A Best Practice Guide for Onboarding Armed Security Officers

At Convoy Group, we understand the importance of effective onboarding for armed security personnel. As a leading provider of armed security services, we are committed to ensuring that our security officers are competent, reliable, and trustworthy. Here is a brief outline of our best practices for onboarding armed security personnel, drawing from our expertise and industry standards.

Crafting an Effective Armed Security Officer Job Advertisement

When it comes to hiring armed security officers, the first step is crafting the right job advertisements. These ads should clearly outline the requirements for the role, emphasizing the need for significant private sector security experience, or the right combination of military and/or law enforcement background. Stringent hiring criteria will encourage only the most qualified and motivated armed security candidates to apply. Here are some key points to include in the protective security job advertisement:

Highlight Specific Security Backgrounds

Highlight the need for a significant private sector security, military, or law enforcement background.  Private security experience in executive protection roles, or even armed guarding positions that required security officer autonomy, are a plus.  Military and law enforcement experience can be a great initial proxy for competence and reliability, especially if that experience includes military special operations forces (SOF), or special weapons and tactics (SWAT) or detective experience in law enforcement.

Require Professional Security References

Emphasize the importance of professional references that can attest to the applicant’s performance of protective services.  Most people are not going to provide references that will speak poorly of them; however, a lot can be inferred from the professionalism exhibited by the applicant’s references during the reference check.

Indicate That There are High Security Training Standards

Mention the necessity of high training standards, such as firearms evaluations and potentially physical fitness tests to encourage only the most qualified armed security officers to apply.  It is one thing to possess security experience, but experience is not always the best heuristic of current capabilities.

3 Key Steps in the Interview Process for Armed Security Officers

The interview process for hiring armed security officers should be multifaceted and include:

• Telephonic Interviews: The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) recommends an initial screening to assess communication skills and background.  Private security companies should adhere to this recommendation when evaluating candidates for armed security officer positions.
• Video Calls: This is highly recommended and should be the minimum best practice if, in extreme cases, an in-person interview is not feasible for logistical reasons.  Armed security services require a level of professionalism that can be more effectively assessed during a video interview.  An applicant may have a great private security or military background, and speak well during a phone interview, for example, but the applicant may not show up for the video call appointment or they may not conduct the call in a professional manner.
• In-Person Interviews: This is an absolute must in the majority of cases and should serve as the final assessment to gauge the candidate’s fit for the armed security officer role.  In-person interviews are simply the best method of assessing the candidate’s soft skills, demeanor, and level of professionalism.  This is also important because the relationship between the private security company management team and the individual armed security officer matters – company culture is incredibly important.

Comprehensive Background Checks: Ensuring Reliable Armed Security Personnel

Pre-employment comprehensive background reports are indispensable in the onboarding process. These reports should include:

• Criminal History Checks: These should be performed through the state and/or FBI, or as required by each state and municipality.  In Pennsylvania, for example, armed security officers must have a criminal history background check completed.
• Personal Reference Checks: This should be included in the officer’s background check, and is designed to verify the candidate’s professional experience and character.
• National Sex Offender Registry: The Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking has a free sex offender registry search tool.
• Specific Certifications and Clearances: Each state and municipality may have different requirements to carry a firearm while on duty.  In Pennsylvania, armed security officers must possess an active Act 235 certification. In other cases, such as when the armed security officer will be working with children, they must possess special clearances.

Essential Administrative Tasks for New Armed Security Hires

Once a candidate has been selected, they must complete several initial administrative tasks.  Below is a sample list of tasks the security officer should complete.  Location, specific security duties, company policies, and other variables will influence the administrative tasks the security officer.

• Employee Handbook: New security hires should review and sign the company’s handbook to ensure their understanding of company policies.
• Employment or Independent Contractor Agreement: This document should clearly outline the terms of the employment or contract, and include the specific duties of the armed security officer.
• Use of Force and Firearms Handling Policies: These are incredibly important documents that should clearly explain the relevant laws as well as company-internal policies.
• Initial Counseling for the Security Officer: This should be a performance review between the security officer and their direct manager to discuss expectations, responsibilities, and performance evaluation criteria.
• Non-Disclosure Agreements: Sometimes specific roles will require the officer to work in sensitive environments, which is common for executive protection agents.  In other cases, companies may want to safeguard information they deem to be confidential or proprietary.

10 Critical Training and Assessment Areas for Armed Security Officers

The initial security training and assessments for armed security officers are critical components of the onboarding process. This training can include the following:

• Advanced Situational Awareness: This training will enhance observational skills and threat recognition.
• Verbal De-Escalation: This is one of the most important skills for security personnel, and teaches effective communication techniques for de-escalating tense situations.
• Combatives and Defensive Tactics: Similar to verbal de-escalation, this s a critical skill and more applicable in most cases than lethal weapons proficiency.  This training should teach the appropriate use of physical force in self-defense and defense of others.
• Firearms Evaluation: While usually not as applicable other skills, this is an absolute must for armed security officers.  The ability to properly and safely handle a lethal weapon, and shoot accurately, is a no-fail requirement for security personnel who carry firearms.
• Emergency Medical Training: CPR, AED, and bleeding control training are important for security officers.
• Post Orders and Emergency Management Plans:  Security personnel must be familiar with their work locations and the location/client-specific procedures.  This training prepares the officer to handle daily activities, as well as emergencies to ensure the safety of clients and the public.
• Executive and Close Protection Training: Security officers hired for executive protection roles should undergo an evaluation to determine their competency in close protection operations.  In some cases, companies can run internal executive protection courses to ensure SOP continuity and standardize the company’s protective security operations.
• Defensive Driving: Close protection officers, in particular, benefit from defensive driving training.  This is often outsourced to reputable companies such as Vehicle Dynamics Institute (VDI).
• Physical Fitness Assessment: Different armed security positions will require various levels of physical fitness.  At a minimum, armed protective security officers should be capable of moving from standing to prone positions, sprinting short distances, and moving relatively heavy objects with different drag and carry techniques.

Safeguarding Quality in the Provision of Armed Security Services

The onboarding process for armed security personnel is a critical component in ensuring the safety and security of clients and the public. By implementing best practices, employers can cultivate a team of security officers who are not only competent but also reliable and trustworthy. These practices, ranging from crafting effective job advertisements to conducting thorough background checks and providing extensive training, lay the foundation for a robust security force.

Key takeaways from these best practices include:

• The importance of attracting the right candidates through well-crafted job advertisements.
• The value of a multi-step interview process to thoroughly evaluate potential hires.
• The necessity of comprehensive background checks to ensure reliability.
• The critical role of initial administrative tasks in setting clear expectations.
• The significance of thorough and ongoing training in various aspects of security work.

Implementing these practices demonstrates a commitment to excellence in the security industry. It ensures that armed security officers are well-prepared to manage a variety of situations, from routine patrols to high-stress security incidents requiring quick thinking and decisive action.

For organizations seeking armed security services, it is crucial to partner with a security provider that prioritizes these onboarding best practices. At Convoy Group, for instance, we utilize a comprehensive approach to onboarding and training that aligns with industry standards and goes beyond to ensure the highest quality of security service. Our commitment to thorough vetting, extensive training, and ongoing professional development ensures that our armed security officers are always prepared to meet the unique challenges of protecting people, property, and assets.

By choosing a security partner that values these onboarding practices, businesses and organizations can have confidence in the quality and reliability of their armed security personnel, ultimately contributing to a safer and more secure environment.