Progression

The proactive operators amongst us will naturally look to develop ourselves as we progress throughout our career so that we do not get caught and then overtaken by others in the industry. In terms of surveillance you may start off doing the ‘trigger’, move on to operating as a ‘car man’ and then perhaps become the ‘team leader’ but your progression should not just be channelled down that particular route. Making a name for yourself is important and you can do this in various ways. Naturally, having good basic surveillance skills is important; you will not last long if you do not have a desire and natural ability for this great skill but you must develop in other areas. Most surveillance jobs are a combination of physical ability combined with technical equipment and as such having a good knowledge and the ability to use a wide variety of technical equipment is paramount. This could be but is not limited to:

• radios 
• trackers
• video cameras
• still cameras
• listening devices
• bugging devices

Kit & Equipment

You have listened to the advice given to you by your experienced instructors and also consulted their members only network since qualifying and have built up your kit steadily. You have also been keeping you eye on the best blog for the those involved in the security industry reading relevant post such as a recent one all about Good Glass. Although you would like the latest DSLR with a variety of good quality BIG glass you just cannot justify the outlay at this time and do not feel that it will add to your toolbox at this time. That said you would very much like a stills camera to utilise on various tasks that you are involved with. The smartphone camera just does not cut it and you want something a little more advanced than a point and push, something that will develop your skills so that when you do make the move to an all singing, all dancing Digital Single Lens Reflex you can hit the ground running. The question is what?

Bridge Cameras

Often called prosumer cameras, Bridge cameras fill the gap between a point and push and a full blown DSLR. In terms of size and weight they are easier to handle than an DSLR although they may not be a massive amount smaller than some of the smaller bodied Crop Sensor SLRs out there. Bridge cameras are feature rich, allowing you to use them in automatic and manual modes much like a full blow DSLR and the most recent models from a variety of manufacturers come with quite astonishing zoom capability. Bridge cameras are now well and truly deserving of a place within the surveillance operators kit bag.

Which One?

If you read through our blogs you will see that we often recommend either Cannon or Nikon and once again we are going to offer up 2 models representing these brands. Previously our reasons for recommending the 2 ‘main’ brands have been down to:

• quality
• availability
• accessories
• good second hand market
• knowledge of the product(s)

Now, on this occasion the reason is more due to familiarity with the menu system rather than performance based. There are a raft of excellent bridge cameras available from manufacturers such as:

• Lumix
• Fuji
• Sony
• Pentax

Nikon P520 – Cannon SX50

If I was going to purchase from Canon or Nikon then it would be one of these models. As I am a Nikon man I got the P520 however I did look at both models and being honest about it I would say (in lieu of a full test) that the Canon is the better camera. The look and feel of the Canon is superb, it just feels that little bit better in the hand. It is a bigger camera and does feel more substantial without being oversized. The specs are comparable but first impressions had me swaying towards the Canon.

Revealed but not reviewed

This is not a review of either model, more a justification that both models (and others) are well worth looking at as part of your growing equipment inventory. Cameras such as this are also part of your continual professional development as they will most certainly make the transition to a DSLR much easier and could even save you of going to the expense of buying a DSLR if you feel that a bridge camera does all that you need it to do. We all receive different assignments with a different focus (no pun intended) and going to the expense of a DSLR and the expensive glass that comes with it may not be worth it for you. In brief, I was able to pick up the Nikon P510 out of the box and start taking pictures with it in manual mode due to the fact that it replicates my D7000 so closely. Familiarity with the menu system was fundamental in this – the learning curve was almost non-existent. Continued use has seen my abilities with the P510 grow and of course become slicker. Due to the performance of this little bridge camera it now accompanies me every day and has to an extent replaced the D7000…but only to an extent. It is not a complete replacement but it comes pretty close and who knows what future developments will hold for this range of cameras?

Are either of these models a Bridge Too Far? No, so with the greatest of respect we would have to disagree with Lt. General “Boy” Browning on this occasion.

