After a very special experience providing Todd Systems CQB and CQC training in South Africa, I headed for Thailand to conduct the first Todd Systems close personal protection course to be exported to Southeast Asia.
This course would be very different conducted in a very tropical and populated environment where the required dress would be very informal compared to most of the close protection attire of the western world.
I personally found conducting the course in Thailand very user-friendly and all Thai service providers and assistance providers were very willing to provide us with their every assistance.
The course was over two weeks and included all facets of specialist close personal protection training at a basic level.
The international attending exponents had the luxury of living and training in house which made training meals and down time activities very convenient.
Being just one block from the beach in Pattaya and with the shopping centres bars and restaurants all around us provided us with the best of everything in a short walking distance.
The first few days were spent in the lecture room learning the theory in relation to protocol ethics close protection contract aspects as well as required skills and certification.
There was the occasional break for some intervention footwork and cover provision training during the first days of copious amounts of lectures and note taking.
Then came the theory of conducting threat assessments and security surveys all required as part of conducting advances and preparing operation orders.
Once the exponents had the fundamentals preparing operation orders squared away as well as the communications module, it was time to begin the practical aspects of preparing operation orders.
This meant getting out and doing advances by train and ferry.
The exponent’s soon realised the realities of less than reliable timings in relation to rail travel which only educated them in the importance of sending an advance party and relaying constant updates in relation to train factual timetables.
The Maritime advance on the ferry provided difficulties in the sense of securing favoured seating and dealing with the uncertainty of the passenger numbers on board.
Taking the train and the ferry as part of the advance phases made all the difference when the exponents actually conducted realistic training exercises by train and boat.
The constant reminder of the importance of attention to detail with conducting advances threat assessments and security surveys paid off as they prepared extensive and expensive operation orders that included every aspect from start to finish including secondary and emergency options.
Then it was off to the shooting range after the theory and rehearsals in relation to weapon handling safety and weapon proficiency.
This was a good day of aimed and instinctive shooting as well as CPO related CQB and CQC immediate action training in relation to unarmed and armed actions on encounters.
Combining their pedestrian escort formations with their roles, and responsibilities in relation to their status on the detail to cover and evacuate the principal as well as combat the threat was a facet of training that the exponent’s committed to with enthusiasm.
They started to show considerable improvement in relation to decision-making and fluid cover and correction of ear on the move as a practice went on.
We next conducted a half day of specialist close protection related CQC at a indoor training facility that saw us all sweating profusely.
Intervention combined with counter and combat skills against unarmed threats as well as edged weapon, bludgeon, firearm and grenade threats were continuously drilled.
Back in the lecture room surveillance anti-and counter surveillance as well as the theory of conducting vehicle and buildings improvised explosive device searches were provided.
Then, much to the pleasure of all the attendees was the driving phase where they got the opportunity to be trained in evasive driving.
As they gained in confidence and competence the ham break and reverse turns certainly water smile of satisfaction to their faces.
As part of the driving phase vehicular improvised explosive device practical searching was undertaken followed by a return to a hotel to conduct the principles of a practical improvised explosive device searches of a building.
This combined with all the other related theory including weapon selection trade required equipment helicopter operations and aircraft and airport related close personal protection brought on writers cramp and digital blisters as the hours and days wore on.
We were now at the business end of the course where the full-scale operation orders will reproduced and Todd Systems micro mapping format and the exponents now had to conduct operations protecting principles.
The drilling in the importance of advance planning preparation practice paid off in the rail exercise phase where the train was once again delayed by considerable and the advance party effectively at real time relayed revised timings that led to the proper arrival time at the train station of the principal.
Conducting protective security on the platform on the train and on arrival at the station where the detail disembarked kept the detail alert at all times.
After the planned luncheon and return train trip. The principal was efficiently and safely delivered back to his hotel.
The Maritime exercise required an early start for the advance component that once again perform their advanced duties well.
The principal was provided with effective protection that blended mostly well under the guise of a group of tourists in an Asian environment.
Several hours on a tropical island was just what the principal required and keep the protective detail in a constant state of vigilance and readiness.
The return was uneventful, as it should be if the planning and preparation has been thorough.
Outside of one or two issues in high crowd environments in relation to pedestrian escort formations becoming on a couple of occasions a little too obvious by majority all exponents performed their duties well.
They certainly learnt the importance of working as a tight unit and anyone that did not conform was certainly exposed.
I had them individually present specific aspects of operation orders prior to practical exercises to ensure they were up to speed with all aspects in relation to the specific exercise.
I also conducted debriefs that were blunt and to the point in relation to errors and applauded proficiency achieving the required performance levels.
The principles for the final practical exercise phase, codenamed the longest day included a 20 year veteran draw Sgt from the U.S. Army served in Desert Storm and is current police officer who has completed a Todd Systems close personal protection course of instruction along with another graduate of a Todd Systems close personal protection course from Malaysia.
Utilising these two proponents as principles and able me to stand back and assess all aspects of the longest day exercise.
Exercise originated from the principals hotel in Pattaya and included a two hour road trip to Bangkok where the two protective details had to provide protection business goods buying component as well as a prior planned visit to a leading jewellery house to provide designs for jewellery manufacture and make purchases.
Then the difficulty of the exercises was increased by considerable with lunch and shopping at a very busy Bangkok electronics shopping mall in pantip Plaza.
This was only the start of the difficulties of dealing with heavily populated pedestrian areas.
Both details had to protect their principals during a long pedestrian escort through the Pratanum markets to the Indra Regent hotel.
Just when they thought the transport will be called up and they would embus at the Indra Regent hotel they were advised they must pedestrian escort their principals back to the Pantip Plaza.
From here it was off to the massive MBK shopping centre for continued pedestrian escorted shopping followed by dinner.
Then both details embussed and it was a two hour drive back to Pattaya.
The hours of continued vigilance and attention to detail showed on the tide group of lads faces.
The next day being the last day of the course ended with a practical improvised explosive device search the certificate presentation and informal dinner that evening.
The course was a complete success with all positions filled on course and working in the populated major city environments Bangkok and Pattaya provided a interesting and different protective environment. Interestingly I was still receiving applications throughout the course and post course for this at first Southeast Asian basic level specialist close personal protection course of instruction.
This will ensure future close protection operator courses will be conducted in Thailand and we are in consultation in relation to providing Todd Systems close quarters combat and self defence training in other Southeast Asian countries.
The prior and background work conducted by the Todd group Thailand depot instructor and course manager Ekachai and the Todd group Thailand personal assistant Fii made this specialist course of instruction possible and they need to be thanked for their assistance and commitment.
Post the CPP course we were off to meet up with outside agencies assisting with the November 2013 CQC exported course of instruction to Thailand.
This course will be conducted at Chonburi near Pattaya and will include the amphibious assault CQC and self defence components that were delivered in the course in May this year.
This course has led to considerable interest after the CQC times article and as looking like another full muster for our exported courses to Thailand.
The final exported course to Thailand for 2013 is November 25 to 30 and is an intensive week long course of European military CQC (close quarters combat and self defence instruction)This course will include amphibious self protection and combative training. The course will be conducted at Chonburi near Pattaya Thailand. Inquiries email [email protected]
