Important Information on Homeland Security Training



Not all security guards want to work for a private firm. Many will want to pursue opportunities with the government whether that is actual security work or positions with such organizations as FEMA, the Department of Justice, the American Red Cross or the U.S. Coast Guard. No matter which field you want to go into though, having your homeland security training will be essential to getting you hired.

What You Will Learn in a Homeland Security Course

In a homeland security course you will learn all of the skills and technical knowledge required to combat this 21st Century enemy. In order to protect America's cities, towns, financial centers, transit and other important infrastructure you will be taught detailed information on how to identify and deal with WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction, biological, nuclear, and chemical threats.

As part of your training you can also expect to do detailed classroom and field work in key areas such as emergency response, large casualty response and decontamination procedures. Before you get started with any courses in this field it is advisable that you take some college level criminology courses to give you a taste of what to expect in this field.

How to Enroll

Security training differs from state to state so you should first contact your state government for some initial information. After that you should get in contact with the Department of Homeland Security for exact course requirements. They will also provide you with further information about any educational perquisites that you may need.

A career working in terrorism response and prevention is a fast paced, highly challenging and rewarding proposition. Make sure you receive the proper training before you pursue your career!
 

Do You Need to Go to College to be a Security Guard?



Security guards serve a vital role in today's economy by protecting businesses from vandalism, theft, fire and a host of other problems. Security guards also serve as the face of the business. In fact often the first and last face that the customer sees. So with all these competing tasks are employers generally looking for somebody with a college degree when they are looking to hire?

The short answer is no.

Unarmed Security Guard Requirements

In order to become an unarmed security guard in the U.S. you only need to generally be able to fulfill the following prerequisites



Unarmed Security Guard Requirements

In order to become an armed security guard in the U.S.the requirements are a little bit tougher. Along with all of the above you will generally have to fulfill the following procedures as well


  • Go through a state gun training course
  • Get a concealed weapons license
  • Obtain a firearms permit


These requirements vary from state to state but usually two or three of these conditions are necessary at least. So as you can see there is no requirement for formal education whether you want to become an armed or unarmed security guard in America.

This isn't to say that getting a degree or certificate will hurt you though. You will definitely receive more interest with that on your resume and will likely command a higher wage as well. Some good programs to pursue are Criminology, Business or Sociology.

Skills Training

But more practically for some, it might be better to pursue a training program in any one of the following areas before applying for a job as a security guard.


  • CPR licensing
  • Firearms training
  • First Aid
  • Pepper Spray Training
  • Batons Training
  • Tactical Weapons Use

While almost anyone can get hired as a security guard after going through the basic requirements listed above, if you plan on taking your career seriously, you should certainly consider some further education or skills training.

Security Guards Can Save Your Business Money



Many people look at security guards and view them as a rather useless expenditure. They view them as kind of slothful, just sitting around doing nothing most of the time. But they can actually be a huge boon to your business. And there is actually a lot going on behind the scenes that people don't readily notice in today's security industry.

Low Cost

One of the best things about security guards for your business is that they aren't usually that pricey. Many security guard positions start with wages as low as $15 per hour. Surely the protection of your valuable assets and the piece of mind that comes with that is worth this amount. Just think about the receptionist which you pay $20 per hour to answer the telephone and take messages for you. Which is actually more important to your business?

Hidden Savings

There are also a whole host of ancillary benefits to hiring a security guard force. They will help prevent things like graffiti from happening. This saves you money in not having to hire a removal company to clean it up. 

They will also prevent break-ins and robberies that will not only cost you the price of the merchandise stolen but also the repair costs to any doors or windows they bust up. Most carpenters will charge you the equivalent of several day's pay for a security guard, just to repair a door. 

There are other things such as fire prevention where the effect can hardly even be calculated. The potential damage to your business from a fire that gets out of control could equate to the security guard's entire yearly salary. 

Hidden Benefits

Lastly, just the good will and feelings towards your customers and even couriers will greatly help your business. A security presence will help everyone involved with your business feel safer, and more comfortable doing business with you. This is just another hidden boost to your overall revenue. 

So I hope that some of these points will help you understand just how valuable hiring a security guard team can be. There are countless hidden benefits and money saving abilities that they have. And all for a very affordable wage. Consider some better security for your business today!