In every protective services class I teach around the globe, the most common question my students ask is, “What would you recommend a trained protective agent have on hand to best support their protective services mission?” This is an excellent question warranting a comprehensive understanding of the role of a protective agent and the necessary elements for mission success.
Whether you are a protection professional in the field or a concerned individual looking to enhance your own personal security, it is crucial to
recognize that you are your own first responder. Three essential elements recommended for effective first responder and protection are skills,
hardware, and good habits. Let’s delve deeper into each component.
Skills
The first and most lifesaving skillset for any trained agent or responder is the development of soft skills. These proactive measures include the likes of situational awareness, threat recognition, spotting anomalies, identifying emerging violence indicators and the ability to engage your environment with a focused mind.
Soft skills allow you to stay ahead of the action-reaction power curve, enabling you to be one step ahead of potential adversaries who may view you as a target. By employing soft skills, you can avoid or mitigate potential threat scenarios.
However, there may be situations where the application of soft skills is negligent or insufficient. Here, you are left with only reactive measures, also known as hard skills. Hard skills encompass only three response options: flight, fight, or freeze.
When flight is an option, it is the preferable course of action to ensure your survival and that of your protectee(s). It lowers any probability of incurring physical injury and places you at a tactical advantage of having been removed from a high-threat environment. If flight is not feasible, fighting or surrendering become the remaining options.
If you choose to engage in a violent physical altercation (fight), you must possess the necessary skills, including defensive tactics, to defend yourself effectively, whether armed or unarmed. In unarmed combat, your bare hands become your weapons, but you may also utilize improvised weapons such as a broomstick, umbrella, screwdriver, or frying pan. In such cases, having something in your hand to defend yourself with is better than having nothing at all.
Carrying non-ballistic weapons the likes of pepper sprays, expandable batons, or edged weapons such as fixed or folding knives is another option. However, if you decide to utilize either a conventional weapon or a weapon of opportunity, it is strongly recommended to receive proper training to ensure efficiency. Otherwise, you risk failure or the assailant disarming and using your own weapon against you.
The last resort in a fight-or-flight situation is to freeze, typically when you are pinned or cornered with no viable escape route. Surrender becomes the most prudent choice when flight and fight are no longer options.
Therefore, it is essential to understand the limitations of each response and develop the necessary skills to maximize your chances of survival.
Lifesaving skills, including medical training, are additionally vital for a protective agent or first responder. Whether it is tactical medicine or basic first aid with field dressing skills, having medical knowledge can be a critical advantage for both yourself and your protectee(s).
Being able to provide immediate medical assistance in emergency situations can save lives and buy you valuable time until professional help
arrives or during transport to a medical facility.
Hardware
When it comes to protective services, hardware refers to the tools and equipment that aid in personal security. If you choose to carry a weapon, it falls under the category of hardware.
Firearms, such as concealed or open-carry pistols, carbines, shotguns, rifles, or other ballistic firing systems, require extensive training to ensure proficiency in their usage. Similarly, edged weapons used in self-defense also fall under this category.
Selecting the appropriate firearm for personal protection is a decision that should not be taken lightly. It is essential to consider factors such as legality, fit, function, and compatibility with your own skill level. Owning and operating a firearm requires responsibility and adherence to strict legal and safety protocols.
In addition to firearms, there are various other hardware options to consider.
When it comes to medical preparedness, it is highly recommended to carry a first aid kit (FAK) or at least a tourniquet. These items can be lifesaving in situations where immediate medical attention is required.
Acquiring the knowledge and experience to stop the bleed and provide basic medical assistance is essential. Consider taking courses in tactical medicine or basic first aid to enhance your medical skills.
Furthermore, it is prudent to consider additional security measures for your home or workplace. Installing a safe room or ballistic doors can provide an added layer of protection in the event of an intrusion or attack. These fortified areas can offer a safe haven until help arrives or a situation is resolved.
Additionally, modern window laminate nanotechnologies have advanced to the point where windows can be made blast and bullet resistant in some cases up to a rifle caliber. This enhances the security of your premises by providing an additional and effective barrier against potential threats.
Investing in quality locks, doors, windows, smoke detectors, motion sensors, and computerized surveillance cameras can further fortify your
surroundings and deter potential intruders.
Good Habits
Lastly, but certainly not least, establishing good habits is essential to support and enhance your skills and hardware. Good habits create a solid foundation for effective protection and ensure that you are competently and consistently prepared for potential threats.
One essential habit is to always utilize the security features available to you. For example, if you have a vehicle with locking doors and windows, make it a habit to engage them when you enter or exit the vehicle, especially in potentially threatening environments.
Even the most advanced home alarm system is rendered useless if you fail to arm it when necessary. Therefore, developing the habit of activating your security systems, whether at home or in your vehicle, is vital.
Good habits extend beyond physical security measures. They also encompass mental and situational awareness. Applying situational
awareness in your daily life, taking reasonable precautions, and making educated decisions based on relevant information are all part of cultivating good habits. These habits enable you to navigate your surroundings with a heightened but relaxed condition of awareness, allowing you to identify potential threats early and react appropriately.
Additionally, adopting practical routines can significantly enhance your personal security. For instance, maintaining a half-tank of fuel in your
vehicle is a good habit to ensure mobility in emergency situations. In worst-case scenarios, where evacuation or travel over long distances may be necessary, having a fuel reserve of at least 200 miles provides you with a greater margin of safety and options. Never allowing your gas tank to fall below the half-tank mark ensures that you are prepared for such unforeseen circumstances and will not unexpectedly exhaust your fuel supply.
Three Essential Skills
The three recommended and essential elements for effective protection or personal security are skills, hardware, and good habits. Soft skills, such as situational awareness and threat recognition, allow you to proactively avoid or mitigate potential threats.
Obtaining and maintaining the appropriate hardware, whether it be firearms, non-ballistic weapons, or medical equipment, provides you with
the necessary tools to protect yourself and others. Finally, establishing good habits supports your skills and hardware, ensuring that you are
consistently prepared and aware of potential threats.
By combining these three elements, you create a comprehensive protection package that maximizes your ability to respond to both known and unknown scenarios effectively.
Whether you are a professional protective agent or a concerned individual focused on personal security and that of your family, developing and honing these skills, acquiring the appropriate hardware, and cultivating good habits will empower you to be your own best protective agent and first responder in a given situation.
It is prudent to consider that you are your first, best and most likely the only line of initial defense against a real-world undesired event. Personal commitment to ongoing training, preparedness, and an awareness-based mindset, combined with skills, hardware, and good habits greatly enhance your ability to keep yourself and those around you safe in an ever-changing and volatile world.
