Submit Review

After leaving the US Army CID in 1996 I knew I needed an update on dignitary protection since I am a licensed private investigator in North Carolina. I knew I did not want to provide EP services with an outdated education. I looked around and found a lot of big names in the industry with no solid educational or certified background. Then I found ISA's class, saw their background-not only experience, but accreditation and endorsement by solid, international and state groups. The NC private protective services board has approved this class and that was the selling point for me. Anyone can say they teach EP, but who says they have the educational background or the authority? Even big names out there are unaccredited! I chose Matt Parker and ISA because they have the credentials and the professional background. The class was intense, informative and educational. We earned our "Dignitary Protection Specialist" certification-it wasn't given to us just for attending. Thank you Matt!

The Dignitary and Executive Protection course instructed By ISA’s Matt Parker is the best in the industry. He is very approachable and knowledgeable.

This training course from Independent Security Advisors is based on the best executive protection industry standards there are and has also been developed from intense, real-world experiences. This intensity is translated straight into the classroom with practical exercises that will challenge your intellect and test your fortitude. There is no down time in this 70-hour course.

I registered for this course to obtain new information and to update my previous EP training with a state law enforcement agency and, as the saying goes, "I got more that I bargained for". Matt Parker quickly showed me that my previous training, though very good at the time, was woefully insufficient for my future plans.

There are many EP schools to choose from and I cannot find the words to describe how fortunate I feel to have chosen DPP 101 from Independent Security Advisors. I truly feel that I now have the tools to prepare myself to either work alone in a low-threat environment or with a qualified team in a high threat environment.

If you are serious about achieving your executive protection mission objectives and are looking for the right training to do so, I urge you to find the next DPP 101 class and sign up.

“For scientific discovery give me Scott; for speed and efficiency of travel give me Amundsen; but when disaster strikes and all hope is gone, get down on your knees and pray for Shackleton.” Sir Raymond Priestly, Antarctic Explorer and Geologist.

In an industry saturated with schools touting the "latest and greatest” in Executive Protection, many have said and will say, that they just don't see the Return of Investment (ROI) for the amount of money they spent learning skills that have minimal application outside of "high threat" assignments. ISA is not that school. Matt Parker holds the acclaimed title of Master Instructor and is phenomenal in teaching the principles and philosophy of Executive Protection.

Where other schools attempt to give you a month worth of training jammed into a one- or two-week course, Matt's 7-day course eliminates the wasted time and gives you the hardcore basics in what every EP Professional must have as a foundation. This course is just one module in a series of others you can take that builds layer upon layer of the necessary skills to be successful. As Matt will iterate repeatedly, EVERYTHING is based on your threat assessment.

The statistics of Executive Protection in the United States simply do not support needing to have a firearm on every detail, walking in formation every time your client leaves home, or being an expert in Krav Maga. Matt delivers expert training in Threat Assessments, Site Surveys, and all things related to the most crucial aspect of EP work, the Advance. ISA is accredited training and there are strict guidelines and policies that are adhered to in order to maintain the quality of the course and the people graduating with a certification.
I have not personally attended any other school, but I have spoken with people who have attended nearly all the other "big name" schools and I have not heard once that those schools provide you with credit toward college courses in a related field. If you successfully graduate from ISA, you will leave having satisfied all requirements to obtain the highly sought-after Virginia DCJS Personal Protection Specialist license. Again, I have not heard of any other school that directly qualifies you for a state issued license to begin work.

Matt has an incredible amount of experience in the field and works to provide you with direct access to extremely valuable resources and individuals in the EP industry. Being retired military, and a veteran friendly business, Matt is an invaluable resource at helping military and law enforcement veterans understand how to use and articulate their skills to transition into EP. Simply put, this school is worth every single penny. If you are looking for world class training in Executive and Dignitary Protection, you need Matt Parker as much as Priestly needed Shackleton.