Someone said this quote to me a long time ago and it really resonated. It was one of those things where the more I thought about what it actually meant, the more insight I gained from just those few short words. The quote itself originated from the American poet, Maya Angeolu. And while it’s very unlikely social media was on her mind, or even a thing, when she drafted it, I think it’s very fitting on how it plays into society today.
Embracing The Unified Protector: A Holistic Approach to Risk Management
The integration of different security sectors under the role of the Unified Protector may at first seem daunting. However, does it offer the promise of a more effective, coordinated approach to managing complex risks? As businesses, organizations, and the threats they face continue to evolve, so too must the strategies and structures we use to protect them. The dynamic role of the Unified Protector may just be the next step. Are you ready to welcome this evolution?
Is Your Brain Working Against You?
Our brain is constantly processing information. From making our coffee in the morning to dreaming while we sleep, our neurons are always working to figure out what to do with the information they’re receiving. Every scenario is carefully calculated within our brains which then tells us how to respond to certain stimuli. In the field of Close Protection, it’s crucial that we train our brains to respond to stimuli in a quick and calculated way so that we are able to execute our responsibilities and keep people safe.
Staying Grey
The truth is there aren’t many conventional radios that are commercially available, that are easy to conceal whilst still giving you the coverage and functionality you need to do the job. And with all conventional two-way radio, you still face the challenges of coverage and range, not to mention licensing and the issues of using the devices outside of UK jurisdiction.
Preparedness & Perseverance
. To prepare is to, make (something) ready for use or consideration, to persevere, is to continue in a course of action even in the face of difficulty or with little or no prospect of success. Among the many skill sets we must attain, practice, and master over time, preparedness and perseverance are two less talked about traits of a solid EP practitioner. There are many reasons why the focus on these skills are over shadowed by wrist locks, positioning, being the body man, fancy martial arts, and firearms. What’s a significant reason you ask? Well, in my opinion it’s because there is no immediate gratification, or “look at me” moment(s). There are plenty of instances where all of the before mentioned skills are useful, however, how and when they can be used start with being prepared.
The Great Divide – Keeping Your Edge
In many cases this occurs with such frequency that it not only paints a part of the picture of the individual, it becomes the entire painting. In fairness or not, the act of retransmitting news media can be interpreted as an endorsement of the totality of the views. Adding an additional layer, readers/viewers are allowed to engage and interact with the news in ways that far surpass the past. Gone are the days where you could agree or disagree with a newsperson and have to mail a letter into the editor in the hopes that it would be read, and in extremely small cases, reprinted.
Baselines of Behavior
The four major behaviors are dominant, submissive, comfortable and uncomfortable. These are the most prevalent and easiest to categorize most nonverbal communication into. Identifying the behaviors is not our main goal. Creating a baseline of the behaviors is first, then looking for clusters of anomalies is the goal. Seeing anomalies for what they are, changes within the individual’s emotional state around a specific topic.
Keeping Your Edge: Building a Solid Foundation
Longevity, consistency and remaining relevant are some primary goals of all protectors. These factors are important when establishing a new contract and providing services for a new client. But what is equally important is the mindset that goes into those first days and weeks on the assignment. As such, I wanted to get the personal perspective of Vantrell Wilson, a close protection agent who I have trained with and worked alongside of for years now.
Leveraging Technology in Industry Hiring
Increased global connectedness through technology is fast becoming the norm these days. Video conferencing and “face to face” meetings are happening daily in real-time across the world. As an industry that prides itself on having the edge over our adversaries, we are falling below our own standards when it comes to utilizing the technological resources at our availability to their fullest potential.
Kidnap & Ransom – Part two
In the previous issue we walked through what happens in the first hours after a kidnapping, we considered the critical factors relating to the initial contact, and we took a close look at the role of the communicator (see Issue 49). Now, we’re going to move on and look at the financial implications of ransom demands and what factors might impact it.
FEAR, Society and the Police
To understand fear, one must examine it in several contexts from fear of a small insect to vicious animals, and even figments of man’s imagination. Imagination often drives the mechanisms that trigger fear. Fear can be a life saver or a killer. Understanding fear and accepting it as an emotional response opens a means of overcoming it.
Keeping Your Edge: What’s the End Game?
I’m sipping a Pina Colada (virgin) and staring at the ocean with the waves cresting about 10 feet from my cabana. I don’t write that to brag, but instead give a peek into an environment that’s a little different for me as I jump into the backstory.
FIVE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO MAKE YOUR HOUSE OF WORSHIP A SAFER PLACE
Never in the History of our country has it been more important to be aware of safety and security in a House of Worship. With our safe places under attack, and churches, temples and Mosques under attack, it is time for men and women to step up and do what is necessary to help make their House of Worship a harder target! Here are five simple things you can do to bring more safety and peace of mind to your House of Worship.
Media Safety Advisor Training
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the threat is as high as it can get for News Teams, and if you are a well-trained Media Safety Advisor, the demand for your services has never been greater.
Keeping Your Edge: The Right Tool For the Job
Spend any length of time conducing protection work in the entertainment industry, and you’ll find that things work in cycles.
There are recording cycles, tour cycles, award show cycles and even sporting event cycles. A big portion of these trend annually, and are grouped with similar events, creating momentum, but being careful to avoid overshadowing or encroaching on another event’s moment.
The eX-military Factor
I am the son of a soldier, I have a very high regard for the British Army, which in my opinion has been the best in the world since the days of Oliver Cromwell, who created the first People’s Army. Even in the days of conscription, the British Army and its personnel acquitted themselves with distinction in Malaya and Korea. In very difficult circumstances (isn’t all conflict difficult?) they continue to do the bidding of this nation’s rulers across the world in a way that is reflective of the society from which they have come.
THE LAST FRONTIER PART 6
Whether you are a protector, an attender, or a protector of an attender, knowing the baseline behavior (typical behavior or protocols for a certain group of people) of the church you are in will help to understand when something is not right.
Gap Training, What Most Practitioners Overlook
With 30 years of experience as a sailor, soldier, police officer/EMT, and security provider and trainer I have come up with some pretty clear ideas about what medical first response is for the average security provider. This is not meant to deter anyone from obtaining their EMT or Paramedic certifications or from persons with higher levels of training from providing that service.
YouTube Should be Part of Your Social Media Strategy
YouTube is the number two search engine right behind Google (go figure). Everyday 3 BILLION VIDEOS are viewed on YouTube everyday. Why? For me personally and I’m sure thousands of others would rather find a video on how-to fix a widget then read pages of text on a web page.
Mental Illness and Addiction: Why Should You Care?
Serious mental illnesses (SMI) include such diagnoses as Schizophrenia, Paranoia with psychosis, Bipolar Disorder, Major Depressive Disorders, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Panic Disorder, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).