Close Protection Training, How To Choose Your Training Provider

Close protection training is one of the most hotly discussed topics on security social media sites and WhatsApp groups. There are thousands of security industry training course providers out there. Some well established, some still struggling to make a profit, and some new to close protection training. So how do you choose the right provider?

The first and easiest thing to do is to ask people on social media and WhatsApp groups who they have trained with. Which also flushes out those close protection training providers that have a negative reputation in the close protection industry. Who some operational security companies would see as a negative if you have completed your training with them.

Can you give an unbiased recommendation on a close protection course you have completed?

It’s often referenced that trained close protection operators can only give a biased opinion on who they themselves have trained with. However that’s not necessarily the case. We’ve all conducted some form of training before. So even if you haven’t completed two close protection courses to compare them. You can still compare your close protection training course to other courses that you have completed. For example, you know if you have received quality instruction and the instructors clearly knew what they were talking about. You know if the course is well resourced. You know if you’ve been taught in a good training environment. You know if you’ve received follow up support from the training company. Conversely, you also know if these statements are the opposite. So it is possible for people to recommend their close protection training course, even if they have only completed one close protection course.

Training Company Reputation is Vital

The reputation of your training provider is vital. If you have no operational close protection experience, you must ensure that you are building your experience on a solid foundation of close protection training. This is even more vital if you don’t have any Military or Police experience. As if you don’t have the fundamentals of the job in place, you are more likely not to make a good impression when you complete your first close protection task. Which may lead to a lack of options when it comes to further close protection work.

The easiest way to ensure that your training provider has a good reputation, is to train with someone who has been in the training industry for a long time. As this indicates a solvent company who is likely to be around in years to come. Who you can then reference on your CV, and that most operational close protection companies will be aware of.

Be very cautious about a 21+ days all singing all dancing close protection course. This seems great as it negates the negativity around the minimum standard SIA close protection training, and makes it look like you are training to a higher level then other operators. But unfortunately whenever a training provider has tried to do this, it is not commercially viable. So the course may run a few years and then fold as they are unable to make a worthwhile profit. Equally be cautious of course providers who try and condense the SIA close protection training into a short period of time with long days. As this creates a poor training environment where you would be unlikely to retain information.

You must also be cautious about training with new close protection course training providers. As if they go on to have a great career in the training industry and build a reputation, then great, you have a course to reference on your CV. However, if they can’t make their new venture work into close protection training, then you have trained with a company that operational close protection companies will be unaware of. So training with new training providers is a gamble.

Training Location

Train where you are going to be working. Most people who look to start a career in the close protection industry don’t live in London as it’s too expensive. However, most close protection work is in London. So by training in London, you give yourself chance to experience the environment that you are most likely to be operating in. This is critical to successfully being able to do well in the close protection role. If you are new to the industry, it’s hard enough developing your new trade. Never mind developing your new trade in a completely new environment. Especially London if you are not used to it.

If you can’t train in London, then make sure you train in other areas in the UK where close protection tasks are undertaken. Such as Glasgow and Edinburgh, Newcastle, Leeds, Liverpool, or Manchester.

Training Instructors

The instructors on your course are key in bringing to life the SIA’s standard close protection training syllabus. They must have a solid background in training. Such as former Royal Military Police Close Protection Unit Instructors. Or instructors who have solid operational experience in close protection who can bring to life the theory of close protection into practice. 

Be cautious of the ex-SAS instructor spiel. The SAS are clearly the best fighting force in the world. But although they do conduct close protection operations, these operations are not in anyway like what most people will experience on normal UK and European close protection tasks.

If the instructors on your potential course are new to close protection operations and only recently trained themselves, within the last five years. You should be cautious about going with that training provider. As these instructors won’t have the depth of understanding about close protection operations that you build up with consistent operational experience. To then bring the close protection course theory to life with real world scenarios.

Training Course Resources

There is a lot to take in when attending your close protection course. So this must be done in an environment conducive to sound learning. It should be in a classroom with a proper classroom set up. Not just a whiteboard in a cold portacabin. There must be climate control to make sure you are warm enough to focus and concentrate on the lesson. You must get regular breaks. Plus have refreshments available. All prerequisites of a good learning environment.

When conducting your exercises and tests out in public. You should be using vehicles of the same standard that you would be using on close protection operations.

You should have good communication kit or communication apps to use.

But importantly, you should be visiting the types of locations that you would expect to do when conducting close protection tasks. So your training provider will need a black book of contacts to be able to do this. Normally gained over an extended period of time working in the close protection training industry.

To Shoot or Not to Shoot, That is The Question

Do not be lured onto a training course because they have a range day and you get to shoot weapons if you haven’t done this before. You can’t use weapons in the non-hostile close protection industry. So it’s a red herring in order to lure people onto course. Especially those that are not ex Military or Police. 99% of people who are not ex Military or Police will never use weapons in the close protection role. For those that are ex Military or Police and want to work with weapons, you will need to complete a recognised firearms competency course, not a close protection training course add on. This weapons familiarisation has no value in the non-hostile close protection industry.

This concept is the same for close quarter hand to hand combat on training courses. Some form of martial art or fighting style is a vital part of being a close protection operator. But this takes years to build up the muscle memory so that it is second nature and something that you can put into practice to some extent when required. Nothing that you learn in a short period of time on a close protection training course will have any real life value. This element of the close protection role is for the individual operator to establish for themselves over a long period of time. It’s not something that you will get any benefit from on a close protection course. But again is a tool to lure people onto courses.

Is Your Training Provider Operational 

The close protection industry is a tough industry to get consistent well paid work from. So if your training provider is operational and has the ability to offer you work, this could significantly enable you to progress your career.

Getting your first few proper longer term close protection jobs on your CV is critical in order for other operational companies to employ you. As they can see you have some operational close protection experience, and not just training. Which makes it easier to put you on task.

You’ll likely start on an RST role. Or form part of a larger team. But this experience will allow you to then start working in a smaller team, or in the individual bodyguard role.

So How Do You Choose A Close Protection Course Training Provider

Hopefully this article has highlighted some key areas for you to understand in order to choose the right training provider. To hopefully give you the best chance of gaining consistent well paid employment when you complete your course.

Here is what you need to understand before you choose your training provider:

• Does the training provider have a positive or negative reputation in the close protection industry
• Has the training provider been established for at least five years 
• Does the training take place in locations that you are likely to be employed in close protection role
• Do the training instructors have solid backgrounds in close protection training or close protection operations 
• Does the training course have resources that make it a sound training environment and use vehicles you are likely to use on close protection tasks 
• Is the training course trying to lure you in with weapon familiarisations and hand to hand combat
• Does the training provider have a realistic chance of offering you work after you complete their training 

For more articles on close protection training and how to gain employment in the close protection industry, read the articles here by clicking on this link.

Article written by Tom Richmond, former Army Officer with the Royal Military Police Close Protection Unit.