Long summaries. When describing skills and job responsibilities at past places of employment, avoid writing rambling summaries that add length and clutter to a resume. Instead, discuss work history in a short, concise manner. A brief paragraph outlining a previous security job position not only reads better than a long summary, it looks more professional. Bulleted lists are another effective means to describe skills and responsibilities. Many security employers prefer this style of resume writing because it provides better clarity, readability, and organization.

Irrelevant extracurricular activities. Hobbies, personal interests, and other non-relevant activities should not be included in a resume if they offer no value to your security professional profile. Any extracurricular activities you list on a resume should somehow demonstrate your unique skills or work ethic as a security guard. If a hobby or interest helps show pertinent expertise, you might prefer to discuss it in a cover letter. Memberships to organizations, such as ASIAL on the other hand, can be useful items to include in a resume, especially if they involve professional development, training and security courses.

Short-term, trivial jobs. Security jobs that lasted a few weeks or months can look like filler material on a resume and might give the impression that you are a job hopper. If possible, stick with listing only past security positions that lasted at least six months and that show your commitment, experience, and skill set as a security officer. That said, be prepared to explain any gaps in work history as well as unlisted security jobs that might be discovered through a background check. And don’t omit from a resume relevant contract (freelance) work or volunteer positions, which can offer insight into your unique talents and work dedication.

Embellishments. A personal photograph, or any photograph for that matter, should be left off a resume. Photos can lead to claims of discrimination and are inappropriate for a resume. Fancy designs and fonts are another embellishment that can mar an otherwise good resume. Choose clean, easy-to-read sans-serif fonts for resumes, like Calibri or Arial, in a 12-point font size. When writing a resume, avoid decorative graphics as well, since they draw attention to the appearance rather than the substance of the resume. 

References and other excess information. If and when security employers choose to check references, they will ask for names. Even a statement like “References available upon request” is unnecessary, unprofessional, and outdated. Likewise, don’t list salary requirements unless asked. Doing so can either shortchange you if the figure is too low or ruin your chances of getting an offer if the requirement is too high. Finally, one e-mail address, postal address, and phone number are all that are needed for contact information. Make getting a hold of you a simple, one-step process. And avoid including emails such as bamby69@hotmail.com as it looks very unprofessional and leaves a bad impression when applying for a security position.

Resumes are an important tool for security employers in choosing the right candidate for a security position. Make sure yours excludes information that doesn’t add value to your profile as a security professional – and that might, in the end, hurt your chances of getting hired.

RAY MANCINI

CEO – SIG GROUP International

The post WHAT NOT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR CV WHEN APPLYING FOR A SECURITY JOB appeared first on Security Courses and Security Training Perth | SIG Group.

YOUR SECURITY OFFICER COURSE

Security officer courses are not easy, as you may well now know! They are designed to challenge and push students to apply knowledge in a practical way before they enter the workforce. By performing assessments and practical tests within a team and individually, our students can prove to understand the concepts of security work. When this information is applied in real life scenarios under time pressure and in demanding situations, you can rest easy that you will walk out of one our courses ready to take on your new role and handle these.

It’s not about just learning theory – it’s about applying knowledge and having control over a situation and handling it safely. In a nutshell you need to be able to secure a situation, person, or place in your potential role whilst applying the necessary processes. Your course will prepare you for these real life scenarios.

AFTER YOU GRADUATE

After successful completion of a security course you will be able to approach security companies for career opportunities. Some certifications such as for armed guards and cash-in-transit officers will require you to complete a firearms endorsement every six months due to the use of your firearm and license up-keep. You’ll ensure you are ready for the security industry and maintain an ongoing income by performing this up-keep.

Career opportunities will open up within different industries such as entertainment, security guarding, cash-in-transit, armed security, retail, mobile patrols, loss prevention, night clubs, sporting events, or mining and hotels. And due to national accreditation, you will be able to work all over Australia as you choose.

If you are interested in a security course in Perth to assist with crime prevention in your local community, contact SIG Group or check out our Australian approved security courses now.

RAY MANCINI

CEO – SIG GROUP International

The post WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER YOU GRADUATE AS A SECURITY OFFICER appeared first on Security Courses and Security Training Perth | SIG Group.

HOW ARE SMARTPHONES ALREADY BEING USED IN THE SECURITY INDUSTRY?

