16 • MarineNews • August, 2005
Maritime cargo has always been a source of risk. As
cargo moves, many potential opportunities present them-
selves for theft, loss or damage. Quality training has
always been a good method to reduce theft, damage or
loss. Proper training can help to prevent problems, and
ensure that your staff knows what to do when a problem
does occur. Proper training can reduce liability and make
your security staff operate more efficiently. The need for
training is real, and beginning to gain recognition in the
maritime world.
In order to get value, the training must accomplish sev-
eral things; the training must meet a need you have, or
expect to have in the future, the training must be consis-
tent, the instructors should be knowledgeable in their
field and have training and experience in the world of
adult education, and lastly, the training should be credi-
ble and not award a bogus "certification."
The training must meet a need you have, or expect to
have in the future. Law enforcement organizations have
fallen into a trap in many states. Most states require a
minimum number of hours of "In-Service" training each
year in order for a police officer to maintain his or her
police certification. The problem seems to be that there
is seldom a specific requirement for the training. Agen-
cies are more concerned about the number of training
hours, opposed to being concerned about the content and
quality of the training. This "hours requirement" often
results in the training being selected because it is at a
convenient location, or at a convenient time; even though
the content is useless or repetitive to the officer. Ideally,
training should cover topics that are immediately benefi-
cial to the student. The student must see the value in the
training, and the connection to his or her job. It's hard to
keep someone interested in training if they don't see the
value the training brings to their job.
Training must be consistent. People attending the
same class, but at different times, should get essentially
the same information. This requires lesson plans, organi-
zation and quality control. Training is often hastily put
together, and often lacks consistency. Any training
should be documented by the organization provided the
training. Many training organizations, whether in-house
or contract, keep a "file copy" of every training class pre-
sented. This includes copies of lesson plans, handout
material and all presentation material. Training can often
differ from class to class, as current events may change
what is taught in the class. A file copy of the training can
become essential in the event of a negligent security or
inadequate training lawsuit to prove exactly what was
taught.
The instructors should be knowledgeable in their field,
and have training and experience in the world of adult
education. In my career, I have noticed several things
about instructors. There are a significant number of peo-
ple that are very knowledgeable in each field or special-
ty that exists. There are also a significant number of very
good instructors. There are not, however, a significant
number of security instructors that are both very knowl-
edgeable and very good instructors. Just because you are
knowledgeable in your field doesn't automatically make
you a good instructor. Good instructors typically start as
industry professionals, have formal training in adult
learning instructional techniques, and develop over time.
Lastly, the training should not award a bogus "certifi-
cation". There is no possible value to a "certification"
awarded after a two-day seminar. There is a huge differ-
ence between a certificate of attendance and a certifica-
tion. True certifications involve many hours of training
plus additional education and experience requirements.
Legitimate certifications involve oversight from an out-
side accreditation body, and should not be dependent on
one specific training class. Beware of self-certification.
Self-certification means that a certification exists only
because the certifying body says it exists, and there is no
outside oversight. After 9-11, a Certified in Homeland
Security certification was created by a private company.
The only requirement for certification was experience in
the military, as a police officer as a firefighter, in private
security or as a physician. Let me re-state that, the only
requirement is experience, plus $350, paid with the appli-
cation.
LSI: The Need for Training is Real
By Jeffrey Dingle, CPP
Continued on page 35
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