Surviving When The Chips Are Down

Author

Circuit Magazine
November 05, 2022

Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, things just seem to go wrong. And often, in these situations, the harder you try the more you seem to be blown off-course.

In-spite of all your preparation, what should have been a simple and straight-forward task suddenly becomes a career-threatening banana skin waiting to trip you up.

In these situations, it's vital not to let the feeling of injustice dictate your actions. These moments aren't always as random as they seem. Sometimes they're deliberate stress tests orchestrated by clients who want to gauge your capabilities. And other times, it's just life dealing you a hand.

But regardless of why you find yourself in the thick of it, it's important you remain professional and retain belief in your ability. That's often easier said than done so, in this edition we've got some tips to help you out.

Let's get into it!

The Circuit Magazine Podcast

You can get in the mind of your adversary but have you ever looked under the hood at what makes your own team or organization tick?

We are delighted to welcome Nico and Nicolene Schutte, Industrial Psychologists from the University of Johannesburg with strong family ties to South African Executive Protection to ask:

  • What can Industrial or Organizational Psychology do to help improve retention and increase job satisfaction within Executive Protection?

  • Where does Industrial Psychology sit within the business skills needed to scale an EP business or operation?

  • When we or our team have been on training courses how can they demonstrate cognition of the material and put it into practice?

  • Where are psychometrics useful or relevant in the modern security team?

  • How can we increase employee engagement and motivation beyond remuneration?

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

The US Air Force is planning to deploy up to six nuclear-capable B-52 bombers through Tindal air base, near Darwin, as fears grow Beijing is preparing for an assault on Taiwan.

Russia is lashing out after accusing the British intelligence community of attempting to recruit a Russian military diplomat in The Hague.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace says "our pilot pipeline is not in a place I would want it to be".

Over the course of the war in Ukraine, Russian forces have been left with outdated and obsolete weaponry like Soviet-era tanks and guns.

U.S. banks report suspicious transactions, including payments for possible ransomware attacks, to federal authorities under the Bank Secrecy Act.

The US is trying to curb the flow of weapons to the Islamic State terror group’s affiliate in Somalia, taking aim at a smuggling operation that is also helping to arm its al-Qaida-linked rival, al-Shabab, with weapons from Iran.

“What kind of law is this?” he asked, “If my security guards cannot to protect me why would I bring them with me to America?”

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

"Never rely on other people - People will let you down - Cover all your bases."

Think that sounds a bit cynical? "Well, I wouldn't disagree," says Circuit contributor, David Dann, "But having been in the industry for over 30 years, looking after a ‘Rock Star family’, it’s incredible how many times I’ve been reminded of this mantra and the virtues of following it.

Do you ever get the feeling that things are going to go wrong, but you can’t quite put your finger on it?

In this article, I'll recount a predicament where I was left to rue finding myself in a situation where I’d become overly reliant on other people and vowed to stick to my mantra, no matter how cynical it sounds!

Perhaps, it comes from being in and around the music business, but I think everyone can take something away from this approach.

If you enjoyed this article and want more great content from across the industry then subscribe to the Circuit Magazine >

Latest Issue of the Circuit Magazine

Circuit Magazine - Issue 63 - Get Your Copy

In the latest edition of the Circuit Magazine, we hear how the fear of Artificial Intelligence Impersonating Humans is no longer science fiction. From election rigging to affecting the course of war, it's a real threat being played out on the world stage right now.

"This is the best magazine bar none. I have written three articles and the wealth of knowledge you receive from Circuit is like an encyclopaedia for bodyguards. If you are not a subscriber, you are missing out on life-saving advice."

- Fernando Figueroa

Geopolitical Analysis by RANE

The shooting of former Prime Minister Imran Khan during his protest march will fuel near-term risks of violence and longer-term political instability in Pakistan, especially following Khan's claims of government involvement.

On Nov. 3, a gunman fired at a campaign truck carrying former Prime Minister Imran Khan during his protest march to the capital of Islamabad, killing one person and wounding Khan and nine others. The incident occurred in the city of Wazirabad — approximately 106 miles (171 kilometers) from Islamabad — in the eastern province of Punjab. Khan, who appeared to sustain a gunshot wound to the shin, was subsequently transported to and underwent surgery at Shaukat Khanum Hospital in Lahore. The gunman was arrested after the shooting, and the government has opened an investigation into the incident. 

