Social Media and Home Break-Ins

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Don’t believe that social media and home break-ins are related?

Social Media and Home Break-Ins

Google “home break-ins from Facebook posts” and you’ll get about 11 million returns. TV reports, newspaper reports, personal blogs…it’s a long list. Because it happens all too frequently.
When you are ‘friends’ with people on Facebook that you are not actually really friends with, how do you know whether they have good intentions?
The problem lies in that if Tom posts that he is so excited to take the family to Disney World next week. Sally likes the post. I don’t know Tom. I’ve never met Tom. I’m not friends with Tom, but I know Sally from high school and we’ve been friends on Facebook for years. I see Tom’s post in my news feed because Sally liked it or commented on it. Now, I might know some of Tom’s things I can sell after I fill the back of my car late some night next week.
Or, you have great photos of your house with house numbers (hello Google maps), the yard, and the car in the driveway. Maybe you shouldn’t really be checking in from the concert you’re at or the bar across town.
burglar-157142_1280A recent segment on CNN discusses the risks that you may be taking while updating your Facebook status. You don’t know who is looking at your private information because it’s truly not private – it’s public. They told a story about a woman who found this out the hard way after she posted a simple status message on Facebook that she was going to see a band with her fiancé. It only took the burglars calling the venue to find out what time the show was to let them know when they could break into her home. The burglars showed up 35 minutes after she left for the concert.
It is that simple. You post a casual message to your “friends” that could turn into a nightmare where you lose personal property. Worse, what if there was a child there with a baby sitter? What if….
There is a very strong connection between social media and home break-ins.
Google it and you’ll see, there are horror stories in every community.  No matter what privacy setting you have on your Facebook profile, your posts are public, permanent and exploitable. They are seen by more than “your friends”.
As the only training facility in Florida to be licensed by the US Department of Education, ESS Global Corporation provides education, training and consulting for commercial endeavors, government entities and the general public solely designed to enhance the safety and security of our communities.

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Training – Choose Wisely

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I’m sure you are aware of the horror stories or maybe you have experienced them yourselves. The let down and anger you feel when you pay hundreds if not thousands of dollars on training courses only to find out the course material or the instructors themselves were less than mediocre. Unfortunately, this is an all too common experience that many students have and will endure in the Security and Executive Protection industries.
While some states have mandatory courses for Security that are regulated by the state, most of the additional training officers receive is not regulated. In addition, as most of you know, the material taught in the state regulated courses is less than adequate. It is simply a theory course that involves zero practical or hands on training.
As for Executive Protection, there are a handful of states, if that, that have a state regulated course. This means that when you attend an Executive Protection school, nobody is regulating what is being taught or who it is being taught by. This means you are basically taking a gamble and hoping that what you are being taught is accurate, and the person teaching it is experienced. To be honest, this is rarely the case with most Executive Protection schools.
What you will find, is that the school was opened by a retired law enforcement officer or somebody that took a course at another school and saw the potential to make money. Regardless, most schools are being taught by those who have spent little to no time in the industry. And, since the states don’t regulate these courses, it will continue.
This is why it is extremely important to research your school and your instructors. Make certain that not only have your instructors worked in the Executive Protection industry, but they are active in it now! Remember, the Executive Protection industry evolves and changes just like any industry. If you are planning on attending a school where the instructor is the same person instructing for the last 20-30 years, you may want to find out how many jobs they have worked in those last 20-30 years. I bet you will be surprised.
This is why we always recommend that you go through a school that is licensed through the department of education. Then, you know that their curriculum and instructors have had to of been reviewed and approved. All instructors have had background checks performed on them and have had to provide credentials that attest to their knowledge and ability to instruct. While even this isn’t perfect, it’s better than there being no check and balance system like it is at most schools.
Again, take the time to research your school and its instructors. And while I know there aren’t many licensed Executive Protection schools in the country, trust me, it is worth the expense of traveling and lodging to attend a quality school rather than waste your money at a school that gives you below average training. We always say here at ESS Global Corporation: There are two things you never cheap out on, gear and training. They are the two things that may save your clients life and yours!
Until next time, stay safe and stay alert!