Airborne!

What is the problem?

No matter how good a job is some people will always moan – FACT. Why is this?

• You will get people that have been there too long
• They will have been passed over for promotion
• They will become lazy and unmotivated
• It is in their nature!

Whatever you do, do not let yourself become affected by these people. They will do their level best to bring the team down so that others will have a good old moan with them…it makes them feel better! It is unlikely that you will be able to change the outlook that these people have on life but by your own positive actions you can certainly try!

Positives and Negatives!

Always, always ALWAYS make a positive out of a negative. No matter what the situation is, there will be something that you can grab hold of and turn in to a positive. If you can smile when others grimace it will say a lot about you and much about them. No-one wants to be surrounded by moaners and furthermore no-one wants to employ them. It is like a fatal disease that spreads and affects all that come in to contact with it. Be polite to these people but pay them little attention. Just smile and get on with it. Demonstrate your own high standards while they wallow in self pity and you will triumph. If you as an individual are seen as having a can-do attitude then this will permeate amongst the team and produce positive outcomes. It is easy to complain…anyone can do that. 

Raising and Maintaining Standards

Rather than telling the bottom feeders what they should be doing and perhaps initiating some sort of conflict which would further jeopardise the contract just ensure that you are the guy that is living up to your CV. Did your curriculum vitae say that you were:

• a team player
• motivated
• solution focused
• result orientated
• good time keeper

These are common bullet points that people list on their CV, do not just add them to yours if you cannot live up to them because if you do not then people will quite rightly come back to you and question you over them. Although basics you should always ensure that you are the guy that:

• arrives early for your stag
• stay late if required
• washes up/dries up/puts away
• ensure the WC facilities are in a fit state for humans!
• places relevant equipment on charge
• carries out any tasks that you have been detailed to

Ex Military?

Many Close Protection employment opportunities within the commercial security sector are handed out to former members of the military. Employers look at ex military people because they expect them to maintain the standards that they demonstrated whilst serving – make sure that you do……from experience, many do not. Those of you looking at a career in the sector could do worse that purchase the Service Leavers’ Guide to Commercial Security – Resettlement Advice & Guidance: What you need to know. This book is pertinent and to the point and most of all written by people that have been through what you are looking to go through and who have achieved what you are looking to achieve. Get ahead of the game, be proactive and start with the end in mind!

1st Impressions

Although it is a cliché, first impressions really do count and as such you should be looking to create the very best impression that you can at all phases. Creating the correct impression is not about being an arse kisser, far from it but it is all about being professional. If others are looking at you and thinking ‘this guy is sh#t hot’ then that is what you want. If on the other hand they are thinking ‘who is this lazy, untidy, filthy individual’ then they will ensure that people steer away from you rather than towards you!

Recommendations

It is great to be recommended for a position and if that recommendation leads to you being selected then even better but it does not stop there. If someone has put their neck on the line for you then you should aim to over deliver even more so than you normally would. Think about the ramifications of messing up on a job that you have been recommended for?  Will that person do the same again? Unlikely. Will the person that recommended you be asked for more? Very unlikely! Is it possible that the person that got you ‘in’ may be removed due to your performance? This is entirely possible and do you really want this on your CV? Word does spread on the circuit, rumours are rife, phone calls and emails are exchanged and before long your name will be mud.

The past….

If in the past you have been a bit of a haemorrhoid (pain in the arse) then there is really nothing that you can do about it now other than move on! Ensure that everything that you do from this point forward is done to the very highest standard that it can be. Ensure that people that you meet for the first time have only the very best opinion of you, that way they will help influence others that may know you from the past and have a less than flattering opinion of you. None of us were born angels, we have all hung one one and acted like a horses arse but you have to mature and make these situations a thing of the past.

Closing thoughts…

Think about others before you think about yourself. Bite your lip, accept that you have to fit in and  continue to make good impressions or your work will dry up and may well take others with you!

