Don't be a Quitter. Get Resolute.

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Circuit Magazine
January 15, 2022

Traditionally, January is that time of the year where we get introspective and start setting ambitious goals for the year ahead. However, yesterday also marked International Quitters Day, the day when the majority of us are most likely to reneg on our New Year resolutions. But fear not, we've packed this issue of On the Circuit with plenty of inspiration and motivation to keep you going.

First up, we're bringing out the big guns, quite literally, as we discuss fitness goals and tips for keeping us operationally ready.

Elsewhere, we have practical advice on sustaining mental wellbeing during quiet work periods. And in the spirit of fostering good community, we share news of where and when you can get a free drink courtesy of our friends at AHNA Group!

The Circuit Magazine Podcast

When it comes to assessing your level of fitness, what benchmarks are you using? As protectors the expectations upon us can vary greatly, so how do we know if we’re fit for purpose? Do you measure by past experience or worst-case scenario?

It's also important to know the limitations on your body and to understand that you still have to be fit enough to cross the line. It's no good thrashing yourself every day in training to then get to the start line and find out you're broken to such a degree that you can't actually perform. 

This week, we're talking to Mick Coup, founder of C2 Core Combatives and a long-established fitness specialist within EP.

In this episode, Mick shares the benefit of his many years of experience in training and coaching, including: 

  • How can protectors benchmark their fitness, what metrics should you use?

  • If you're not physically able to protect somebody, should you really be saying that you are in the close detection industry as a protector?

  • Training and equipment recommendations for protectors when deployed on operations

“I know that I can't survive being hit by a car. So, I take a lot of care crossing the road. Knowing your limitations reveals your actual capabilities far more than wishful thinking does”

If you enjoy listening to the Circuit Podcast and can spare a minute, please rate/review us. Your rating will help us to rank higher making it easier for others to find the podcast.

The Need to Know

A 55-year-old French national who had served for 10 years in Africa is charged with threats to state security, terrorism, espionage, association with criminals, possession of war arms, and ammunitions and pimping. According to his lawyer, apart from the accusation of illegal possession of war arms and ammunition, the judicial dossier is empty. “My client is a hostage of the Central African Republic regime which has been instrumental in using the situation within its imbroglio with Paris,” the lawyer said. 

The Cessna, which lost power and crashed on railroad tracks, was smashed to pieces with debris flying everywhere after a high-speed train crashed into it.

McWilliams, first sued Jenner in 2020 for $3M claiming she grabbed his butt, exposed herself to him, and had him fired when he rebuffed her advances. He then filed an amended complaint last February include allegations she had groped his crotch in 2017 

MI5 sent out an "interference alert" warning Ms Lee has "facilitated financial donations to serving and aspiring parliamentarians on behalf of foreign nationals based in Hong Kong and China...done covertly to mask the origins of the payments".

A man in full black bloc behaving suspiciously near a right-wing rally outside the Pinellas County Courthouse in Florida on Jan. 6 was apprehended by deputies after he tried fleeing on foot. Garrett James Smith, 22, was arrested and found carrying an active pipe bomb, Antifa propaganda and a written document on what to bring for his direct action.

Security forces appeared to reclaim the streets of Kazakhstan’s main city Almaty after days of violence.

In the US, Gun purchases accelerated dramatically during the pandemic, with more than 5 million adults becoming first-time gun owners from January 2020 to April 2021.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken says investigations continue after more diplomats fall ill.

Rampaging motorbike gangs have killed at least 200 people and forced thousands to flee their homes in the northwest of Nigeria in the past week in a wave of r

An incident off the coast of West Africa in late 2021 offered a rare look at the operations of Denmark's Fromandskorpset, or Frogman Corps. The incident was a rare glimpse of one of the world's least-known special-operations units in action.

