Join Our Team
We don't hire employees. We hire future leaders.
Protective Security
The Selection Process culminates with attendance of our 12-day Essential Protection Skills Academy, held each month at our training camp.
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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.
Your First Two Years at GDBA
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 Military Veterans and dependents are qualified to utilize the GI Bill® for PLT as additional income up to the first 2 years of employment
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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Certified Training Program for Veterans
PLT is an approved On-The-Job Training Program. This means eligible veterans and dependents enrolled in PLT can utilize the GI Bill® for additional income up to a two-year period -- i.e. drawing upon the Basic Allowance Housing (or BAH) offered by the GI Bill® -- without adding any further responsibilities (e.g. college coursework) outside of their normal GDBA duties.
Unmatched Professional Experience
The Professional Leadership Track (PLT) offers protectors full-immersion training and one-on-one mentoring while they are simultaneously working with the world’s most successful and influential people and enterprises. No outside training degree can match this experience.
Highest Level of Trust
PLT graduates conquer unusual problems, develop unmatched communications skills, and acquire hands-on training. Above all, PLT graduates can demonstrate they were entrusted at the highest levels with access and responsibility and conducted themselves with reliability and honor.
Choose to Stay
Those continuing their GDBA career after two years in PLT receive a newly negotiated employment package, are immediately promoted to a leadership position, and are eligible for an executive level position at GDBA.
GDBA’s promotional system is merit-based. Performance matters most, not seniority.
Roadmap
Within the 2-Year Professional Leadership Track, a protector is eligible for positions as high as Team Leader (see the 2-Year Roadmap). Upon graduation, protectors are eligible to reach any senior position at GDBA.
Highly Qualified Candidates can be considered for an even faster career progression.
Protector-1
Entry-level protector who has completed our Essential Protection Skills Academy, assigned to a protection team.
Protector-2
This promotion automatically occurs at the 4-month anniversary of employment, upon graduation from our Advanced Protection Skills Academy.
Protector-3
This promotion automatically occurs at the 1-year anniversary of employment, upon graduating from the Protection Excellence Academy.
Security Staff Leader
This milestone promotion automatically occurs at the 2-year anniversary of employment. Security Staff Leaders supervise protection operations.
Team Leader
Exceptional protectors are eligible for promotion to Team Leader.
Senior Team Leader
Exceptional leaders are eligible to be promoted to Senior Team Leader. This is a leadership position, dealing directly with clients, becoming subject-matter experts for specific assignments, and collaborating with senior leadership on high-level decisions.
Regional Director
These protectors typically direct the operations of several protection teams in their region.
Senior Directors of Protective Security Division
These are the top leaders and managers of protective operations, directing Regional Directors all over the world.
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.
Mentors
Hand-selected GDBA leaders mentor new associates offering guidance and support throughout the 2-year Professional Leadership Track.
Additional Training
Protectors will have opportunities to learn from outside trainers and organizations at no cost to them.
Service
GDBA has a passion for service, and protectors learn how to deliver the highest quality service to the world’s most discerning clients. GDBA has developed service tenets and practices by working closely with many leading service providers, including the Ritz Carlton and Four Seasons Hotels and The Walt Disney Company.
Training Certifications
Essential Protection Skills Academy
Advanced Protection Skills Academy
Protection Excellence Academy
Professional Leadership Academy
Confidentiality and Secrecy Training
American Red Cross Lifeguard
American Heart Association Medical Instructor
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Emergency Aircraft Evacuation Training
Emergency Vehicle Operator’s Course
National Rifle Association (NRA) Instructor
SPEAR Self Defense and Combative Course
Tactical Pistol Training Course
TASER Instructor
Executive Leadership and Business Ethics
Professional Writing
Event Planning and Logistics
Service Excellence
Threat Assessment and Investigations
We care about one thing: Performance.
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 can become more stable, however new challenges always accompany advancement.
Physical Readiness Test
GDBA has established physical fitness standards which are the minimum physical readiness levels to permit our employees to perform all essential functions of their positions. The Physical Readiness Test (PRT) requires candidates to perform a specific number of repetitions for each exercise as outlined by age and gender. Candidates are allotted two minutes to meet each requirement.
All candidates are required to pass the Physical Readiness Test (PRT) in order to be eligible for hire. Employees are also re-tested on these standards once every six months throughout the duration of employment.
All candidates must also be able to swim. A swim test is performed during the Essential Protection Skills (EPS) Academy and must be passed in order to be eligible for hire.
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 sit-ups requirement. The 800m run must be completed within the time parameters set by age group.
Our culture is embodied by three aspects of our work:
1) merit-based, 2) bureaucracy-free, and 3) opportunity-driven.
Confidentiality
The men and women of GDBA can be trusted with secrets, trusted with the safety of others, trusted with anything.
Mentorship
Throughout the 2-year PLT, protectors are assigned a variety of different mentors. These assigned mentors are drawn from all levels of leadership to include the Director and Executive levels. Our mentors exemplify what success looks like at GDBA and have all risen from entry-level positions. Mentors help protectors develop their tactical proficiency, leadership skills, and establish a sound plan of action for their career goals.
Commitment to our Associates
GDBA’s commitment to protecting rights and opportunities can be traced to our founder, who has been a leading and prominent activist for women and other targeted populations — through his books, articles, speeches, and legislative work.
Throughout our history, we have made significant innovations to create an ongoing two-way dialog with every associate. Our CARE program, Continuous Asking, Responding, and Evaluation is a living conversation in which every associate is surveyed weekly in order to quickly reveal if there is ever discrimination, harassment, or unfairness. Our commitment to protect the rights and equal opportunities of every associate is not some new and trendy policy. GDBA lives these values every day, and all our associates participate — and benefit — every day.
Our Mission and Culture Are Based on This:
We commit to understand and overcome anything that challenges our clients’ safety, privacy, or peace of mind. We commit to strengthening our clients’ confidence every day through integrity, effectiveness, creativity, sensitivity, and diligence.
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.
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
Candidates for our Protective Security Division often ask these questions regarding our selection process, hiring criteria, training academies, earnings and promotions, and much more involving a career as a GDBA Protector.
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
GDBA Earnings and Benefits Military Veterans
YOUR FIRST 2 YEARS AT GDBA
Training Our Protectors
