Jerry Glazebrook and Dr. Nick Nicholson, the Authors’ of the industry standard book “The Executive Protection Specialist Handbook”, have developed a task analysis for Executive Protection. The document is titled EP Core Competencies.
EP Core Competencies
By Jerry Glazebrook and Dr. Nick Nicholson
Research
Knowledge of Sources of Information
Understand and Apply Basics Research Principles
Ability to Conduct Research on Travel, New Technology, and Individuals
Knowledge and Ability to Operate Computers
Ability to Gather Operational Intelligence
Ability to Develop Threat Profiles
Ability in Preparing a Personal Profile
Interpersonal Communications
Ability to Network with Others
Skilled in Effective Communication
Develop Independent Thinking Skills
Develop Team Skills
Ability to Conduct Interviews
Knowledge in Dress, Protocol, Personal
Appearance, Manners, Conduct, and Dining Etiquette
Ability to Liaison with Other Organizations
Ability to Effectively Communicate over the Phone and Radio
Knowledge of Verbal Persuasion Techniques
Recruiting and Selecting Personnel
Mechanical Ability
Basic Protection Equipment Operation
Understand Fire Prevention and Extinguish Techniques
Understand basic auto repair – changing flat tires-etc.
Presentation Skills
Conduct Training and Briefings for Principals Agents
Understand the Basic Instructional System Design Principles
Creating Effective Presentations
Inspections Advance Work
Conducting a Physical Security Surveys
Office
Residence
Routes
Choke Points & Danger Zones
Conducting Risk Assessments
Understanding the Specialized Interests of Children, Family Members, Visitors, Household
Staffs, and Recreational Activities
Emergency Medical Care
CPR
Trauma (Combat) Casualty Care
First Aid
Health and Safety Issues
Water Rescue
Specialized Security Concerns
Crowd Control
Identifying Mental Illness
Understanding Seaport Security
Maritime Tactical Boarding and Yacht
Understanding Aircraft Security
Special Function Planning – Parties, Concerts, Theater. etc.
Violence in the Workplace Issues
Terrorism Issues
Use of Force Issues
Defensive Tactics – Countermeasures
Intermediate Use of Force Weapons; Kubaton, Sprays. etc.
Technical Security Issues
Understanding Basic Explosive Devices
Detecting/Recognition Explosive Devices
Understanding “bugs” and Listening Devices
Detection of Listening Devices and Bugs
Conduct Preliminary Searches for Listening Devices
Understanding Sensor (Alarm) Technology and Operations
Writing Skills
Knowledge of Terminology
Report Writing
Developing Operation Orders/Policies & Procedures
Preparing Travel Reports
Driving Skills
Perform Safe Driving Techniques
Develop Evasive Driving Skills
Understand and Perform Motorcade Procedures
Physical Fitness
Physical Exercise & Weight Lifting
Endurance
Diet
Survival as a hostage
Stress Management Techniques
Firearms Training
Knowledge of Basic Firearms Skills
Ability to Effectively Shoot Required Weapons
Knowledge of Ballistic Hardware
Ability to Shoot on the Move
Ability to Perform Close Quarter Encounters (Combat)
Legal Issues
Knowledge of Protective Law
Preparing Case Information for Legal Authorities
Understanding Stalkers and the Law
Crisis Management
Planning
Command Post Operations
Managing a Command Post
Moving the Principal
Understand the Basic Principal Movement Techniques
Orienteering, Map Reading, and Movements in Emergency Situations
Ability to Perform Movements, Signals, Positioning, Arrivals and Departures
Surveillance Detection Skills
Ability to Observe/Describe/Identify People and Vehicles for Later Recall
Understand the Surveillance Process
Equipment & Cameras
Basic Surveillance Techniques
Dear Mr. Glazebrook:
Great article on competencies for EP! Its a check-list for details. Thanks for the great info, Sir. Keep Safe and Best Regrads, Chris “Doc” Rogers
Having worked for Jerry on the Kissinger detail and again on other details I got to learn all of what’s in the book first hand. The book is a great tool for those starting out or for an accomplished EP Agent. A must have book in your professional library.
I agree that Jerry & Nick have produced a valuable inventory of EP core competencies but would need to review the definition for each listing before I could comment on the completeness. Of course, whoever produces such a list will never capture all the skills required to meet every challenge provided by the EP role. I’m a Brit, so I may have missed the subtleties of the subjects listed and therefore may suggest something (a skill or competency) that has already been covered (in no specific order or grouping):
Analytical skills to interpret data collected/researched (so what does this mean for me);
Understanding social, political, and cultural issues in the working environment;
Develop knowledge of the Principal’s profession or industry (corporate knowledge);
Personal skills: discretion, reliability, enthusiasm, flexibility, a thirst for knowledge;
Decision making skills;
Listening skills;
Investigation skills (root cause analysis);
Knowledge of cultural and religious diversity (if working away from home);
Communicating electronically (e-mail or text messaging);
Negotiating skills;
Resource management (people, equipment, time);
Organizational skills;
Search techniques (area, building, vehicle; people);
Liaison [and working] with law enforcement officials, private & in-house security personnel (at places visited);
Dealing with medical allergies and conditions of Principal (& entourage);
Affects and recognition of alcohol & drugs misuse;
Managing the media (paparazzi);
Protecting buildings (defensive barriers);
Mail screening;
Understanding protected vehicles and glass characteristics;
Defensive driving techniques;
Impact of physical fitness on the mind and body;
Self defence and the defence of others;
Legal use of force/weapons (if working away from home);
Journey management & route selection;
Transport selection and use (plane, train, boat, & automobile);
Vehicle selection (high or low profile);
Defence in depth when on the move (advance party, escort section, counter attack team);
Cross border travel (state, international);
Anti & counter-surveillance methods in EP; and
Incident management & reaction to attack.
By the way, I agree with previous postings that ‘Threat Assessment’ is a fundamental competency requirement.
Finally, if you can tick all of these competencies then the work has just begun. Your best skill will be the acknowledgement that there is a need for continuous professional development (education, awareness & vigilance) and the requirement to pass this knowledge to those who ‘need to know’.
Regards
Frank Cannon
Rick, I am afraid it is a typo.
Jerry
Very comprehensive! As a generalized comment, I would like to ask them to consider “Threat Assessment” as a separate core competency rather than being listed under “Research (threat profiles)”. We spend a lot of time on threat assessments in the private sector and they are a fundamental component of protective intelligence. I don’t think any protection specialist should be without foundational training in this field. I’d be happy to elaborate further offline.
Also, I have several copies of the authors’ 2nd Edition that I pass out in classes because it is not only a great teaching aid for segments on security advance, but also a great resource for day-to-day operators (I also have a copy in my briefcase that’s now been in seven countries). My question is regarding spelling; their previous work and most other texts refer to the Protectee as a “principal”. This article uses “principle”…is this something new or a typo?
Again, great work gentlemen!
This is the best list of competencies I have seen in one document. Looks as though you have covered just about all of the bases.