What Is In A Name

[mickworldwide]

Hi Tapmaster,

I am genuinely sorry to hear what has happened to you my friend. It is a bit sad that companies will discriminate on the basis of race, religion and gender even in these times, however that is the nature of the beast as far as some clients and contracts go.

If it is any consolation, with your language skills and the obvious training capabilities and experience that you have gained, it should be easy enough to find some contract. I know in the past of several companies that have asked for Middle Eastern Language skills as a desirable trait.

Your Nationality (US if I understand) can be a hindrance within the UK market ... in the same way as many UK and EU nationals find it difficult to secure work with certain US based companies.

My advice would be to try US companies, Dyn, EODT, TC, BW etc .... with your CV they might have something for you.

Again Sorry for the trouble you have had.

M

PS next time you see Silent , clip his ear for me!!!

[shakespeare]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tapmaster Since working in UK for the last 5 years almost 6 i realize that it was a big impediment to getting a decent job despite having training and experience. I have recently graduated from 2 high powered training classes to get the sia license.

Quote:

18 years law enforcement Firearms Instructor (all weapons) Defensive Tactics Instructor Chemical Agents Instructor Advanced Executive Protection

Quote:

I am not sure what to do or where to turn as I have now reached Dire Straights financially. Even though i have returned back to my original name and religion my past association with Islam not terrorism has become an issue that i cannot escape.

Ok, I'll take it this is not a wind up.

Here's my advice mate.

You are ex US Police, therefore you would have passed US vetting and should have no problem passing it again in future.
You have qualified in weapons, CP, etc and have an sia Badge (therefore UK CRB cleared also).
You speak fluent english and are also fluent in Arabic (written also).
You are a native of Iran, so therefore speak Farsi fluently?

Try a different approach.

Jump onto an intensive Arabic/Phasto/Farsi/Dari/Persian course for 2 months next year in the States at Indiana University...here is the link...Indiana University SWSEEL 2007 Languages

The 2 months is extremely intensive and use of English during the stay is banned so as to immerse completely in the language.

The demand for Phasto/Farsi/Dari/Arabic/Persian speakers in the Middle East is excellent and you should have no problems achieving a starter interpreter position with various US or ideed UK security firms.

The course is recognised by St Andrews University in Scotland and the interpreter qualifications are international. If you are already fairly confident in the language you would be put onto an advanced accelerated course. The total cost is around $2K (not including digs etc) and you would meet some interesting business people

If you are already fluent then don't bother with the course just sit the exams in the UK.

Secondly, if you have been in the UK for over 5 years I presume you are now taking UK residency? If so, look at the Defence School of Languages at Beaconsfiled here...

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/Ab...Exercises/DSL/

or GCHQ here...

GCHQ

Or MI5 here..(page in Arabic)

MI5 | الصفØ*censored*Ø© الرئيسية العربية

Or SIS here...

http://www.sis.gov.uk/output/language-specialists.html

You may get a position in the UK with the above if that is what you are looking for.

Use your previous identity and language skills to your advantage. Also, interpreters will be around in the ME long after the troops and security have handed over. You would start with security firms, then progress to Oil and Mineral coys etc.

An idea of what you could earn in ME...? Between $150 and $240k. Honestly.

Demand?

"Currently, the United States military needs 7,200 Arabic and 750 Afghan (Pushtu or Dari) linguists. That's nearly twenty percent more than were needed a year ago. The Department of Defense can't train enough new military interpreters, so it has to hire local people. That has become more difficult in both Afghanistan and Iraq. The problem is that the local terrorists realize that the interpreters are important, and they, well, terrorize the interpreters into quitting or, even better, becoming a terrorist spy. This, obviously complicates things for the combat troops who need the interpreters to get their work done...."

Rest of article here...

Intelligence: Filling the Interpreter Shortage the Hard Way

What about your Close Protection skills?

"Job training for an Interpreter/Translator requires you to demonstrate proficiency of the English language at the Defense Language Institute, English Language Center. The length of your stay will depend on the level of your English language proficiency. Once you have successfully completed this, you must attend and successfully complete nine weeks of Basic Combat Training (BCT) where you will learn the basic skills necessary to become a Soldier. Immediately following BCT you will attend Advanced Individual Training (AIT). While at AIT, you will learn the specific skills required to successfully perform Interpreter support in the following areas:

* Checkpoint Operations
* Medical support
* Locally Employed Personnel Screening
* Training Host-Nation Forces
* Vip Escort
* Contract Negotiations
* Cultural Awareness....

Rest of article here...

Interpreter/Translator, United States Army jobs in Los Angeles, California

All of the above is just an example of what you could do with your skills, use them to your advantage, crack on with some research and all the best of luck to you.

