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I finally have spare time to breathe and write about my experience at ITG’s 12-Day Executive Protection Course that I attended in September. I actually wrote half of a review and as fate would have it Murphy came around and…, well, let’s just say it was lost into the black hole we call the “net”. So my apologies on getting back so late.
As some of you TF veterans and long time lurkers know I’ve been looking at attending ITG’s course at least since ITG 3 came back with such high praise for the course. Unfortunately, due to an active principals travel schedule I was unable to attend and had to defer for sometime. As “DJ” said during our graduation presentation I officially hold the record as taking the longest to finish the course. Lol
Anyhow, I was finally able to step in and attend the 12 day course in September and can confidently say without a doubt that ITG’s 12-Day Executive Protection Course is the best of its kind that you’ll find in the private sector bar none.
I didn’t know what to expect, but heard all the great reviews and as the first day began I knew I was in for something special. From the first day of training my instructors were open and willing to share all their knowledge without holding back. As “DJ” put it, we’re the future of this industry and for those of us not able have agency training it’s their duty to pass this on to the next generation.
I’ve attended other courses and while they were extremely helpful and add to the bag of “tricks” that I possess, ITG stands out for its hands on training and EXPERIENCED instructors. When you’re in a lecture and certain experiences with high level cabinet members or Presidents is being discussed you tend to sit up straight, shut up and listen. I sat there thinking how extremely lucky I was to actually hear about these experiences. Experiences ranging from protecting a well known “official” under imminent terrorist threat to motorcade videos from their personal archives.
If I didn’t understand something each instructor was willing to step in and calmly and professionally explain the concept and stayed with me until I executed it properly. The student to teacher ratio was perfect and because of that I felt that I had one on one instruction at all times. The instructors were encouraging and thrived on teaching and watching their students execute to perfection. It was great to see instructors as amped as I was to be there.
For those of you wondering what the coursework entails I encourage you to go to ITG’s website and download all the information. As I stated before the course work is primarily hands on training with little time in a class room setting except to explain what you’ll learn in the field. The presentations were incredible and photos and videos that most instructors would not have access to somehow make their way at ITG for your viewing pleasure.
As for my classmates? I didn’t know what to expect when I got there. I knew we’d be together for 12 days, but as with all these courses you’re not sure what ego’s are going to surface and what tree the guy sitting next to you might decide to mark. However, any notion that I’d have know-it-alls and balloon filled ego’s was quickly put to rest. Our class included folks in our industry that shared the same passion and love for this work as I do. We had folks with no to some experience. We had guy’s from the sandbox to guy’s operating their own companies. We had guy’s and girls who are on active details to those looking to get onto details. I’ve attended other courses and I can say that the group that I trained with for 12 days was one hell of a group and I would help at a moments notice. I can’t say enough for the team-work and the encouragement that was flowing throughout those 12 days. Thumbs up for ITG for weeding out the knuckle draggers and checking ego’s at the door.
Again, my experience at ITG was amazing and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I'm extremely proud to be a part of the ITG family. I have to personally thank all the instructors. From those that were there each and everyday shouting words of encouragement to those that took time out of their lives to fly in for their specialties (Tac Medicine etc.) and to those that took their vacations to instruct. One of my fellow classmates said it best, “this was the missing link in my career”.
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