Close Protection Course

A Six-Week Residential Programme

 “Instructors include UK Special Forces veterans, Armed Police supervisors, and international security specialists experienced in high-risk protective duties.” 

The Close Protection Course is delivered in line with the UK SIA Close Protection Award framework and provides the full range of knowledge and practical skills required to operate as a Close Protection Operative. This intensive six-week programme prepares learners to deliver personal protection in low-, medium- and high-threat environments through classroom instruction, practical skills training and scenario-based exercises.

Trainees develop core competencies in threat and risk assessment, protective surveillance, conflict management, communication procedures and operational planning. Learners gain experience in conducting advances, assessing venues and routes, identifying vulnerabilities and establishing protective measures. Practical modules include embus and debus drills, foot formations, protective movement techniques and coordinated team actions during dynamic or hostile incidents. Strong emphasis is placed on situational awareness, teamwork and professional behaviour under pressure.

Training incorporates Residential Security Team (RST) duties, including perimeter protection, access control, CCTV use, alarm response and household coordination. Surveillance and counter-surveillance modules build the ability to detect hostile reconnaissance, recognise behavioural indicators and implement effective countermeasures. Protective Driving introduces vehicle security, convoy procedures, journey planning, embus and debus management and actions-on during vehicle-based incidents.

Protective Intelligence is developed through analysing local threats, environmental factors and operational forecasting to support informed decision-making. Executive Travel Security prepares operatives to support clients through airports, hotels, corporate environments and public areas, including travel risk assessments, venue advances and movement coordination.

Scenario-based exercises replicate real operational environments and require learners to apply the full protection cycle—from planning, reconnaissance and coordination to responding to emergencies and managing protective evacuations. The programme meets the theoretical expectations of the UK SIA framework, including legislation, conflict management, use-of-force principles, duty of care, human rights and dynamic risk assessment.

Weapons Live Fire Package (Optional Module: 5–10 Days)

Learners preparing for international deployments may undertake the Weapons Live Fire Package as an optional module delivered outside the UK SIA framework and under host-nation legal requirements. Over 5–10 days, trainees progress from basic safety and marksmanship to advanced live-fire techniques including rapid target acquisition, close-quarter shooting, fire and movement, use of cover and transitions between primary and secondary weapons. Emphasis is placed on safety, accuracy and controlled application under stress.

Learning Outcomes and Qualifications

Graduates will be able to conduct complete Close Protection operations, including threat assessment, advance work, venue and route planning, protective movement and incident management. Learners will operate effectively within a Close Protection team, applying communication protocols, situational awareness, conflict resolution and lawful use-of-force considerations. They will be capable of delivering RST duties, detecting and countering hostile surveillance, performing journey management and providing protective support during executive travel.

Operatives demonstrate the ability to analyse intelligence, identify emerging threats and apply structured decision-making under pressure. They will maintain high standards of confidentiality, discretion, client care and professional conduct at all times. Scenario-based testing confirms competence in planning, coordination, emergency response and protective evacuation across a range of environments.

Successful completion provides the following qualifications and competencies:

• UK SIA-aligned Close Protection knowledge and practical skills
• Conflict Management competencies (SIA-aligned)
• Advance work, venue assessments and route planning
• Protective surveillance and counter-surveillance capability
• Residential Security Team (RST) operational skills
• Protective Driving fundamentals and journey management
• Protective Intelligence and threat analysis
• Executive Travel Security competencies
• Communication procedures and radio protocol
• Embus/debus drills, foot formations and protective movement
• Use-of-force principles, duty of care and human rights
• Incident management and emergency response
• Professional standards, etiquette, confidentiality and client management
• Dynamic risk assessment and team coordination under pressure
• Optional international Weapons Live Fire certification (where legally permitted): safe handling, marksmanship, live-fire drills and transitions

Graduates are professionally prepared for Close Protection operations in the UK or internationally, subject to local licensing requirements.

A Ten-Day Operational Programme

This programme combines the full five-day FREC 3 medical qualification with a five-day hostile environment training package designed for corporate personnel, private security operatives, contractors and government-support professionals working in high-risk or unstable regions. The extended structure ensures learners meet both the recognised medical standard and the operational readiness expected of professionals deploying to challenging environments.

