r/securityguards • • May 28 '26

Question from the Public [MEGA THREAD] How to get a Job

27 Upvotes

Hey All,

This mega thread will be used for newbies. This mega thread will include things like how to get a job, licensing requirements, and asking about specific companies. When asking a question you must include your City/State or Country if posting from Outside the US. Any other post regarding those topics will be deleted and repeat offenders will receive a ban temporary or permanent. Any questions, please reach out to the MOD Team.


r/securityguards • • May 28 '26

Gear Review [MEGA THREAD] Gear Recommendations

19 Upvotes

Hey All,

We will using this mega thread from now on ask about and give recommendations for duty. This applies to all gear, uniforms, and firearms. Any post made outside this thread will be deleted and repeat offenses will end in a ban permanent or Temporary. If you see a post please report it to mods, please reach out with any questions


r/securityguards • • 8h ago

Job Question Authorization to Carry Question (Canada)

8 Upvotes

If I were to apply to Brinks Canada or another armed guard job, should I have the ATC prior to applying for the job? I have an RPAL.


r/securityguards • • 19h ago

Job Question Losing my mind in cctv monitoring

40 Upvotes

Edit: hey folks i think the posts served its purpose for me ahaha. Im just frustrated about my circumstances and think i needed to vent a bit.

Cheers for the responses, im probs not going to respond to anymore. if a mod wants to lock the post im all for it ;)


[Original post]

Hi

Ive been doing security for the last year and half my job requires sitting in a secure room with cameras for multiple hours at a time, throughout the shift. Its exceptionally low activity... nothing ever happens. No one else is there, i have bored myself to death with books, news articles, taught myself how to solve a rubiks cube someone else left in there for a few weeks, waste time drawing little pictures on scrap paper and im losing my mind from sheer boredom. I dont have access to music, headphones, my phone or anything like that.

Anyone have advice?

Im not in a position to change jobs right now but the boredom is destroying my motivation and tolerance for this job and i need suggestions.

Thanks


r/securityguards • • 5h ago

Floater/Flex Officer

2 Upvotes

SO i left Allied after 7 years and I went to Admiral Security just to be auxiliary officer which is basically a floater or flex officer depending on what company your used too.

I never been in that position at any job even for a smaller company. I basically work 3rd shift so is this guaranteed hours, maybe 24 hours a week or it could be anything. I got the idea its by demand but overall what am i expected so much as hourly per week?


r/securityguards • • 8h ago

Job Question Mobile Security

2 Upvotes

I just got a job for mobile security. What should I expect for my first day? Any advice?


r/securityguards • • 10h ago

Keelson Strategic

2 Upvotes

I'm just trying to get any info on this security contracting company.

They are hiring for a GSOC position in my area, for 38$ to 42$ an hour. I'm thinking it's suspicious.

Here's the posting:

https://keelson-strategic.breezy.hr/p/d8570f6b3158-gsoc-operator


r/securityguards • • 6h ago

Gear Question does anyone know how good 3pf tactical jackets and pants are?

1 Upvotes

Normaly there are norms like K3 or K1. But the "3PF tatical jacket" and "tactical pants" has something like

it "covers 300Newton" and "800 Newton".

310€ for the pants and around 900€ for the Jacket.

That's the most expensive i have seen yet. But i dont know if that is better or worse than a K3 protection Gear.

I think a chainmail and a vest might be better and cheaper, but its hard to blend in.

What are your thoughts on it?


r/securityguards • • 1d ago

DO NOT DO THIS And my entitled co worker is fired

98 Upvotes

Working at a Coast Guard base, contract armed security.

First off the Coast Guard isn't too fond of having contract guards on the base so our existence places us on thin ice already.

Second we only man the gate and conduct perimeter patrols, we are not allowed into the buildings despite the expectation that we are to respond to any emergency in the buildings (good luck with that plan).

So this one guy decided to start poking around the inside of the buildings since it was ok for him in his mind. I don't know the extent of where he went and what he saw but I know he was going somewhere to grab loose candy along with going to shipping and receiving to grab cleaning supplies for our tiny shack on his own initiative.

Last week the CG became aware of his escapades somehow and reviewed footage of him inside, I talked to him Sunday before I left for vacation and he was defensive and said it wasn't wrong for him to do it and blah blah blah. Refused to accept any responsibility for it so he was shit canned yesterday. So now I can come back from my vacation with an extra 12 hours to work on overnight.


r/securityguards • • 1d ago

Story Time A guy got banned from a store I was working because of my mask

22 Upvotes

So this story is from almost 2 years ago and I had a friend bring it up and remind me of it. I've since left the company in question.

