Certified PSD Protection Specialist

POST 9-11 VA BENEFITS FOR ALL ESI CORE PROGRAMS
ESI is approved by the Colorado Office of Veterans Education and Training
(COVET) for Veterans Education and Training Benefits.
ESI is also eligible for MyCAA - Financial Assistance to Military Spouses

“The film clip was produced and edited by Dead Reckoning Entertainment, and the still photographs were taken by Shin Tanaka, of Gunner DVD and Hideo Sasagawa, a photo journalist from Japan.”

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 28-Day Residency. Pre-requisites 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. Training and experience will be reviewed on an individual basis.

The program meets all the requirements of State Department's Presidential Security Detail (PSD) Protocols, and goes beyond these 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 a staff that is competent and profoundly rooted in the operational side of high threat arenas. (Staff Resumes)

For information on student financing GO TO: STUDENT FINANCE PLANS

Sir
Well Mr. Duggan, I don't know where to begin to thank you. I was recently hired by G W as a shift supervisor at one of the combat outposts in southern Afghanistan and so far I love it! I really had a great time at your school and you were right, it was a life changing experience! I’ve met and made lifelong friends at your school and truly feel like I am a member of a growing family that you started so many years ago.  If there is anything I can ever do for you please do not hesitate to ask.

Thanks again Sir you are truly a legend in the business and a master of many young men and women within the industry.

Your Canadian family member
Matt V
C.P.S., C.S.O.P.S., C.S.S., C.P.I.S., with honors

Chief Training Consultants and Senior Instructors for PSD Protective Operations: Pete Dordal, Pete Italiano, Glen Boodry, Bruce Carleton, Craig Gundry

