Gloyp

ALLCON

What would the impact be, should there be established, an International Regulatory Authority for Psd OPS/Convoy protection to standardize training and provide assessment criteria as to a specific level of competency.

For example: Should any one member of a Psd team in Iraq resign and apply for work with another security company, in Afghanistan as a career move, he will only have to be trained on company-specific details (i.e., orientation to admin related issues and medevacs) because team-drills in contact or emergency situations had been standardize via a mandatory Internationally recognised Unit Standard.

Current problems with the industry in my views are the lack of standardization and regulation. Most Team leaders do things in their own way and with an industry where lost time is money lost, training sometimes take back seat. You will probably find that a shooter will move from one team to another and without being trained, just briefed as to immediate action drills, he will be shunted off on his first tasks with the team, not having a clue as to what he's suppose to do and left only with the “muscle-memory" of working with his previous Team leader.

Furthermore, some Team leaders say that should there be an attack, just wait for orders on the ground as to what will happen and when. No immediate action drills apart from: “Go, Go, And Go!!"
Assuming you still have comms and the Team leader is still alive, this could probably work out, as I think many a Team leader reading this might know.
I disagree for the simple reason of "assumption". Assuming the Team leader is still alive, comms are up and working, all vehicles are undamaged and mobile; this would be a wonderful plan. But life is cruel and thus I think that a Unit standard in training should be introduced by senior and influential members of the Private Security Companies' Industry to have all Companies on level playing fields. This will save money in time lost because of corrective training, assets damage and lives lost.

Being a CPO trained Psd member, I find it hard to leave things to chance and not being prepared. Even though so called veteran PSD and Convoy protection operators have told me that Close Protection and PSD/Convoy OPS are worlds apart, I can't see why the Principles of Close Protection wouldn't apply.


To end my article, I want to quote a recent comment I heard whilst working in Iraq: “a plan is as good as its first contact" - to that I say, Hollywood is due west of my position, they have Cowboys over there, safe travels!

Ram Man

I dont think it will happen,due to every country having their own regulations,in iraq DOD/DOS contractors toe the line of the US govermants policys ,also every training coy is diffrent and offers something diffrent,i dont know any one who doesnt refresh their skill sets on a reguler basis,keep yourself sharp,stay safe ram out.

jmaccauley

I think that training standards can be adopted by a coalition of training organizations. Surpisingly, governments can be persuaded to adopt standards when legitimate and responsible training companies develop or promote a sensible basic program. It has happened with firearm standards that were originally designed by private training groups and adopted by the military. Many progressive law enforcement agencies in the US are now sought out by the military to provide advanced handgun training for military units preparing to deploy to hot spots.Why? Because the miliatry spends little time on CQC skills, but heavily emphasize combat rifle. Law enforcement is the reverse.

With the large and impressive number of professional trainers I have seen on this forum, I find it difficult to believe that common standards of training cannot be established. Of course, each group has it's own spin and areas of expertise, but that allows for the evolution of training.

Gloyp

Jm

Do you think that the United Nations could develop such a International standard?

I would like to refer to IMAS, the International Mine Action Standards as enforced by the United Nations for all UN sanctioned Demining Operations.

If we look at Afghanistan, the NATO led International Security Assisstance force provides overall command structure for all security operations within the border of the country. They in all repect could also enforce such standards, don't you think?

Anyway, I wish someone out there shares our views and approaches the right authorities.

Many thanks for a sensible reply.

Regards
P

jmaccauley

I have a tough time using security/protection in the same sentence as United Nations, but I see your point. Depending, of course, on the mission of the PSD's, I suppose there could be a military standard. Unfortunately, private contractors work different missions. I would rather see a consensus on basic training standards than I would ROE or other conflict strategies.

Personally, If I wanted to join NATO, I'd reeinlist in the military,which thankfully, I'm much too old (and wise).

Good points for discussion!

Hawk

The Idea is not to bad
However I strongly feel it never will happend due to what others have said
And the requirements in the operating country like license and registration process.
If a company want highly trained individuals they push it hard and train no matter the costs, but all of us that have been operational with various skills and companies knows there are wrong people working and wrong companies with contracts (sometimes)

One company Ive worked with in Iraq was very professional and gave us alot of ideas and our own time in training nobody said no when we wanted to borrow a vehicle and train or go to the shooting range.
Well not all companies care, youre just a couple of feet on the ground so they can invoice the client. No time or equipment or training is even possible.
I saw this in Afghanistan

And UN? a peace organisation that dosent even support PMC companies..
The majority of the security companies operating in Iraq and Afghan today dident even existed for 5 years ago or maybe had 1 or 25 employees
And alot of them have 2000+ man today..and all of them is doing convoy, Psd and site security alot of them dont have the training at all.

I would say that the client or US department of Defence (who is the only one accepting PMCs) no other countries or even the occupied nations whant them there..
But since the military is stretched to the highest limit and with hardly no support not in UK not by UN nor even the american public...

I see this totaly impossible, its a fair questuion and not to bad idea.
But the Department for contracting must ask for this that every contractor in conflict zones must have minimum of:

lets say 150 hours of training with certain subjects ofcourse, especially human-animal rights, lawful defense etc..

What you all think of the weaponcard? you should be able to shout halt and warnings in Arabic..and not fire or show weapons against civilians right?
Its just a piece of paper they handle out, since its requested so

How many shoots havent you guys shoot?
Stop traffics for convoy protection or someone standing on a roof far away and dont listen to your warnings?
Sometimes its not even warnings given..or lawful..

And dont forget is there any newsletters, media, or tv that speaks well about contractors in conflict zones?

I belive we all see pmc companies be forbidden to operate in post war regions before we see a certification, today on the news the Iraqi Government still want to bring 6 BW employees to justice for the killings of 17 people in Baghdad last year..its not forgotten, other companies have been doing crimes aswell and will keep doing so due to its war...
In Iraq operatives are protected and cant be prosecuted , however this is not the case in Afghanistan where several former Pmc operatives is jailed.

my thought ofcourse
hawk

Gloyp

I partially agree with your views on PSC's being evicted before a standard or authority could be set in place. But we should guard against it.
I still think that a minimum training criteria could be helpfull, especially when, like you said; with operators who do this work with no training at all. This is my point, why take the risk of employing a cowboy, when in all honesty the infrastructure does exist to regulate unit standards. The future does not seem that bleek for PSC where I work, because our client have no direct ties to any Government, they are a privately owned company and because we are registered as a PSC in Iraq, we can look after them in this theatre, thus my future-outlooks on PSC's are just that, they will become less and less involved with US Government/Military contracts and more and more involved with private companies who wants to "upbuild" post war zones. The need to regulate will become a much needed concept in due time. Especially when guys go out and shoot at everything that moves......
Money makes the world go round, PSC will never die out because they provide a coccoon for companies to make money from war-torn areas. It must be regulated to ensure it's survival........

Many thanks, this was very intereseting.......