Close Protection Academy
Advanced Career Training for Professional Close Protection
Build the foundational security credentials, professional judgment, technical skills, and hands-on capability required to pursue a career in Close Protection and advanced protective services.
Tactical Elite Training Academy’s Close Protection Academy is our flagship comprehensive career-training program for students preparing to enter or advance within the professional security and protective-services industries.
Designed for veterans, transitioning service members, security professionals, and qualified civilians, the Close Protection Academy program combines Texas occupational licensing, professional certifications, firearms training, protective operations, defensive tactics, emergency medical training, vehicle operations, scenario-based instruction, and career development.
Students train at The Ranch Texas in Dilley, TX, Tactical Elite Training Academy’s Texas headquarters and a purpose-built professional training environment designed for realistic, hands-on instruction.
Texas DPS Certifications · Close Protection Training · Advanced Firearms · Defensive Tactics · Protective Mobility · Tactical Medical · Career Development
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Location:
The Ranch Texas
10700 S. Interstate Highway 35
Dilley, Texas 78017
Program Duration:
360 Hours / 9 weeks
Program Cost:
$32,000
Lodging & Meals:
Included in program cost
Questions?
Contact Tactical Elite Training Academy
Admin@TacticalEliteTraining.com
THE CLOSE PROTECTION ACADEMY
Turn Professional Training Into a Career Path
The Close Protection Academy is designed to prepare students for professional careers in private security and protective services while developing the advanced capabilities required for modern Close Protection assignments.
Students begin with the occupational licensing, legal knowledge, safety standards, communication skills, and professional responsibilities required in the security industry.
From there, training progresses into advanced Close Protection concepts including:
Protective planning
Advance work
Risk and threat assessment
Protective formations
Principal movement
Protective communications
Vehicle operations
Emergency evacuation
Firearms proficiency
Defensive tactics
Tactical medicine
Surveillance awareness
Team coordination
Professional decision-making
The goal is not simply to issue certificates.
The goal is to develop capable, employable professionals who understand how to responsibly operate in high-responsibility protective environments.
WHO THE PROGRAM IS FOR
The Close Protection Academy is designed for:
Veterans transitioning into civilian careers
Active and former military personnel
Individuals entering the professional security industry
Licensed security officers seeking career advancement
Armed security professionals
Personal Protection Officers
Government contractors
Protective-services professionals
Qualified civilians pursuing professional security careers
Law enforcement personnel seeking additional protective-services education
Admission and occupational licensing requirements may vary depending on the student’s background and certifications.
YOUR FUTURE
Build a Career in Professional Security & Close Protection
Qualified graduates may pursue employment opportunities across areas such as:
Close Protection
Personal Protection
Dignitary Protection
Celebrity Protection
Corporate Protection
Residential Security
Estate Security
Protective Driving
Armed Security
Government Contract Security
Security Management
Protective Intelligence Support
Security Team Leadership
High-Net-Worth Family Protection
Employment eligibility depends on licensing, experience, employer requirements, geographic location, and other professional qualifications.
Tactical Elite Training Academy does not guarantee employment or specific compensation.
CLASSES INCLUDED IN THE CLOSE PROTECTION ACADEMY PROGRAM
The 360-hour Certified Close Protection Specialist (CCPS) program combines occupational security training, professional certifications, Close Protection instruction, advanced firearms, medical training, vehicle operations, defensive tactics, behavioral analysis, supervisory skills, and field training.
Course content is delivered through classroom instruction, practical application, skills evaluation, and scenario-based exercises at The Ranch Texas.
Close Protection Fundamentals
Build the professional foundation required for modern Close Protection work.
Students develop an understanding of the responsibilities, professional standards, communication, planning, and protective methodologies used in professional Close Protection assignments.
Training may include:
Roles, responsibilities & professional conduct
Protective mindset & principal considerations
Threat awareness & situational awareness
Protective formations, positioning & movement
Team communication & coordination
Arrival/departure procedures, fundamental planning & more
Advanced Close Protection Operations
Progress from foundational concepts into practical Close Protection operations through advanced classroom and scenario-based instruction.
Students learn to evaluate environments, coordinate protective details, plan movements, and apply protective concepts during increasingly complex assignments.
