Posted by LeatherNeck on November 25, 2010 at 12:48 am
In the early 90′s, I spent three years living in Africa and Europe. During this time, I traveled extensively with several different airlines. Although the security procedures were always different in each country, they were all equally effective in portraying the highest level of security imaginable at that time. While flying out of Algeria, I quickly learned that no one was permitted to enter the airport until all luggage was thoroughly checked. Although time consuming, not one suitcase, bag or briefcase was left unchecked. Through the use of metal detectors, physical examinations and bomb sniffing dogs, I always felt comfortable in the fact that explosive devices (IEDs) would be found before they made their way into the airport.
In and out of Germany more times than I can count on both hands, the presence of heavily armed police officers and highly trained canines was always a constant reminder of the German’s intent to provide a safe environment. Italy, Spain and Tunisia were no exception. Just as their neighbors, they too believed that airline safety certainly justified a minor inconvenience. Although this was more than a decade before 9/11, terroristic threats was a daily occurrence in many of the countries I visited.
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Posted by LeatherNeck on July 18, 2009 at 12:59 am
Over the past several months, I’ve received quite a few emails asking often vague, but sometimes important questions regarding the security industry. Some of the questions I receive are with regards to security jobs, pay rates and job responsibilities. In light of many of these questions, I though I would provide you with a brief overview of the best security job in the world. For those of you under the age of 23, you just may want to consider this for a possible career move.
Many years ago, I was an active duty Marine stationed in California. Initially trained as a Dragon Gunner (wire guided missiles), I eventually made my way over to the Military Police field. It was while working as an MP that I learned of a program simply referred to as MSG (short for Marine Security Guard). Upon first hearing the words “Security Guard”, I immediately lost interest. “Why would a US Marine want to be a security guard”, I asked a senior enlisted Marine. With a half-cocked smile on his face and his eyebrows raised, he simply said “you’re kidding right?” and walked off.
Not long after, my lieutenant came to visit me in the barracks and asked if I’d be interested in learning more about the MSG program. Not wanting to sound too disinterested to the Lt., I said “YES SIR, I’d love to learn more about it”. A few days later, I found myself in an office filling out paperwork for reassignment to the MSGBN Quantico, Virgina. A couple of months later, after having been accepted, I boarded a plane for the long flight across country.
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