Awareness

Ok, no-one is forcing you to be on Facebook but you have to be aware of your conduct if you choose to use it. Self employed, employed, company owner, it really does not make any difference as we all work for someone. We are all in the food chain and are ultimately answerable to someone or something as as such your ‘posts’ will be seen by someone at some stage.

Top tips:

• regularly check your security settings
• be stringent of who you approve as a friend
• have a friend ‘cull’ if required
• status updates should not be offensive to anyone
• photos – not compromising to anyone 
• image – do not use a photo  of yourself if want to remain covert
• just be sensible….imagine that your mother can see EVERYTHING that you post

Is it worth it?

Without doubt, there are some awesome Groups on the Social Network – but there are also groups that are just full of people dripping, doom lords, people that are glass half full and see the negative in everything. You will get the keyboard warriors that see fit to talk down everything and everyone. Remove yourself from these groups, ignore these people – they will not succeed.

Do I have to?

Absolutely not, as we have already said no-one is forcing you. However, Facebook is so convenient and there are soooo many people on it that it is reasonable to expect that opportunities will arise. It is such an easy way to pass on information which is quite possibly why so many people, including businesses use it.

In the process of leaving?

It may be that all of this is news to you! You did not realise that what you posted up on your wall could come back to haunt you. All is not lost, login and take a good look at what information is available abut you! Maybe it is time to create an account in another name and see what others can see. Have a cull of your friends perhaps? Are they really friends? How well do you know these people? On other Social Networks such as LinkedIn you will be connected with people that you absolutely do not know and that is fine but maybe FB is just for friends. Can you knock on someones door and call around for a coffee? If not, have a think about how well you actually know these people.

It is easy isn’t it?

As a service leaver you should be looking at your new career as a challenge at least as big as the one that you have just competed. Thinking that it is your right to be a success will lead to severe disappointment and quickly. Think back to day one, week one and approach it with the same attitude and you will not go far wrong.

Good luck and in the words of Lt Colonel Richard Kemp, keep attacking!

All you need to know about getting out!

Glass half full

You can mope around all you like but that is not going to change a thing. No-one will feel sorry for you at any stage, no-one will take pity on you but if you are the sort that takes rejection badly people in this industry may look at you in a poor light. Would you employ someone who fails to keep on going when things get a little tough? Do you only operate well when the ball bounces nicely for you? It is just unrealistic to expect things to go your way all of the time so having a glass half full outlook is essential.

How to handle it?

Always, always always make a positive out of a negative. No matter how small ensure that you take away some positive thoughts from your seemingly negative experience.

Did you get rejected at the 1st stage? If so, this may suggest that:

• Your CV is not up to scratch and therefore needs work!
• Maybe your cover letter was not good enough?
• Perhaps your skill set was not quite what was be looked for?

Perhaps your made the interview stage but did not progress any further. If this is the case did you follow up with a phone call and ask for feedback on your performance ? Have you failed at the interview stage previously? Were you fully prepared for the interview? If not then take a look at this blog called Close Protection: The Interview and see how closely your own preparation mirrored what is suggested in this blog.

Regardless of the reason why you were not taken forward you should take a very critical look at yourself and set off trying to improve on what you have done previously. Consider the rejection as a plus so that you can make amends before applying elsewhere so that this does not happen to you again.

Moving forward

How well qualified are you? Do you have multiple and connected skill sets? Perhaps some surveillance training would enhance your CV as well as providing the possibility of an additional income. Could you develop this skill alongside Private Investigation skills both of which work hand in glove? When selecting a course one thing that you should consider is your return on investment. Can you actually make money from the skill that has been taught to you? Have you researched that particular part of the sector to see what work is open to you? Perhaps it is a medical qualification that is quite simply required as the minimum standard and if you do not have it then you will face rejection time after time. People often talk about ticks in the box but this is fact of life on the circuit….

