Does Everyone on Your Team Speak the Same Language?

Does Everyone on Your Team Speak the Same Language? - Circuit Magazine -

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No matter how many people I talk to, no one has ever disagreed with me that communications forms a vital part of any successful operation. And I’m not just talking about security operations here, but

any

operation.

There’s a reason that communications are always one of the the first things a military unit gets up and running. Because without good communication, those controlling the operation are deaf, dumb and blind. And in those circumstances, things quickly deteriorate into chaos.

It’s an anomaly then that so little importance seems to be attached to ‘comms’ both during planning and training. Having a competent ‘signaller’ on the team, who is well-trained and well-versed in multiple forms of communication has to be an advantage, right? Think back to the military example I gave earlier, the signaller clearly forms a vital part in any unit, whether on the frontline or back in the Ops Room. But most security-related courses only pay lip-service to the importance of communications, if it is ever mentioned at all.

And since I’ve also brought up the subject of Ops Rooms, let’s talk about those as well. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve walked into what has been referred to as an Ops Room and had to try to keep my ‘poker face’ intact! We can’t change the way people think and react overnight, but let’s start to sow some seeds that might just take root and start to expand beliefs and mindsets.

We all know the saying “Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance” and I’m sure it’s applied regularly by many. But how does that apply from a comms perspective? First and foremost, someone (your sig’s guy) needs to have responsibility for comms and for the comms plan. Too often it is left to individuals and that is when things can go wrong. Be honest, when was the last time you included comms as a specific action in any general planning or SAP activity? If you did, well done. You are ahead of the pack, but I’d say you are in the minority. Why is that?

Why isn’t proper communication planning, training, and operational implementation taken more seriously? The answer is simple: progress. In the past two decades, so much progress has been made in the area of mobile communications that we just take it for granted that when we want to contact someone, we can. Unless we’re in an extremely remote or rural location, and even then, it’s not that often you find somewhere that you can’t even make a phone call, even if you can’t get online. So progress has made us blaze about the need for a comms plan, or training in how to communicate effectively and efficiently. No need, right? Anyone can use a phone… But one day this apathy will unravel into a world of pain. Hopefully, it will only lead to an embarrassing moment when the gate isn’t open when the Boss’s car approaches. But it could be much more serious…

Proper Communications Planning So, let’s cover some of the areas that should be addressed when considering comms planning. First, as I already said, make someone responsible. Nominate your comms guy and task him or her with drawing up a comms plan, both strategically and tactically.

After you’ve nominated someone, what necessary components should they include in a solid comms plan? In the first instance, you need to consider why you need to communicate. What’s the reason? Your reason for communicating timely and effectively will inform later choices. In its broadest sense, we communicate to pass information to individuals or to groups, to allow decisions to be made to facilitate the smooth flow of an operation. But there might be other whys. Maybe the why is to spread misinformation. If, for example, you know or suspect that you are being eavesdropped and you want to mislead your adversary to throw them off track. So, it is very important to figure out your whole range of whys first.

Next comes the what. What are we going to communicate? The what will be very much influenced by the nature of the operation itself. For example, a mobile surveillance task will often entail running commentary on the progress of the target relaying location, speed, distance and co-ordinating backup vehicles to take over in the event that circumstances arise which may call for it. Whereas a CP operation will be concentrating on managing the movement of a number of team members, whilst staying alert for potential threats, trying to stay as inconspicuous as possible, and trying to interpret the actions of the Principal. In these two examples, the what is very different and requires a different ‘language’, which brings us to the how.

The how actually has two elements to it. The first is the language we use (Part 1). And the second is the physical mechanism we use to deliver the information, i.e. why, what and how (Part 2). This article will mainly cover Part 1, a.k.a. the language. We will save Part 2, a.k.a the physical mechanisms for the follow-up article in this series.

