Security Industry-Managing Expectations

The Security industry is a wash with ex-military personnel. The next impending mass exodus of military personnel, is happening in 2013-14, with the security industry's training organisations rubbing their hands with the prospect of so many troops spending their Enhanced Learning Credits (ELCs) and resettlement grants on courses where the likelihood of employment is, at best, remote.

I have gone down the familiar route of Close Protection (CP), Maritime Security (MSO) and Surveillance and it has suited me, but what is very clear is that there are other skill sets that will make you more employable in this security industry. Many firms are looking at new overseas markets where they require multi-skilled personnel to establish new bases, so to compliment your existing military/security skill sets, look at qualifications in:

• Plumbing
• Electrician
• Health and Safety
• Construction
• Specialist Vehicle Licenses

These qualifications enable an employer to get more (skill sets) out of less (employees). I know of two 50+ year old ex-military guys who left the military in the early 1980's and have beaten younger, and operationally more current service leavers to a new African contract, because they completed a high end CP course, kept fit, worked hard on the UK circuit and brought more to the party through their construction skills and life experience.

UK security work is seasonal, less well paid and results in a considerable amount of unemployment. The attraction for employers for the more lucrative contracts is a clean record (CRB), a record of security employment backed by references, and accredited weapons training and a security clearance.

So how do you achieve this: Firstly, never turn down work unless the client is 'Dodgy' no matter how un-glamorous it is; Secondly, and you may not like this ......join the reserves. Forget the promise of these overseas weapons courses as they may soon become illegitimate, they are unlikely to train you on the weapons you will be issued in a contract and almost certainly not to the same qualification shoot. Who are the instructors? Who is the qualifying body? The reserves enables you to maintain your security clearance, because you do not automatically keep it when you leave. I left the regulars and joined the reserves with unbroken service, which resulted in me keeping my security clearance, although not the higher clearances. I maintain an accredited fitness level, weapons qualification and my unit enables me to qualify on foreign weapons. This is worth real money and yet it cost me nothing...in fact they pay me and offer me additional qualifications.

Finally, if you are being made redundant and you are a volunteer, good luck and follow your dream, but keep in the back of your mind the value of the reserves as the grass is not always greener. If you are not a volunteer ,then don't let the anger and disappointment take over, as if you are still passionate for the job then you will be perfect for the reserves with, bizarrely, more opportunities and prospects than before.

Good luck, research the market and do what you enjoy.

Parry