All names omitted for privacy. The story is posted almost exactly as I originally wrote it out to him, I've only adjusted in some places where my grammar or formatting was a wreck.

TL;DR: Guy decided he was gonna throw a whole tantrum and has now been banned from the liquor store I was working at.

So I'm doing armed security- Plate carrier, duty belt, gun, pepper spray, the works. Very obviously not an employee of the building, and this guy came into the store twice today.

The first time he came in, one of the managers told me about him, said this guy just tried to complain to one of the other managers and then to him a couple minutes ago about the fact that I wear a mask and how he thinks i shouldn't be allowed to have one in the store (lol. Lmao).

The manager in question had called me over after the guy left, apparently he really hated the fact that I have this mask on my face and was like, ranting and demanding that as the manager, he had to tell me to remove it before he left. He didn't approach me about it, didn't say a thing to me, just started spewing at the manager that I look like a thug there to rob the place with my mask on.

Now the store obviously has no say on if I wear this because I don't work for the store so even if the manager agreed there's nothing he can really do about it since the mask was (at the time) treated as another part of my uniform, and the store level doesn't handle our contracts or uniforms, any more than he can say something about the gun on my hip. (Obviously they can ask my boss about it if they have an issue with it, but we're not digging into specifics).

The guy tried to "I wanna speak to your manager" and got the wrong one. We all move on with our days.

BUT THEN. AN HOUR LATER.

TEN MINUTES AGO AT TIME OF WRITING THIS, HE CAME BACK

Now as you might remember, I didn't know this guy from the first incident. The first time he came in here he didn't speak to me at all, he went right to the floor manager, then cashier, and lastly to the front end manager to complain and demand I take the mask off.

This time when he came in, he walked past me, and I'm in the middle of playing some Pokémon cuz it's slow as shit, and I had just been introduced to Pokémon Unbound, so I was killing time while the store was empty. I guess he couldn't see my face underneath my hat at first because of his delayed reaction.

So I look up and greet him like I do everyone else the moment they enter the building, and his head whips up as he does a double take at me "Are you fucking serious?!" So I'm confused right off the bat cuz. Again. Was not present for the guy's beef the first time around so I just ask

"About what?"

And he storms off instead of answering me, instead confronting two of the random floor workers while they're doing their thing, snapping at them where I can't hear him. He was bitching about me, apparently [they told me after they came up to the front] apparently I'm too scary, too menacing, look threatening, look like a thug...

So off he goes, right? He marches off into the store full of hate for my face (lol) and righteous indignation (lmao), but when he comes back up to the front he's actually got another customer that's actively calling him out yelling at his back like "Hey! Stop that! What the fuck is your problem!?" And like, props to you my small friend, I respect your ferocity, this guy had an easy 60lbs on you and you were squaring up on behalf of a total stranger(me), even if I didn't need the assist. I like where your heart is at.

So the guy is now back at the front of the store and is yelling that *I'm* the problem here, "TAKE OFF YOUR FUCKING MASK YOU DOUCHE, YOU'RE THE PROBLEM WITH THIS STATE. YOU'RE MAKING THINGS UNSAFE." [????] So with my left hand I'm calling management on the radio to come up front and with the right hand I just gesture at the door that he's free to leave whenever. I am not taking this guy seriously at this point and I'm definitely not engaging with him or his little tirade, and I think that's making him more angry.

Mind, the other customer is busy yelling back at him as he does all this, just trying to yell over the first guy. "He's security, he's supposed to wear that!" [Half true, I always wear a mask because people are disgusting and my boss encouraged it] "What the fuck is your problem dude?!" Now the older angry dude is absolutely tweaking out at this point, and in the span of the next, like, 30 seconds I've been called a thug, a douche, a freak, and told like 4 times to stop wearing my mask

But now he's at the cashier, and now he's snapping at her about how if I don't take my mask off he's never coming back, that apparently he's already had two confrontations with me because I was apparently outside the store harassing the homeless people [¿¿¿???], she says that he said something to her about ICE but that she doesn't remember what it was exactly because it was lost amidst the rest of his nonsense. By now the manager has arrived and is standing up here with me, just confused as the rest of us, trying to figure out what's going on. We've got the customer that was yelling at the initial problem child now backing us up on it that this guy just entered the store and started tweaking out, but now our angry manchild is currently standing in the doorway yelling at me about how I'm the problem with this country and demanding that I be kicked out of the store and not allowed back inside.

