PART 2: HOW TO GET A PRIVATE SECURITY CONTRACTOR JOB WITHOUT MILITARY EXPERIENCE
Source: Open AI. Created by Dutch Park.
PART 2: THE ROADMAP TO BECOMING A DESIRABLE CANDIDATE
Introduction to Part 2: Taking Action
This is Part 2 of our three-part guide on landing an overseas security contractor job without prior military experience. In Part 1, we covered why this is possible and the four essential qualifications you need on your resume to become a highly desirable candidate, one that is almost guaranteed to get hired.
Key Steps to Becoming a Competitive Candidate
Now, in Part 2, we move into the actionable steps: relocating to D.C., obtaining key security licenses, securing your first contractor job, and obtaining a Secret Security Clearance, along with several other crucial steps. This is where the real work begins, but by following this guide, you’ll be well on your way to building a resume that makes you the ideal candidate.
BUILD YOUR CAREER AND CREDENTIALS: ALL-IN-ONE JOB!
The Ideal Candidate Building Security Job: Special Police Officer (SPO) in D.C.
With a single position, you can earn your security clearance, gain two years of armed domestic security contractor experience, and add “Police Officer” to your resume, all solid stepping stones to creating an ideal candidate resume sure to get you hired. This opportunity? A Special Police Officer (SPO) job with a Secret Clearance, working for a security contractor in Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON, D.C.'S UNIQUE GUARD LICENSE
D.C.’s Strict Firearms Laws and Their Impact on Security Work
Washington, D.C., has some of the strictest firearms laws in the U.S. While recent changes have loosened some restrictions, it was, until fairly recently, outright illegal for anyone other than a police officer to possess or open carry a pistol in the city.
The Special Police Officer (SPO) License: A Unique Classification
Because of these strict regulations, D.C.’s licensing process for armed guards is unlike any other in the country. To allow security personnel to legally carry firearms, the city created a special designation: the Special Police Officer (SPO) license. This isn’t just a job title, you will be officially commissioned as a Special Police Officer by the Chief of Police, granting you the authority to work as an Armed Special Police Officer (as opposed to just an "Armed Guard" elsewhere) to comply with D.C. weird laws.
40 HOURS = YOU ARE A COP NOW
Astonishingly, after passing a 40-hour class and getting commissioned as a Special Police Officer, you will have (I'm not making this up) the power to:
“A special police officer shall have the same powers as a law enforcement officer to arrest without a warrant for offenses committed within the premises to which his or her jurisdiction extends and may arrest outside the premises on fresh pursuit for offenses committed on the premises.” (D.C. Code 23-582A)”
D.C. ALSO HAS ARMED SECURITY CONTRACTOR JOBS
The D.C. Metro Area: A Prime Hub for Domestic Security Contractor Jobs
The Washington, D.C., metro area spans 17 cities and counties across Northern Virginia and Southern Maryland, home to over six million people. This region is a hub of military bases, federal offices, government facilities, and defense contractors, all of which require cleared armed security personnel.
High Demand for Armed Security in Government Contracting
Beyond government buildings, any contractor handling classified manufacturing or materials is legally required to have armed security on-site, creating a constant demand for security contractors.
YOU COULD END UP GUARDING:
An actual DoD facility
A single office in a federal building
A satellite office for the Department of Veterans Affairs
The back gate of a military base
Rando DOD Contractor or even parts of an airport
THIS IS ALSO HOW YOU GET A SECURITY CLEARANCE
Security Clearance Requirements and Job Demand
To work at these facilities, all armed security contractors must hold at least a Secret U.S. Security Clearance. Thanks to high turnover and D.C.’s transient workforce, many government contractors are in a constant rush to fill positions.
Security Clearance Sponsorship: An Often Scarce Opportunity
So much so that they’re more than willing to sponsor new employees for security clearances. In some cases, contractors will even sponsor Top Secret clearances, an opportunity rarely available for blue-collar jobs outside of D.C.
EXAMPLES OF JOBS IN D.C. THAT SPONSOR CLEARANCES
DIPLOMATIC SECURITY OFFICER – WE SPONSOR SECRET/TOP SECRET CLEARANCE
Inter-Con Security Systems
Washington, D.C.
$33.78 - $42.23 an hour
PROTECTIVE SECURITY OFFICER
Constellis
Washington, D.C.