Speak the Same Language to Get on the Same Page To begin, the language or the how of Part 1 will differ according to the scenario. And also, to a large degree, your previous operational experience. I was recently on a surveillance operation where an ex-HMRC guy was working alongside and ex-SBS surveillance operator. Honestly, they may as well have been speaking different languages! And in fact, they actually were!! Being professionals, they eventually figured it out. But it could have been their undoing and the undoing of a lot of preparatory work.

As a starting point, there are generally three golden rules that apply to language, no matter what words you are actually using:

#1. A for Accuracy.

#2. B for Brevity.

#3. C for Clarity.

Next, you need to figure out, experts in the communications world, refer to as the ‘pro’ or procedural words. We all know what they are, but do we all interpret them in the same way and fully understand their implications? Take for example the word “bravo.” Bravo to most people is the phonetic spelling of the letter “B.” But to many surveillance operators, the word Bravo indicates the target vehicle, whilst Alpha is the target male, and Echo the target female.

A crucial part of your communications training should ensure that VP or Voice Procedure is understood and well-practised. It’s massively underestimated, but good VP can make a huge difference to the smooth running of a task. And it also sounds consummately professional to anyone who happens to be within earshot. And you never know who may be listening, which leads nicely on to delivery!

How a Message Gets Delivered Matters Let’s consider the three Ps of communicating a message: Pitch, Pace, Pause and Tone. Okay, that last one isn’t a P…! If you were talking on the phone, Pitch, Pace & Tone would be very different. There are even courses you can go on to teach you how to get them all right if, for example, you are a telemarketer or telesales person. However, it’s different on the radio when you are also being mindful of your A, B, C’s. (Accuracy, Brevity, & Clarity)

As a rule, your pitch and tone should be even. And whilst there is nothing stopping you using some intonation in your voice, it isn’t really necessary. Generally, the information you are delivering will be factual, succinct, and to the point. Therefore, your emotional state should not really be evident from the tone of your voice.

Pace, however, is ultimately the most important. People who don’t practise this tend to speak far too quickly, frequently causing the message to need to be repeated and wasting vital seconds. Almost everyone would do well to slow down the pace of their communication. Not only does it add to clarity and accuracy, but it ensures costly and embarrassing mistakes don’t happen.

Lastly, let’s talk about numbers and difficult words. If you are going to give a string of numbers, it’s sensible to alert those listening to the fact by inserting the pro-word ‘figures’ into your message. For example, “We will be departing the residence at (figures) 21.00”, where ‘21.00’ is delivered “two-one-dot-zero-zero hours’ and not “twenty-one hundred.”

And if you have a difficult or important word to relay, one which is vital and not to be misunderstood, then spell it using the phonetic alphabet (which should be second nature to all). But again, alert those listening to the fact you are going to spell a word by saying, for example: “RV at the Medici, I spell MIKE-ECHO-DELTA-INDIA-CHARLIE-INDIA at two-one-dot-zero-zero hours”

Languaging protocol is key to ensuring that everyone on the team is operating under the same set of facts and responding timely and effectively to circumstances that might arise. For this reason, languaging should be made clear through a communications plan and practised in regular training scenarios, until it is second nature to all. This is even more crucial when under considerable pressure or at the end of a very long working days.

Next time, I’ll dive deeper into Part 2 which will cover different forms of physical communications devices, their pros and cons, and some of the key things to take into account when making a selection. We’ll also cover the Ops Room, what it does, why it’s there and how it should be run.

Comms Planning – Part I Does Everyone on Your Team Speak the Same Language? By Andy Clark, Owner G6 Global

G6 Global has been delivering critical communications since 1999. Communications connects everything that we do, and we will find the most robust and appropriate solution to your communications needs. We recently partnered with Syops Solutions who specialise in delivering communications training that will raise your team’s communications skills to the next level. For more information, email G6 Managing Director, Andy Clark at: andrew@g6-global.com. Or visit our website at: www.g6-global.com

The post Does Everyone on Your Team Speak the Same Language? appeared first on Circuit Magazine.