	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.
	Pete Italiano, DIRECTOR OF TRAINING PSD Protective Operations Program Pete Italiano started his career in the Nuclear Security in 1985 for the Department of Energy as a Security Police officer, then in 1987 moving to the Special Response Team where he specialized in weapons, tactics, explosive breaching and self-defenses. He took a promotion to Special Response Team (SRT) Team leader at Argonne National laboratories. Pete then took a job as a lead trainer for the Department of Energy Idaho Training Division where he worked until was offered the Training Unit Manager. During his time with DOE, he was involved in several special programs that took him to Washington, D.C. as a Technical Survey Team Member (special assignment) responsible for conducting assessments of accountability documents, cost assessments and vulnerability assessments for Russian Nuclear facilities and storage areas. (Classified Top Secret) Pete Italiano was also a member of an elite group of specially chosen and trained personnel to work for the US Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) Presidential Protection Detail (PPD) for the President of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai in where he was part of the inner Security Close Protection Detail known as the Karzai Protection detail (KPD). Pete has spent the last eight years as a team leader and training supervisor for the US. Department of States Anti Terrorism Assistants Program (DS/ATAP) as Part of the MATT Mobile Assistants Training Team and in country programs as a subject matter experts (SME) in Advanced Crisis Response Team (ACRT), Crisis Response Team (CRT), Very Important Person Program (VIPP), Instructor Development Course (IDC) and Preventing Attacks on Soft Target (PAST). Pete has delivered courses for the Department of State DS/ATAP to various US and Host Nations (HN) law enforcement and military personnel in Pakistan, Nepal, Indonesia, Colombia, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Bangladesh, Mexico, Jordan, Brazil, Jamaica, Liberia, Mali and Senegal. Pete is sought after for his excellent teaching abilities along with his knowledge in the security field where he has received several awards and commendations over the past 27 years. In 2011, Pete was appointed Director of Training for ESI's PSD Protective Operations Program. Pete is responsible for ensuring the successful delivery of the ESI training curriculum, for coordinating classroom preparation, Assisting all Primary Instructors (PI) and Assistant Instructors (AS) in preparation for the delivery of the course. He is responsible for the day-to-day operational activities as reflected in the program of instruction, responsible for validating, justifying, and reporting any deviations from the program of instruction and supervises and assigns daily activities for staff instructors. Finally, Pete will draft end of course After Action Reports for review and submission to Administration.
	Glen Boodry is a 1992 graduate of ESI and has over 23 years of combined military, law enforcement and federal antiterrorism and counterterrorism experience. Glen has spent the last eight years as a Team Leader and training supervisor for the US Department of State’s Antiterrorism Assistance (ATA) Program – Mobile Antiterrorism Training Team (MATT-T) and is currently providing security oversight for a joint DoD/DOE – Special Access Program (SAP). Glen was an original member of the US Department of State’s Presidential Protective Security Detail (PSD) for the President of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai where he served as a Shift Leader (SL), sniper team leader, and member of the Primary Ring of Security (PRS).
	Jason Perkins served over twenty years in the U.S. Army. He spent the last 15 years of his military career in Special Forces where he started as a Special Forces Medical Sergeant. While stationed at Fort Bragg, NC, Jason attended the Special Forces Assessment and Selection in 1997 and completed the Qualification Course two years later. He was among a small number that completed the course on one attempt. Jason was assigned to 1st Special Forces Group in Fort Lewis, WA. While assigned to 1st Group, he deployed to Southeast Asia several times to provide small-unit tactics, medical , counter-insurgency, and counter-drug training. After September 11, Jason deployed with 1st Group to the Republic of the Philippines for Operation Enduring Freedom in 2002 and 2003. In 2004, he was selected to return to Fort Bragg to serve as an instructor for the Special Forces Medical Sergeants Course. Jason taught surgery, anesthesia, and advanced combat trauma management. He was recognized several times for having a high pass rate for his students and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for the three years he served as an instructor. In 2007, Jason attended the Special Forces Warrant Officer Course and was reassigned to 3rd Special Forces Group. While serving in 3rd Group, he was deployed several times to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom where he served as an Assistant Detachment Commander. On one of these deployments, he served as the PSD team leader and assistant team leader for CJSOTF-A (Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force - Afghanistan). Jason's last deployment was to Pakistan in 2010, where he trained Pakistani Military forces in the Northwest Frontier. He retired in July 2011. He continues to teach medical, firearms and tactical training.
	Bruce Carleton is a career paramedic/firefighter with the Portland, Maine Fire Department. He has worked in urban EMS systems for over 22 years and has a wealth of hands on experience dealing with pre-hospital trauma care. Additionally he is a Tactical Medic with the Portland Police Department's SWAT team, and is an accomplished firearms instructor. He is a noted instructor in EMS, and has taught various EMS topics throughout the country. Bruce is a graduate of the intense casualty care tactical medical program of the nationally rated International School of Tactical Medicine (I.S.T.M.) in Palm Springs, California. In addition, Bruce is a certified technician by the Center for Tactical Medicine, Counter Narcotics and Terrorism Operational Medical Support Program (C.O.N.T.O.M.S.) Beginning in 2010, Bruce became a Guest Combatives Instructor at the U.S. Navy S.E.R.E. (Survival Escape Resistance and Evasion) School, in Rangeley, Maine. Bruce teaches the elite troops at S.E.R.E. a unique version of Stand-Up Grappling. He is a student of longtime Carlson Gracie black belt, Julio Fernandez. He is an active and successful competitor and coach in submission grappling and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu events, including winning gold medals at the 2002 Pan American Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competition. Bruce is also a student of UFC veteran and world rated Vale Tudo, and champion, Mike Brown as well as a judge for the recently recognized M.M.A. tournaments in the state of Maine. He is constantly in demand as a defensive tactics instructor and has developed an innovative approach to training and teaching defensive tactics in realistic combative fighting. He has taught numerous police departments, SWAT teams, and EMS units his unique blend of subject control principles and tactics. Bruce developed and taught ESI's first responder medical course to resident students for several years and he is a Senior Instructor in ESI’s PSD Combatives and Tactical Med programs. Between 1994 and 2009, Bruce was invited to Mexico to provide medical training for the governor’s protective detail and wealthy industrialists. He is also a lifetime martial artist, accomplished in several martial art disciplines

BATTLEFIELD TACTICAL FIRST RESPONDER
Exclusive to 28-Day PSD Residency

This course prepares combat zone contractors to operate in the austere, hostile world of tactical operations whether it be convoy under assault in the Third World or a Forced Entry in an inner city.

