Department of the Army Civilian Security Guards

Department of the Army Security Guards (DASG) is a federal law enforcement agency created by the United States Army. They are in charge of protecting military installations and military personal worldwide. Their main mission is to combat terrorism, deter criminal activity, secure military installations and protect personnel.

Overview

Department of the Army Civilian Security Guards (or security officer) were originally contracted with outside private security firms. Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 the United States Army decided to reevaluate their security forces and their effectiveness to secure their military bases properly.[1] The decision was made to implement a new Army civilian security force and hire all new security guards replacing the private contractor security forces. The first change over went into effect on September 30, 2010 making this the first phase to reduce the contract civilian security guards with the new Department of the Army Security Guard (DASG) system. The second phase would take place July 26, 2011 and officially bringing an end to all the private contracted security guards hired by the army.[2] These new federal security agents hired by the Department of the Army (DA) will have better training and go through an extensive pre-employment background checks to obtain a security clearance along with demonstrating a very high professional standard before becoming Army Civilian Security Guard. The main mission of these new officers is to deter criminal activity and combat any terrorist attacks against military personal or property controlled by the United States Army. Guards will have the authority to apprehend any person who commit any type of crime anywhere located within their area of operation. They work with various other law enforcement departments such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation to apprehend military fugitives and criminals.[3][4]

Qualifications

To become an Army Civilian Security Guard (GS-0085 series) can be a lengthy and rigorous process. Prior military and college graduates are highly sought out by the United States Army for the Civilian Security Guard program. There are various test you must pass before you are officially hired into the organization. You must pass an extensive background check of your financial records, criminal, medical, last residents, schools and personal history going back at least 10 years to obtain a security clearance. A new recruit will have to sign multiple release forms and sign a Lautenberg Amendment agreement. They will have to take a complete medical physical and perform a urinalysis for drug testing. After the initial testing is complete and a new recruit is hired, he or she will have to take a physical fitness test which requires a 1.5 (2.4 km) mile run in 17:30 minutes and do a minimum of 19 push-ups in 2 minutes. In addition to everything above new hires will go through an intensive training program developed by the United States Army.[5]

Duties

Army Security guards (GS-0085 series) Perform access control and patrol duties on military installation. They detect and prevent theft, damage, accident, trespass, sabotage and espionage and to enforce laws on military installation. Security Officers patrol the premises for unusual or suspicious activity as well as patrol the building areas to investigate alarms, complaints, irregularities, and unusual or suspicious circumstances. Other duties include admitting or denying entry at check points and verifying personal identification through use of identification cards, badges, electronic scanning devices and verbal questioning. Guards conduct motor vehicle, cargo, aircraft searches for illegal items and confiscate unauthorized items in accordance with security guard regulations.[6]

Training

Army Security guards training is very similar to the Department of the Army Civilian Police training program but is designed to fit the needs of each individual military installation. The training is designed to be similar enough that each guard will have the ability to work in positions at any other military installation during a crisis. The training is the same or similar enough to Army civilian Police that Guards act or transition into police positions if needed. The basics that will be taught include, laws, firearms, pepper spray, first aid, CPR, handcuffs, explosives, apprehension and self defense tactics. These are several courses a new guard will have to endure before graduating and becoming an official Army civilian security guard.

Equipment

Army Security guards are highly trained with the use of various firearms including the Beretta M9 used for deadly force situations. Officers have less lethal equipment available that they use which includes pepper spray and Baton (law enforcement) within their inventory. Other equipment used are gas masks for biological or chemical attacks, night vision equipment, handcuffs and flash lights. Officers are also provided with uniforms, badges, identification cards, service belt, extra ammunition magazines among various other tools to use at their discretion.

References

  1. ↑ "Army's Guard Program". GAO. Retrieved 2014-03-09.
  2. ↑ "Army's Guard Program". Fed Bizz Ops. Retrieved 2014-03-09.
  3. ↑ "Harasser Arrested". FBI. Retrieved 2014-03-09.
  4. ↑ "Harasser Arrested". Paper tree. Retrieved 2014-03-09.
  5. ↑ "Security Guard Program" (PDF). GAO. Retrieved 2014-03-09.
  6. ↑ "Security Guard Positions" (PDF). OPM. Retrieved 2014-03-09.

External links

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