Homework Responses Wk 6 & 2

Hello Professor and class,

Personal protection specialist should have a wide array of specific skills sets in order to be proficient in their craft. Prior to the more specific skills to be learn, a perspective personal protection specialist needs to have a strong understanding of the basics. From my research of initial registration requirements and eligibility requirements from a few different government criminal justice departments personal protection specialists listings I found many common denominators. All requirements included the endorsement and certification to use a firearm, with around 14-30 hours of entry-level training. Depending on the specific job, some postings requirement an additional 20+ hours of advanced firearms training.  Followed by 60-100 hours of entry-level personal protection courses (Virginia.gov, 2021). Once this basic level of training is achieved, a specialist then must be trained in more specific types of services related to their mission. This training can include first aid, motorcade and vehicle operations, close quarters combat, and site surveying.

All aspects of the jobs required by a personal protection specialist should be maintain by in service training. This can be achieved by drills, drilling different scenarios and procedures will help sharpen skills. Conducting routine drills will also will also keep specialist from become complacent in their day to day jobs. Mandatory currency training can also be used to learn new skills and stay current and proficient at skills already achieved, for examples requiring specialist to qualify on firearms every 3 months, or pass physical fitness tests every month. Routine first aid qualifications, Tactical combat causality course training, or full emergency medical technician certifications can be a very useful skill to have (PSD,2009)

Equipment that a personal protection specialist must take into consideration is relatively similar to law enforcement officers. This equipment can include less than lethal tools like tasers or pepper spray, since deadly force may not always be the right and legal answer to a potential threat. Specialist must have a basic understand of first aid and trauma equipment and how to use it. Protective armor and clothing that can effective hold weapons and tools comfortably are also important. 

References:

Virginia.gov. (2021). Virginia department of criminal justice Services improving and promoting public safety in the Commonwealth. Retrieved February 12, 2021, from https://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/licensure-and-regulatory-affairs/personal-protection-specialist

Protective security detail (PSD). (2009). Retrieved February 12, 2021, from https://www.t1g.com/project/protective-security-detail/