Hope this helps

Regards

Shakes

[tapmaster]

Sorry mate you completely misunderstood my point. I am an american not an arab or an iranian. I am married to an iranian wife. I don't speak fluent Arabic or Persian as I can read and write both of them. Speaking them poses a bit different problem I will take on board your advice.

In terms of usa vetting the longer you have been out of the country the more they have to investigate where you have been who you went to see etc. As a result of that it could take months. I certainly wouldn't investigate for months on one guy when i have 40 others who no investigation is required.

England is my home now. I was simply asking for some advice from those in the business who know and have many experience in dealing with sitations. things are very different on this side as they are on the other. At the end of the day we all strive for the same ideals and passion for our work as CPO's.

The IDF guy who I mentioned in this article is a man named David Rubens. We met in 2003 when i came to England I attended a couple courses at his academy. I want to publicy say thanks to David and another friend from IDF who I don't want to mention as I have not spoken with him about this thread. David helped me alot and pointed me in alot of directions. Unfortunately not many of them turned up positive results as at that time Muslims were not on the list of employable in the CP at that time.

Thanks and all the best. they don't call you shakespeare for nothing wise words.

Cheers

[24/7]

Tapmaster sorry to hear about the trouble you have been having with this issue mate "BUT" the world has changed and also peoples views on religion and specially Islam/Muslims. 9,11 was the real big turning point on this issue, which opened many eyes up to whats going on out there and that this world is "may be" not such a nice place.
We have been bombarded with pictures and news about radical Muslims blowing themselves up and of course innocent victims with them, we have seen the pictures of Muslim fathers and mothers tying bombs to there children in the name of Allah.We have heard about the Muslim clerics who give hate speech's, we have heard about those who have been converted to Muslims to carry out Allah's work (killing) these things will not make it easy for any one mate, because it's these things, bad things that we always get to hear.
You could be the best bloke in the pack Tapmaster and I'm sure silent will back you up on that but to change peoples views will take alot of time. Questions will always be asked why did you convert, what changed you to do this etc even though this should not matter, but today it does.

I wish you all the best mate, and take in the other guys/girls words of wisdom and I'm sure there is the right job for you out there.

Best regards

[tapmaster]

24/7 Thank you very much for your reply mate. I have to admit that i agree with you 100%. Did you ever see a film by Michael Moore called Farenheit 9/11? If not it is a must see. If you can't find it let me know i have a copy here that i can send you. Unfortunately when one studies the religion academically as most converts do they never see any of this non sense that people do written down in books.

I understand the suspicions people have. but at the same time i believe that there are other sincere people out there like myself who don't play that stupidness. this is why i have distance myself from it. When i flew back home to london this weekend i was asked by the border guard why i changed my name? i explained that i had become a catholic.

These hate speeches and all of this non sense i never heard of until I came to UK. in the place i am from they aren't brave enough to talk like that. Then you read in the books and see videos etc. and one has to ask where is the logic.

my hope is that when or shall I say if i get an interview should i be posed this question i will be prepared to answer this question. Obviously now with english name which i was born with it will become less of a factor in the futue.

Cheers

Tapmaster

[jmaccauley]

I hate to sound political, but if you believe anything tha Michael Moore says, you need to stay away from the "special kool aid." Sorry, but he's as anti-American as anyone. Osama Bin Laden likes us more than he does!

but thats just me being a yank


Jerry

[jmaccauley]

Sorry about the problems that you are having and I can't say that any of it is fair, but people are frightened and thats a reality that will take time to work through.

Jerry

[tapmaster]

Mate as a confederate as opposed to being a yank. Silent knows my position about that. i agree with you about Michael Moore. But i found some of the things he said in the movie quite interesting. Or at least causes one to think abit. In every documentary one has to filter through the bs to get to the truth. Michael does tend to dramatize abit. But there are a few good points mentioned in the movie.

Special kool aid? I prefer Guiness with red currant. This is a special mix from silent.

All the best mate

Cheers

[jmaccauley]

Well, I'm from New Jersey originally, so I still get to use the yank title.

My feelings about Moore notwithstanding, When you (not you) spew that much hatred towards our country (not his, he's Canadian) I can't sort out the BS from any facts.

I have heard some interesting debates about religion, terrorism (homegroen or other) and I know that it's very easy to want to believe in the simple explanations. Even the conspiracies start to sound rational when there is no other clear argument. When you were a cop, how many times did the press get it right? Especially if the press doesn't care for cops.

Anyway, I'll stop before I get by blood pressure up.

Stay safe

Jerry