medical support in the form of specialist equipment, training, strategic advice and deployed clinical care.

T: (+44) 1568 613942 W: www.prometheusmedical.co.uk Prosec Consultancy Ltd 10 Oakfield business park Westbury, BA13 4WF. Prosec Consultancy Limited are dedicated in providing a professional service, which covers a whole range of security services throughout the security industry.

T: 01373 228055 W: www.prosec-ltd.co E: info@prosec-ltd.com ProTouch Security ProTouch Security is one of the UK’s key providers of event safety, event security, crowd management, door supervisors, stewards, event management and health and safety.

T: 01724 279 522 W: www.protouchsecurity.co.uk Python Security and Protection Ltd Providing Close Protection Officers and Door Supervisors for Events and Venue Security.

E : mattleekane@hotmail.com RSM Security UK Ltd London, UK RSM Security UK Ltd offers the experience and expertise necessary to provide security personnel of the highest calibre when you need them.

T: 07850091979 or 07792948523 W: www.rsmsecurity.co.uk E: info@rsmsecurity.co.uk RWSSI Rob W is a professional security consultant with world wide experience and capabilities in Security, Surveillance and Investigation; I can support you to overcome any problems and enable you to achieve your goals E: rob@rwssi.co.uk T: +44 (0)7818 220985 SDS Solutions SDS solutions provide our clients with protective solutions that are second to none, our consultants will discuss every aspect of the problems that you are facing that dictate the need for a protective solution, we promise our clients a tailor made service to meet individual requirements. Whether based in the UK or abroad our protective service T: 01453 887815 E: info@sds-solutions.org Shadow Close Protection A leading company specializing in Executive

Protection as a professional sector, with participation in high and low risk missions, providing global security solutions and consultancy to individuals, corporations and national agencies worldwide.

W: www.shadowcp.gr E: info@shadowcp.gr T: + 30 6948539664 Shaun West United Kingdom SIA licensed, Highly Experienced Frontline CPO. Ronin SA trained. Providing security for both corporate and hostile environments.

E: sw@shaunwest.co.uk T: +44 (0)7830 109 601 W: www.shaunwest.co.uk Spotllght Protection Services Essex based business which provides a broad and growing range of security services to businesses and organisations large and small.

T: 07870560208 E: info@spotlightprotectionservices.co.uk W: www.spotlightprotectionservices.co.uk VIPA Tactical Training A specialist training academy dealing with four specific areas of combat: VIPA Civilian Self Protection Program, VIPA Close Protection Combat System, VIPA Police Defence Tactics and VIPA Military Close Quarter Combat. BBA Member.

W: www.VIPAtacticaltraining.com Europe & Africa International Security Academy P.O.Box 5833, Herzeliya, 46000, ISRAEL. Our graduates are more recognized, respected and sought after by Distinguish Protection service “consumers” and by most of the “Providers” of Protection services worldwide. Organisers of the 2008 International Summit of Protection Officers.

BBA Member.

T: + 972 9 950 0969 W: www.SecurityAcademy.org.il Javier Galan Spain Security specialist available for operations around the world.

E: oejju@hotmail.com T: 34.637080771 Military Grade Encryption Phones PO Box 52310, Limassol, CYPRUS Built-in encryption software which converts your voice to encrypted data using a constantly changing mathematical formula. It uses a dual 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 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

Issue 18

61

Classifieds

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

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

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

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

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

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 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 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

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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

The Team: Editor Managing Editor International Editor Art Direction

Shaun West Jon Moss Elijah Shaw Peter Falkous

Contributors: Pamela McCurdy Eric Konohia Adam White Amy Burrell Tony Scotti Jerome Saiz Benjamin Alozie Jacquie Davis Jonathan Delf

Chris Cobb-Smith Dean Bateman Patrick Rea John Dagklis Scott D A V Lawson P Allsopp Elijah Shaw ShaunWest Jon Moss

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 quarterly.

W: www.circuit-magazine.com E: info@circuit-magazine.com T: +44 845 519 2538

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

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

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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