Things are happening...

My test for 3rd Class Brown belt was delayed until Tuesday. It was actually a very short test since I had basically been grilled previously on several components. I knew the curriculum better than I thought I did... and it helped that I'd been reviewing the material for over a month. I need to stay on top of the organization from now on. It will make testign for 1st Degree Black belt much easier.

In preparation for the stick training portion of 3rd Brown, I purchased an LAPD-style baton. I regretted the purchase as soon as it arrived. The quality is not that much of an issue... but I immediately discovered why Professor Steiner recommends (or prefers) a baton without grooves. So this first stick will be relegated to "dirty" duty. I recently ordered a Dymondwood baton from Robert Koga's school. It measures 29"x1.5". it will be on the 'large' side. I had a choice between 1 & 1/4" or the 1 & 1/2". I think that the thicker stick will assist in grip development.

I also have an in-person interview for the Costco testing job. It's been a long time since I've worked anywhere but Microsoft. I've interviewed outside once or twice since leaving security but I've always ended up getting the MS testing gigs. You never know how these will go but I'm working this time so hopefully that will give me a bit more confidence. Plus I've already spoken with their individual over the phone. I think that this may be more of a team meeting session.

As far as planning for training I'm beginning to appreciate yet again that one really needs to plan SPECIFICALLY towards a goal & not simply have an intention to "do some training". I am going to have to make SOLID plans to attend Sexton, EPI, VDI or even the Icon advanced course within 6 months (or less) and begin saving funds for that course without fail.

I may only have the one opportunity to attend this year. That is NOT optimal. I'm honestly hoping to get in AT LEAST two courses in 2012 but it's March already and I'm still farting about. (Well... getting dental work done among other things.) Attending the full EPI Ep & firearms course in October would be fabulous. I really do want to attend Sextons course however & though they haven't yet updated their 2012 schedule on the web site I suspect that they'll have an offering in Las Vegas in September or October. Also, VDI has driving courses in June through December but the SUV supplemental course will only be realistically available in October. That conflicts with the EPI course.

Much of this depends upon funding of course. If I remain at Microsoft, I'll be restricted as to how much I can scrape together over the next 8 months or so. This will probably mean limiting myself to a single course... or two "cheap" ones. VDI & Icon may end up being my workable options.

Unfortunately, it will not serve my purpose to save without a plan (that never works). It also won't be easy planning too far ahead when I have no certainty of what my employment is going to look like. One thing I miss about being an "a-" contractor... the 100-day break-in-service. Seriously... I'm beginning to miss that time off. It would have been perfect for this kind of thing. I would always have that block of time every year to take training. Oh well. That's irony for you. I worked there for years wanting to migrate to vendor status & now that I'm there I miss losing that 100 days of wages because I can't get time off when I really want it.

On another note...

Saturday I'll be testing for 3rd Class Brown belt in Combato. I've been prepping for this for the past two months... though it feels more like 6. I've had to re-learn most of the previous curriculum... not the techniques themselves but where they go in the system.

This is actually required for Black belt as well so we start working on it at 3rd brown because attempting to do so in preparation for 1st Black would make most people go insane and simply toss it in.

It would be nice to be able to reach 1st Black by October of 2012. Yeah... tough run that. I've been busy enough at the test review that I've essentially abandon the Spanish studies for right now. I'll pick them up again once I'm done with this. Pimsleur had been working fairly well up to that point. Now I'll essentially need to start over Green River also has their online Workplace Spanish & I was planning to enroll in that to augment the other tools. I'd like to have at least some basic Spanish skills before I relocate (more than cerveza & banos.

Icon sent me another invitation to attend the Advanced Executive Protection course in April in Minneapolis. I doubt that I'll be able to attend. That's short notice as it's already nearly march, it's $2k plus flight and hotel, I may be changing jobs & I need to fix my teeth & the car. :(

New job?

Yup. It's that time again. Honestly... I wasn't even looking. I was simply attempting to maintain my sanity on this current contract. Insight Global only contacts me a few times a year. They only bother when they have something that's actually close to my skill set or previous job descriptions. (Unlike some other agencies that I could mention. That's a rant for another time though.)

