CLOSE PROTECTION TRAINING THE SOUTH AFRICAN WAY
by Mark Mckinney

In the field of close protection training over the last 10 years Ronin Protective Services of South Africa has been working towards an ever-increasing goal of excellence.

The recent opening of the new training premises has been part and parcel of that goal.

The pursuit of the Security Industry Authority (SIA) accreditation continues, however the company has a distinct advantage in that it already has full accreditation from the South African equivalent, which is reputedly the most stringent in the world. When the process opens to close protection companies towards the end of the year Ronin will be first in the queue to ensure that the company is fully compliant by the proposed start date in 2006.

The instigation of the 'Remote Medical Assistant's course and the subsequent 'hands on' operational experience gained working with the ambulance services provides a magnificent learning vehicle from which to start a career in the industry. Weekend shifts are carried out throughout the course to gain paramedical experience under the auspices of trained paramedics and doctors, which is unique to the service that Ronin provides for their students.

The medical module is a very intensive week, where the student is taught to use techniques and equipment, which ordinarily would be beyond their normal protocol. The 'out of the box' thinking is interwoven into the name of the course. Potentially you are in a 'remote' location with a client and a 'medical' emergency arises. Without access to the normal blue light services, the onus is on the Ronin operator to carry out any life saving medical skills as necessary. This is achieved by having access to a doctor or paramedic by radio or sat-phone and the operator simply becomes their eyes and hands. By using the equipment and skills taught on the course, the casualty can then be given life saving treatment until such times as a medevac is available.