E-mail usExecutive Protection Training: Day 2
The Threat Assessment Process and Risk Mitigation
In close protection operations nothing is as important as the threat assessment. It is the very foundation an agent uses to build the risk mitigation plan. It is a living document you must update constantly, and there are numerous steps and processes to ensure it is correct. The threat assessment determines, procedures, equipment, man power, resources, and when taken lightly can lead to an absolute failure of the protective mission.
How absolutely critical is it, well its mandated training by the US Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Protective Service Operations Training Program; Virginia Dept. of Criminal Justice 32E Personal Protection Specialist program, and the North Carolina PPSB for the close personal protection license.
Functionally an agent when a client calls about close protection services has to determine costs and prepare an estimate. that can’t be done without an threat assessment. When an elected official you’re assigned to protect has a public event the threat assessment is the most critical piece of the planning process.
For Independent Security Advisors we address this critical Executive Protection Training with the EPO 300: Operational Planning, Managing Threats and Risk Mitigation course. Not just a single class, it is a series of classes that are taught concurrently in a step by step manner. Each of these classes build on each other until the agent has a completed threat assessment and built a risk mitigation plan.
The concurrent programs are:
- MGT 201 Preparing the Threat Assessment
- MGT 205: Bias/Hate Crimes
- MGT 202: Stalking
- MGT 203: Workplace Violence
- MGT 206 Domestic Violence
- MGT 301 Psychology of Violence (Operational Planning)
- MGT 302: Threat Intelligence and Open-Source Research
- MGT 304 Fundamentals of Analysis
- MGT 305 Physical Security Management
EPO 300: Operational Planning, Managing Threats and Risk Mitigation course.
Description: This Executive Protection Training course with its nine classes will introduce the students to the threat assessment process, threat intelligence, and the threat category determination matrix to assist with the planning of daily security operations and movements, the importance of each role and task, and prepare physical security measures for the home, office, and other frequently visited locations and the design of the personal security program.
Learning outcomes: Students will utilize critical thinking and analytical skills to manage and mitigate the different threats and the methods and techniques directed against the protectee. Students will demonstrate their knowledge of how to use the threat intelligence process, and the threat assessment preparation process to build a personal and physical security program.
The learning objectives that students will demonstrate upon completion of this class are as follows:
- Understand the philosophy of protection and how to emplace operational procedures based on the threat assessment process specific to the client as an individual;
- The importance and differentiation between “proactive” vs. “reactive” planning, and when the implementation of each is relevant;
- Understand and demonstrate the ability to integrate physical and personal security measures into the operational plan based on the threat assessment, and
- Understand the specialized duties, roles and responsibilities of a protective agent based on the threat assessment;
- Understand how the physical, mental, and emotional standards and characteristics and personal attributes of a protective service agent are affected or determined per the threat assessment. This is part two from the essentials of executive protection class.
- Understand the how the education and training required for a protective service agent is affected or determined by the threat. This is part two from the essentials of executive protection class.
MGT 301 Psychology of Violence (Operational Planning)
So let’s get started, we don’t begin with threat assessments until we have discussed why someone is a threat, the very physiological factors that make a person or group a threat. The factors that overrule intelligent and rational thinking and could lead to a violent act.
One of the most controversial classes we teach, each student’s belief systems are challenged and they are encouraged to defend them. Politics, religion, sexual orientation, etc, nothing is off the table for discussion because the threat to our client may be the direct result of one of those belief systems.
We ask the students “why do you hate me” and encourage them to explore their own biases. We explore what we could say or do that the student would consider a violent act. We want them to walk in a threats shoes and understand just what made them a threat to begin with.
So lets look at
MGT 301 Psychology of Violence (Operational Planning)
This class is also required to address the mandated training required by the US Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Protective Service Operations Training Program; Virginia Dept. of Criminal Justice 32E Personal Protection Specialist program, and the North Carolina PPSB training requirements for the close personal protection license.
Description: This Executive Protection Training class will focus on the psychological pathologies of anger, hate, and violence, and bring the student into the opponent’s mind to better understand their behavior.
