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- Situational awareness
Dear Network,
It's Friday and that can mean only one thing... it's time for your weekly roundup of all things happening On the Circuit!
This week we're talking situational awareness with the man who wrote the book, literally. Plus we discuss confidentiality within a professional setting, we learn the origins of physical training, and we want to get your predictions on the state of employment within the industry post-pandemic.
So, we're almost ready to dive in, but first, some words from our podcast guest and our officially adopted mantra for the week.
They don't shoot what they can't see! – Tom Pecora
On the Circuit has you covered when you are busy covering others.
New Releases!
The Circuit Magazine Podcast, Episode 10
Situational awareness in hostile and remote environments | Thomas Pecora — podcast.circuit-magazine.com
If you’re caught by surprise in an ambush site, you’re history. Before an attack happens, there are clues in the environment that can help you beat the surprise factorand increase your chances of survival tremendously.
This week’s guest is Thomas Pecora, former CIA, author of the book Guardian and an expert in situational awareness and counter-ambush. Tom shares knowledge from his 24-year CIA career and explains how incorporating principles of staying under the radar and stealth helped the CIA to improve its protective mobility.
In this episode, we discuss:
How the ‘bad guy’ thinks, operates, and the tactics they use.
How to hone situational awareness skills and pick up on the patterns of life when entering a new country.
How to incorporate situational awareness skill sets into your everyday life.
And, how to come out on top even without the backing and resources of an intelligence agency or a modern military.
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From the Pages of the Magazine
Read articles from the most trusted peer resource in the protection world. Written by operators for operators who speak your language.
The best method to accomplish this goal is to adopt a predictive, preventative strategy for protecting clients based on the tenets of Detect, Deter, and Defend. To effectively employ these tenets, we need some very specific soft and hard skills. In the protective operations world, the “soft” skills are sometimes referred to as Protective Intelligence (PI) while in other security disciplines they are referred to as situational and tactical awareness skills. If we are unable to prevent or avoid an attack, we need to have some expertise in specific “hard” skills such as the use of firearms and security driving so that we can survive an ambush.
This in-depth 2 part article from this weeks podcast guest, Tom Pecora, does a deep dive into the much-overlooked subject of surviving an ambush through the preventative tactics you employ.
Tomorrow your work application may be rejected because someone saw how quick you talk publicly about your clients. You will find yourself passed over for another applicant who can remain quiet over the simple fact that you can’t keep your ego aside. And you will always wonder why they didn’t hire someone like you who has more work experience and more tactical skills. The truth is, many companies do genuinely care about confidentiality, and they not only see it as an ethical threat but as a very strict part of their professional code of conduct.
Important words of warning about your digital footprint from Denida Zinxhiria Grow. Think twice before you name your clients or post that picture publicly… it may very well cost you your next job!
Organised physical exercise can be traced far back to ancient Greek times, where it was viewed that it should be both an integral part of an individual's responsibility and civic duty to maintain health.
Regular columnist, Ryan Naish, provides us with an illuminating read on the origins and evolution of military physical training and what, as modern protectors, we can learn from it and incorporate into our training routines.
Download and read the latest issue
Industry News
A selection of the top stories affecting our industry - pulled from the Circuit Daily Briefing.
Bolivia: Former Interim President arrested for sedition, terrorism and conspiracy — worldview.stratfor.com
Bolivia’s former interim president Jeanine Anez and at least two other former ministers were arrested on charges of sedition, terrorism and conspiracy conducted in the wake of the country’s contested 2019 election, the BBC reported March 13.
Department of Defense components will all be required to use the Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals for final appeals on contractor security clearance denials.
Boris Johnson's vision for post-Brexit 'Global Britain' starts with more nuclear weapons — www.washingtonpost.com
The new goal appears to mark a profound shift away from a long commitment to nonproliferation.
Public anger grows in Aden over lack of services, poor living conditions - Anadolu Agency
U.S. special operations forces were deployed to Mozambique on a mission to assist the country in its counter-terrorism ...
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BBA Connect - Highlights
Ask questions, get advice, and find industry resources from an active and thriving community of professional, working operators.
Want to know who the top-recommended training providers are for any given subject? Or, have you had a training experience that delivered on all levels that you'd like to recommend to the Network? We want to hear about it.
I thought I’d start a thread to find out what training you've undertaken and with which training providers. Let us know what positive experiences you've had, who would recommend and why? This will become a good resource for members when looking to invest in CPD before they spend their money. - Shaun West
Stephen Adams is looking to get feedback from industry insiders on what they think lies ahead in terms of employment prospects. What's your opinion? Jump in and share your thoughts with the network.
Hi all. With a light at the end of the tunnel, what are peoples opinions in our industry? Is the general consensus that we will see taskings start to pick up? I'm new to the industry and hope that my desire to succeed and become a well known and respected CPO. - Stephen Adams
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Partner Spotlight
JBC Protect Security Services provide multiple and integral security services to companies and government contractors throughout the UK.
I'd like to introduce you all to JBC Protect. John is an incredibly experienced security services company owner who hasn't lost sight of the fact that THE most important people in his business are his team. He provides training internally to key members so that they can support each other should a mental health/welling issue arise. Strong on the inside, stronger on the outside! Good work John.
That's all folks!
Thank you all once again for sharing a few minutes with us at the end of a busy week. I hope we're providing you with value. We'd love to know what you think, good, bad, or indifferent. So, hit the thumbs up/down button below (or leave us a short message).
Stay well,
Jon
Managing Editor, Circuit Magazine
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