The Tactical First Responder course is designed for YOU to take control and responsibility in the absence of a medic on scene. The course is best suited for law enforcement officers, security contractors and other health care providers. The concepts and techniques taught at ESI are the most current methods practiced in the military and is often referred to by other names, including Save Yourself. Save Your Partner, Self-Aid, Buddy-Aid, Combat Life Saver, and First Responder, etc.

The Tactical First Responder student will be trained and possess the confidence to demonstrate the skills necessary to save a life while under enemy fire. In addition, the student will be tested on their understanding of non-emergency wounds, self-treatment techniques for burns, heat related illnesses and musculoskeletal injuries. The course incorporates lectures, discussions, hands-on skill stations, and individual instructor feedback. The course is built around realistic field training that culminates is high speed, stress induced, tactical drills and a Field Training Exercise (FTX).

BATTLEFIELD FIRST RESPONDER COURSE OUTLINE:

• How People Die in Combat
• CBRNE & Field Expedient Decontamination
• Medical Equipment and Gear Selection
• Rapid Trauma Patient Assessment
• Assessment and Re-Assessment Care
• Pain Management
• Immediate Action Plans
• Management of Airway
• Management of Blast Injuries & Burns
• Management of Hemorrhage
• Management of Tension Pneumothorax
• Management of Chest Wounds
• SERT –Special Extraction Rescue Techniques
• Medical Aspects of Specific Operations
• Medical Threat Assessment & Medical Preplanning
• Patient Evacuation
• Patient Medical Information
• Bandaging and Splinting in the Field
• First Aid / CPR /AED Certification

COMBATIVES
EMPTY HAND CLOSE QUARTER COMBAT
Exclusive to 28 Day PSD Residency

A three time Gold Medal winner in International Brazilian Grappling, Philippine and Koran fighting arts, Bruce Carleton has evolved a simplified CQC system for non-martial artists, SWAT Teams, SERE and special military units. It is a form of Stand-Up Grappling designed to blitz the opponent, suddenly and violently. This course combines elements of Stand Up Grappling, Jujitsu and Kick Boxing.

This approach is infinitely flexible in that the operator can insert weapons (blunt, edged, firearm) into the control positions...while the same tactics apply to ALL the operators, the individual pieces can be mixed and matched. For example termination can be in the form of a neck break, a rear naked choke, a spinal compression, blunt trauma, etc. It could be that the operator initiated empty hand, and then accesses a blade or firearm from the primary control point to terminate the threat. Same holds true for restraint or incapacitation.

The above blends seamlessly with STAB which is an extreme close quarter/last resort empty hand response to an all out blade assault...same tactics, same control strategy, same responses from the bad guy, same finishes (including access to firearms, blades, etc.). If follows the same 3x3x3 Rule. Therefore it is easy to assimilate to the students on top of their empty hand tactics.

It is not fancy, nor is it meant to be comprehensive...covering every possible method of attack/defense. It is meant to provide a generic approach to close quarter assault survival that is flexible and a template to build from or add to if the operator wishes to. It is easy to learn, easy to teach, easy to use and works very well with resistance.