Constant rejection

If you are constantly getting rejected then you must, must have a word with yourself. You should also ask others to look at you and be honest or quite simply you will not succeed. We all need a little bit of luck every no and then but we also need a work ethic and unfortunately not everyone has it. People often say that they do but when you are trying to establish yourself work has to come before anything else. Once you are established then momentum needs to be maintained or you will be overtaken by the young thruster who is eager to take your position. Take a look at this blog that talks about phase 2!

Good luck!

Focus on the Details

Get a good look of the vehicle that you are following or will be following. Many operators just get a make, model, colour and VRN. I advise you go a few better and really look at the car.  Ask yourself the following questions:

• Where are its brake lights?
• Does it have a unique light cluster?
• Are there any roof racks?
• What and where are the aerials?
• Are there any distinguishing features such as window stickers, dents or items on a parcel shelf?

Look for anything that helps identify the vehicle at a distance. Then make sure that all this information is disseminated to the rest of the team. This information will be invaluable when you are stretched to your fingertips and relying on a glimpse or brief look at a distance. It can also make the difference between an unsighted and a loss.

Study ‘Body’ language

A lot of drivers telegraph vehicle maneuvers, it is down to us as surveillance operators to interpret these actions to assist in working out what our target may do in the near future. This in turn allows us to pre-empt their actions, prepare and react accordingly.

As a very basic example; a target is driving down a motorway in lane 2 and has predominantly favored this lane for the past ten minutes. He then moves into lane 1 and we identify that an exit is approaching in one mile. There is a very good chance he is going to exit at the next junction. Therefore we immediately prepare for this. We try and develop cover, we look on the map to see if it’s an elevated junction or a recessed one, we try and work out what lane he may use, do we have a backing call sign etc.  Through our interpretation of his maneuver we have given ourselves time to plan and prepare.

Lift your vision

The downfall of many is simply not lifting their vision past the targets vehicle. Just as advanced driving courses will teach their students to look to the furthest points of the road ahead, so must a surveillance operator. By looking ahead we can anticipate what will affect our target and what options they have open to them.

What would we be looking for? A few examples are:

• Will they be held by traffic lights
• What are the traffic lights doing further ahead
• Do lanes merge
• Is there a large junction approaching or a roundabout
• Is cover thinning out
• Will they have a long look back
• Is there a traffic jam, will they be looking for alternatives
• Can we use alternatives
• Is there a final destination approaching that ties in with intelligence

All these points and many more we must consider. By doing this we benefit just as in point 2, by allowing ourselves time to prepare and react due to pre-emptive assessment. There have been many times early on in the past during a follow when I started panicking that I was about to lose a target. If I had just lifted my vision and taken a moment I would have realized the lights two junctions up were just turning red and the target would be held. Basics, but once you start panicking you are far more likely to stand out and compromise a follow.

Commentary

My main piece of advice reference commentary is to paint a picture. To me there is no better way to describe how best to commentate a follow.  It is vital that your team mates are provided all the information that they require to make their own informed decisions to assist in a follow. This allows them to adapt, use initiative and refrain from relying on the surveillance snake.

However, it is vital that one keeps all comms brief and concise, avoid the drivvle and think of the following:

• Current location
• Direction of travel
• Towards

Voice procedure should always be brief, this is vital, however it can be too brief. It can also be long, yet convey very little useful information. The most important thing to focus on is providing an accurate and full picture of the situation and conveying this to the rest of the team quickly. If information is not shared in this manner then mistakes are far more likely to be made. Confidence is lost, your team-mates may lose cover, run up on a target, show themselves unnecessarily or lose track of the follow. People may lose confidence overall and this can develop into a surveillance snake or lack of alternatives and initiative being used.

Does this mean we start reeling off endless reams of information? It does not, it instead means that one should always use their initiative and judgment to discern what information their team mates would most need to serve the team best. To ensure this an operator must develop their commentary. They must provide a full in-depth picture in a brief and concise fashion.  Think about what info you would like to hear if you were a backing call sign. This is extremely important in a loss scenario (See how to recover a loss)

What if scenarios

Always ask yourself:

• What if the target did this?
• What will a target most likely do next?

