Ali M. TEHRANI, ITG 5
Ali Tehrani serves as a Security Consultant and is responsible for project development and delivery of consulting engagements for ITG® Consulting Services. He is also one of the Adjunct Instructors for the dynamic training programs offered by the International Training Group™. He is currently employed by another, very fortunate security services company on an energy sector project in Algeria. He was a student in ITG® Class #5 during the summer of 2005 when he attended the full, 21-Day Executive Protection Course.
Mr. Tehrani has more than twenty years of international experience in both the military and private sector conducting security management, protective operations, training development, and consulting services. His private sector experience includes providing close protection to a number of dignitaries; leading asset security teams in several business sectors and various threat environments; instructing the fledgling Secret Service of a high-risk, third world nation; and serving as a security consultant in numerous aspects of the energy sector.
Despite that impressive level of previous experience, Ali delved into his ITG® training experience in much the same manner as he does everything else – with GUSTO. Nearly every student who went through his class remembers him as the most unforgettable character in their training. And after they laugh at some memorable Tehrani escapade, they all say that if they were ever in a fight, regardless of the locale, they would want Ali at their back.
Many of those who have worked with him in high-risk environments share that sentiment. Throughout his career, Mr. Tehrani has been involved in protective services, consulting projects, and mobile training teams on five continents. He has led units in such high and extreme risk environments as Haiti, Iraq, and numerous locations in Africa. He has repeatedly proven himself calm under fire while operating in extremely hazardous conditions.
Sometime after completion of his training, Mr. Tehrani provided us with a thorough, professional After-Action Review (AAR) of his impressions. He entitled it ‘Comments On My ITG® Course Experience and How It Has Benefited Me Professionally and Personally.’ We took that as high praise coming from someone with his impressive background and reputation. Some of his comments provide an extremely insightful picture of the things we believe make The International Training Group™ so valuable to its graduates and differentiate it from the training offerings of others.
“The hotel accommodations were extremely nice, but also affordable. An upscale, local hotel was used by ITG® for their students. The hotel staff had been briefed on our requirements and accommodated us beautifully. Our rooms were very comfortable and all amenities one could hope for were provided in ample abundance. This is a very important part of any training course as a student undergoing the rigors of protective services training will perform far better with good living conditions. Appropriate rest and relaxation environments are very conducive to study and preparation.
“Our in-brief and equipment issue was done in a comfortable class room environment. We were organized into different teams and it was explained to us that we would rotate through leadership positions throughout the course so that everyone would benefit from learning all aspects of working on a detail. ITG® provided ample study materials and literature on the entire course curriculum. These very materials have served me extensively since I graduated from the course.
“The entire course was taught by different instructors, all of whom demonstrated exemplary professionalism in core competencies throughout the entire spectrum of the security industry. The different topics and subject matter areas were taught by true subject matter experts, all of whom had incredible professional depth and were able to relate information in an interesting, challenging, and sometimes downright entertaining manner. Each instructor had his own, personalized approach to teaching and instructing, but there was definitely the common factor of professionalism, course curriculum discipline, and attention to individual student needs.
“There was never any chance of anyone falling asleep, the well set pace of the course and the distinctly diverse personalities of the instructors prevailed. Humor was often interjected and students had sufficient laughs throughout the day to keep things from getting too intense and people from stressing out. Learning doesn’t have to be painful and teaching should also be joyful, aspects often neglected in training courses throughout the security industry today.
“During breaks and between blocks of instruction there was always time to ask questions, make observations and even recommendations to the instructors, who were extremely receptive and eager to hear comments and feedback from all the students.
“The entire spectrum of Protective Operations subject matter was covered in this course. However, this course taught me not only the subject matter but also helped my own development as an instructor/trainer, a role I find myself in more frequently these days.
“There was usually a class room lecture followed by a practical exercise, or hands on training. The facilities and training locations used were better than appropriate – they were nothing short of great!
“I have to interject that I have a close, friendly relationship with some of the instructor cadre, which put the training in a certain perspective. I do, however, give this account with absolute and completely impartial objectivity. My comments reflect many observations made to me by my classmates who, bar none, felt very positively about the course and the instructors. Some of these people have proceeded on with further ITG® training courses since then, which indicates the level of satisfaction prevalent throughout the entire group.”
During his distinguished military career, Mr. Tehrani served honorably in both the United States Marine Corps and United States Army, the former in the capacity of a Force Reconnaissance Marine and the latter as a Special Forces Soldier. There he rose through the ranks to become an instructor of other Special Forces Soldiers in numerous military specialties, and also conducted several high-profile humanitarian missions. This, combined with his private sector experience gave him a unique perspective on his classmates.
“The students came from a wide variety of backgrounds - the U. S. Military, the domestic private security sector, the law enforcement community, and the international contract environment. Some of the students had previous experience in the protective services industry, others were newcomers.
“One and all were treated equally, with respect and kind consideration by the ITG® instructors, who made everyone feel welcome and at ease in a training environment that was meant to teach and prepare, rather than to humiliate and confuse. Unfortunately, the latter is a common approach amongst different schools these days.
“Often students own experiences and personal recollections of previous jobs were solicited by the instructors during a lecture. I was asked a few questions and afforded the opportunity to amply contribute to this aspect of the training. In particular, my years working in Haiti and Iraq were of great interest to many of my classmates, some of whom were going to Iraq soon for the first time and seemed to enjoy any advice and recommendations from someone who had just worked there.”
Ali was most impressed with what ITG® calls the Practical Exercise (PE), which he referred to as the Final Training Exercise (FTX). This is the two-day, “all the way live” protection detail the students perform by utilizing all of the tools they have learned over the previous ten days.
“Now, the icing on the cake – the meat and potatoes - the ‘FTX’ - the final exercise - the grand finale - because all aspects of the course culminated in the FTX. Even though we were in a US city and had no government or official ‘green lights,’ local places of business, other locales, private citizens, previous ITG® grads, and many others had been motivated by ITG® to participate. They did so with apparent enthusiasm, pleasure, and a definite sense of realism. How did they do it? Hell if I know!
“We had a blast! We learned, moved, communicated, and applied all the important things that are part of mission preparation and analysis, including: mission execution, client relations, etiquette and protocol, advance work, team and asset scheduling, thinking on your feet, adjusting to ever changing situations, and AAR.”
Mr. Tehrani is a remarkable linguist and speaks at least seven languages fluently, although that number seems to increase with every new country in which he works. He received a Baccalaureate Degree in Business & Foreign Languages from the European School in Luxemburg. He concluded his AAR this way:
“So, reflecting on my somewhat diverse professional career and the different countries, cultures, and challenging environments I have been in, I will simply say this: ‘BRAVO, ITG® – Da Capo, Ausgezeichnet, muy bien hecho, bon travail, bem faito, immense gudd aaver, bon bagaille. You guys did well, very well.’ There, I said it in every language I speak (or did a miss a couple? Oh yeah, Arabic - ‘Coolish zien’ and Kurdish – ‘Zorbashi.’ There that’s it!)
“What can I say? Too bad I can’t go through the course again. Yeah, that’s how good it was.”