Smartphones have been used by many organisations and home owners as part of digital and physical security plans for some years. The benefit of smartphones is that they have high speed data capacities and WiFi enabled upload and download of information instantly.
There are already many simple smartphone apps home and business owners can use for their security monitoring of their premises.

Many security plans including alarm devices, video monitoring systems and access controls are built with system integration with smartphones and other mobile devices and security courses Perth-based and around the world are starting to add them into their training plans.

New technologies are always being harnessed and adapted to suit different industries and with smartphones, there are a variety of inbuilt features that will influence the security plans into the future.
Bluetooth radios use only a small amount of power and Radio Frequency Identification for access controls is already replacing traditional access cards around the world. Security courses Perth security businesses trust are encouraging their students to think outside the box (and inside a smartphone) when it comes to effective integrated security solutions.

Into the future, the smartphone security influence will be around input and output functions and digital radios as well as sensors. Smartphones include gyroscopes, accelerometers and magnetometers which can provide high level detail and information about the immediate proximity of the smartphone and therefore the person holding it and the people around them.

GPS, Bluetooth and WiFi features will be used to develop apps to provide details of staff during emergencies for instance. This kind of technology is useful for information sharing between the security centre and the employees of global companies.

WHAT ARE THE CONCERNS?

When it comes to smartphones, and this almost ‘Big Brother’ approach to employees and security, there is always a concern around privacy and the consent of allowing an organisation access to this information.
Most security leaders would argue the benefits to the organisation outweigh any privacy concerns, but where staff information is concerned, there should always be clear policies within an organisation regarding who can access the information and under what circumstances they can access that information to ensure the integrity of the feature’s use.

As technology changes and develops, smartphones have become a logical platform for security control and they will only continue to become more prevalent in the industry.

If you want to become a security officer, it’s important to understand the benefits of new technologies for your industry. SIG Group offers security courses Perth security agencies trust. They work with industry to deliver nationally recognised qualifications with up to the minute trends and information for their students. Visit www.sig.edu.au to enrol in a Certificate II and Certificate III in Security today.

RAY MANCINI

CEO – SIG GROUP International

The post SMARTPHONES AND SECURITY appeared first on Security Courses and Security Training Perth | SIG Group.

HIGH SPEED SECURITY DOORS

There are high speed security doors such as the Efaflex High Speed door. These are a premium spiral roll-up and folding door. The doors are ideal for high traffic buildings requiring secure operating doors. They rise and close quickly meaning the building stays secure without drivers having to wait as they would with a standard slow action roller door. Perfect for emergency facilities, warehouses, building carparks or financial services.

SOLAR POWERED SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS

The Solveil HD Surveillance camera is the latest in security camera technology captures live images up to half a mile away for five days with just one charge of its solar battery. This makes it an effective high resolution and power-efficient surveillance device.

AUDIO ANALYTICS

There are a variety of audio analytics detectors available to help monitor your premises. You can buy specific devices such as those available from Louroe Electrical that detect aggressive voices, gun shots, the sound of breaking glass, even car alarms. When one of these sounds is detected it will send a notification to your network or a connected device so you can monitor security issues as they occur and send your trained security guards to deal with the issue.

WIRELESS LOCKDOWN DEVICES

Configurable lockdown devices like Stanley Security Solutions latest release Best® SHELTERTM are programmed to be responsive to your needs. A compact solution that easily fits onto door handles or can be used remotely provides for a quick and easy lockdown to contain or control a high pressure situation.

MOBILE APPLICATION WRAPPERS

An application wrapper can be used for staff member’s personal mobile devices in the workplace. This means an enterprise administrator can control how apps operate on a device, for instance whether or not file sharing will be allowed in an app, if user identification/authentication is required, password access and how data is allowed to be stored. This provides greater security of digital information for a business.

MULTI THREAT SHIELDS

The newly developed Multi Threat Shield from Force Training Institute looks like a standard laptop bag but it’s actually a three-foot bullet proof shield folded up into a lightweight and inconspicuous carry bag. This new piece of protective equipment can be easily used by security personal in the event of an attack to protect themselves or others from an assailant.

QYLATRON^TM ENTRY EXPERIENCE SOLUTION

A newly created security checkpoint incorporating ticketing validation, access controls, personalised customer greetings and non-intrusive security scans. This brand new piece of technology is the perfect self-service security kiosk for events and venues, freeing up security guards to monitor physical security threats concurrently.

