Join GDBA

Protective Security

SELECTION TIME LINE

The Selection Process typically lasts 4 to 6 weeks, culminating with attendance of the 10-day Essential Protection Skills Academy, held ten times each year at our Los Angeles training camp.

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PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP TRACK (PLT)

GDBA’s Professional Leadership Track (PLT) is a 2‑year on-the-job training curriculum that prepares protectors for future leadership positions at GDBA or in their next career.

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CAREER PROGRESSION

GDBA’s promotional system is merit-based. Performance matters most, not seniority.

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TRAINING

GDBA offers hundreds of training courses, exercises, and certifications. Each step throughout the 2‑year PLT and beyond is measured and evaluated by the Training Division to ensure every associate continually gains proficiency, experience, and confidence.

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QUALIFICATIONS

We care about one thing: Performance.

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Who You Are
Military, law enforcement, or security background is great, though not a requirement. We’re less interested in what you are than who you are. Our most successful protectors come from a variety of backgrounds and have succeeded because they are willing to learn, work hard, tell the truth, and flat out perform. To be hired by our firm, you must meet the following requirements.

Physically Fit
You must pass the pre-employment Physical Readiness Test standards. GDBA embodies and encourages a healthy and physical culture amongst its protectors through annual testing and stipends for gym memberships.

Honest and Trustworthy
You must undergo an exhaustive background investigation (which includes a volunteer polygraph for all candidates). Issues identified in the background investigation might not disqualify a candidate who is otherwise a good match, so long as the candidate is honest about their past.

An Effective Communicator
You are a superb communicator who inspires confidence through clear, certain, and reassuring answers and actions.

Curious and Passionate
You have a natural curiosity and passion for protection, security concepts, and leadership. We recommend every candidate read Mr. de Becker’s bestselling book, The Gift of Fear: Survival Signs That Protect Us From Violence, to learn further about Mr. de Becker’s philosophies and our work.

Service Oriented
You are a polished warrior who can not only protect our clients, but also provide exceptional service while doing so.

Flexible
You are flexible. Public figure protection often involves emergencies and challenging schedules, including working on night shifts and holidays and being called in on days off. Upon graduating the 2-year PLT, your schedule might become more stable, however new challenges always accompany advancement.

Physical Readiness Test

Most protective security assignments will require candidates to pass a Physical Readiness Test (PRT). PRTs are scheduled during the selection process and will be decided by the candidate’s recruiter.

What are GDBA’s physical fitness standards?
We have determined that these standards are the minimum physical readiness levels to permit our employees to perform all essential functions of their positions.

Are any of the events timed?
Yes. Candidates are allotted two minutes to meet the pushups requirement, and then another two minutes to complete the crunches requirement. The 800m run must be completed within the time parameters set by age group.

CULTURE

Our culture is embodied by three aspects of our work:
1) merit-based, 2) bureaucracy-free, and 3) opportunity-driven.

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MISSION

Associates protect our clients at the residences, global operations centers, and travel locations around the world. Protectors can be assigned to several types of assignments within their first year.

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Residential Protection
Residential protectors respond to and manage emergencies, provide medical emergency response, provide access control, manage vendors and service providers, and deter intruders. We design and operate within Command Centers (CCs) that become the nerve center for those properties. All technology and early warning detection systems feed into these Command Centers, including surveillance cameras, infrared beams, motion detectors, safety alarms, contact and listening devices, and other resources that enhance clients’ safety and convenience at home.

Global Operations Centers (GOCs)
Staffed around the clock, GDBA-designed Global Operations Centers (GOCs) offer our commercial clients worldwide site and system monitoring and support services via remote monitoring technologies. Associates assigned to GOCs also assist our clients’ own Corporate Security and Risk Management Teams with physical security, investigations, country reports, difficult terminations, reviewing incident-reports from remote locations, system troubleshooting and updating, and data sorting.

Corporate Security
GDBA designs and staffs security programs for business clients who desire an elevated level of security for their employees, facilities, and proprietary information. In many cases, our firm becomes the ipso facto security department for a client’s company. Assigned protectors manage access control, escort vendors through sensitive environments, and screen material brought into and taken out of corporate offices. We also provide security coverage surrounding difficult terminations, demonstrations, and other times of elevated risk. Our well-versed corporate security team operates in major cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, London, and many more.

Field Details: Public Appearances, Special Events, and Secure Transportation
GDBA protectors have provided logistical support and protective coverage at literally thousands of movie sets, film premieres, speeches, book signings, awards shows, special events, performances, talk shows, interviews, and court appearances. GDBA protectors first become thoroughly familiar with the venue of a public appearance, identifying the safest and most efficient foot-routes, vehicle staging areas, holding rooms, assigned tables, nearest medical assistance, etc. Our clients are guided smoothly through (or more ideally, around) a sea of press, fans, and general confusion. Additional protector responsibilities include providing and developing:

Surveillance detection
Counter surveillance
Medical emergency response
Safety and security briefings for client staff
Natural disaster contingencies
Written supplemental and after-action reports
Mentorship to new GDBA associates
Effective communication to a wide audience – from a vendor to the client
Collaboration with divisions outside the Protective Security Division, such as Investigations, Intelligence, Threat Assessment, Technology, Training, and Recruitment

FAQs

Candidates for our Protective Security Division often ask these questions regarding our selection process, hiring criteria, training academies, earnings and promotions, and much more invovling a career as a GDBA Protector.

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5,000 hours protecting some of the world's most at-risk individuals and
enterprises
500 hours of training, mentoring, instructing, and certification
4 academies completed at the Gavin de Becker Institute
Eligible for three promotions laddering to position of Security Staff Leader
Eligible CA-based Military Veterans and dependents are qualified to utilize
the GI Bill® for PLT as additional income up to the first 2 years of
employment.

Training Our Protectors

Modal Content.

We don’t hire employees.
We hire leaders.

Protective Security

2-YEAR PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP TRACK (PLT)

CAREER – HIRING, HOURS, PROMOTIONS, EARNINGS, BENEFITS

MILITARY VETERAN BENEFITS

DETAIL SPECIFICS

ATTIRE, GEAR, AND LICENSES

TRAINING

SELECTION / BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION

OTHER PURSUITS

START DATE & RELOCATION

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS

Training Our Protectors

We don’t hire employees. We hire leaders.

Protective Security

Training Our Protectors

We don’t hire employees.
We hire leaders.