Advice please

deano

Hy
I would appreciate any advice from the forum, I am an experienced paramedic considering undertaking a CP course, Could anyone please advise me on the best course provider and also what are the posibilities of gaining employment within the industry following completion.
Thanks

co19

Look at

Ronin SA
Greymans
DSG
Nemesis
Longmoor
Anubis
Wilplan

They are my suggestions

Roadhog

Deano

I don't know how likely you will be to get work as a bodyguard, but sure as anything you'll get work as a medic, most companies- security or other industry- in the Pit and the Stan are looking for medics, and experienced paramedics are worth their weight in gold.

deano

Roadhog
Thanks for your reply, it was my intention to try and gain employment through my paramedic qualifications. I thought there may be some opertunities working as perhaps support to CP etc, I would do a CP course to give me the basic understanding. I am not ex military but have remote international experience and have worked in a military environment. I imagine gaining work as bodyguard without operational experience is virtually an imposibility. Which companies would you advise I aproach, I would be prepared to deploy to Iraq or Stan.
Cheers

Roadhog

I would suggest looking at KBR, any of the UN agencies, it's worth sending your CV to all the big security firms- Aegis, Armourgroup, CRG etc. I'd suggest also looking at High Risk courses etc- PSD Training, HDSOC, CRG, Ronin etc. I would also suggest looking at doing a further course on ballistic trauma. Not having any idea of your long term plans it's difficult to suggest more.
Consider the following;

1) Why do you want to change careers into Close Protection? Is it for a real aim or are you looking to change due to problems with your current job?

2) Have you got a family? I only ask because if so they need to support you 110%- CP is a great job, but everyone on this site who has done commercial CP will remember the weeks and months of waiting between jobs... sometimes it can be difficult to put food on the table. As for PSD/ high rsk zones look at doing a minimum of 8 weeks away from your family in what to be honest can be a s***hole.

3) I'm a medic myself and I know how it feels to lose guys on your team because you couldn't save them as they were too badly injured or you didn't have the right equipment. Think about that before you consider deploying to high risk zones.

4) The other thing to consider is that salaries, while above average, are not brilliant now so if it's money you're thinking of, think again. For money look at moving to the US or Canada.

Look I don't want to discourage you, but I want you to consider these things. CP when it goes well is great, but when it doesn't remember you are the person responsible for someone elses life. It can be a very hard business to work in and if you aren't to an extent lucky you won't be able to make a living.
But all the same good luck. If you need more advice or to tell me to shut up please go ahead, all I want to do is to make sure you don't make the mistakes I have seen others make.

greyman

Deano as and ex CMT 1 and Paramedic having spent many years on CP teams as a medic i agree 100% with roadhog all his words are wise words and should be noted again tell us to shut up if you want but the money for paramedics is in US or Canada.
However paramedics are still in highish demand in the sandpit and can get slightly higher wages as such, but only if dual trained CP and Medic as only a few companies currently have and can afford medics as extra in teams most have to have a dual trained team member but most only have first aid trained members as not enough paramedics available.
Doing a good balistic trauma course is a must.....but you need a fall back plan as between contacts can be hard even nowadays as supply outstrips demand sometimes and of course one day the sandpit will dry up so to speak.