Any input on Executive Security International(ESI)

[yugo308guy]

Anyone have any experience with ESI for education?

[VooDoo6Actual]

G2G BUT expensive.

[C4IGrant]

G2G BUT expensive.

Interesting. I was looking at them the other day for some stuff.



C4

[rubberneck]

I'd have a hard time handing my money over to a guy who was an active Marxist revolutionary, who was knee deep in a lot of blood letting in Latin America in the late 70's early 80's. YMMV.

[Iraq Ninja]

Hop is right, very expensive.

Are you thinking of working in the EP/CP industry? ESI is good for CONUS work, but more than likely won't help for OCONUS contracting jobs where experience and a military background are most sought after.

[C4IGrant]

Hop is right, very expensive.

Are you thinking of working in the EP/CP industry? ESI is good for CONUS work, but more than likely won't help for OCONUS contracting jobs where experience and a military background are most sought after.

If you are talking to me, I am not looking to get into EP/CP. I like to learn what I don't know and expand my knowledge.

Most of us males already do EP type work (with our spouses and children), but just don't realize it.



C4

[C4IGrant]

Since ESI appears to be a poor choice, are there other options out there?

I have an e-mail into a State Dept Diplomat Security guy I know to see if he has any recommendations.



C4

[yugo308guy]

I'd have a hard time handing my money over to a guy who was an active Marxist revolutionary, who was knee deep in a lot of blood letting in Latin America in the late 70's early 80's. YMMV.

ETA: Nevermind on the source, it's obviously up front on their website! I guess, at least the guy is honest about his past.


Wow! I had no idea about that. Can you provide me a source to research that? That would definitely be a deal breaker for me.

I am considering getting into the EP field, CONUS only. I do have an Infantry background(even if it was a llooooonnnggg time ago). So, like C4IGrant asked, is ther a better alternative?

I looked into ESI and talked to one of the instructors last night. While it isn't cheap, I have already seen others who are 4 times as expensive....WITH NO ON SITE TRAINING AT ALL!!!(Henley Putnam University)...In their defense, you actually receive a Bachelors Degree from them. I don't know how useful that would be in all practicality though. ESI cost is between $6200-$7200 for their Executive Protection Services certification. That includes 9 off site distance learning courses and a 15 day on site course.

Anyone else have suggestions for me to look in to? Help is much appreciated.

[Iraq Ninja]

If you are talking to me, I am not looking to get into EP/CP. I like to learn what I don't know and expand my knowledge.

Most of us males already do EP type work (with our spouses and children), but just don't realize it.

C4

Grant, I was responding to the OP in this case. But, I think you are right in looking for personal security training.

I actually teach a course when I am CONUS called BYOB (be your own bodyguard). It is geared more for executives who travel and can't afford a bodyguard.

Instead of trying to find a course, try to seek out someone with experience in this field. A lot of LEO folks get trained up for EP work and may be glad to help. Once you learn the core concepts, you can apply it to your daily life. Many folks in the specops community are also trained up.

Most EP courses will spend a lot of time on motorcade drills, mission planning, advances and recces, etc. A lot of this may not be of use to you.

ESI does offer for sale a good book called The Complete Guide to Executive Protection. You can buy it online. If nothing else, it will give you a good overview to the skill sets and a better understanding of this profession.

[believeraz]

It comes down to what you want to do. If you're looking for a career, the question is where are you located, and what sort of protective work would you like to do? Different schools have focuses in different industry sectors, thus would be better choices for placement opportunities. An example is that R.L. Oatman owns the corporate/Fortune 500 market by sheer name recognition and ASIS affiliation. If you're looking for individual protective measures, there are a number of courses out there that are designed to that. I'd be interested in hearing a bit more about IraqNinja's BYOB course to fill that role.

ESI, in my opinion, is the hardest working marketing machine in the industry. As a result, they have a lot of people who attend for "coolguy" purposes. I have friends who've gone through residence training alongside dentists and financial advisors, who were basically going to "bodyguard camp". During my earlier career days, ESI also had the lowest percentage of working grads by anecdote, among the larger courses. I have likewise not seen their material (marketing or educational) evolve to the times. For the cost of ESI, You could attend multiple courses, cross-pollenate different trainer's theories, and build a broad base of applicable skills.

R.L. Oatman, EPI/Kobetz, Blackwater, Vance (may not offer open enrollment now), International Training Group and ITI all offer very well known and good quality programs within the working industry. There are also a number of smaller footprint companies, or companies that offer intro/overview courses that bear mentioning. Those make good "is this for me?" courses to attend, to get an overview of how things work. Oatman offers a two day course as an overview. I've heard very good things about TFTT's 4 day course.

For someone who wants to work in the industry, I'd recommend a quality protective course, a quality driving course (BSR and Tony Scotti both offer excellent options), and get at least First Responder, if not EMT-B or Wilderness EMT certified. You're more likely to deal with a slip/fall, car crash, or chest pains than you are to have to go all ninja on someone. That's some food for thought.

Normally I'd be careful about recommending BW/US Training Center because of reputation issues. For my last domestic detail, as I was screening resumes for new hires, the client specified "NO Blackwater people". That's not been an isolated occurrence in the CONUS market. It's unfortunate and largely undeserved, but perception drives reality in the EP market. Anyway, I will include them in the course listing, because of the experience of their instructor staff, and the amazing facilities that they have to offer. They have the capability, in-house, to do a lot of things that you simply can't do at other places. For that reason alone they deserve mention. Their advanced course offers some great opportunities to do stuff you can't find just anywhere.