$36.41 an hour
SECURITY ESCORT
T47 International
Washington, D.C.
$35 - $40 an hour
D.C.: The Best Place to Gain Experience and a Security Clearance
One of those jobs specifically says, “We Sponsor Secret/Top Secret Clearance,” and the other is working domestically for Constellis, the big dog of Overseas Security Contractors. This is common in the Metro D.C. area and why this is the ideal city to get relevant experience and a security clearance at the same time.
THE SEVEN-STEP PROCESS TO GET A PRIVATE SECURITY CONTRACTOR JOB WITHOUT MILITARY EXPERIENCE
FYI: This will take a minimum of two years to complete.
STEP 1:
YOUR FIRST CERTS AND CLASSES
First Aid and CPR Certification: Choosing the Right Provider
Get your First Aid and CPR + AED Certification. You may see a bunch of online classes for this, but only certifications from the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Red Cross (ARC) are recognized by employers. Go ahead and find a class near you and get certified, they cost around $70 for each class.
MOVE TO WASHINGTON, D.C.
The Harsh Reality of Living and Working in D.C Aera
The Metro D.C. area is one of the most expensive places to live in America. So you will end up living with roommates you found on Craigslist who suck while barely scraping by financially. To put it simply, you will live in poverty and debt in a crime-riddled major metropolitan city in a thankless job with people you hate.
The Cost of Living and the Nightmare Commute
I doubt you will be able to afford to live in D.C. itself, so you will most likely live in the industrial wasteland of Southern Maryland or Northern VA with a crazy long commute. You don’t know what the inner beltway and outer beltway are now, but by the time you leave D.C., you will curse at the mere mention of them.
Embrace the Suck
Out of all the steps, this one is the hardest, pack up all your stuff, leave your established life behind, move to a city where you don’t know anyone, and is too expensive for you to do anything but cry into your frozen pizza.
YOU WILL BE GOING IN BLIND
Relocating to D.C. Before Landing a Job
You will have to move there before you get a security contractor job in D.C. because no one is going to hire you if you don’t live there. You won’t know exactly what county or city you will be working in, so I would suggest you get a temporary room in the meantime. And when you find out where you will be working you can try and find somewhere permanent.
GET YOUR VA, D.C., OR MARYLAND ARMED SECURITY OFFICER/GUARD LICENSE
This will run you about $300–$600 and take about a week or two of classes, depending on a bunch of different factors. Some companies will put you through their class, but you don’t want to be waiting around for the next class to start.
APPLY FOR SECURITY CONTRACTOR JOBS IN THE D.C. AREA
To find cleared security jobs in the Metro D.C. area, go to Indeed.com and enter:
“security officer secret clearance (+ one of the cities below)”
Washington, D.C., Arlington VA, Alexandria VA, Dale City VA, Centreville VA, Reston VA, Leesburg VA, Manassas VA, Fredericksburg VA, Tysons VA, Germantown MD, Silver Spring MD, Waldorf MD, Frederick MD, Gaithersburg MD, Rockville MD, Bethesda MD, Bowie MD.
CLICK THE JOB AND READ THE DESCRIPTION—YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THIS PHRASE:
“Ability to obtain and maintain a SECRET U.S. Government security clearance, for which a U.S. Citizenship is required.”
CONTINUE TAKING CERTIFICATION AND LICENSING CLASSES
FOR EXAMPLE:
Expandable baton
Pepper spray
Handcuffing
Maximizing Your Training: Security Schools and Certifications
Consider enrolling in a security school that offers package deals, this will save you time and money while getting the necessary certs. Some security contractor jobs in the D.C. area require these licenses before you apply, so having them in advance will put you first in line. Investing in the right training can give you the edge you will need considering your situation.
STEP 2
GET THE BALL ROLLING ON YOUR SECURITY CLEARANCE
Prioritizing Clearance Sponsorship Over JobTitle Preferences
You will initially have to settle for any security contractor job that will sponsor you for a clearance. Getting hired as a cleared armed Special Police Officer is going to be a bit of a process, so it’s best to just start working for anyone who will sponsor your clearance ASAP.