As security risks change and increase, new technologies continue to be introduced. But technology alone will not secure your business, property or staff. It’s important to have highly trained security officers on site at all times to protect your property, staff and customers. SIG Group provides quality training for quality officers, contact SIG Group today on 1300 788 827 or visit http://sig.edu.au/ to ensure your security officers are up to date with the latest training and the latest security technologies

RAY MANCINI

CEO – SIG GROUP International

The post NEW EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES IN THE SECURITY INDUSTRY appeared first on Security Courses and Security Training Perth | SIG Group.

WHAT HAPPENED IN COLOGNE?

High numbers of women on New Year’s Eve 2015-2016 in Cologne, Germany, reported that up to 1000 men attacked, robbed and assaulted them at the train station. In an apparent organised attack, the men were described as drunk and aggressive by the BBC.

The national police report concluded that, “the task forces could not cope with all the events, assaults, and crimes – there were just too many happening and the same time”.

Police in Cologne have received 121 criminal complaints to date, with three-quarters of these involving sexual assault. There have been 16 suspects identified, with no arrests made. At the same time, reports for similar incidents were made in Hamburg, Dusseldorf and Stuttgart.

WHY FLASH MOB ATTACKS?

The sheer volume of alleged offenders in such an incident puts police, law enforcement, or security officers in a difficult position to assist the victims of crime until the crime is over. In the case of the Cologne attacks, help was not available until after the men had dispersed.
Attackers pursue the flash-mob approach due to:

• The difficulty associated with arresting such a volume of offenders
• The confusion it can bring to victims
• Victim inability to distinguish offenders in a mob
• The ability to snatch and commit theft easily during the distraction of the mob and assaults

Flash-mob robbery (‘flash-rob’) or multiple-offender robbery is a form of organised theft whereby the aim is to overwhelm the victims and render them unable to stop the incident from occurring. These are not new, with many commonly occurring in Brazil since 1990’s and also reportedly in large American cities such as Chicago, Houston, and Jacksonville at stores. Not all flash-mob crime is violent, where large groups of people may enter a store and leave without paying. The sheer number of non-paying shoppers means the shop is helpless to stop the crime.

WHAT THE PUBLIC AND SECURITY OFFICERS IN AUSTRALIA CAN DO

The National Retail Federation in the USA issued a Multiple Offender Crimes Report concluding that prevention of flash-mob robberies includes sharing of information pre-crime if an incident is anticipated, monitoring of social media for the location name where they are working, and reporting of large groups to help prevent crime.

If you are a potential victim or working in a store attacked by a ‘flash-rob’, you can aim to ensure that your surveillance systems are current and using advanced technology to help law enforcement identify or recognize persons, make sure registers are locked-down immediately, and get out of the way. If safe you should aim to view license plate numbers and identifying features, however never with interference to the mob.

Security simply being present can help to deter flash-mob attacks. However it should be noted that in cases where the store-owners or victims have tried to stop attacks, they have often aggravated the mob and prompted a violent response. Observation, good footage, and report writing are keys to a successful apprehension after the incident.
Click here to watch the recent Perth robbery and assault incident that took place at Wellington Street on the 4^th of April.

If you would like to see how you can help with crime prevention in your local community by becoming a security officer in Perth contact SIG Group or check out our Australian approved security courses now.

RAY MANCINI

CEO – SIG GROUP International

The post ‘FLASH-ROBS’ ARE NOT NEW – WHAT VICTIMS AND SECURITY OFFICERS CAN DO appeared first on Security Courses and Security Training Perth | SIG Group.

There is a lot of misconception as to what it really means to be a security guard, what a security guard’s role is and what it really takes. The truth is there are many varied roles undertaken by a security officer and each requires a different set of skills, attributes and training

HOLLYWOOD PORTRAYAL VS REAL WORLD

In Hollywood movies like Night at the Museum, Mall Cop and Run Fat Boy, Run, security guards are portrayed as almost a gimmick; they’re the butt of the joke. Overweight, under skilled, often tripped up and foiled in a myriad of obstacles and comedy.

In the real world it’s not all jokes and gags. Security officers are in their roles to protect people and property and this sometimes means being in dangerous and life threatening situations.

