Feral Jundi

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Industry Talk: China Establishes The Ministry Of Public Security–First ‘Legit’ PSC Formed

Filed under: China,Industry Talk — Tags: , , , , — Matt @ 9:32 AM

“Not only have many foreign countries legitimized private security guard services, but they have also made use of them for their national interests,” Wu told the Global Times on Monday.
“As the quality of its services is just as good as that provided by government organs and costs much less, many government agencies tend to hire security guards from private companies in order to spend less taxpayer money,” he added.

This is the quote I focused in on.  China has had explosive growth in recent years and the security market has really taken off there. China is also very active in Africa or places like Iraq and Afghanistan. They are not afraid to go into the difficult areas of the world, and establish an economic foothold. Private security is a key component of that economic foothold-both in China, and abroad.

What is interesting though, is that these guards at home are not armed from what I have read. I could be wrong there, and China is just not my expertise. If true, inevitably some enterprising criminals who happened to be armed will be taking advantage of this weakness in the system and rob this ‘new rich’ of China. Or just kidnap and ransom would be profitable in such a world. I know the Chinese are one of the top kidnapped folks in the world because of their expansion abroad. Having men at arms to defend against criminals or terrorists that are armed, is a necessary service to have in my view.

But what I wanted to focus in on was the licensing aspect of this, and the quote up top.  Of course China is looking at how the US and others use private security, and especially in war zones.  It would make total sense that they would have their own versions of Blackwater, or similar ‘blended workforce’ company. I say blended, because when it comes to Chinese interest, I doubt they would allow private industry to do whatever it wants overseas without some kind of infusion of government/military.

They probably are running into the same problems as the west when it comes to regulating a rapidly expanding security industry like this. Creating a government agency to manage that makes sense and is a natural progression of this type of thing. Interesting stuff, and I am always on the lookout for any news about the security industry throughout the world, and China is one of the big ones to watch. –Matt

First legit bodyguard company established
April 12 2011
By Li Mao
The country’s first legal security services company was established Sunday in Henan Province after the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) legitimized the business last year.
Huangjia Security Service Company, based in the provincial capital Zhengzhou, will train nearly 200 private bodyguards for over three months, said Lü Wenqi, the company’s founder. The company received the country’s first license to offer private security guard services last year. (more…)

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Maritime Security: Asian Shipowner Forum– Use Armed Security, Go After Pirates On Land, Designate Pirates As Terrorists!

Filed under: Letter Of Marque,Maritime Security — Tags: , , , , , , , , — Matt @ 2:27 PM

Another association expressing their displeasure with the whole piracy thing…  What strikes me here is the language being used by this group, and other similar shipping groups. Everyone is frustrated and angry, and they want action.

Worse yet, with certain threats to oil stability and the change of leadership in countries located near key waterways, I predict even more problems for shipping.  Imagine Libya or Yemen completely collapsing, and turning the Gulf of Aden and neighboring water ways a free for all for pirates based in those countries?  And with the price of oil increasing, along with the demand increasing, any shipping companies tasked with transporting that black gold will really want that stuff to be protected.

Now this brings me to a thought that has crossed my mind several times.  The scope and scale of piracy is too large for governments alone to handle.  To me, the only way to really scale up the war against this problem, is to bring in private industry and open the flood gates. To license private industry to do what they have to do to protect these vessels or to go after these thugs and join in the fight. That would require a loosening on the nation-state’s grasp on the monopoly of the use of force, a nullification of treaties and agreements that prohibit such things as the Letter of Marque–yet still allows for the regulation and licensing of effective practices, and the political will to deal with such problems from a pragmatic point of view.

This is also a stark reminder that netwar is a reality, and it is kicking the ass of the slow and inefficient governments. Both John Arquilla and General McChrystal talked about restructuring the military (or parts) to be more responsive to these networks. That in order to defeat a network, you need a network–and a whole bunch of them.  I don’t see it happening with today’s slow and inefficient government sponsored militaries and navies. To me, the one group that can match the ‘decentralized and flexible network structures’ of these actors (pirates, terrorists, cartels), is an industry that profits from the destruction of these folks.

It would also be a self destroying industry, because once there is no more enemy, the industry dries up, and the few folks that continue on to be pirates or criminals, could then be destroyed by all the governments and their might. Hell, governments would use that very industry to destroy itself.  That is how early privateering was dealt with when it had these rogue elements, and that is how it would work today. But of course you see this in any industry.  A computer specialist decides to be an illegal hacker and steal money is one example. A soldier in a war, decides to go home and apply his skills to armored car robberies. A politician goes corrupt in order to make financial gains. There will always be that one percent of one percent of any profession that uses it’s skills and experience for criminal ventures–and that will never change.