Learning outcomes: Students will understand human behavior, the emotional vs. Intellectual dilemma, and the emotional and intellectual triggers known to be responsible for past threats or acts of violence.
The learning objectives that students will demonstrate upon completion of this class are as follows:
- Research and understand the definitions, categories, and threat methods and techniques directed against the protectee;
- Understand the “human factor” of a threat; the emotional vs. intellectual dilemma;
- Research and understand the historical emotional and intellectual triggers for past threats or acts of violence;
- Discuss the key terminal learning objectives of the four concurrent classes: MGT 205: Bias/Hate Crimes, MGT 202: Stalking, and MGT 203: Workplace Violence, and MGT 206 Domestic Violence
- Demonstrate specific threat analysis and target selection methodology
There are four concurrent classes we cover within this block of discussion. We cover MGT 205: Bias/Hate Crimes, MGT 202: Stalking, MGT 203: Workplace Violence, and MGT 206 Domestic Violence. Now that we understand why we have a threat to begin with its time to begin mitigating those threats, So let’s begin with learning more about the specific threat and jump to the next class;
MGT 302: Threat Intelligence and Open-Source Research.
It’s more mandated training to meet the requirements of FLETC, Virginia DCJS 32E and North Carolina PPSB.
Description: This Executive Protection Training class examines threat intelligence and provides students an introduction to all sources of information that are not subject to a security classification of secret or law enforcement clearance levels, including: social media, newspapers, websites, academic journals, scholarly and journalistic books, pamphlets, and media broadcasts.
Students will examine open-source intelligence gathering (OSINT), its relationship to the protective service mission and how it is used in the management of criminal acts, terrorist attacks, and other threats to a specific person or group.
Learning outcomes: Students will utilize critical thinking and analytical skills to gather open source intelligence / information on the persons and/or organization(s) identified as a threat to the client/protectee and uses that information for risk mitigation planning.
The learning objectives that students will demonstrate upon completion of this class are as follows:
- Understand the history, definitions, and concepts of threat intelligence;
- Understand the current methods of intelligence gathering (open and closed);
- Ability to research various open sources of information and use elicitation techniques to gather information.
- Understand the use and application of gathered information for the selection of protective procedures, and the dangers of the threat doing the same to the detail;
- Understand basic cyber research methods and the dangers of “hacking” of the detail or client’s mobile IT, social media or e-mail accounts or systems, and
- Demonstration of the ability to explain the application of open-source intelligence in risk mitigation planning.
Terminal Learning Objective- Discuss the use and application of gathered information to select and implement protective procedures, systems and to select and field new technology:
Concurrent to MGT 302, students will complete the;
MGT 304 Fundamentals of Analysis class.
Description: This Executive Protection Training class will cover the process of taking the raw data, obtained from various intelligence-gathering methods, and using the proper methods of analysis and confirming raw intelligence, evaluate source credibility, and using that information perform case studies, select risk mitigation procedures, and assist with mission planning.
Learning Outcome: Students will utilize critical thinking and analytical skills to research the accuracy and bias of various sources of information, evaluate its credibility and reliability, select an analytical technique to build a threat profile of an individual or organization and communicate that refined and analyzed information as actionable intelligence that the detail leader can rely on for decision making.
The learning objectives that students will demonstrate upon completion of this class are as follows:
- Will successfully research the accuracy and bias of various sources of information and evaluate the credibility and reliability of those sources (.org, .edu, and .gov, (and others) vs. .com, etc.).
- Will integrate several analytical techniques to build a threat profile of an individual or organization and identify their methods and risks to the client.
- Will communicate refined and analyzed information as actionable intelligence that the detail leader can rely on for decision making.
Now if you look at the last terminal learning objective for MGT 302: Threat Intelligence and Open-Source Research, it says “discuss the use and application of gathered information”. But to use the Intel we need to begin the next class.
MGT 201 Preparing the Threat Assessment (Mission Planning)
And of course it is also more mandated training to meet the requirements of FLETC, Virginia DCJS 32E and North Carolina PPSB.