Tactical Firearms Training – The Basics

If you plan on working internationally in the close protection or security industry you will be expected to some degree to know how to handle firearms. Now, to get things straight to start with, what most people, especially Americans, don’t realize is that most non-government close protection jobs are unarmed due to the legal restrictions on firearms in most countries. Part of your threat assessment for any assignment needs to include the laws on the use of force and what if any weapons are legal in the locations you are going to be working in. Being caught with an illegal weapon, especially a firearm will get you thrown in jail very quickly, no matter how important you think you are! So, what do you need to know about firearms if you are looking to work internationally in the close protection and security industry, well the first and most important thing is knowing how to use firearms safely. To become proficient with firearms, like everything else takes practice and time, you’re not going to become and expert after a few hours’ tuition. Many firearms related accidents happen because those handing the firearms are not complying with the basic firearms safety rules of keep the firearms pointed in a safe direction and keeping their fingers off the guns trigger. If you ensure you always follow these two safety rules, you will be acting more responsibly than many others who are working with and carrying firearms. Remember, if you’re the one holding and in control of a firearm that accidentally discharges and injures or kills someone you will be held responsible. A thorough understanding of firearms and range safety is essential before you even start any shooting with live ammunition. Here is a more complete list of firearms safety rules and considerations. WEAPON SAFETY DEPENDS ON KNOWING YOUR WEAPON, CONFIDENCE, ALERTNESS Safety considerations for firearms must always be followed Always keep firearms pointed in a safe direction, especially when loading and unloading. Keep your finger off the trigger until the weapon is pointed at your target. If the action or slide on the weapon is closed, always treat the gun as if loaded and carry out the unload drills. Always show that a firearm is unloaded to a person before you hand it to them. When someone hands you a firearm, always check the chamber and make sure it is unloaded. Never take a person’s word for whether a firearm is loaded or unloaded, always check! Never point a firearm at anyone just for fun or play games with firearms. Always know what is behind your target and have a good backstop. Only fire-controlled shots. You can rapid fire but make sure you are hitting your target. Always practice tactical drills with unloaded firearms until you’re confident and competent enough to use live ammunition. Always unload firearms before dry-fire tactical training. Only use dummy ammunition or blank-firing firearms for demonstrations or dry-fire drills. Never mix blank, dummy, and live rounds. Always check that the gun is unloaded before cleaning. Never tamper with ammunition, and only use reloads from reliable sources. Never use damaged rounds, and always dispose of them safely. Keep guns and ammunition in secure storage when not in use. If you do not know how to operate or are having problems operating a firearm, get professional help. Never used drugs or alcohol when using firearms. Always check and comply with local firearms law Types of Firearms You should try to train with and get to know as many different types of firearms as possible as you never know what you will come across. You might be working unarmed on an assignment in a hostile environment but you need to know how to use the firearms you might encounter in that environment incase things go bad, say your hotel is attacked, and you might have to use the firearms of the local security, police, military and bad guys or make them safe after an incident. Pistols: The two main classification for pistols are semi-automatic and revolver. Sadly, most people these days tend to only train with semi-auto safe action guns such as Glock and S&W M&P’s etc. You need to know how to safely use revolvers, single and double action semi-autos, single action semi-autos and at least be familiar with derringers and sub-compact pocket pistols. Shotguns: I have heard quite a few supposed close protection experts, usually from police backgrounds dismiss the requirements for shotgun training. The reason for this I believe, is in their limited experience within a government agency they have never had the opportunity to use shotguns or travel to locations where they are used. I have personally working in Europe, South & West Africa, Middle East, US, Caribbean, Latin America and have come across shotguns being used in for security details in all of those locations. I would say shotguns are the most widely used firearm used for legal security purposes globally. Shotguns come in various configurations and you should at least understand break action, pump, semi-auto shotguns and the various types of ammunition and chocks. Assault Rifles: Even though most of the tacticool firearms training videos on the internet put an