Training may include:
Advance work, site assessments & route planning
Threat, risk & protective intelligence concepts
Principal movement, formations & team organization
Travel, hotel & site-security considerations
Surveillance/counter-surveillance & emergency procedures
Protective scenarios, field exercises & more
Texas DPS Level II Security Officer Training
This course provides foundational training for students pursuing Texas private-security employment as a Non-Commissioned Security Officer.
Instruction addresses applicable professional responsibilities and occupational requirements associated with entry-level private security work in Texas.
Students should consult Texas Department of Public Safety requirements regarding licensing, registration, background checks, and eligibility.
Texas DPS Level III Commissioned Security Officer Training
Students pursuing armed security responsibilities in Texas receive the applicable professional and firearms training associated with Commissioned Security Officer licensing requirements.
Training may include:
Texas DPS PSB security-officer requirements
Commissioned security/firearms training
Personal Protection Officer training
Texas laws, regulations & professional responsibilities
Use of force, firearms qualification & safety
Licensing preparation, practical evaluation & more
Licenses are issued by the appropriate Texas regulatory authority and remain subject to individual eligibility, application, background, testing, and other applicable requirements.
Texas DPS Level IV Personal Protection Officer Training
Level IV training prepares qualified Texas security professionals for responsibilities associated with Personal Protection Officer assignments.
Course content may include:
Personal protection responsibilities
Threat assessment
Protective planning
Client considerations
Defensive tactics
Communication
Protective movements
Emergency procedures
Legal responsibilities
Students must satisfy applicable Texas DPS prerequisites and licensing requirements.
ADVANCED FIREARMS TRAINING
Students progress beyond occupational firearms qualification into advanced handgun applications relevant to professional security and Close Protection environments.
The CCPS curriculum includes multiple days of advanced firearms instruction, progressing from fundamentals into practical application and evaluation.
Training may include:
Advanced handgun fundamentals & marksmanship
Drawing, manipulation, reloads & malfunction clearing
Movement, multiple-target engagement & use of cover
Low-light and Close Protection firearms applications
Shoothouse and scenario-based firearms exercises
Judgment, accountability, qualification & more
Firearms instruction emphasizes safety, discipline, professional judgment, accountability, and responsible application.
PROTECTIVE VEHICLE OPERATIONS
Close Protection professionals must be capable of safely and effectively moving principals between locations while anticipating changing operational conditions.
The CCPS curriculum includes Emergency Vehicle Operator training (EVOC) and practical vehicle instruction.
Training may include:
Vehicle dynamics & positioning
Protective arrivals and departures
Route planning & movement considerations
Emergency vehicle operations
Passenger, vehicle & principal security
Communication, decision-making & more
BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS & THREAT RECOGNITION
Protective professionals must develop the awareness and judgment necessary to identify developing concerns before they become emergencies.
Behavioral Analysis is a dedicated component of the CCPS curriculum.
Training may include:
Situational awareness & observation
Behavioral and pre-incident indicators
Threat and aggression recognition
Human behavior & environmental assessment
Communication, de-escalation & early intervention
Protective decision-making & more
OPERATIONAL & SUPERVISORY SKILLS
Professional Close Protection requires more than individual tactical capability. Students must understand how protective assignments are organized, communicated, supervised, and executed as a team.
Training may include:
Operational and protective-detail planning
Team assignments, briefings & leadership
Advance preparation, routes & site assessment
Scheduling and communication plans
Coordination & contingency planning
Detail presentations, after-action review & more
Students apply these concepts through practical planning assignments and field exercises.
TACTICAL EMERGENCY CASUALTY CARE / MEDICAL TRAINING
Medical readiness is a critical component of professional protective operations.
The CCPS curriculum includes Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC) instruction and provides students the opportunity to earn a National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) certification, subject to successful completion of applicable requirements.
Training may include:
Massive hemorrhage control & tourniquet application
Airway and respiratory emergencies
Trauma assessment & circulation
Wound packing and casualty management
Casualty movement & tactical decision-making
Self-aid, team response & more
Training is conducted at The Ranch Texas, which supports professional emergency medical education and hands-on medical training.
DEFENSIVE TACTICS & COMBATIVES
Close Protection professionals may be required to manage physical threats while maintaining control of the environment and protecting the principal.
The CCPS program incorporates both Combatives and Defensive Tactics instruction.
