Certified PSD Protection Specialist , CPSDS
APPROVED FOR POST 9-11 VA BENEFITS FOR ALL ESI CORE RESIDENCY PROGRAMS
2023 SPRING PSD RESIDENCY
Start Date: APRIL 30 Graduation Date: MAY 20
2023 FALL PSD RESIDENCY
Start Date: SEPTEMBER 10 Graduation Date: September 30
*IT IS BEST TO REGISTER FOR THE CLASS AT LEAST 60 DAYS PRIOR TO THE START DATE TO ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE A SEAT IN THE CLASS THAT WORKS BEST FOR YOU.
ESI offers a PSD Protective Operations Course that parallels our world-renowned Executive Protection Program designed for corporate and personal protection. The PSD program can be taken as a full-time 21-Day Residency.
Prerequisites for this program are:
- Former and current military with experience in a combat zone within the last 5 years.
- Former and current law enforcement with experience in an active SWAT or Drug Task Force Team within the last 5 years.
- Or a graduate from ESI’s Executive Protection Program with a level 1 shooting score within the last 5 years.
We review training and experience on an individual basis.
The program goes beyond minimum standards to meet the changing tactics of Jihadis who attack convoys, protection details, and their principals daily. Defensive procedures must adapt to the ever-changing tactics of a determined and intelligent enemy. ESI’s PSD Protective Operations Course is taught by staff that are competent, and also profoundly rooted in the operational side of high threat arenas.
Senior ESI Consultant, and Advisor
Pete Dordal
Program Design and Advisor
Pete Dordal: a 1984 ESI Graduate and former Marine Scout Sniper Instructor, is the principal advisor and consultant to ESI on PSD Protective Operations Program. Pete Dordal is Senior Vice-President of Garda World, the Consulting and Investigation / Global Risks Group of Garda World Security Corporation, one of the most trusted consulting, investigation, and security firms in the world. Pete Dordal is the Managing Director of International Security Operations and he is responsible for the delivery of security services to a variety of government and commercial clients in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Middle East.
Senior Instructors
Course Descriptions:
PSD PROTECTIVE OPERATIONS
The PSD Protective Operations course is focused on the basic concepts and building blocks of Protective Operations in a Combat Zone. The emphasis of training is live-action exercises and team operations.
The course covers the following:
- Protective Operations
- Low Profile Protective Details in High-Risk Zones
- Threat Assessment
- Personal Security Detail Operations
- Protective Intelligence
- Protective Shooting
- Special Protective Issues
- Performance Evaluation
The course begins with an overview of the requirements, duties, and responsibilities of a Protection Agent in High-Risk environments, including a summary of State Department Protocols for (PSD). From the understanding of the operational procedures of enemy tactics, the principles of protection simultaneously evolve and remain constant. Universal protective principles of Cover and Evacuate, Advances, Threat Assessment, and Surveillance Detection are taught as constants, but adapting to the tactics of terrorists and the changing needs of the principal.
Students learn the importance of route selection, accurate intelligence, and analysis. Emphasis is placed is on methods and strategies to prevent attacks on the Principal or the Team. However, the student becomes proficient in the skills necessary to defend against organized assaults, Attacks on Principal (AOP) Drills, Cover and Evacuation and apply AOP Drills in simulated urban ranges.
Lessons include:
- The Threat, Types, and Case Studies
- Principal Vulnerability Assessment
- The Protective Operational Plan
- Principal Briefing
PROTECTIVE OPERATIONS
ADVANCED SITE SURVEYS
This component of the training addresses the art of conducting Protective Advances for single-agent and multi-agent details. Pre-Departure Preparations, Site Surveys, Reports, and Presentations are discussed and demonstrated. Students perform Advances in a live urban environment, and learn how the entire protective mission relies on the thoroughness of the Advance, accurate intelligence, and proactive measures.
Beginning with the Principles of Protection, the course covers a wide range of activities and operational skills required on a Protection Detail. Students learn via lecture and discussion, then reinforced learning via a series of practical exercises.
Lessons include:
- Counter-Surveillance
- Formations/Working the Principal
- Assault on Principal (AOP)
- Security Posts
- Identification
- Communications
- Control Tactics
- Protective Equipment
SURVEILLANCE DETECTION & COUNTERMEASURES
The Basic Carbine & Handgun course begins with an active inventory of shooting skills necessary to qualify with a carbine and handgun. The student must be a Level 1 graduate of ESI EP Shooting Course, recent Military or current Law Enforcement service.
The skill base will achieve the following:
- Safety, stripping, cleaning, assembling, function check of a weapon
- Fundamentals of marksmanship (primary and secondary weapons)
- Weapon presentation drills (primary and secondary weapons)
- Load and unload drills (primary and secondary weapons)
- Administrative, tactical, and speed reload drills (primary and secondary weapons)
- Weapon malfunction drills
- Weapon transition drill and combat speed shooting
- Single/multiple shots and targets
- Target identification drills
- Stationary turns
- Shooting on the move and lateral shooting
- Firing positions (kneeling, prone, squatting)
- Barricade shooting
- Strong/weak hand drills
- Night shooting
- Two-man/four-man team tactics
At the end of the Basic course, there is a Staff evaluation of students’ basic gun safety and weapon handling for primary and secondary tactics. The student must pass the Staff personal evaluation to qualify to enter the Tactical course. If the student fails to pass the minimum shooting qualifications and staff evaluation, he will not be awarded a Certificate of Completion. The student will have the option of returning for remedial training or terminating the program.
*Students without recent military or law enforcement experience (within the last five years) will be required to complete ESI’s 28-Day Executive Protection Program with an 80% or better in order to participate in the PSD Program.
MOTORCADE AMBUSH RESPONSE
CAT TEAM RESPONSE
This final block of instruction is a simulated terrorist assault on a convoy with pyro-techniques. Student teams are expected to respond to the assault and protect assets. The course will stress firing from moving vehicle, target engagement, and response to convoy ambush.
OVERALL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
Students are evaluated in each skill area taught, using a variety of techniques, including practical application exercises and examinations.
These include:
- Advanced Exercise
- Formations Exercise
- Attack on Principal (AOP) Exercise
- Motorcade
- Shooting Exercise
- Immediate Reaction Drills (IRD)
- Instructor Performance Appraisal
CURRICULUM
Upon completion of any of the three Core Programs, the student is awarded a Certificate of Completion. An ESI Credential is awarded for Certified Protection Specialist ™C.P.S, Certified Security Management Specialist, Certified Protective Operations Specialists, and the highest award is granted for a Certified Security Specialist upon achieving ESI Standard Grade Point Average of 80% or above.
COMPLETION TIME
If a student enrolls in the Residency format, the course is completed in a three-week period. The student is awarded the Certificate at the time of completion. It is possible to break the three-week curriculum into smaller modules and the student accumulates credit as the modules are completed.