• The Principle
  • Keep it Simple and Savage
  • Keep Control
  • Stay on the Offensive
  • Develop Power for Short Range
• Objective:
  • Restraint
  • Incapacitate
  • Terminate
• Aggressive Defense:
  • Attack
  • Three Point Cover
  • The Helmet
  • Crash The Line
  • Don’t Hang in the Middle Range
• Clinch Reference Points
  • Center Clinch
  • Side Clinch
  • Rear Clinch
• Striking Tools
  • Upper Body Tools
  • Lower Body Tools
• Close Range Handgun Disarms
• Carbine Disarms
• Weapon Retention
  • Handgun
  • Carbine
• Take Downs and Defenses
• Practicing Techniques

IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVES
Exclusive to 28-Day Residency

This course consists of a careful collection of documents from government agencies and private sources that analyze a wide variety of terrorist deployment of improvised explosive devices. ATF documents the application of VBIEDs and IEDs by Al Qaeda worldwide, their targets of attack and the means of delivery. The course discusses the wide spread use of shaped charges and land mines by Al Qaeda and Insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan that account for more than 50% of American troop fatalities. The course covers the use of suicide bombers, their motivations, recruitment and sacrificial suicide.

Lessons Include:

• PSD Protection Duties and Responsibilities
• Identification of Types of Explosives
• Sources of Explosives
• Sensitivity and Initiation: Firing Train, Initiators, Firing Systems, Methods of Initiation
• Tools of the Trade
• Commercial and Military Explosives
• Home Made and Incendiary Devices
• Triggering Mechanisms
• Search Procedures: Search of Buildings

PROTECTIVE OPERATIONS
Exclusive to 28-Day Residency

The PSD Protective Operations course is focused on the basic concepts and building blocks of Protective Operations in a Combat Zone. Emphasis of training is live action exercises and team operations. The course will cover the following:

• Protective Operations Orientation
• Low Profile Protective Details in High Risk Zones
• Threat Assessment
• Advance Operations
• Personal Security Detail Operations
• Protective Intelligence
• Protective Driving
• Protective Shooting
• Special Protective Issues
• Performance Evaluation

The course will begin 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 Presidential Security Details (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 & 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 strategy to prevent attacks on the Principal or the Team. However, the student will become 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

ADVANCES AND SITE SURVEYS
Exclusive to 28-Day Residency

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 will be discussed and demonstrated. Students will perform Advances in live urban environment, and learn how the entire protective mission relies on the thoroughness of the Advance, accurate intelligence and pro-active 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
• Command Posts
• Identification
• Communications
• Control Tactics
• Protective Equipment

SURVEILLANCE DETECTION & COUNTERMEASURES
Exclusive to 28-Day Residency

Technological advances have broadened the Protective Agents' capability to effectively use the Internet, Google Earth and social networks in support of a protective mission. Students will also learn the importance of physical verification of the information derived from all sources. Instruction is provided in a format that allows the student to obtain a basic understanding of the critical role of surveillance detection in a hostile environment, and how to manage a covert counter surveillance operation.

Lessons include:

• Contingency Planning / Managing Major Events
• Special Mission Posts
• Surveillance Detection & Countermeasures
• Physical Security

INTELLIGENCE IN PSD OPERATIONS
Exclusive to 28-Day Residency

The Role of Intelligence in PSD Operations is the critical block of ESI’s Teaching Philosophy. It is based on a weeklong realistic scenario called the Red Orchestra. Students begin by a careful study of Al Qaeda’s training manual: "The Management of Savagery", which is Al Qaeda’s playbook for a military/political strategy of conquest to re-establish a worldwide Islamic Caliphate. The early stage of this strategy is focused on achieving a social, economic and political state of Chaos. Students are assigned two countries, one Islamic and the other non-Islamic for country specific intelligence Threat Assessment and Management Plan for the purpose of understanding the common elements in their security threat assessments. While gaining some understanding of the effects of a religiously motivated and a secular criminal gang destabilizing a state, students will learn the dramatic impact of information leakage on a PSD team’s personal security.

Surveillance activities are the foundation of a terrorist or organized criminal attack. Having the ability to detect and validate suspected hostile surveillance during the planning phases of an impending terrorist or criminal attack make it possible for the protective security detail (PSD) to deter and potentially prevent an attack.