But back to the concept. If copying networks like Al Qaeda/Cartels/Piracy (mimicry strategy) is appropriate and works, then private industry will quickly adapt that structure to it’s business model and use it to gain market share.  They will use that, or whatever netwar structure to defeat the enemy, and profit from the venture. They will not only go after the enemy, but compete against other companies and individuals who are doing the same thing–and that competition is what will fuel innovation. It works like that in every industry out there, and it will work violently well in this endeavor. Or at least in my humble opinion.

The ‘profit’ will include the destruction of a reviled enemy, the collection of a bounty, the seizure of an asset, or the collection of money for services rendered.  The more profit motive there is, the better, and it is a system that works. All government needs to do is maintain the machine through regulation and licensing. It worked with our usage of licensed privateers against the British during the Revolutionary War, it is working for the current Somali pirates who are raping the world with their piracy/business model, it worked for Claire Chennault and his Flying Tigers (who collected bounties for every enemy plane shot down), and the Cartel drug war business model works so well that it is defeating both the US and Mexican governments and making war against one another at the same time! Something to think about…. Or we can get continue to think that only governments can win wars and solve problems? –Matt

ASF airs outrage at rising attacks on ships
April 5, 2011
The Safe Navigation and Environment Committee (SNEC) of the Asian Shipowners’ Forum (ASF) has expressed outrage at the increasing number of attacks on their ships and the brutality shown by Somali pirates.
“The current situation, where a handful of pirates can hold the world’s economy hostage, is completely unacceptable as responsible owners and managers, we must take all necessary steps to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our seafarers,” said Mr. S. S. Teo, SNEC Chairman in a recent meeting of the Asian shipowners’ associations held in Singapore. (more…)

Monday, April 4, 2011

Job Tips: How To Get Into Security Contracting Without A Military Or Police Background

Filed under: Industry Talk,Job Tips,Medical,Training — Tags: , , , , , , , , — Matt @ 9:23 AM

I wanted to do a post about this subject because of all of the emails I have been getting lately. In the past, I have hinted at this kind of stuff before, but I think now it deserves it’s own post.  The top question I get is ‘how do you become a security contractor without any military or police background?’. My top reply is for individuals to join the military or police, and get that background–with an emphasis on the combat arms and duty in the war.  That by far is the best route to go, and you will come up against the least amount of friction in this industry as you pursue your career in security contracting.

With that said, there is a way to become a gun carrying security contractor without that four year degree in the combat arms.  The loophole I am talking about is to become a paramedic. In my career, I have personally met three security contractors without any military or police background, that got their job as a gun carrying contractor because of their medical qualifications.  From PSD work to disaster response to site security work–these non-military/police contractors worked those gigs as gun carrying medical guys. Although not purely shooters, they are armed non-the-less, with an emphasis on their medical qualifications. That is what they were hired for, and they are right along side the guys who were contracted as shooters–much like how a combat medic is used in a military unit.

All three medical contractors I had met, were armed by their company so that they could defend self and/or client.  Out of the three I had met, two of them had invested in security/weapons training to supplement their medical certifications so they could be less of a liability in the field.  Most of them had to go through the same overseas type deployment spin up course, or similar company vetting to ensure they could operate well with whatever team they were assigned to. But to put it bluntly, paramedics/nurses/doctors are all highly valuable assets to companies, and companies will bend over backwards to get these guys out there on contract, and especially when medical assets are required for a specific contract. A company must look beyond a lack of military or police background with a job seeker to fulfill a contract requirement, just because there isn’t enough qualified medical folks out there willing to do this kind of work.

Which is the one caveat that I tell folks when they pursue this loophole of contracting.  I suggest to folks to not only get their paramedic certification, but to also invest in excellent security/weapons training that will at least introduce to them the basics of how to operate out there.  I really emphasize the weapons schools because most of the companies will have their medical contractors do a shooting test with the weapon they will be issued in the field as a requirement of the contract. At the least, a contractor should be proficient with a pistol and rifle, and any investment in weapons training will pay off in the long run when you pass that shooting test and get that six figure job overseas.