Training may include:
Distance management & protective positioning
Defensive movement & physical control
Escort and subject-control techniques
Weapon retention and defensive concepts
Team response & principal protection
Ground-defense fundamentals, practical scenarios & more
ARREST & CONTROL / OC SPRAY
Students receive practical instruction in arrest-and-control concepts and the professional application of oleoresin capsicum (OC).
Training may include:
Arrest, control & positioning principles
OC safety, carry & deployment
Effective application & decontamination
Legal and professional considerations
Communication & use-of-force decision-making
Practical application, scenario training & more
CONDUCTED ENERGY WEAPON (CEW)
The CCPS curriculum includes Conducted Energy Weapon training, providing students with instruction in the professional, safe, and responsible application of CEW technology.
Training may include:
Equipment operation & safety
Carry and deployment considerations
Targeting and practical application
Use-of-force considerations
Post-deployment procedures
Decision-making, practical exercises & more
Students who successfully satisfy applicable course requirements may be eligible to receive the corresponding manufacturer/provider certification identified in the approved curriculum.
DTS EXPANDABLE BATON
Students receive professional instruction in the lawful, safe, and practical use of expandable baton systems.
Training may include:
Carry considerations
Deployment
Striking principles
Target areas
Movement
Control
Use-of-force considerations
Retention
Scenario application
TACTICAL HANDCUFFING & CONTROL
This training introduces students to practical subject-control principles relevant to professional security environments.
Training may include:
Conflict management
Positioning
Handcuffing
Search considerations
Team coordination
Control techniques
Safety
Documentation
Professional conduct
AHA & RED CROSS FIRST AID / CPR / AED
Students develop foundational emergency-response capabilities applicable to professional security and Close Protection assignments.
The CCPS curriculum includes American Heart Association CPR/AED/First Aid training.
Training may include:
CPR and immediate lifesaving intervention
Automated External Defibrillator use
First aid and emergency assessment
Recognition of common medical emergencies
Adult emergency-response skills
Practical skills evaluation & more
Successful students may earn the applicable American Heart Association certification identified in the approved curriculum.
USE OF FORCE & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
Professional security personnel must understand not only what they are capable of doing, but what they are legally, ethically, and professionally permitted to do.
Training may include:
Use-of-force principles & legal considerations
De-escalation and communication
Professional responsibility & accountability
Threat assessment and decision-making
Documentation, reporting & liability
Scenario application & more
SITE SECURITY
Close Protection professionals frequently operate within residences, businesses, venues, hotels, and other controlled environments.
Dedicated Site Security instruction helps students understand how security considerations extend beyond the immediate protection of a principal.
Training may include:
Site-security principles
Access and environmental considerations
Vulnerability identification
Protective positioning and observation
Communication and incident response
Operational coordination & more
PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR & WORKPLACE RESPONSIBILITY
Professional credibility is an essential part of a career in security and Close Protection.
Students receive instruction addressing appropriate workplace conduct and the professional standards expected within security organizations and client environments.
Training may include:
Professional conduct & ethical behavior
Workplace expectations
Communication and interpersonal professionalism
Sexual-harassment prevention
Client and team interactions
Accountability, judgment & more
CAREER DEVELOPMENT & JOB PLACEMENT TRAINING
Technical capability must be paired with the ability to professionally pursue employment.
Tactical Elite Training Academy provides job-placement training and placement-assistance services designed to help students prepare for employment within the professional security industry.
Training may include:
Resumé development & military-skill translation
Interview preparation and mock interviews
Career planning & professional presentation
Security-industry terminology and expectations
Employer networking and recruiting opportunities
Job-search preparation, placement assistance & more
Tactical Elite Training Academy does not guarantee employment.
FIELD TRAINING EXERCISES
The CCPS program culminates in Field Training Exercises (FTX) designed to require students to apply skills developed throughout the academy.
Rather than evaluating competencies only in isolation, field exercises challenge students to integrate planning, communication, movement, judgment, and technical skills into realistic protective assignments.
Exercises may incorporate:
Protective-detail planning & advance work
Principal movement & team coordination
Site, route and vehicle considerations
Threat recognition & emergency response
Communication and operational decision-making
Integrated Close Protection scenarios & more
PROFESSIONAL REPORT WRITING
Clear documentation is a core professional skill.
Students learn to create accurate, objective, defensible reports that communicate relevant facts effectively.