Make these constant questions in your head and make a plan for each question. This process takes time to develop but it will mean that you are caught off guard less and less. Through pre-empting a target’s actions you will be able to maintain your cover for longer and ensure a more secure follow.

Mind your brake lights

One thing I have found as a biker is that people constantly forget to take their foot of the brake when stationary or held behind the target at night. This can literally place a spotlight on the vehicle behind. Be especially careful if you are running with a biker as there is a good chance they will be using you as cover, though a normal vehicle can still do without the extra spotlight.

Behaviour is your saviour

Be normal, this is extremely important and will help protect cover. Just because you have been seen does not mean you will be remembered. The trick is to be discounted and then forgotten. Act as normally in your vehicle as you can. If you are none for cover and your target starts playing up and is slow off the lights or slows down to a silly degree, then act as you normally would, approach him and don’t hold off in the distance hesitating, overtake him, in these situations distance does not help, you need to be overt to be covert.

No Peeking

Following on from the previous point about avoiding abnormal behavior, this is also a massive surveillance faux pas. Trust your skills and have faith that a view will develop, do not be tempted to peek.

Reflect on Your View

In light of the previous post of not peeking, there is another option to try and gain that confidence sighting. Utilize reflections of the windows in shops, houses, businesses etc, especially in heavy traffic. Also note the car in front and the car behind the target vehicle and then you can use these as lock-ons if unsighted.

Know your angles

There are certain blind spots in a car that we all know of, there are also plenty more when turning, when going up a hill, when going down a hill and many more. Think about when these will be and utilize them, make them part of your plan. Temper your driving to try and utilize these blind spots, position your vehicle accordingly. It is not just angles, think about when a driver will be able to use the mirrors effectively and then think about when they won’t be able to use them.  For example when your target is focused on what is going on immediately in front of them, such as approaching a junction, making a turn and braking they are very unlikely to use them.

These points are basic but often neglected. If we focus on the basics and ensure that complacency never strikes then we are in turn ensuring the greatest possible chance of success. Happy hunting…

Think back to your basic training……sometime ago for many of you no doubt but have a think about the first time that you were greeted by your section commander. Slightly fearful I would imagine, nervous of what was to come for sure but hopefully despite those well justified feelings of “what the hell have I got myself in to” the guy that greeted you made a good impression and through your basic training demonstrated that they were that good, that impressive and acknowledged by their peers as being the main man that you wanted to be him! If this was the case you have , perhaps without even knowing it, already experienced your first mentor.

Lottery

Did your numbers come up when you were assigned your first section commander?  Hopefully you were fortunate during your basic training and had such instructors, I know that I did and took a lot from my own section commander in particular. We are not talking hero worship here, just acknowledging that you have identified that there is someone out there that you aspire to be like or at least admire some of their skills/traits.

Choose wisely and choose more than one

It is likely that throughout your career in the commercial security industry you will work across a variety of disciplines such as:

• Close Protection
• Surveillance
• Private Investigations
• Residential Security
• Asset Protection
• Manned Guarding
• CCTV

Each one of these sectors will have standout operators, average operators and sloppy operators – no doubt about it so selecting your mentor is crucial.

It’s not a love in….

Whilst it is essential to chose your mentors wisely it is not essential to love everything about them! You do not have to admire their dress sense, enjoy the same movies or agree on their political stand point.

Admire from a distance

Some guys you will not be able to get close to even if you work with them, at least not at first but you will still be able to learn from them by listening and observing. You may have a business leader as one of your mentors so clearly you are not going to heading off for lunch with him or her anytime soon but this does not mean that you cannot pick up good practice from them that you can implement yourself.

