Training and Working with G4S IMS By Geoff Dixon G4S Team Leader April 2012 present Introduction I first started my experience with G4s IMS back in December 2011, when I called their training wing in Hereford for information regarding the SSO course and MSO course they were holding in the February of the following year. On speaking to the staff organising the courses my main concern was the opportunity of employment on completing and obtaining the qualification. Although I was never told that there would be a guaranteed job I was informed that if I pass, then my CV would be reviewed and when and if a vacancy would arise I would be considered. (Although other training companies also offered the same promise I decided to go with G4S as their promise sounded more genuine) The course I arrived at Hereford on the day of the course and I was greeted by the training staff and shown to my room, after a tour of the facilities (which was very impressive) myself and the remainder of the participants were mustered in the classroom for our introduction from the facility manager and lectures of the course. The course its self was a 4 day Sso course including a MSO course which was very interesting, although completely different to anything I had done in the past, the course instructor being very experienced broke down the course content in a way it was easily retained and understood, I found the course very interesting and informative and I obtained my pass. After I received my certificates, G4S was true to their word and forwarded my CV to The IMS Office in Djibouti Africa, shortly afterwards I was contacted by the Ops managers and started my application to join the expanding team of maritime security officers already working within the industry. (Which I did in April of 2012). G4S IMS Djibouti I was contacted by G4S IMS in the April of 2012, after a number of weeks sorting paper work application forms and vetting process I was sent my contract of employment and flight tickets to start my career within my chosen industry. On arriving at Djibouti I was a little shocked to realise that every member of the organisation was French and I was the very first British member, however it was plain to see that all the ops managers and staff already employed were happy that they would be working alongside of ex British Service personnel. After I was shown to my room within the villa I was immediately taken to the office of the Ops director and the operations director for a welcoming brief and explanation of the role I was expected to do. I was then introduced to my team pic below:
I deployed to the Sultan (a floating armoury) situated at 17 north in the red sea along with the remainder of my team, the journey took 3 days sailing through the gulf of Aden and into the red sea eventually reaching 17 north ( pic of the Sultan below ) Once on the Sultan we carried out Anti- piracy drills and my new team leader took me through G4s Sop s, rules on escalation of Force and the duties of a MSO whilst on transit. We deployed onto my first vessel the Yang Ming Mandate a day or so after reaching the Sultan and my career began. I have now been with G4S IMS for two and a half years, I was promoted to team leader after about a year. I have seen lots of changes within the industry over this time with companies coming and going the biggest and the most concerning change I have seen is the introduction of low cost companies which are employing inadequate and unqualified staff ( Sri lanklains, Indians etc. ) most of these people are in my opinion a danger to themselves and their clients due to their lack of operational and military experience, in some cases I have actually heard that some have had no military experience at all. I am happy to say that to date G4S IMS only employ French ex-military and ex British Military, to my knowledge the split between French and British is 50/50.
G4s I am happy to say don t seem to be going down that route of low cost employees and we have an extremely experienced and professional organisation from the gentlemen within the ops office to the newest MSO. On-Going training Although we have all been highly trained prior to obtaining employment with G4S we are continually completing on the job training such as weapon Handling, rules on escalation of force, medical training, G4s Sop s etc. As a team leader we are responsible for the continuation of this training and we complete at least 3 to 4 different lessons per transit reporting our results to the ops office who are now situated in Dubai. In Addition to the above we also carryout induction/continuation training at Dubai and more recently we carry out weapon handling and firing practises when we are aboard the sultan prior to our first transit. Summary From that very first day I called G4s training wing in Hereford to this day when I have just arrived back in the UK after a 14 week rotation I am extremely pleased and impressed with all that G4s have done for me. I find my role within this industry very rewarding and extremely interesting. There is in my opinion lots of changes coming to our Industry over this next year or so but I am confident that along with the training we were initially given from the team at Hereford to the continuation and on the job training we complete on transit G4s will be a leading force within the Maritime security industry. If anyone is looking to either break into, or seek a different company as a MSO then I highly and strongly recommend G4S IMS, along with the training wing at Hereford UK I have enclosed a couple more pictures of my journey with G4s IMS below Transferring from the Sultan to the client vessel Cross decking between Sultan and transfer boat
Testing the Benelli Argo R1 A team leaders brief with the Vessel crew A vessel Captain on the bridge My team on the Bridge wing prior to disembarking Embarking on a client vessel using the pilot ladders
Loading of the weapons and equipment