To take this a step further.  If by chance you are able to sign on to the WPS program, you will have to shoot and qualify with some of the belt fed weapons that this program uses. I have even heard of medical officers being used in training to teach the usage of weapons like the AK 47 or PKM on the TWISS program.  The point here is that once you get involved as a security/medical contractor, you should expect to be around weapons and know how to use them if you want to be useful and a  non-liability to the team. So get some good reputable weapons training, and learn the fundamentals. I suggest CSAT as a an excellent starting point if you are looking for ideas.

Of course you must also maintain your fitness level because companies will require a PT test as per the contract. Keep up to date mentally by following the latest news in this industry through the forums and blogs. You must also ensure your background checks clean for any kind of clearance issues, because in this war, the US government is using the ‘security clearance’ as a means of vetting. So keep your finances in check, keep your nose clean and do not lie on your SF 86 form.

The most important thing though is to maintain your paramedic certification and stay up to date on all the medical protocols. If you are a former 18 Delta or military medic, I still suggest getting the paramedic certification because it will help you to bridge your military experience to the civilian world.

I would even suggest some exposure to military themed medicine (TCCC) for those without a military/police background, through some of the private schools that offer such things. Deployment Medicine International is one such company that I can recommend, and with a search, you can find others.  Also, you can learn more about training by talking with other medical contractors via the forums.  That is what’s called networking and getting ‘locked on’, which will help you big time in your security contracting career.

Now I am sure there are other ways of becoming a security contractor besides the medical route, and hopefully some folks will put their ideas down in the comments section.  But personally, the medical angle is probably one of the best ways that I have seen to accomplish this task. It is also one of those certifications that will be quite useful when you are done doing the overseas contracting game and are wanting to settle back home.  You could spend all that money you earned on going to Nursing school or similar, and advance your career in the medical world.  The experience you gained as a medical professional in the war zones will also be highly respected back home in the hospitals and ambulances.

The other thing that I wanted to touch upon is that if you are a security contractor with a military or police background, and are wanting to increase your marketability in this industry, then getting a paramedic or EMT certification would be an outstanding move.  Even with executive protection gigs, out of two guys with equal shooter backgrounds applying for the same job, the guy that can save the client medically will be of higher value than the guy that does not have any medical experience or certifications. If you want an edge in this highly competitive world of security contracting overseas or at home, get that paramedic certification.  To me this is all about being the ‘Useful Contractor‘ and diversifying your capabilities.(Miyamoto Musashi would approve) This one investment could save your buddy or client’s life, it could get you that high dollar contract you have been dreaming about, and it could keep you marketable in a highly competitive industry both CONUS or OCONUS for years to come. Something to think about if you are coming up against a wall in your career path, or wanting to get a foot into the door of this highly competitive industry. –Matt

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Afghanistan: Four Nepalese Guards Killed While Defending UN Compound Against Taliban Manufactured Riot Attack

Filed under: Afghanistan,Industry Talk,Nepal — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — Matt @ 12:29 PM

Thanks to Carmen for sending me this story. I call this a ‘riot attack’ because it is an excellent way of getting close to your target, and masking your movements within the sea of protesters. And as the protesters are angered and riled up by some key agent provocateurs in the crowd, the attack elements can do their thing. The added benefit is that the crowd will follow the attackers into the compound and help in the killing and destruction.  Which is exactly what happened with this protest/riot attack.

Might I add that the Terry Jones quran burning deal happened several weeks ago, and the UN had nothing to do with the act.  Why not attack the US bases or consulates, because Jones is an American? And why show anger over just this one idiot who burned a book?  There are plenty of religious nut jobs out there that have been burning Qurans left and right, to include even the Westboro Baptist Church.  I did a search on Youtube the other day and I was blown away by how many folks across the world were burning Qurans out of protest against these intolerant and extremist elements of Islam. Muslims could have a field day with protests, and yet Terry Jones is the dork they use? Like I said, this is manufactured.

I bet the imams in the mosques who are working for the Taliban, have been telling everyone that Jones is a huge religious leader in the US? That is just not the case in reality, and you will notice that the media purposely ignores Jones. And yet these religious leaders in Afghanistan think he is significant? These groups manufactured this protest, and played upon the ignorance of the Afghan people who naturally believed everything they had to say about the matter. Is there not a voice of reason to counter such things in these mosques and town squares? I would say not, which makes using crowds as a weapon feasible.