Different strokes for different folks

Picking up different skills is essential, it may be that you can pick up some basic business skills from one guy and some on the job skills from another. Maybe you have attended a surveillance training course but would like to know more about video and editing? Who do you know within your network that is regarded as an SME in this regard? It is entirely possible that this will not be the same person that you look to for residential security.

Conclusion

Having a mentor can really help, especially during your formative years on the circuit. Someone to turn to when you are unsure about the best course of action to take. Someone to assist you when big jobs come in – better to take a smaller part of something big than a big part of nothing!

Frustrations

One of the most frustrating, yet all too common, aspects of life on the commercial security circuit is the situation regarding late payments. This is something that you should expect and aim off for; right or wrong it will happen to you at some phase of your career, probably frequently so having an idea about how to deal with this awful situation is a good idea.

Who does this happen to?

In a nutshell, this happens to us all. You may be new to the industry and subcontracting in. Likewise you may be a long in tooth subcontractor or you may be the contractor who is direct to the client but regardless you will be working for someone at some stage….we all have a paymaster no matter how far you are up the chain.

Tactics

Those who pay late will employ all sorts of tactics or make excuses in order to get away with paying you on time, chiefly amongst them are:

• cheque arrives on time but unsigned
• “we’ve sent it mate, it must have gone missing…..we’ll send it again in the morning, sorry about that”
• “we didn’t receive your invoice, can you resend it please…”
• “we’ve not been paid off our client yet”

The last one is particularly galling. You know, if you cannot afford to pay out for the job then do not take it on….it is quite simple really. You may loose a job or two by doing this but word soon gets around if you are a bad payer as many a security company has found out. The people that help you complete the task should not suffer because your client is not paying you so either turn it down or have robust business measures in place so that you can cope.

Planning and preparation

A blog recently posted on this website about providing good customer service to your clients and you would like to think that this goes both ways. You treat your client well, provide a good service and they will (should) treat you well in all respects including payment but this does not always follow. Based on experience, the vast majority of service leavers are unaware how to invoice. They are quite unaware that they should be agreeing payment terms with their client and that these terms are usually 28/30 days from the point of invoice, not from the job commencing.  Agreeing terms and sending an invoice is the first step but what else can you do to ensure swift payment?

In the first instance you should send your invoice via email (quicker) and then follow up with a hard copy. If you are unfamiliar with the client it may be appropriate to send it recorded delivery so that you can be sure that they have received it. Keep proof of postage for obvious reasons.

Sending & following up

There is no hard and fast rule on this but there is a little decorum that should be observed. Some people might want to be invoiced immediately so that they in turn can get their own invoices off if there is a chain. You may in fact be hounded by them for your invoice which is always nice! As a rule, a day or so after the task or agreed invoicing period ends is about right. Following up is a delicate issue. Again, some people may say to you “get in touch with me if the invoice is not paid on time please” and again that is great. If they are busy these things can slip your mind, no doubt about it – I have been there myself.  If nothing has been said and you need the money then wait a day or 3 after the invoice should have been paid and then get in touch but do so in the most professional, businesslike manner that you can muster. Calling up and blasting your client, or SENDING AN EMAIL WRITTEN ENTIRELY IN UPPER CASE will not go down well and will almost certainly guarantee that when your invoice is settled it will be the last one that you chase from that particular company.

Relationship building

Having a good relationship with your client is essential no matter where you are in the food chain and will almost certainly help facilitate your invoices coming in on time. Human nature is a funny thing; for example, it is much harder to pay someone late if you like them! If you have had a face to face with your client and they are aware of your personal circumstances (young family for example) it will stay with them and in many cases play on their conscious as the 30th day approaches. You could also send them an email at Christmas time thanking them for the work that they have provided you with over the previous 12 months. This is not arse kissing, it is just being a good guy and thanking people for using you and demonstrating loyalty when they could use any amount of others. Perhaps a bottle of nice wine would be appropriate? You decide, but do not go overboard as this may be seen as being a little slimy and perhaps bordering on bribery

Aiming off

As a subcontractor ensure that you keep money back, do not be the 1 month millionaire that was all too common within the barracks. Receive an invoice, put so much in your tax account, have your working capitol and also your ‘savings’ account. Consider having a business credit card that you use for things like:

• fuel
• accommodation
• sustenance
• essential equipment

If your invoices are paid on time you can then pay the debt off on time so that you do not incur any interest charges, if not then you have the facility to keep working and keep earning and paying off as much as you can afford until your invoices catch up. Cash flow is essential as any businessman will testify to so make sure that you have a robust plan in place to ensure that you can keep working.