For more timely global updates like this, get the Circuit Daily Briefing delivered to your inbox... daily! Get on the list >

From the Pages of the Circuit Magazine

Unless you are paid a salary, the source of income likely stops when the detail ends. Not only are you losing monetary income, you may also lose socialization and social identity. When you are on an assignment you are spending days, weeks, or months with the same like-minded group of individuals. 

The longer you go without that next assignment phone call, the more opportunity for anxiety and depression to creep in. The uncertainty might increase with thoughts such as, “what if the call doesn’t come?”

Jason Poston is a trained Executive Protection Agent and a licensed clinical social worker and certified substance abuse counselor.  In this article, Jason outlines some simple and effective lifestyle changes protectors can implement to sustain their mental wellbeing when not in work.

If you enjoyed this article and want more great content from across the industry then sign up for the Circuit Magazine >

Situation Report by RANE

Hackers took down more than a dozen Ukrainian government websites in an attack attributed to Russia, posting a message on the site of Ukraine's foreign ministry that said Ukrainians should "be afraid and expect the worst,".

Similar attacks will remain likely for the foreseeable future as Russia threatens to further escalate the Donbas conflict or even invade Ukraine unless it receives additional concessions that bar NATO activities in Ukraine. More advanced Russian state-sponsored cyber operations are also possible, but these cyberattacks would most likely coincide with a large military operation against Ukraine. Such a military operation will remain possible, as Russia is likely to try to reignite the Donbas conflict over the coming weeks.

Special Offer for On the Circuit Readers

Be the smartest person in the room with this exclusive offer from RANE.

From the Community

We're really excited for the upcoming CPTF event in London. It will be the first opportunity for the Circuit Network to come together, in person, at a full-scale industry event. And perhaps best of all, our friends at AHNA Group will be sponsoring the post-event drinks.

All BBA members now have the opportunity to secure complimentary tickets to this event. If any of our NABA members would like to attend please make us aware by replying to this email or contacting Elijah Shaw inside the Protector app.

Ask questions, get advice, and find industry resources from an active and thriving community of professional, working operators:

🇺🇸 NABA Protector >

🇬🇧 BBA Connect >

On the Circuit Merch

To any industry insider, being 'On the Circuit' means being operationally active in the world of international protection. To anyone else, it's just three words. Those who know, know!

Industry News

Organisations will be eligible to apply if they are a registered charity or not for profit organisation and are able to clearly demonstrate the positive impact of the grant to public protection. The grants will come from a special fund that uses ill-gotten cash confiscated from individuals convicted of criminal offences within the private security industry.

Organisations can register their interest by completing the form available here >

Upcoming Events

This year, the event will be divided into three main segments:

  1. Newly available technology threats and opportunities to protect principals including communications and intelligence on demand

  2. Threat intelligence and SOC technology for dynamic risk assessments and pre-planning

  3. End-user led panel discussions and presentations about resilience versus security in the context of evolving travel risk management and a post-pandemic era.

Elsewhere, on the Circuit...

Airmen at Hill Air Force Base are now using virtual reality to train themselves to handle some high-pressure situations. The headset technology gives the Hill military police access to a variety of scenarios. 

Sometimes they may need to make a split-second decision on whether the use of force is necessary. 

Virtual reality prepares them for virtually anything. Trainers can load just about any scenario in a matter of seconds. 

The virtual reality headsets offer one more way to prepare for those situations that can mean life or death. 

Is this something we'll see creeping into EP training?

What we're reading/listening to...

This is a fast-paced, well-researched account of the man who built the Silk Road--the infamous marketplace for selling drugs and weapons on the dark web--and it reads like a suspense thriller. Written in a narrative nonfiction style, Bilton delivers one of the most compelling true crime books I’ve listened to.

Ross Ulbricht, the self-titled Dread Pirate Roberts, goes from Libertarian college dropout to becoming the mastermind of one of the most nefarious websites in the world. Mix in agents from the DEA, FBI, Homeland Security and even the IRS (remember that’s how Al Capone was eventually brought down) and you have all of the elements for a riveting read.

Until next week...

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