Instruction may include:
Observation
Note taking
Incident documentation
Chronology
Objective writing
Relevant facts
Professional terminology
Report organization
Accuracy
Review and correction
CAREER DEVELOPMENT, RESUMÉ & INTERVIEW PREPARATION
Technical training is only valuable if students know how to professionally present themselves to employers.
Career-development instruction may include:
Résumé development
Translating military experience
Professional presentation
Interview preparation
Mock interviews
Career planning
Security-industry terminology
Networking
Professional expectations
Employer readiness
NATIONAL LICENSING & CERTIFICATION
Although the VA-focused Close Protection Academy program is based in Texas and incorporates applicable Texas DPS training, Tactical Elite Training Academy also supports security and professional training pathways in multiple jurisdictions.
Additional state, national, and professional certifications may be available depending on eligibility and program requirements.
Students seeking employment outside Texas should speak with admissions regarding applicable licensing requirements.
Texas licensing requirements remain the governing occupational framework for this Texas-based program.
Train at The Ranch Texas
300 Acre Tier-1 Training Facility
The Close Protection Academy is conducted at The Ranch TX, Tactical Elite Training Academy’s Texas headquarters.
Located in Dilley, Texas, The Ranch provides students with a large-scale professional environment designed to support classroom instruction, live-fire training, scenario development, vehicle operations, tactical medicine, and hands-on professional education.
Training resources may include:
Live-fire ranges
Largest commercial live-fire Shoothouse in the USA
Urban / MOUT environments
Vehicle and mobility training areas
Low-light and night-training capability
Scenario-based training environments
Classrooms
NAEMT-certified medical training
On-site lodging
Meal options
Fitness and student-support amenities
This integrated environment allows students to learn a concept in the classroom and then apply it under realistic training conditions.
PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTION
Veteran & Law Enforcement-Led Training
Tactical Elite Training Academy instructors bring professional experience across:
Military service
Law enforcement
Federal protective services
Private security
Close Protection
Dignitary protection
Tactical operations
Firearms instruction
Tactical team development
Security management
Agency training
Protective operations
The academy has trained more than 50,000 law enforcement, military, and security personnel since 2012.
THE NATIONAL STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE
Tactical Elite Training Academy has been providing professional training since 2012.
Our approach is built around a simple principle:
A certificate should represent real capability.
Students are expected to develop the knowledge, professional judgment, practical application, and personal accountability required in high-responsibility security and protection careers.
TACTICAL ELITE PROTECTIVE SERVICES
Industry Connection Beyond the Classroom
The Close Protection Academy is supported by the professional experience and operational perspective of Tactical Elite Protective Services, the security and protective-services division associated with Tactical Elite.
Tactical Elite Protective Services operates across professional security and protective-service environments, providing the academy with direct industry insight into the standards, expectations, and capabilities employers and clients require.
This connection helps keep training relevant to the realities of professional employment rather than purely academic instruction.
CERTIFICATIONS & PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS
Students must successfully complete the applicable courses and satisfy all outside licensing or certifying-body requirements to earn individual credentials.
The Certified Close Protection Specialist program provides training toward credentials that may include:
Texas DPS PSB Security Officer credential
Texas DPS PSB Commissioned Security / firearms credential
Texas DPS PSB Personal Protection Officer credential
Conducted Energy Weapon certification
American Heart Association CPR/AED/First Aid certification
NAEMT certification
Emergency Vehicle Operator (EVOC)
Tactical Elite Training Academy Certificate of Completion
Tactical Elite Combatives Certificate
And additional applicable professional training credentials
Licensure and third-party certifications are subject to successful completion of the applicable training as well as eligibility, examination, application, background, regulatory, and/or certifying-body requirements.
Apply Now:
360 HOURS. 9 WEEKS. ONE INTEGRATED PROGRAM.
The Close Protection Academy brings these disciplines together into one structured career-training environment.
Students don’t simply study Close Protection concepts. They progress from foundational occupational training into advanced firearms, behavioral analysis, tactical medicine, vehicle operations, combatives, operational planning, advanced Close Protection, and integrated field exercises designed to reinforce professional application.
Maximum cohort size: 16 students.
The objective is simple:
Build the credentials. Develop the judgment. Apply the skills. Prepare for greater responsibility.
Begin Your Next Professional Chapter.