Compromise vs Convenience

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BieberExecutive protection is not just about protection. It is in fact about the entire experience for our client. Now, while most of what we do is based upon security, some of it is simply based upon pleasing our client. We always teach in our courses here at ESS Global Corporation Executive Protection School, that you will always be balancing Compromise vs Convenience. That is the compromise of security that we must allow to enable the convenience of the client. As Executive Protection agents, we are always security minded and want to keep security at a high level. Unfortunately, high levels of security are not always convenient for our clients. While we would like to keep them locked down under our supervision 24/7, they like to go outside, go shopping, go eat, etc. In order to do this, we have to drop the level of security a little bit to achieve this.
Now, this does not mean that we drop all security measures. It just means that we now have to be even more vigilant and aware than ever. Make sure you are always in YELLOW. Remember, we can never tell our clients NO. Well at least not in most cases. So, if they ask us to go somewhere, and we have advised them that it is dangerous to go there (like a nightclub), and yet they still wish to go, we must take them. And, if exactly what you warned them about happens, even though you advised them not to go there, guess who will be at fault. That’s right, YOU! We are always at fault.
For these reasons, it is extremely important to know your clients likes and dislikes so you can be prepared for moments like these and can perform a proper security advance to at least reduce the risk. While it still isn’t perfect, as most things are not in the Executive Protection industry, it will be safer. Knowing your clients likes and dislikes is first achieved through the client interview. A technique rarely used or taught anymore unfortunately. Remember, in anything, to be successful you must master the basics. Client profiling or client interviews are part of the basics in Executive Protection.
Until next time, be safe and stay alert!

Executive Protection, Executive Assistant or Both?

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For those of you that have never worked in the Executive Protection industry, you will find this post to be an eye opener. Especially to those who come from an extensive military background with many years of training and certifications out the wazoo. What we will talk about in this post is the single most reason why some of the most highly trained and tactically capable individuals wash out of this industry. You must learn how to check your ego at the door before walking into any Executive Protection job.
Be ready to open doors, carry shopping bags, carry luggage, take out the trash and even take orders from children or men half your size. Yes, all of these things are not only a reality but common day to day practices for all Executive Protection agents in the industry. This industry will definitely test your masculinity and can be emasculating at times. Can you handle it? You need to ask yourself that question, because if not, this is not the industry for you. Regardless of how well trained your are or how tactically sound you may be, if you cannot humble yourself to the point of being able to accept all of the above examples and more, you will not last long as an Executive Protection agent. Remember, you are the hired help and you will be treated as such. Just ask anyone who has worked a high profile detail.
Unfortunately, I have seen agents leave in the middle of a detail as they could not handle these instances. And remember, when you do leave in the middle of a detail, it is not the client you screw over, it is your team. So, this is even a greater reason to ask yourself if you can handle this as to not screw over the other guys working next to you. Remember, it’s not the client you need a reference from, it’s the Executive Protection company or detail leader you were working with. And, if you walk out on them, you may want to look elsewhere for a reference.
So, make sure you take all of this into account before entering this industry. There is a lot more involved than just the protection side. Well, until next time, stay safe and stay alert.

Choosing The Right Instruction

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Security - JaynieIf you are thinking of carrying a weapon (legally), then it should be no surprise that formal training is highly recommended.
A course is required in many states to receive a Concealed Weapon Permit (CWP)/Concealed Carry Permit (CCP). The overall purpose of this class is to assure that the issuing state that people who obtain carry permits have been exposed to the state laws governing concealed carry and are minimally capable of using a gun safely. There are basic gun handling classes, armed self-defense classes, tactical training, and courses designed to train the occasional shooter to the competitive shooter.
Along with a CWP/CCP class, a basic “introduction to firearms” class is recommended as the place to start.
You will have to check your area for your local options. Gun stores, gun shows, and shooting ranges are good places to start.  ESS recommends that you choose a school that is licensed by the US Department of Education.  In Florida, that would be ESS, as we are the only DOE licensed shooting school in Florida.  We do also recommend that you visit in person to get a good sense of the professionalism and quality of our facilities. Your local police department can offer you some direction as well.
Try to find one that offers a variety of courses, with highly experienced instructors and perhaps one that offers classes for activities other than shooting.  Some of the skills to develop through ESS firearm instruction are:

  • Safely manipulate a firearm
  • Reload quickly and safely
  • Shoot accurately
  • Shoot quickly
  • Draw from a holster
  • Multiple targets
  • One-handed shooting
  • Moving targets
  • Moving while shooting
  • Working in low light

If you are a first-time gun owner, or you are an experienced marksman, we welcome your visit to ESS.

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Where’s Your Head At?

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So you are all high-speed now, you have a 1.75 inch belt, desert tan ball cap with Velcro patch. You have Sabre Red Pepper, tactical knife, and you’ve mounted torches to your waist; one in the front and a tactical back up in the rear! Remember what your instructor said during training: “two is one, one is none!”
You weren’t sure what time of day you would be on post so you stored away some black flex cuffs and some white ones, you don’t want to offend anyone, right?
Now when it comes to firearms you figure the bigger the better, so you strap a 9mm hand cannon to your hip. You have taken all the courses and the State has issued your credentials. You have passed the entire necessary tests; you’re ready to go, right? WRONG!
IMG_0043 (5)Ask yourself these questions:

  • Am I willing to take another human being’s life to save my own or the life of another?
  • Am I capable of defending another, or myself and then render first aid and/or CPR to the very person I just injured?
  • Am I ready to face the consequences of my actions and defend those actions in a court of law?
  • What about the effects of my actions on my family and my friends, how will the public view my actions?

