Băile Herculane: "Terrorism and counter-terrorism"

Băile Herculane resort hosts a “Terrorism and counter-terrorism” training course for security guards, that will end tomorrow. The course is organized by the Professional Security Guard Association - Vienna Branch Academic Center. The course is attended by 24 participants from the Romanian private security guard industry, who can thus benefit from the professional experience of specialists in the field, coming from the special forces of the Internal Affairs Ministry and the International Security Academy (ISA) in Israel. Theoretical and practical elements of counter-terrorism, as well as aspects related to the security guard culture, have been taught.

Today, terrorism is the number one global threat, and terrorists have recently hit heavily populated areas in European capitals. In this context, the private security industry is becoming an increasingly important pillar of national security, says col (r) dr. Tiberiu Tănase, Director of the Academic Center of the Association of Professional Employees of the Security Industry in Romania (APAP).

For his part, Mihai Constantinescu, Director of the Association of Security Employees, says that private security is complementary to the Romanian power institutions, with whom it would be desirable to collaborate more closely in extreme situations.

On the other hand, unfortunately, the level of training of personnel in the security guard industry in Romania is at a very low level, according to Ovidiu Olariu, ISA instructor VIP protection and counter-terrorism.

Ovidiu Olariu has been co-opted by one of the largest VIP protection and counter-terrorism private organizations in the world, ISA (International Security Academy Israel), to join the group of instructors. He worked in Nigeria, where, along with six other instructors, coached the armed and police forces of that country in anti-terror training, for their fight against terrorist groups in the region, the most well-known being "Boko Haram." Cristian Anheliuc, also known as “The little one” (Micutsu), was a bodyguard for Michael Schumacher in Monza in 2005 and for Juventus Torino.

A lecture on terrorism in Europe and its impact on citizens was delivered by Univ. Prof. Dr. Tiberiu Tănase - historian and colonel (in reserve) within the Romanian Intelligence Service, trainer and security manager, with research activities carried out at the National Institute of Intelligence Studies, National Academy of Information "Mihai Viteazul".

Chief Commissioner Mihai Daniel Saulea, a former self-defense instructor at the Câmpina Petty Officer School, former commander of the SAS Prahova troops, was also present in Herculane.

The organizer of this training course is the “National Bodyguard Academy”, a Center of Excellence for Private Security Studies, with the mission to provide security education, tactical training, consulting and professional development services for employees in the private security industry, through the National Program of Professional Continuous Development of Adults on the line of private security.

The “National Bodyguard Academy” is owned and managed by APAP, which aims to become a provider of resources and information to private security professionals and the general public.

The Herculane training course aims to bring added performance to the Romanian security industry, where the overwhelming majority of over 150,000 employees are paid with the minimum wage on the economy and are not receiving continuous professional training at European standards.

Source:RRA.Translated by Miruna Matei