Expanding Your Job Search for Faster Clearance Approval
Because you are not able to get hired as an SPO yet, you can widen your security clearance job net to include Northern Virginia and Southern Maryland. The Metro D.C. area is filled with Defense Contractors and the DoD itself, so there are more cleared security jobs there than in D.C. proper. This will make it faster and easier for you to get working and get your clearance in the pipeline.
Commuting Trade-Offs: Driving vs. Taking the Metro
The other advantage of living a bit outside of D.C. is that you can drive to work instead of taking the Metro. The disadvantage is gas is expensive, so any money you save won’t make a difference after you fill up your gas tank.
STEP 3
D.C. ARMED SPECIAL POLICE TRAINING
Finding an SPO Training and Licensing School
D.C. Special Police Officers are generally referred to as “SPO” so I will be using that abbreviation through this guide. Just Google “D.C. Special Police License,” and several schools will pop up. I wish I could recommend one, but the one I went to went out of business 20 years ago.
Training Alone Isn’t Enough: Obtaining Your SPO Commission
In addition to taking the Armed SPO class, you will also need to obtain an SPO commission, as this is what grants you police powers. Without the commission, all you’ve done is complete a class, which alone won’t qualify you for the title you want to put on your resume. Securing both the training and the commission is essential to meeting the requirements for the best Cleared SPO jobs.
SPO Commission: Private Police Authority with Limits
A Special Police Officers Commission in Washington, D.C., gives you official authorization to act like a privately hired cop with full arrest powers. You’re legally allowed to do everything a regular D.C. police officer can do, but only within the property or area they’re hired to protect. Under certain circumstances, you can pursue someone off-property, but it’s doubtful your employer will authorize you to do that. Wild right?
SPO Commission Sponsorship: Choosing the Right School
Be advised that an individual cannot sponsor themselves for their SPO Commission, only a D.C.-licensed security company can. So choose a school that will sponsor you for your SPO Commission. If they offer that, it will be prominently mentioned on their class page.
This will cost anywhere from $1,000 and up and take another week or more, depending on whether you go full-time or nights.
STEP 4
WAIT FOR YOUR SECURITY CLEARANCE TO GO THROUGH
This could take between 3 to 9 months.
GET A CLEARED JOB AS A SPECIAL POLICE OFFICER (SPO)
Transitioning to a Cleared SPO Position
Once your clearance has gone through and is active, check with the security company you are currently working for to see if they have any cleared SPO jobs available. If they do, ask for a lateral transfer. If they do not have any cleared SPO jobs open or they won’t transfer you, then hit up Indeed and start looking for one. Apply for all the Cleared-Armed D.C. SPO jobs you can find there.
Making a Smooth Transition to a Cleared SPO Job
If you get hired by a different company, talk with HR at your current company and let them know about your situation. Give as much notice as they request, then jump ship to a cleared SPO job. Not only is there no need to leave a burned bridge behind for no reason.
Cleared SPO Work: A Great Option Between Contracts
Because of the aforementioned high turnover in this line of work if you ever need to make $35 bucks an hour between overseas security contractor jobs, then it’s a great option to have in your back pocket.
STEP 5
TAKE ONLINE CLASSES
Building Your Resume with Online Courses
Over the next year or so, start taking online courses, I recommend Udemy.com and Alison.com. They are online learning platforms that offer 100% online courses that include certificates. I like both of these platforms and have taken a bunch of classes from both of them.
On Alison, the courses are free, but you have to pay for the certificate (so not really free). On Udemy, you pay per class with the certificate included.
RECOMMENDED CLASSES:
Security Guarding, CCTV Monitoring and Door Supervision
Understanding International Security
Security Management
Bodyguarding, Close or Executive Protection (CP/EP)
Active Shooter/Workplace Violence & Terrorism Attack Defense
Disaster Deployment Security Certification
Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)
Boosting Your Resume with Online Certificates
For less than a few hundred dollars in your spare time, you will have seven courses with certificates of completion on your resume. Not only will you learn valuable information, but you will also have so many keywords on your resume that the HR software will blow a circuit. Do this at your own pace over the next two years as time and money allow.
STEP 6
THE PAYOFF
After TWO YEARS of slaving away during the day guarding some random DOD building in D.C. and working nights delivering Uber Eats just so you can live in squalor surrounded by loneliness.
Your hard work and sacrifice has finally paid off.
