Certified Executive Security Specialist Program (CESS)
Certified Protection Specialist Program (CPS)
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Operations Supervisor Training at Pacific West Academy.
Lead protection details with clarity, structure, and command.
The Operational & Supervisory Skills course is designed to develop the next generation of executive protection team leaders. Over 24 hours of integrated classroom and field training, students acquire the planning frameworks, leadership principles, and real-world operational experience needed to design, brief, and execute professional protection details at a supervisory level.
Individual agent skills are only part of the equation in professional executive protection. The ability to plan an operation, lead a team, manage logistics, and make command decisions in a dynamic environment is what separates a detail leader from a detail member. This course addresses that transition directly.
The curriculum is built around the SMEAC framework — Situation, Mission, Execution, Administration/Logistics, and Command/Control — a structured planning model drawn from military and law enforcement traditions. Students learn to apply SMEAC to the specific demands of protective detail planning, developing the ability to construct thorough, actionable operational plans and deliver professional briefings to their teams.
A major component of this course is the covert protection mock detail — a live field exercise conducted in real environments including Santa Monica, Venice, and Hollywood. Students assume supervisory roles, managing teams, coordinating movement, and responding to unscripted challenges in active public settings. These exercises are demanding, realistic, and invaluable.
Students also develop skills in detail planning and hotel advance work, learning how to assess and prepare EP-relevant locations. The course concludes with a practical examination requiring a 70% or higher passing score.
Who is Operational & Supervisory Skills Training aimed at?
This particular course is perfect for anyone that holds a position as an executive security supervisor. Are you tasked with running various security details every day? If so, then this is an essential learning program for you. It will also be beneficial for anyone that wants to apply for this type of security role in the future.
A lot of the students on this course are ex-military or were once in the police force and have retired. Going into security work and becoming a bodyguard is an excellent choice if you used to work in either of these fields. With this training, you’ll get all the skills required to do this type of job.
What will you learn?
Operational & Supervisory Skills (OSS 1, 2, 3) — Students Will Learn:
- Leadership principles for executive protection operations.
- The SMEAC operational planning framework.
- Detail briefing and planning presentations.
- Conducting covert protection operations in live environments.
- Hotel and location advance planning.
- Supervisory decision-making and command control.
Requirements: Must be at least 18 years of age. Valid identification required.
Duration: 24 hours
Why Choose Pacific West Academy?
When providing security services, approval and regulatory recognition is key. Pacific West Academy is approved by a number of organizations. These include the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education and the California State Approving Agency for Veterans Education. We also offer financial assistance for veterans who may wish to take our courses. Please contact us for more information on these programs if required.
BPPE APPROVED – Approval to Operate means compliance with state standards as set forth in the California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009. Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education: https://bppe.ca.gov/
Students who choose Pacific West Academy for their security training benefit from the wisdom of our instructors. All of our instructors are vastly experienced and benefit from comprehensive educational grounding. This allows them to achieve excellent results with the students under their tutelage. We are proud of the reputation of our instructors. We are particularly confident they can provide a comprehensive guide to the field of executive protection for you.
Finally, students who choose the Pacific West Academy benefit from our years of experience in delivering outstanding results for our students. Our parent company has offices throughout the world. It has provided security and protection services to governments, law enforcement, and many more besides. We at Pacific West Academy have continued this dedication to excellence. Furthermore, we have forged a distinct history that has been hugely beneficial to the students we have taught. In fact, over 1,700 students have successfully completed our courses. This helps to demonstrate the absolute efficacy of the courses and methods of teaching that we have been able to develop over the years.
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