Security officers exist in a variety of roles including crowd control and event security, loss prevention in the retail industry, cash in transit officers, mobile patrols, aviation and maritime security, critical infrastructure protection, mobile patrols and general guarding.

WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A PROFESSIONAL SECURITY GUARD

THE RIGHT TRAINING

Becoming a security officer is not just something you can fall into as a back-up plan as it may appear in the movies. To obtain a security officer job, you need to have the right training and accreditations. There are industry standards that must be adhered to and employers are increasingly looking for intelligent, quick-thinking and highly trained security officers in their teams.

Security officers not only need to understand their job they also need to understand what they are guarding and in many cases undergo training by the client in order to guard their property and staff effectively. Whilst not direct officers of the law, top security officers must have a strong legal knowledge and technical skillset. When dealing with criminals, often their actions and statements will be evidence in court.

The security industry offers not only a job as an officer but opportunities for those committed to their work to move up the ranks into team leader and management opportunities.

THE RIGHT ATTITUDE FOR THE RIGHT POSITION

You don’t become a security guard simply by having a qualification; you need to have the right attitude for the job. Security officers need to be highly focussed and committed to their work. They need to be calm under pressure, able to follow orders and able to work autonomously. A security guard needs to be incredible vigilant and able to adjust in high stress situations such as a robbery, lost child, assault or perhaps even an armed hold up.

More than that, it’s important that the right officer be placed in the right security role. The attitude, personal and professional qualities of a security officer that is best placed for a crowd control and event security role are quite different from that of a maritime security officer and again from a loss prevention retail security officer. When the right person is placed in the right position they can be effective in protecting lives, property or information.

If you want to be a high performing security officer, high quality and accredited training is vital to your success. With a variety of national qualifications and tailor made courses, SIG Group can help you be the right person for that security officer job. Contact SIG Group on 1300 788 827 to commit to your career in the security industry today.

RAY MANCINI

CEO – SIG GROUP International

The post SECURITY GUARDS:HOW TO BE THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE JOB appeared first on Security Courses and Security Training Perth | SIG Group.

AN IMPORTANT STEP IN LANDING THE RIGHT SECURITY JOB!

You only get one chance to make a first impression – a statement that’s never truer than when you submit your CV. If it doesn’t stand out, it’s just bin fodder.

The employment market is a very competitive place. If you want to give yourself the best possible chance of getting the job you are applying for, you need an excellent CV. Easy to say, but many people either struggle to put forward a convincing case, or fall in to the trap of over-stating their abilities.

The human resources professional who receives your application will see dozens, perhaps hundreds, for the same position. So how can you make yours stand out? Let’s look at a few tips for getting your CV to the top of the pile.

THE PURPOSE OF YOUR CV

The purpose of your CV is not to try to get you a security job – it’s to get you an interview. It’s to make you appear skilled enough and interesting enough for your prospective security employer to want to meet you to discuss things further.

So don’t give your whole life history. Your date and place of birth should be there, your education and relevant qualifications need to be listed and, of course, your employment history – but it needs to be concise. You’re not writing a novel, you’re giving factual information. If you’ve got five or six pages, you need to throw three or four of them away!

People worry too much about leaving out important information. For the most part, the detail required is: name of employer, date you started and finished, your role (or roles) and responsibilities. Keep things short by using bullet points to summarise. Rather than: “It was my responsibility to handle the day to day work assignments for a team of four” put: “Managed a team of four.” It’s the same information, but a third of the words. When your CV is in front of someone who has been looking at cliché-ridden paperwork for most of the day, a short, concise document will make your application stand out. You can explain the detail at the interview stage.

While we’re on the subject of clichés, it’s worth pointing out that claiming you have “excellent leadership qualities” or “can work on your own initiative or as part of team” probably won’t do you much good. The person reading your CV has seen it all before – probably fifty times before lunch.

It’s much more effective to “show” what you can do rather than “tell”. Being captain of a school or varsity team shows leadership. Heading up a particular project shows initiative and teamwork. Think about how your experiences apply to the job advertised, then demonstrate your aptitude with relevant examples.

THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH?

It can be tempting to embellish the facts on your CV, but take care! It’s important to draw attention to achievements or experiences that increase your chances of getting that interview, but don’t go too far. One sign that you are over-exaggerating is if it’s taking lots of words to say whatever it is you are trying to say. The relevant facts can usually be covered quickly.