YOU NOW HAVE THE FOLLOWING ON YOUR RESUME:
2 Years of Employment as an Armed Security Contractor in Washington, D.C.
Commissioned Special Police Officer Job Title
Employed by a Federal Contractor or DoD Contractor
Experience Working Inside a Secure Federal or Military Facility
An Active Secret U.S. Security Clearance (or higher)
VA, MD, or D.C. Unarmed Security Officer Class/License
VA, MD, or D.C. Armed Security Officer Class/License
D.C. Armed Special Police Officer Class/License
Expandable Baton Class/Certification to Carry
Pepper Spray Class/Certification to Carry
Handcuffing Class/Certification to Carry
First Aid and CPR Certification
Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Certification
Security Guarding, CCTV Monitoring and Door Supervision Course
Understanding International Security Course
Security Management Course
Bodyguarding, Close or Executive Protection Course
Active Shooter/Workplace Violence & Terrorism Attack Defense Course
Disaster Deployment Security Certification Course
Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Course
You have officially overcame the Lack of Military Experience
With a whopper of a resume like that, no one in HR will give a rat’s booty that you don’t have any military experience on your resume.
STEP 7
CELEBRATE
Reward Yourself With a Night Out
Find the nearest Benihana, order the Filet Mignon and Shrimp, throw in a Lobster Tail, kick back a glass of Black Label, and tell them it’s your birthday, you 1000% deserve it, you savage.
That’s exactly what I did back in the day. Well, almost—I was so broke I just got the steak and shrimp with a Bud. But one month later, I was in the Middle East on my first security contractor job.
STEP 8
GET YOUR FIRST OVERSEAS SECURITY CONTRACTOR JOB:
Start applying for overseas security contractor jobs.
Get hired for your first overseas security contractor job.
Go through pre-deployment vetting, get on a plane, and start working.
You are now a fully employed security contractor working overseas.
Try not to cry out of joy in front of the other contractors, or they will make fun of you.
For a constantly updated list of entry-level Overseas Security Contractor Jobs go to our open jobs page.
-INTERNATIONAL PRIVATE SECURITY CONTRACTOR JOBS THAT ARE HIRING
BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING
IT’S TIME TO ASK YOURSELF A HARD QUESTION RIGHT NOW:
How badly do I want to be a Security Contractor working for a Private Military Contractor Overseas?
If you do not know if you have the intestinal fortitude for this much uprooting of your life, do not take this path.
The Military vs. Civilian Path to Overseas Security Jobs
Honestly, it would be so much easier for you if you just joined the military for a few years. Because in the end, you will be in the same spot as far as trying to break into the overseas security industry. But if the military is also not an option for you like it was not for me, this is the only way I know of to get an Overseas Security Contractor Job.
TIPS AND ADVICE
JOIN A GYM: Do this as soon as you get to D.C. Working out will ease the trauma of making such a drastic uprooting and will help ward away depression as you trudge through the next two years.
MOVE IN WITH OR GET A ROOMMATE: don’t do what I did and insist on living alone in D.C. no matter how much it cost, I could have not only not been in a constant state of broke, I would have saved money if I was not so stubborn.
GET PT TEST READY: It will be easy to become overweight just sitting around guarding a building, just remember you will have to take a PT test when you apply for overseas jobs so get yourself ready.
GET FIREARMS TRAINING: You will need to be pretty good with the AR-style rifle and 9MM pistol for pre-deployment qualls. You will have to be ok with the M249 SAW see our article HERE about both the PT test and the SAW.
BE THE TURTLE: This is a marathon folks, but stick it out as I did and you will eventually work on the “cooler-guy” jobs in countries you want to work in or are higher-risk and more exciting while making insane money. And when it’s all said and done, you can retire in a beach town in Southeast Asia like I did, still sort of young enough to enjoy it.
FOR THE ANIMALS OUT THERE
Connect with Others on the Same Path
If any of you maniacs take this long path, I would love to hear from people taking this path today and see what differs from when I did it. I am betting all the apps, gig work, and advice you can get on YouTube help to make this a lot less painful experience now.
Please let me know in the comments if you are going to do this and keep us all updated throughout your journey. I will make sure to check back daily with any advice or suggestions you ask for.
Good Luck!
You made it to Part 2 of this series, I commend your dedication and tenacity because I tend to write pretty long guides
Good Luck