emphasis of training with AR-15’s and AK-47’s in reality there are not many places you can legally use them for security purposes unless you are in the military, on a government related assignment or working illegally. In Iraq and Afghanistan, the laws were put in place for security guards to carry assault rifles, but in most places if you are lucky enough to legally have firearms there is a greater change of it being a shotgun or a pistol rather than an AK etc. Sporting Rifles: In a lot of countries semi-auto firearms are banned or very restricted and the only legal firearms available will be sporting shotguns and leaver or bolt-action rifles. The only time most tacticool operators will consider learning how to use a bolt-action rifle would be if it was a tricked-out sniper rifle… Well, I am sorry if I offend any tacticool operators reading this but all hunting rifles, even with wood stocks, can be used as sniper rifles and for tactical applications. If someone is trained how to shoot properly, understands individual tactics and is armed with a decent leaver or bolt action .22 rifle, I would class them as far more value than the tacticool shemagh wearing operator who uses optics on their tricked-out AR-15 to hit paper targets at 15 meters… Other Firearms: Depending on where you are planning to work depends on the types of firearms you could encounter; in hostile environments you may need to have the rudimentary knowledge of how to operate belt-fed machine guns. Or, if you’re in an area where hunting is popular it might make sense to learn a little bit about black powder rifles and pistols, which in some places have a lot less restrictions on them than cartridge firing firearms. Tactical Firearms Training I have my own views of firearms training and the state of the firearms training industry but will try to keep them to myself as much as I can for the sake of this article. My basic advice to anyone looking at attending any firearms training courses would be is the course relevant and is the instructor experienced enough to teach it. The best place to get a good grounding in firearms training is in the military as you should be given thorough training, the bullets will be free, and you will also be getting paid for your time. There is no way you can replicate a few years military firearms training experience by taking a two-week tactical firearms course. One issues with those who have only had regular military training is that they are only used to dealing with a limited range of firearms. Personally, I only really started to learn and use handguns other than a Browning Hi-Power after I left the British Army and worked in South Africa, Eastern Europe and then joined a gun club in UK before handguns were banned. You must ensure the training you will be getting is relevant for what your going to be doing and is of a good standard. In the U.S. the general standard for training is what’s put out by the National Rifle Association (NRA). Most people don’t realize when taking a training course from an NRA instructor that it only takes one-day to become and NRA instructor or Range Safety officer. In the United States, it’s easy for a novice shooter to become an NRA firearms instructor, as I said it’s a one-day course, SERIOUSLY! With another one-day course they can become a Range Safety Officer, and after that with another one-day course a Chief Range Safety Officer able to certify Range Safety Officers… All without any experience of ever running a firearms course or any experience of actually working on a shooting range… I have come across NRA instructors who could not field strip their own firearms, Chief Range Safety Officers who had never used revolvers or shotguns. From their certifications you would expect them to be experienced professionals! Well, think again… You cannot gain the experience required to be a decent RSO or instructor by just attending a few theory classes, watch tacticool YouTube videos and belonging to Gung-ho online chat forums. The schools issuing these NRA certifications are making money, it’s business, but how many of their students then go on to market themselves as “firearms experts” after just a few one-day classes? I think this can be classed as fraudulent in anyone’s books. It’s just like taking a first-time driver, giving them a two- or three-day theory on how to drive, showing them a car, starting the engine and then certifying them to set up a driving school… Scary, right? Always verify the real-world experience of the instructors who you’re intending to pay good money for quality training. Firearms training can be very expensive so ensure you’re not wasting your money and understand that after just a few days training you’re not going to be at a professional level, whatever your certificates say! Ongoing dry and live firearms training and weapons familiarization is essential if your serious about working in hostile environments but learn to differentiate the difference between tacticool holidays and experiences and relevant training! Tactical Firearms Training – The Basics The post Tactical Firearms Training – The Basics appeared first on Circuit Magazine.

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