IAEPA Alumni Conference 2012
Dates To Be Announced

On Saturday May 7, 2011, Dr. Holifield was inducted into the Kuroshi-Do Martial Arts Hall of Fame, and was honored with the Grandmaster of the Year Award. This was the 4th annual Hall of Fame event hosted by the Kuroshi-Do Martial Arts Organization featuring some of the countries most prominent martial artist.

IAEPA Welcomes

Switzerland

Hungary

The Netherlands

Egypt

The International Academy of Executive Protection Agents is currently represented in over 25 countries worldwide. We are proud to welcome Switzerland, Hungary and the Netherlands as our newest international affiliates of 2011.

The International Academy of Executive Protection Agents Executive Protection course is a state approved/certified course of study through the Georgia Board of Private Detectives and Security Agencies & Office of the Secretary of State. In addition to this certification, IAEPA is currently seeking certification through the Georgia Distance Learning and Professional Education Association.

Tools of the Trade

By Mark “Six” James, EPS, CPO

Just like building a house or repairing a car the right tools often make the job significantly easier. While agents and operators possess varying skills levels your tools are designed to help enhance your operational capabilities and maximize your efficiency.

Below is a selection of commonly used tools of the trade, which can help you, become more efficient in conducting your business. They are listed in alphabetical order and not tactical importance.

Just as the situation should dictates your tactics, your individual skills, threat level, detail and environment should also help dictate your tools. It is not expected that an agent would carry all of the tools listed below on every detail, but ideally the ones which best compliment the assignment.

• Body Armor

Sometimes the shield is more important than the sword. It is a must have for protection specialists. It is more important to not get you or your client shot, than it is to shoot, shooting is extra credit. Personal armor is designed to absorb the impact from handguns, some shotgun projectiles and shrapnel from explosions. All body armor is not created equal so please do your research. Metal or ceramic plates can be used with a soft vest, to provide additional protection from rifle rounds.

Soft vests are commonly worn by protection specialists and law enforcement whereas hard-plate reinforced vests are mainly worn by combat soldiers, police tactical units, and other high risk protection teams. Typically the slimmer the profile and lighter the weight the more expensive the vest will be. Understand your vests rating capabilities – Level 1 through Level 3. Most vests will provide minimal assistance against a knife slash, but almost no assistance against a stab or puncture. There are some very good high tech vests which are stab resistant however they are priced accordingly. Buy the best vest your budget can afford and upgrade as soon as practically possible.

• Communications

In some cases a two way radio is a great communication tool in other cases a cell phone with a good Bluetooth ear piece is a better low profile communication option. As the public is use to seeing professionals chatting on their cell phones. Make sure if your cell phone or your PDA is your primary communication tool, make sure your cellular provider is as good as the rest of your equipment.

It doesn’t do you any good to have high tech phone or PDA and a low tech provider. Make sure whether using a two way radio or cell phone your ear piece has good noise reduction capabilities. During your advance work make sure your communications will work in the region you are traveling or in the event facility. If working with a team, make sure you have hand signals in the event you lose verbal communications capabilities.