But what happens if you have a section of employment history that you would rather avoid? Again, being concise is the usually the best policy. There’s no point leaving it out, a professional will spot a hole in your CV a mile off. If you were dismissed then say so and, briefly, give your point of view. The truth will come out eventually. It’s far better to be honest than to be caught in a lie.

BEFORE YOU SEND IT OFF

It’s important to give yourself adequate time to write your CV. A rushed attempt will most likely be consigned to the HR department waste bin. When you think it’s as good as it can be, put it aside for 24 hours, then check it again. If possible, get someone whose opinion you value to read it.

You’ll also need a cover letter: a formal introduction stating the post you are applying for and why you feel you are suited for it. All too often people are lazy or inattentive with this important step. Read the advertised position carefully. Make sure your letter responds accurately. If it doesn’t, your CV may not even get a glance. It’s worth checking recruitment sites for current styles and expected content.

If you’re absolutely sure it’s as good as it can be, send it. If you’re struggling, do bear in mind that there are services available that can do it for you. Although there’s a cost involved in getting a CV created professionally, you have to balance that expense against a presentation that might radically increase your chances of getting that all-important interview. And finally it’s always pays to do your homework and research the company’s corporate culture, history, scope of operations and mission statement before you go for an interview. Researching your potential security employer will make you standout amongst other applicants.

ONCE SUCCESSFUL IN LANDING AN INTERVIEW, MAKE SURE YOU DO THE FOLLOWING;

• Make sure you arrive at least 15min early.
• Dress for success. You should always look smart and professional, you should consider wearing a business suit or at the very least “business casual,” a collared shirt and dress pants.
• Make sure you have a spare copy of your CV and all of your qualifications and ID as well as electronic copy on a flash-drive.
• Prepare for tough questions, such as;

Q: Do you work well with others?
Q: Why are you leaving your current job?
Q: What does this job mean to you?
Q: How will you fit in with our team and corporate culture?
Q: What is your vision for our security company?
Q: Do you know what other services we offer?
Q: Why have you been out of work for so long?
Q: Why did you leave your last security job?

• Make sure that your mobile phone is turned off or on silent before you go into your interview.
• And finally believe in yourself and good luck.

RAY MANCINI

The post Writing A Winning CV For Security Employment appeared first on Security Courses and Security Training Perth | SIG Group.

The Right Credentials - A strong resume is the first thing that any hiring staff looks at when considering a candidate for employment. Professional security guards often have backgrounds in the military, law enforcement or an educational background in criminal justice or risk management. These employment histories reflect potential guards that understand security, safety and working as part of a team. However, not all professional security guards have these credentials, but this does not mean that they wouldn’t be great additions to your security team. Candidates who have a solid work history and experience, additional qualifications such as CPP30411 – Certificate III In Security Operations or CPP40707 Certificate IV in Security and Risk Management, instead of just the minimum licensing requirements, with no prior criminal record to speak of can make for great security team members.

The Best Demeanor - A good security guard is, most importantly, a team player. A professional security team is comprised of people who put the interest of the client, their employer and the team over their own interests. You should also look for candidates who have no history of missing shifts or abandoning positions, as punctuality and dependability are imperative to a good security team. When interviewing potential guards, you should be seeking out candidates who are respectful, present well, pleasant and non-argumentative. These are all personality traits of great guards.

Remember, any security team is only as strong as its weakest team member. If you look for guards with these characteristics, you are well on your way to building a security team that will go above and beyond in the line of duty. Be sure to watch for new recruits that really stand out, as these employees often go on to make excellent team leaders and supervisors.

Enroll now in the CPP30411 – Certificate III In Security Operations and increase your chances of gaining a better position in the security industry or a promotion.

RAY MANCINI

The post What To Look For In A Security Guard appeared first on Security Courses and Security Training Perth | SIG Group.

Here we’ll look at three major components of the bureaucracy involved in formulating and influencing foreign policy. Those are the State Department, the Defense Department, and the Intelligence Community.

STATE DEPARTMENT

The State Department is headed by the Secretary of State (in this administration that is Condoleezza Rice). Diplomats are appointed to foreign-service positions. Embassies basically run their own daily operations independently, while providing updated information on the political situations of the countries in which they are located back to the State Department. Various sub-departments of the State Department are concerned with issues of political nature (i.e. European Affairs, African Affairs, etc., specializing in various areas of the world). Other sub-departments are concerned with economic affairs around the world (agriculture, business, etc). Still others are concerned with looking at the security situations of various parts of the world (international political-military concerns). Diplomats may be specialists in other areas like human rights, refugee and migration issues.