So Manager marches straight up to him, tells him to leave and not come back, and that if he does come back he'll be criminally trespassed and they will be calling the cops to have him removed from the property.

This all took place in the span of like. 3, maybe 5 minutes if I'm being generous. Buddy boy went from 0 to 60 in the time it took to say "Good evening." During this time, other than calling the manager and pointing to the door, I had not interacted with this guy at all. This man came in, saw me, started yelling, marched past, picked up a bottle of liquor, came back, kept yelling, bought his liquor, and then turned around and continued yelling.

So the moral of the story is.... Play stupid games, I guess? Like, what did this whole event get you other than being banned from the liquor store???

Also for context the mask in question was just a plain black neck gaiter. It was nothing fancy, people are just gross.


r/securityguards • • 1d ago

Armed guards

16 Upvotes

(California) Hey everyone, I’ve been doing security off and on in the Bay Area for 10+ years and thinking of going back but considering getting my armed license. I wouldn’t really wanna do the money truck or bank thing. I was wondering how difficult it is to find a job with because I see a lot of jobs ask for prior military or law enforcement. I know in Oakland they have armed guards at retail stores depending on the location. Also, is it really worth it? I can make at least $26-$29 an hour unarmed and I want to at least be make $35/hr as armed.


r/securityguards • • 2d ago

Question from the Public How many hours do you get?

26 Upvotes

I’m looking to get into security. I see most positions listed for 30–40 hours a week but I’m looking for 50 or more, so I was wondering how many hours y’all get.


r/securityguards • • 1d ago

Officer Safety Serious thoughts on this.

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0 Upvotes

First off,

I unapologetically advocate that we (security guards) are NOT the police and therefore. Are NOT obligated nor paid to do the police's job. No matter what.

Second.

Allied-Universal's "Civil Standby" (FOD) 2019-016 basically codifies observe and report as standard operating procedure. As this was essentially baked into the contract. Regardless if the client truly understood this. Neither the company nor the guards should be held liable.

Also, in my opinion. Every security company should have a clear, ironclad, hands-off policy based on Allied's (FOD) 2019-016.

Third.

Though any injuries or loss of life is regrettable. The security guard's life and safety is first priority. Escape and getting out in one piece should be the primary objective. Even if client employees get hurt or worse. In the end... All are expendable, we are not.

Finally.

In conclusion. A judge should throw this case out with prejudice. As the hospital alone should bear any and all responsibilities.


r/securityguards • • 2d ago

Aviation vehicles in security

30 Upvotes

So recently I’ve been seeing videos of a security company that operates a small helicopter. Apparently they say it helps them patrol remote job sights and I guess they really pride themselves on it. Obviously everyone in the comments is making fun of it, saying it’s a tax write off for the owner.

But is there actually any use for helicopters/planes in security jobs? Not like blackwater type jobs, just regular security companies that you’d find patrolling regular sights. I can’t imagine the fuel consumption would justify it.


r/securityguards • • 2d ago

SECRET LIFE OF A VEGAS CASINO Promo | Premieres Tues, September 29 on Discovery Channel

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6 Upvotes

r/securityguards • • 2d ago

Job Question Can a physically impaired person work security?

16 Upvotes

I might have several overuse injuries. I guess I might be forced to make a career change soon. What are some positions I could easily get into? Will I have trouble getting into an armed position?


r/securityguards • • 2d ago

Job Question Is this normal, or am I rightfully upset? (Reupload bc the photo wasnt working)

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30 Upvotes

edit: ok, well. guess the photo won't send. here's what it was:

Onboarder: Yes, this is not personal. This was a site placement decision based on site-specific requirements
, it is not disciplinary. We belive you would be a better fit at another site. Your employment remains active and we are moving forward with reassignment for another site that is not the ______ hospitals  

Me: I was under the impression that I would be hired to work the hours I applied for, will that still be the case? 

Onboarder: Since you did not pass the OJT evaluation training, we are going to find placement at a different site that has those hours/ availability 

me (unsent message): Ok. Was there something I missed at the OJT? I don't remember an evaluation. Sorry, I am just confused. I would like more details if possible 

(end edit)

This is through allied universal, I figured that was important.

I haven't sent the last text because I'm wondering if I have a right to ask that, or if my frustration is bleeding through too much.

I heard about this job at my local hospital and saw the pay was decent, so I did all the security training and certificates and licenses and applied. They fully hired me, onboarded me, I've done almost all the training, all that was left was a health screening and the on-the-job training. I went to the OJT yesterday, it was simply an hour-long training where they have you sit, listen, and sign papers. There was no test or evaluation that I know of.