In an apparent video confession later released by police, the suspect emphatically claimed that he had acted alone and spontaneously targeted Khan because he considered the loud music playing at the march during the day's Muslim call to prayer disrespectful; he also stated that Khan "was misleading the people, and I couldn't bear it."

By contrast, Khan's supporters and PTI leaders have claimed the shooting was a clear and well-planned assassination attempt. Notably, PTI Secretary-General Asad Umar claimed in a video message released by the party that Khan suspects Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and intelligence official Maj. Gen. Faisal Naseer of being responsible for the attack, although he has provided no evidence to support this claim thus far.

The shooting risks sparking more violence in the coming days and more broadly will stoke political instability that weakens Sharif's government. Khan's supporters have already begun engaging in spontaneous protests in various parts of the country demanding justice for Khan's shooting, and Khan's accusations against the government and military — and especially against the aforementioned named individuals — could drive targeted attacks by Khan's aggrieved supporters.

Special Offer for On the Circuit Readers

From the Community

What advice or observations would you offer to this new protector trying to establish themselves in the industry?

"I was asked to stand in for a colleague and take the client to a big soccer game without any preparation. I turn up on time but the client comes out late.

I was only given the venue details while driving. Google & Waze couldn't locate the gate and the road I’d selected to use was blocked by officials.

With minutes to go before kick-off, we're still some distance away and in heavy traffic. I managed to force the P car through, keeping the second car with me but unfortunately, the 3rd car got separated and left behind.

The client is angry and on my case, telling me to pull over and get him there on foot. So, now, I’m blocking the road, but we're able to push through and get to the stadium VIP entrance.

However, it turns out the Client’s friends don’t have VIP parking tickets and the guys on access control aren’t friendly.

I manage to soften them, and after a few minutes they agree to open the gate. Somehow, we get in, just in time.

What an experience!”

What should be a simple task gets off to a bad start. You pull out the stops but remain on the back foot and things go south from there. Can you relate to this protectors experience? What advice would you offer?

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

🇺🇸 NABA Protector >

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Meanwhile...

Latest research into terrorists’ videos of their hostages shows how analysis of them can provide insight into the likely outcome and support those involved with hostage rescue operations.

Ideologically motivated hostage-takers often provide a video demonstrating proof of control and proof of life (POL). These videos establish that a hostage is alive at the time the video was made and hence provide valuable information for families and governments charged with their safe recovery.

There is limited research on POL videos and narrative exploration, which can inform thinking as to whether hostage-takers are more inclined – through their behaviours and narrative – to execute hostages, or whether they are holding hostages to obtain political concessions to pursue, fund, and finance their strategic attacks and initiatives.

Elsewhere on the Circuit

In September 2015, protesters staged a demonstration outside Trump Tower during which they said that Trumps’s bodyguards violently attacked them. They said Mr. Trump himself was responsible, because he had explicitly authorized the bodyguards to use force. They also sued his company, the Trump Organization, and several guards. 

A lawyer for the protesters, Benjamin N. Dictor, said, “The sidewalk belongs to the people, it doesn’t matter whose name is on the building. We think that today’s resolution confirms that.”

They said in their lawsuit that Mr. Trump’s longtime personal bodyguard, Keith Schiller, had taken one of their signs, ripped it to pieces, and then struck one of the protesters on the head. They said there had been other attacks from other unnamed bodyguards.

Mr. Trump’s lawyers argued that Mr. Schiller had been doing his job and that it was he who had been attacked by the protesters.

Asked about Mr. Schiller’s behavior on the day of the protest, Mr. Trump insisted that the bodyguard had done nothing wrong.

“He went out — I didn’t know about it. But he went out, he heard there was a disturbance and he went out. And he took a 50-cent sign down that was racist,” he said

Final Thoughts with Sean Gallagher

As a CPO it was very common to turn up at a VIP event with the principal to find that I would also be responsible for their friends and celebrity associates - and that they had made after event plans that I had zero knowledge of.

This is when experience, problem solving and contacts built up over years of networking prove their weight in gold - more vehicles, tables at top restaurants, out of hour store visits, helicopters, hotels, VIP Parties, private jets, extra security, back door access & egress etc etc etc.

I found out very early on in my 30 year career that it’s not just what you know - who you know is just as important if not more important.

Networking is a huge part of your role as a CPO and an essential skill!

Until next week...

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