Description: This Executive Protection Training class will focus on preparing the threat assessment packet, using the open-source threat intelligence and data consolidated from the client and other information sources.
Learning outcomes: At the end of this Executive Protection Training class, a student given a threat assessment packet and access to the open-source information they will prepare a threat assessment report. Special emphasis will be placed on the major components of a threat assessment, and procedures to identify threats, methods, and determining the probability they will be directed against the client.
The learning objectives that students will demonstrate upon completion of this class are as follows:
- Complete a threat assessment packet;
- Demonstrate the threat assessment process to determine the category and source of a threat;
- Complete the biographical, medical, historical, and current threat assessment and threat profiles;
- Complete the analysis of the history, capabilities, and motivation of a known or potential threat, and
- Complete the threat source matrix and demonstrate how it is used to isolate and help mitigate the threat.
The key terminal learning objective – Students will demonstrate how to organize, equip, plan, and emplace security measures around the Protectee based on the threat assessment. This is an instructor facilitated exercise.
Students will discuss and plan out the operational procedures, tactics and resources required based on the threat categories and assessment;
- Organization & Leadership
- Vehicles; Weapons; Clothing; Manpower
- Personnel screening procedures; Education requirements; Training requirements
- Agent physical, mental and emotional standards and characteristics based on the threat
- Daily duties and responsibilities
- Communications; Transportation, non-vehicle
- Physical security, gates, alarms, safe rooms etc.
- TSCM & Cyber security
- Explosive detection
- Medical response
- Use of sub-contractors and vendors
So now we have our intelligence, our threat assessment and initial risk mitigation plan we also need to extend the close protection plan to the home, office and off site locations. That takes us to class; Executive Protection Training, @executiveprotectiontraining, #executiveprotectiontraining
MGT 305 Physical Security Management (Mission Planning)
And of course it is also more mandated training to meet the requirements of FLETC, Virginia DCJS 32E and North Carolina PPSB.
Description: This Executive Protection Training class introduces the students to physical security management which concerns the physical protection of buildings, a campus or other physical locations and facilities. Agents will discuss and apply the principles of physical security management and contingency planning for natural and man-made disasters, criminal activity or a directed threat towards the client/protectee to include access control & physical security around the principal’s two primary locations, the office and the residence.
Learning Outcome: Upon completion of this class, students will understand the primary differences between safety and security, apply the concepts of perimeter and building security, conduct a systematic security and safety vulnerability assessment, and develop a plan that will make that location less vulnerable to security breaches.
The learning objectives that students will demonstrate upon completion of this class are as follows:
- Understand the primary differences between safety and security programs and procedures;
- Demonstrate an understanding of the components of physical security management;
- Explain the importance of protecting the client/principle within the two primary places he/she spends most of their time – the office and the home;
- Demonstrate how to establish a secure work and home environment based on the threat and vulnerability assessment and using the cordons of protection, from the outer edge of the property or entrance of the business to the inner cordon of the home or office;
- Understand the physical security responsibilities of the advance team when off site and demonstrate proper planning and conduct of physical security operations, and
- Understand and demonstrate the physical security assessment process and identify the strengths, limitations and uses of various physical security measures, devices and systems.
Students will discuss the physical security assessment process, common risk mitigation procedures, devices or methods, and how they might apply to different situations and/or be affected by different threats.
Together with the initial personal protective measures students will use the philosophy of protection in-depth and build the three cordons of security integrating the close protection team and physical security measures to address the threat assessment
This Executive Protection Training class has an Exercise/Assignment to complete an instructor-facilitated physical security assessment and prepare a physical security threat mitigation plan. Students will demonstrate how to conduct a physical security inspection and be required to utilize common and advanced standardized procedures for the security of a location or fixed site.
Students will discuss how to select the best systems or common physical security hardware presently in use to address a given threat and prepare a physical security plan.
In closing
The threat assessment process and all its components is absolutely critical to an agent. Mission planning and operations can not be conducted fully without an assessment. Executive protection training from United States federal law enforcement, the military and down to the local level all mandates threat assessment training. It is the cornerstone of the ISA program.