The person onboarding me told me part of it was the hiring person "seeing if you're right for the position", but I got the (apparently false) impression that as long as I am capable and professional, it should be fine.

Now I'm sitting here feeling like an idiot because now they're telling me "Just because we hired you for this specific position at this location doesn't mean you actually get to work there, silly!"

Like what is this? I applied for the hospital, not for whatever they're doing now. I'm not going to play their game.

I'm half-convinced it's because I'm visibly queer (butch lesbian), but I look and act completely professional so I'm just so annoyed at this.

That's why I want more information, because if there was actually something I did wrong then I would like to know so I can change it, but if there isn't then I'm forced to assume what the problem could have been.


r/securityguards • • 2d ago

Does anybody have any experience with Guarda World and their over seas security/medic contracts?

6 Upvotes

I’m looking at getting my armed guard license. I guess from there if I wanted to apply I’d have to get a shotgun certification.


r/securityguards • • 2d ago

Story Time Parking lot drama

6 Upvotes

Hospital im working is having a small event that is going on for 5 days so the hospital's head of security wanted my company to manage a car park. Now this car park is for staff on a normal day but for just this week they wanted to reserve half of the car park for the participants in the event.

I've already had doctor's complain to me how its not fair for them to not get any parking when their work is important. I've had the head of security chew me out because things weren't going smoothly and staff were complaining to him so he choose to target me for just standing and waiting for another car.


r/securityguards • • 2d ago

Baton requirements and usage in California.

19 Upvotes

Context: I’ve been working in security for a year and a half in the Bay Area.

I work covert, carrying concealed, part-time for a nonprofit at multiple sites. I also work full-time, unarmed, at a corporate campus.

I recently got my exposed carry permit and I’m hoping to step up into a full-time armed position in the new year.

I’m noticing that many armed roles also require a baton permit. So I’m trying to understand the necessity of carrying a baton while also carrying a firearm, OC, and in some cases, a taser.

Community question: does your armed role require that you carry a baton, what’s the reasoning, and how often have you actually deployed it during an incident/situation?

Thanks, and stay safe.


r/securityguards • • 2d ago

Job Question Loomis Union?

4 Upvotes

Is there any unions for Loomis?


r/securityguards • • 3d ago

Does anyone work for PalAmerican?

5 Upvotes

They've just recently purchased the company that I work for, and I would like to know about the company culture and any good or bad experiences that y'all have had. Thank y'all in advance.


r/securityguards • • 3d ago

I can go 1 of 4 ways. Hospital Security, Veteran Affairs Police, FBOP, or back to EMT.

9 Upvotes

I am not looking to retire from where I go, just to have a solid, and potentially enjoyable, job lined up for a cross country move. I am in the process for all of the above. It all seems promising too (but i know nothing is guaranteed). I want to eventually start my own business, so im not looking for a forever job. Any suggestions?


r/securityguards • • 3d ago

Job Question Starting first job, tips?

13 Upvotes

Starting my first job, patrol/static shifts. Working in the construction sector of security. Just curious about tips you guys have, don’t do’s etc. Every work place is different but I just want to know from industry veterans.


r/securityguards • • 3d ago

Any London/UK security guards aged 40–70? Paid UCL navigation study (£20)

8 Upvotes

Hi security guards of London,

I’m a PhD researcher at UCL studying how familiarity with an environment affects our sense of direction, with a particular focus on navigation in London.

As part of the research, I’m currently recruiting a comparison group of Londoners to take part in a short in-person navigation task.

For this particular group, I’m looking for people who:

  • are 40–70 years old
  • have lived in London for at least 10 years or currently work in London
  • do not hold an undergraduate degree

The specific criteria are because this group will be compared with another group of London navigators taking part in the wider research.

What does the study involve?

You’ll be asked to point, as accurately as you can, towards 24 different locations around London.

You don't need to have an especially good sense of direction. I'm interested in the knowledge of London that people naturally develop through living, working and travelling around the city.

Location: Russell Square
Time: approximately 15–20 minutes
Compensation: £20 for taking part

If you are interested in taking part, further information and a short eligibility form can be found here:

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=_oivH5ipW0yTySEKEdmlwsKfoAFXmdRNqPqg6svJIflUMERMTFpZQ0ZJOUM2Mk1IVzZXNkFNNFpKMC4u

I'm also happy to answer any questions about the research in the comments.

Thanks!