The purpose of the Red Orchestra is to expand upon the preceding Surveillance Detection and Countermeasures class by subjecting the student to actual hostile surveillance and attempts to solicit and collect intelligence information. This exercise allows the student to apply the classroom instruction received to a real world setting applicable to PSD operations.

Upon completion of the exercise, students will be able to:

• Discuss the critical necessity to maintain operational security (OPSEC) to ensure the safety and security of the principle and members of the protective security detail (PSD).
• Identify the types of hostile surveillance employed during the exercise as well as discuss the methods used to collect and solicit intelligence information.
• Discuss how the surveillance countermeasures and counter surveillance tactics and techniques employed by the PSD were able to expose and validate the hostile surveillance being conducted.
• Identify and discuss how the information gained from the surveillance countermeasures and counter surveillance operations was used to effective plan PSD operations and deter and prevent an attack.

CARBINE & HANDGUN IN PROTECTIVE OPERATIONS
8-Days

BASIC CARBINE & HANDGUN

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, assemble, function check of the weapon
• Fundamentals of marksmanship (Primary & secondary weapons)
• Weapon presentation drills (Primary & secondary weapons)
• Load / unload drills (Primary & secondary weapons)
• Administrative, tactical and speed reload drills (Primary & 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 student’s basic gun safety and weapon handling for primary & 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 be awarded a Certificate of Completion. The student will have the option of returning for remedial training or terminate the Program.

TACTICAL CARBINE & HANDGUN

The Tactical Carbine & Handgun course builds on the basics and quickly moves on to higher skill sets. This course will stress the critical importance of immediate and aggressive reaction to assaults or ambushes. Teams will perform Immediate Action Drills (IAD) repeatedly until a coherent response of each team member can be predicted in actual convoy ambushes or protective formations. Once the student is able to demonstrate safe and accurate carbine fire in the basic building blocks of the Course of Fire, the student will advance towards tactical maneuvers in Vehicle Convoys, Assaults on Formations and Assault of Principle, Multiple Threat Response and tactical awareness skills. The IAD drills will focus on reaction to 360 degrees of assault, shooting positions, clearing of the weapon stoppages, re-engagement, accuracy under stress and movement.

Students who complete academic and practical components of the PSD Protective Operations Program will be awarded a Certificate of Completion and an ESI PSD Protective Operations Credential. The Tactical Shooting course includes:

• Door Entry Drills
• Stress drills / Shoot No Shoot
• Shooting from in / around Vehicles
• Initiative Based tactics (IBT)
• Advanced Room Clearing
• Advance Mission Planning
• Ballistic Breaching / Mechanical Breaching
• Stress Shoots Day / Night
• Tactical Movements Under Fire
• Suicide Car Bombs Moving target engagement
• Target Indication / Identification
• Barrier / Medium shooting

*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
Exclusive to 28-Day Residency

This final block of instruction is a simulated terrorist assault on 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 written examinations. These include:

• Advance Exercise
• Formations Exercise
• Attack on Principal (AOP) Exercise
• Driving Exercise
• Shooting Exercise
• Immediate Reaction Drills (IRD)
• Final Training Exercise (FTX)
• Written Examination
• Instructor Performance Appraisal

Bethany and ESI staff,

For what it's worth...

I live in Reno, NV, and interviewed with SOC this past summer. The position was in Hawthorne, NV at the Army Depot there doing site security. I was offered the job, but ultimately went with another company. However, in the interview, when it was noted that I was a graduate of ESI (2007), that effectively ended all questions they posed as to my qualifications. The interviewers were more pleased and impressed with this than they were about my having graduated from a highly rated police academy and previous law enforcement experience. I literally called my girlfriend as soon as I left the interview and stated that ESI had paid for itself then and there.

Attending RT is still one of the best experiences of my life.

Zack Gregovich