During the 1950s Senator McCarthy alleged that many State Department personnel were communists. This lead to an increased vigilance among personnel to conform to accepted department norms and ideas. Basically, the safest route for State Department employees was to tow the company line, and stick to the status quo. This cautious nature also influenced the department’s hiring practices. Thus the bureaucracy is now slow to act, its personnel like to conform, and diplomacy, therefore, may be rather predictable and traditional.

Since the end of the Cold War, but more specifically, in the face of more rapidly advancing globalization, the US has and will inevitably continue to rethink certain alliances and form new ones based on changing political situations (i.e. the various changes in eastern Europe since the collapse of USSR, issues like NATO’s expanding membership, etc). Since September 11, 2001, the new focus has been on terrorism rather than communism. The State Department will naturally continue to compete against the Defense Department for influence and input into policy decisions.

DEFENSE DEPARTMENT

The Defense Department is made up of the Departments of the Army, Navy and Air force. Each has a civilian chair appointed by the President and a military chief-of staff.

Personnel engaged in field activities and defense agencies report to the Secretary of Defense (in this administration Robert Gates). An example of a field activity agency falling under the Defense umbrella is the American Forces Information Service, and an example of a defense agency is the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization. The Secretary of Defense advises the President on military issues.

The breakdown of the Defense Department into various military and civilian components is an attempt to provide some kind of balance to the Department, and in effect the goal seems to have originally been to ensure civilian control over the department, to keep the military in check. Although, some experts seem to feel the military element (the Joint Chiefs of Staff) has had more influence than the civilian element.

Obviously since the end of the Cold War, the Defense Department’s priorities have changed. Communism is no longer the biggest threat: September 11 brought about a mission to eradicate terrorism, and the State and Defense Departments no doubt compete over influence and argue over the best course of action (the State Department may argue for diplomacy, the Defense Department for military action). Additionally, the Defense Department is often criticized for acting more like a Department of Offense (by engaging in preemptive military actions more often than they focus on protecting borders).

INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY

The Intelligence Community is composed of intelligence departments from many areas of Federal government, including the Departments of Transportation, Treasury, and State, among many others, and includes the National Security Agency, the FBI, and many others, which report to the Director of Central Intelligence. DCI works through the National Foreign Intelligence Board and National Intelligence Council. There is a certain level of secrecy to the Intelligence Community, obviously. They report directly to the President and increasingly have access to advanced technology with which to gather information related to national security and other issues. They analyze information, which is available to the public, and gather information, which is often classified, from a variety of sources, conducting field operations, human contacts, etc.

Some criticize the CIA for not anticipating the collapse of the USSR adequately. The logical extension of this criticism is that if the CIA could not anticipate change and was so reliant on information gathered during the Cold War, perhaps they did not have the tools and/or knowledge to comprehend the terrorist threats leading up to September 11. But as we’ve all seen there is much dispute surrounding such allegations, and dispute over who knew what when and who knew how much. We heard many people criticizing the FBI and CIA for not predicting September 11, but then many rumors circulated that the information was available, but perhaps not taken seriously, or that there was simply too much information to go through. In response to September 11 the Department of Homeland Security was established. Some critics say this shouldn’t have been necessary, considering that there are already numerous agencies who should be providing security to the people of the U.S.

PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS IN POLICYMAKING

Foreign policy makers rely on information that is available to them to come to decisions, after narrowing down the possible choices, looking at history, and based on their own preferences and personal experiences and perceptions.

The “cognitive model” of understanding policy decisions states that one must remember policies are made by people, at the core, so some understanding of psychology may be helpful. The individuals formulating policies use “Cognitive shortcuts”. For example, when buying a house, consumers automatically narrow their searches based on certain criteria, such as, financial resources, location, the number of rooms, and other considerations. The natural process of selecting certain options from the countless options actually available happens. The individual considering the best foreign policy decision may refer to past policies used in similar situations, and may him/herself prefer diplomatic, rather than military efforts. He or she may also defer to a framework and a certain timeframe that has been accepted by colleagues and forebears as normal. This system may result in that individual failing to conceive of alternate methods.