Training includes comprehensive threat and risk assessment, journey management, personal security procedures and movement planning in hostile areas. Participants learn to navigate checkpoints, recognise hostile surveillance, identify pre-attack indicators, interpret behavioural cues and apply structured actions-on drills during complex or unfolding incidents.

The programme includes vehicle and movement security, abduction avoidance, emergency response, crisis planning and communication protocols under pressure. Learners practise maintaining situational awareness, decision-making discipline and team coordination during rapidly changing environments.

The five-day FREC 3 component develops professional medical capability. Trainees gain practical skills in trauma management, catastrophic bleeding control, airway management, shock treatment, medical decision-making and casualty stabilisation in resource-limited conditions. The programme prepares learners to manage medical emergencies during remote travel, field operations or high-threat deployments.

Scenario-based exercises reinforce all skills through realistic simulations including movement breakdowns, hostile approaches, communications failure, civil disorder, rapid threat escalation and environmental hazards. These scenarios require participants to apply operational judgement, resilience and calm leadership under stress.

Learning Outcomes and Competencies

Graduates will be able to plan and conduct movement in hostile regions, identify early threat indicators, apply personal security measures and respond confidently to critical incidents. They will demonstrate operational judgement, communication discipline, stress management and safe decision-making under pressure.

Medical competencies include:

• Full FREC 3 trauma-care qualification
• Catastrophic bleeding control
• Basic airway and breathing management
• Trauma assessment and stabilisation
• Casualty movement and evacuation considerations

Operational competencies include:
• Threat and risk assessment
• Hostile surveillance recognition
• Checkpoint handling and vehicle security
• Crisis response and emergency actions-on
• Personal and movement security
• Abduction avoidance principles
• Communication and reporting in high-stress environments
• Situational awareness and resilience

Graduates are prepared for deployment in support of corporate missions, security operations and government-linked tasks in complex or high-threat environments.

A Five-Day Practical Programme

This programme prepares humanitarian workers, journalists, development staff and NGO personnel to operate safely in unstable or unpredictable regions. The course develops practical awareness, safe behaviour, field confidence and clear decision-making appropriate to non-military personnel working in high-risk environments.

The training covers risk and journey management, situational awareness, personal safety strategies and movement procedures suitable for insecure environments. Learners develop the ability to recognise early warning signs, interpret behavioural cues, manage personal exposure to risk and apply appropriate actions during unexpected or challenging events.

Participants practise safe conduct at checkpoints, during travel, at accommodation sites and while engaging with local communities. Instruction includes managing difficult encounters, avoiding escalation, recognising indicators of civil unrest and planning safe routes and meetings. Communication discipline, calm behaviour and stress management are reinforced throughout.

Medical preparation includes accredited Basic Life Support (BLS) alongside accredited CPR and AED operation, supported by remote-first-aid principles suitable for resource-limited deployments. Learners practise casualty assessment, bleeding control, stabilisation techniques and coordinating requests for help when access to medical facilities is delayed.

Scenario-based exercises reflect real humanitarian field challenges such as communication breakdowns, roadblocks, public disorder, aggressive behaviour, environmental hazards and restrictions on movement. These simulations develop calm decision-making, resilience and safe responses under pressure.

Learning Outcomes and Competencies

Graduates will understand how to identify and reduce exposure to threats while carrying out humanitarian, media or development roles. They will demonstrate safe conduct at checkpoints, maintain situational awareness, manage field movement responsibly and respond effectively to emergencies without escalating danger.

Medical competencies include:

• Basic Life Support (BLS) – Accredited
• CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) – Accredited
• AED Use (Automated External Defibrillator) – Accredited
• Basic bleeding control
• Remote first aid and casualty assessment
• Casualty stabilisation while awaiting assistance

Operational competencies include:

• Risk and journey management
• Situational awareness and threat recognition
• Personal safety and avoidance strategies
• Checkpoint interaction and safe conduct
• Travel and accommodation safety
• Communication in low-resource environments
• Cultural awareness and safe community engagement
• Stress management and calm decision-making

Graduates will be prepared to operate safely and responsibly during humanitarian, development or media deployments in volatile or high-risk environments.