The last resort

You can get legal over invoices but this really should be the last resort as it is a lose/lose situation for all concerned. It will almost certainly be the end of your business relationship with that particular client. The late payments of commercial debts regulations 2013 was introduced on March 16th 2013 – you can find out more about it here.

Summary

There is much more to this than can be passed on within a blog but suffice to say that good business domestics are so important which is why we cover them during our Close Protection Courses and why we provide ongoing support once you leave our care. Post course support is vital so if it is there then take advantage of it but remember to give back as much as you take out!

During your resettlement period you will also get advice from the Career Transition Partnership which will most definitely be useful to you but the problem is that their workshops are rarely specific to the security industry. You will also receive guidance from the chain of command, perhaps from an LE Officer who has probably not been a civilian for 30 years and even then only as a very young adult. Is all of this well meant advice? Yes, of course but is it accurate? Maybe, maybe not. Read on.

Knowledge dispels fear!

You must know what you are getting in to before you cross that last departure line that is the camp gates. You must know how best to navigate your way through a successful career as it is oh so easy to fall at the 1st hurdle never mind those that will follow. The Grand National Course has nothing on the hurdles that you will have to negotiate during your time on the circuit. As those that have attended our courses will testify to, there is little, if any spare time so to add to the industry awareness sessions that we deliver during our courses we often blog about the circuit and recently wrote about being a pain in the arse whilst on the job. We recommend that you all read this and think long and hard about the situations described within that blog and ask yourself the question “is that me?”. People will tolerate you for an incredibly short period of time if this is you. If you are the weak link, the person that is making it all fall apart then you should be prepared for a rapid exit. It is quite simple….don’t be that guy!

Decisions, decisions

There are various ways that you can go once you decide to leave the warm bosom of the UK Military and this a decision that you must not rush. Things to consider:

• Your financial situation
• Your family situation (married/children)
• Your skill set(s)
• Demand
• Supply
• What do you want from life?

If you have a family then you must sit down and talk this through with them and make sure that you do this before you enter your last 12 months. You’ve heard the one about planning and preparation right? The 7 P’s……..using this little beauty does not end once you hand in your No2 dress you know!

Financial

Establish what you have coming in and what is going out. What is your break even point? Does your partner have a career? Could they increase their hours in the short-term to cope with your impending reduced income? Knowing your financial exposure is very, very important and if your exposure is great the decision may well be taken out of your hands. Prior to your release date you should have in place a financial plan so that your monthly outgoings are drawn down to the absolute minimum. Sell the flash car that you bought after the last tour and get a more economical one. Pay off the loan that you have had for years! Do not get the latest iPhone, do not take out a new 2 year contract and do not take that trip to the USA that you have longed for. Think smart and plan for the future. Some time ago now I blogged about being a job snob and that blog can be viewed here and is another must read article for those of you looking to pull the pin.

Family

Family is important, the support of your family in this industry is vital, without it you are done. Ensure that you brief them as well as you can on the industry so that when times are hard they understand why and when the good times are about they know that it may well not last forever!

Good skills

Do you have a skill set that sets you apart from the crowd? Perhaps you are a proficient linguist in a much sought after language? If this is you then you may have a smoother entry in to the circuit than others. If you have a general skill set like many service leavers then your initial thoughts may channel you down a certain route, most likely the hostile environment route but isn’t that what everyone else is doing? Personally speaking, when I left I did the exact opposite to the competition. They went to Iraq, I went to Africa. They went to Afghanistan I came home and smashed the Uk circuit. Food for thought.