Individuals have a “perceptual system”. That is, they establish ways of thinking based on exposure to certain events and ideas while growing up, which they have judged and evaluated and stored as information about the world. When new information is presented to them, which challenges that worldview, they feel uncomfortable and may be unsure how to react (this is known as cognitive dissonance). If an idea or concept, such as news regarding a situation in the world, fits into the individual’s framework of the world and how it operates, he or she will generally accept that information as true and feel somewhat comfortable accepting it. Events the individual experiences, either personal or collective (the death of a family member or abuse in the family, or collective experience such as a major event like WWII), may shape the individual’s perceptions of the world and justify certain reactions (emotional or otherwise).

Generally foreign policymakers judge policies as being good policies if they produced the exact desired outcomes, and bad if they did not produce the expected desired outcome, within a certain time frame, in the way expected, etc.

As we’ve seen there are many psychological factors that can affect the study, analysis and execution of foreign policy decisions.

RAY MANCINI

CEO – SIG GROUP International

The post AN INTRODUCTION TO U.S. FOREIGN POLICY AGENCIES appeared first on Security Courses and Security Training Perth | SIG Group.

“If the day ever comes where you have to employ your weapon to defend yourself or others you will always fall to your level of training that you have mastered.” Ray Mancini

I truly believe that without intensive expert training on the weapon system that you carry on duty, you are way MORE dangerous to yourself, and the public than you were without one.

Carrying a firearm for duty as an armed professional whether you’re a law enforcement officer or private armed security, without regular and proper training you’re just pretending and it’s only a matter of time before something goes wrong and you will be caught out in real trouble.

The ugly truth is: the law enforcement training and the private security firearms training and requirements, does NOT equip or prepare officers for a real life situation, under extreme stress where they will need to use their firearms to defend themselves and/or the public.

Let’s face it, the firearms qualifying assessment for law enforcement and the private security industry in WA is so basic and far from sufficient enough to prepare officer to be able to effectively use their firearms in a real life threatening situation.

Law enforcement and armed security personnel in WA have the exact same firearms qualifying assessment, except police officers only qualify once every 12 months and armed security must qualify once every six months, in an exact identical very basic course of fire, which can be achieved with only 24 rounds of ammunition from stationary static positions over a maximum distance of 8 meters with one basic tap / rack malfunction clearance drill.

With no dynamic movements or shooting on the move, no moving targets or the proper use of barricades for cover and concealment, no firearms tactical defensive scenarios, no low-light shooting, no comprehensive officer survival training, no training for clearing all different firearm malfunctions under stress, no engagement of multiple threats and shooting from different positions, no Loading / unloading under stress and no comprehensive mental conditioning and defensive combat mindset training, will ever prepare you for a gunfight in a real life threatening situation.

A gunfight is an extremely dynamic, violent encounter that happens very fast and you will need to react even faster, fighting your way to the nearest cover or concealment if you want to increase your chances of survival.

You will have to be completely delusional if you truly believe that shooting 24 rounds once or twice or even three times a year will prepare you for a gun fight in a life threatening situation, and I have more bad news for you; there are a lot more different malfunctions that you could experience and different things that can go wrong with your firearm that will not be fixed with a tap / rack and you must know and understand how to get your firearm operational and working ASAP under stress if your gun stops and you experience any type of malfunction.

Now let me say this: getting you on the range on a firing line with 5, 10 or 20 other officers where you all stand side-by-side squared up facing your targets, in almost perfect conditions and perfect lighting, firing at static paper-target, is NOT the way a gunfight works.

To increase your chances of survival in a gunfight, you must be very proficient, fluid and confident with your weapon system that you’re carrying, you must be able to move from point to point, using cover and concealment to gain tactical advantage, while successfully and effectively engaging targets as well as being able to clear most gun malfunctions that you could encounter under extreme stress. Now ask yourself if your training will help you achieve any of that and help save your life or others when that day comes, and I guarantee you, the answer is NO.

How can anyone become proficient and confident in anything if they ONLY train once or twice a year? So the sooner you quit pretending you know what you’re doing and start investing in your own professional development and continuous improvement by seeking professional training and getting enough proper trigger time, you will be better prepared for when that unfortunate time comes and could save your life and possibly someone else’s life.

Train smart, train hard and stay safe.

Ray Mancini

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