They ended up submitting my resume` for a testing position with Costco's e-commerce division. The drive will be about the same though it may be quicker heading straight out I90 to Issaquah as opposed to having to deal with SR520 or 148th Ave traffic.

It's close to a 50% pay increase. :D I may have to adjust my training plans for this year but if I can manage to work this contract for a full 12-months this may actually be the end of my testing days. Again... :D

Potential Training for 2012

I'm looking at the following schools & courses for this year. Obviously I will not be able to take all of them but I'm currently trying to figure out how my schedule & budget will allow me to get in more than one course.

Vehicle Dynamics Institute:

I'd like to take the Protective\Evasive driving course. Icon has been working on getting a deal for alumni but I have not heard anything on the progress of this plan. They also offer a 3-day Surveillance Detection course which I believe may jibe nicely with the Surveillance Ops 5-day course.

Surveillance Ops

They have 3 & 5-day courses covering surveillance operations. I'm more interested in the 5-day as it is more complete & intensive.

Sexton Security

I want to take their 7-day Personal Protection Specialist course. (I would prefer to attend in Las Vegas because it cuts the air fare nearly in 1/2.) I'm not aware of any "advanced" courses offered by Sexton.

Executive Protection Institute

The EPI course and Sextons are similar. Both qualify the graduate to apply for a PPS license in VA. I understand that many of the Sexton instructors are EPI graduates. If I choose this option I would also like to attend their 6-day Protectors Handgun Training Course. They offer a discount if both courses are taken together.

Icon Services

I'd still like to take the Advanced Executive Protection course. This is actually directed more towards HE scenarios.

Trojan Securities

Trojans Advanced EP course is quite similar to Icon's. The two schools are still loosely affiliated. They actually have a 26-day block that I would LOVE to attend... but we're looking at roughly $8k which is basically my entire budget for 2012 so far. The advantage here would be getting a full course load completed at one facility & with one set of instructors. There's also an advantage as far as the networking prospects.

It is my understanding that Trojans driving course is approved by Vehicle Dynamics.

I also like the idea of having their surveillance course directed toward the high risk environment as this is eventually where I wish to be working. But again...

Tactical Weapons & Foreign/ Domestic Firearms Familiarization (2 Days) 5-6 October

Executive/ Close Protection (PSD) & Risk Management Hostile Environments (10 Days) 8-17 October

Kidnap Rescue, Executive/ Dignitary Hostage & Kidnap Awareness (5 Days) 18-22 October

Advanced Executive Close Protection Security Driving & Vehicle Anti-Ambush (3 Days) 23-25 October

Surveillance & Intelligence Operations Hostile Environments (6 Days) 26-31 October

If I manage to have my current contract extended, I may have a few thousand extra to dedicate towards training and relocation. Of course if I have to keep working here a few months longer I may go insane. I would prefer to be able to take at least one course in the Spring, then perhaps one or two this summer. I haven't mapped out whether I would be able to do that and also take the entire block at Trojan. It doesn't seem actionable at this point.

One final note I wish to add: There's an overriding concern here that the training be VALID and FOCUSED. I NEED most if not ALL of this at some point. Training is an ongoing aspect of the industry. However, there's also a need to be specific in selecting courses which will provide me with the skills necessary to secure entry-level positions.

There's little chance of being hired to work HE based on a 10-day HE course. I believe that I will be better served taking the PPS course curriculum augmented by surveillance & driving skills. Once this is reflected on my resume` I can begin adding the heavier weapons oriented courses. I'm far more likely to secure a higher risk position after having established myself within the corporate realm.

I still like the idea of focusing on surveillance\counter surveillance as not only will it allow me to augment EP employment with investigatory work, but it applies to HE as well as corporate.

Another aspect of the training is the certification in terrorism awareness & Sexton includes this as part of their PPS course. I'm also investigating more intensive courses with CI CENTRE and the University of St. Andrews.

Interestingly the CI CENTRE & St. Andrews courses are inexpensive and very applicable to corporate espionage & terrorism threat scenarios. Both are recognized curriculum in the International corporate arena.