Each of the answers to these questions should actually create new questions to be answered, depending on which direction you have chosen. The bottom line is there is much more to think about than just, what kind of gear you will equip yourself with. Stay safe and consider all your options before you need them!

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Which Defensive Tactics Work Best?

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This is a question that defensive tactics experts and instructors have debated and continue to debate. But, in reality, the answer is simple. I don’t care what defensive tactics or martial arts discipline you train in or feel that you have mastered, the answer is the same. ALL experienced executive protection agents will agree that the best defensive tactic we have as agents, that will give us the greatest chance of survival and least chance of injury, is AVOIDANCE. Avoidance is our best defensive tactic.
IMG_0027 (3)
This is not the industry you enter into to get a charge or to prove your manhood. As we like to say in the executive protection industry, “boring is good!” A boring day is a safe day. It means that we have done our jobs so well that an attack on our client wasn’t possible or was thwarted. So, back to avoidance and how it can help us keep the job boring. When we see a possible oncoming threat, avoidance allows us to go another direction, choose another route, pick another restaurant, etc. We live to fight another day. There is no loss of respect when an executive protection agent chooses avoidance over conflict. And, I can assure, whether you win or loose the conflict you will affect your client in todays sue happy society.
Now, there are times when avoidance is not possible and you must use defensive tactics to protect yourself and your client. In those instances, the defensive tactics that works best are those that you have practiced. Remember, defensive tactics are like anything else in life: it’s all about repetition! The way you train is the way you will perform. To achieve muscle memory in an effort to utilize tactics effectively, you must practice them thousands of times.
This is why ESS Global Corp’s executive protection certification course spends 2-3 hours on defensive tactics and utilizes the majority of the time teaching you executive protection principles. It’s because we know that there is no way, even if we used a whole day on defensive tactics, that you will be proficient enough to be effective utilizing those techniques in the field. We use those 2-3 hours as an eye opener to show our students that there are other areas of training available to make them better agents.
If you have any questions about defensive tactics, executive protection, security training or different martial arts disciplines, please inquire and we will give you our input. We hope this has helped, and until next time, stay alert and stay safe!

Be a student of everyone you can!

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raytravisThere are training courses where you lay foundations and then there are courses where you actually put walls up and hang drywall. Now if you know anything about building a house, you will know that building walls and hanging drywall secures and holds the home together. We have learned over the years that diversifying you’re training is extremely important. Learning new and improved techniques are vital to your growth and fine-tuning your skill set so that you can be the most effective operator out there.
Whether you are a professional contractor or just an ordinary citizen protecting yourself, training and re-training are very important. So the next time you’re looking for something to do, take advantage of seminars your local gun range or gun store may be hosting, you never know what information or technique you may pick up. Remember, amateurs train until they get it right, Experts train until they can’t get it wrong.

Executive Protection falls under Class D security, Good or Bad?

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9288169_origAt ESS Global Corp, much like the rest of the Executive Protection and Security industry, we are eagerly awaiting the day when Executive Protection will have its own license. No more wondering if you need a C, D or any other letter in the alphabet license that there is. For years, industry professionals have been trying to figure out why Executive Protection has been lumped under the same license as Private Investigation. Especially when the two industries are extremely different. We all know that the State-mandated C License course covers about 2% of what you need to know to work in the Executive Protection industry. But the fact that Executive Protection is lumped under the C License has made it a bit more difficult for those with aspirations of entering the Executive Protection industry. But, is that a bad thing? Let’s talk about Executive Protection being just under the D License.
Now, the requirements to enter the Executive Protection industry would be much easier if it were classified under the class D License, but at the same time, what types of individuals would now, by law, qualify to do Executive Protection work? You got it! Those same lackluster individuals that sat next to you in your D License training course that you said in the back of your mind, “I can’t believe this guy is going to be protecting somebody or securing an area!” Just think, you and Paul Blart working the same Executive Protection detail!
And let’s talk about what this will do to the pay rates in the Executive Protection industry. Now that any security guard qualifies as an Executive Protection agent (by law only), prospective clients will use those same security rates when it comes to pay. In addition, you will have security companies offering Executive Protection services (because they can by law) and asking for security guard rates. This will totally undercut true Executive Protection companies and lower the bar for the entire industry. There are companies already doing this. You know of them. They bid jobs at ridiculously low rates and then put out a Craigslist ad to fill them.
Well, we hope you found this insightful and look forward to hearing your thoughts. Until then, stay alert and stay safe!

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