So what does that mean for security specialists working in the war zones? (I wrote about this last year) It is just one more attack to study and be aware of in your particular area of operations.  Now with uprising and protests popping up all over the middle east, the chances of this kind of attack will continue through the spring and summer. I would say that any protest that develops, will always have the enemy floating around in it and looking for ways of firing up the crowd.  The key here is to identify folks in your ranks that have experience with riot control, like law enforcement types, and draw upon their knowledge to formulate a plan in the defense. A good study would be this last attack, and the attack on Dyncorp contractors last year.

Another thing that I was thinking about the other day is crowd control measures that contractors could use in these types of scenarios. I asked one buddy of mine who was a cop if he had any ideas, and in prime ‘Gorilla Warfare'(Pete Blaber)/Building Snowmobiles (Boyd) fashion, he said use snakes. In India, the cops used non-poisonous snakes as a crowd dispersion tactic to clear out people, and he said it worked like a charm. No chemical agents, no physical baton use–just release hundreds of snakes into a crowd. The crowd quickly switched gears and decided that running away from snakes was far more important than protesting whatever it was they were protesting. So the lesson here is that any less than lethal method, no matter how crazy, should be looked at as a way of dispersing a crowd and defeating the riot attack.

It also takes planning and talking it up amongst each other at your particular job site. Get your QRF’s in order, and insure communications protocols and response protocols are all hammered out and working properly.  You want to make sure that when there is trouble, you can depend upon a ‘cavalry’.  But until that response force comes, you should have a defense and plan that can hold it’s own until they come.  You must have a good learning organization and a leadership that cares about doing things right in order to create a defensive plan that works. Also remember that if your guards are allowed to contribute ideas to the SOP’s, that they will be much more comfortable and supportive of implementing them. People will support what they help to create… I certainly hope the Nepalese were not just blindly following whatever plan they were given?

Another thing to think about is that you could also use the crowd as a means of attacking the enemy. The riot attack is not just a tool of the Taliban, and if the crowd is this easily manipulated in Afghanistan, then this could be one way of striking back. The key to success is to copy what it is they are doing in the various regions, and add one or two little things to the scheme that make it that much better. It is not good enough to just borrow the brilliance of your enemy, but to add to that scheme the things that will give you an edge over the enemy. Mimicry strategy, all the way…

Rest in peace to the fallen, and it sounds like these brave Nepalese guards had quite the fight on their hands. I do not know if their company is IDG Security Limited or not, but the UN does have a history of using Nepalese security contractors in Afghanistan. My heart goes out to the other fallen in this incident as well, and I certainly hope the UN will be steadfast in their mission in Afghanistan after this tragedy. The enemy wins, when groups like the UN give up and leave because of these attacks. –Matt

12 killed in Afghanistan amid protests over reported Quran burning
April 1, 2011
Twelve people were killed Friday in an attack on a U.N. compound in northern Afghanistan that followed a demonstration against the reported burning last month of a Quran in Florida, authorities said.
The fatalities comprised seven U.N. workers and five demonstrators, officials said.
Another 24 people were wounded, said Abdul Rauof Taj, security director of Balkh province.
Lal Mohammad Ahmadzai, a spokesman for the police in Mazar-e-Sharif, told reporters that a number of suspects “who might be the main organizers” had been arrested. (more…)

Friday, April 1, 2011

Pakistan: Three Security Guards Beheaded At NATO Terminal In Pakistan

Filed under: Industry Talk,Pakistan — Tags: , , , , , — Matt @ 9:21 PM

Rest in peace to the fallen.  You know, I could not tell you how many Pakistani security guards have been killed over the years defending NATO shipments because no one tracks it.  I would have to say it was high, but who knows….

I also wanted to highlight the brutality of this latest attack.  It is one thing to kill your enemy, but to also desecrate their bodies like this?  To me, this is the work of irhabists, and I do not see how any god–to include Allah, could ever condone such a thing.  –Matt

Three guards beheaded at NATO terminal in Pakistan
April 1, 2011
Militants early Friday beheaded three security guards at a NATO truck terminal and damaged 10 oil tankers in a restive Pakistani tribal area bordering Afghanistan, officials said.
The murders took place at the NATO supply vehicle hub in Landi Kotal, a town in the restive Khyber tribal district where the bulk of supplies destined for foreign troops in Afghanistan pass through.
“Early Friday we found the beheaded bodies of three security guards from the NATO trucking terminal,” tribal administration official Iqbal Khan Khattak told AFP. (more…)

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