Supply and Demand

Do your research, look at where shortages are and consider some professional development in those areas but of course be honest with your own abilities.  If brain surgery is becoming the next big thing but you know that academically it is not going to be your forte then try something else that will be a little easier to achieve.

What do you want from life?

Ask yourself and be honest, do you want to be challenged or do you want an easy life? Are you a wage taker or a provider of wages? Can you do your own thing or are you better off employed? Are you pension topping or do you need to bring home a significant wage?

When I first became involved in commercial surveillance it totally blew my head apart. I was severely out of my depth – no arguments with that but I loved it! A switch was well and truly flicked inside my head. The stress was cancelled out by the buzz and I was quite clear how I wanted to spend the rest of my career. The shear enjoyment was EXACTLY what I was looking for after leaving the Parachute Regiment and it has remained a huge part of my life since and I do not see this changing. You can read more about making it as a surveillance operator here.

When you leave HE and come back to the UK you should expect a drop in wages or at the very least to be paying tax! Like we said in this blog, if you are asking the question about how to go from HE to the UK when you are already back then it is too late! You will spend months making up ground on the more prepared (remember those 7 Ps now?) you may even give up and head back out to the sand when you realise just how tough making it in the UK can be. Do not be disheartened……think glass half full rather than glass half empty.

Easy pickings

The security industry is awash with jobs that require very little effort, will not cause you any undue stress, will not make you feel pressurised in the slightest but the levels of stress and pressure normally reflect salary on offer. A simple yardstick maybe but reasonably realistic. In many cases you will be issued an luminous vest, will most likely be cold and have a flask of tea as company over a 12 hr period. This may be enough for you but if it is not then you cannot moan about it if you have determined your own future……we all have decisions to make in life, think carefully before you make the wrong ones!

Is newer better?

The PV900 has to be one of Lawmates’ most popular products and it is easy to see why especially with the edition of HD quality footage. The PV900 has updated software and hardware over the previous version and you can really tell the difference when operating the phone before, during and after the event. Quite simply it is better across the board, firmer, the operation more consistent and those of you familiar with the PV500 EVO/ECO will immediately feel at home with this device. The unit also works seamlessly with PC and Apple Mac, something that was not always guaranteed with the previous model! Your footage is recorded on to micro SD cards (up to 32GB) providing plenty of room for even the most extended of scenarios. The package that the PV900 arrives in contains all you need to get you going and start taking some covert HD footage.

Look & feel

Although some have criticised the PV900 for its slightly last generation look it is more than in keeping and would not arouse suspicion in anyway, especially when it is placed in the supplied case. The case allows you to operate the unit effectively and most importantly covertly. The body of the unit feels a little better than the previous model especially around the screen area.

Most suited to?

Units such as this tend to be most suitable when used to capture footage of a subject that is not moving. Using the PV900 HD when following someone on foot is of course possible but a MKI bag or similar provides a much steady platform in this particular situation. Set the PV900 on a table or held in the hand whilst a subject is static and it is a top performer that could be utilised by the Surveillance Specialist or the Close Protection Officer on a reconnaissance task.

Return on investment

Currently priced at £439.95 this piece of kit represents good value although some may initially baulk at the price. The way we look at it is:

• Will this allow me to get the money shot?
• Can it get the footage when I need to get the footage? Yes or no?
• Does this make me more appealing to others?

It is that simple and if it can then it is worth it every time and in my experiences with this piece of equipment so far it works well across a variety of situations. The surveillance owning this piece of specialist equipment could well find himself being the go to guy for a growing number of colleagues on a regular basis because everyone wants to use the guys that can come up with the goods!

Those of you at the end of your service in the military may want to take a look at this blog written by Thomo of Lateo Surveillance entitled “Investing in your business/investing in yourself”.