Secret Service Training: Preparation for a Zero Fail Mission

The Secret Service has a zero fail mission to protect the President and defend against various threats through rigorous training and preparation.

### Inside the Secret Service: Training for a Zero Fail Mission
* 🕵️‍♂️  The Secret Service has a "**zero fail mission**," where any mistake could have **catastrophic consequences** for national security and the economy.
* 🎓  Recruits undergo **six months of intense training** at the James J. Riley Training Center in Maryland, including **three months at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in New Mexico**.
* 🚗  Training includes driving, marksmanship, hand-to-hand combat, and realistic threat scenarios, with a strong emphasis on **attention to detail** and **physical fitness**.
* 💼  The Secret Service's primary mission is **protecting the President**, with a history dating back to 1901 after the **assassination of President McKinley**.
* 💰  The starting salary for new agents and officers is **$47,000**, with a rigorous vetting process including **background checks, top-secret clearance, and polygraph examinations**.
* 👩‍🔬  Recruits train in mixed-gender classes, with **less than 25%** of the approximately 7,000 Secret Service employees being female.
* 🔥  One of the most challenging parts of training is exposure to tear gas, which simulates **real-world scenarios where agents may encounter chemical weapons**.
* 🇺🇸  Despite the intense training and potential risks, the Secret Service remains apolitical, focusing solely on **protecting the Office of the President regardless of political affiliations**.

the Secret Service has a zero fail mission. A zero fail mission. What that means in layman's terms, ladies and gentlemen, is this: You don't get a bad day in the Secret Service. Somebody tell me in this room right now, what would happen if the Secret Service failed that its zero fail mission? If one of us decided that we stayed out late the night before, we got up late, we let the wrong person get by us, something happened to the President of the United States. Would it be business as usual that next day? Any ideas? Tell me what you think. Would there be any changes the next day after something happened to the President? What do you think would happen to other foreign militaries' postures around the world? What do you think would happen to the stock market here and abroad? How would it affect you? How would it affect your family members? What would happen to your family's 401ks and retirement plans? You think those things would plummet? You think there'd be worldwide panic and anxiety?

that's exactly what would happen times 10. That is now your responsibility. That is now the weight on your shoulders. That is the responsibility you are accepting by taking this job and showing up here today. So I want you to take this moment and say to yourself, am I ready for that level of responsibility? Is that what I want to do? You've earned this seat. We've congratulated you. Now you have to earn it every single day. [Music] [Music] You okay, man? Mother, there. Put the back down, Dr. The back. Police, drop the back. I want you to take all the notions that you have about what we do in the Secret Service that you've seen on the movies and on TV shows, and I want you to throw it out the window. [Music] This is Secret Service boot camp. Before they join the Secret Service, all recruits have to graduate from the agency's six-month training program. Training happens here at the James J. Riley Training Center in Laurel, Maryland, located about 20 miles north of Washington. Welcome to the James J. Riley.

United States Secret Service training center. On day one, a new class of recruits arrives at the Academy. Have a seat, every one of you sitting here right now. There were about a hundred other applicants that tried to get the seat that you have earned. How did you earn that seat? You earned that seat by getting through our very, very difficult and in-depth vetting process, and you should be congratulated. And I hope you celebrated, because the celebration time is over. Now's the time for business. Everybody clear on that? On Saturday, you will depart. Before they begin their Secret Service specific training, these recruits will spend 3 months at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Artesia, New Mexico. Get back in the building now. Before returning to Maryland for three more months of focused training that includes driving, marksmanship, hand-to-hand combat, and realistic threat scenarios. We spent 3 days at the training center where we observe recruits at various stages of training. It's going to be a long week for the new class, their first week.

focuses on a physical evaluation let go. Let's go, St. St. and getting rid of any bad habits they may have brought into the academy. We left yesterday without chairs being pushed in, and now we can't pay attention to detail 1 minute after the details given out, and we're laughing and joking in here. It is going to be an extremely long week. Not make plans for Friday, getting out of here on TI 'cause that ain't happened. Although we were allowed to film inside the academy, our access was limited, and we were only able to film certain aspects of training, the rest of which remained secret. There's certain things that we will not be able to show yourself or any other members of the media here, and that's really for the safety of our protectees. We don't want to advertise our playbook, so to speak. For example, we weren't able to film any training that incorporated this partial replica of Air Force 1 used to create specific scenarios where the president is threatened. We don't want to give people

specifics into our protective methodologies that we have in place for some of our protection. Clearly, some of those things we cannot share um, and that's really to make sure that we're not giving any any sort of an advantage to any of our adversaries out there. The United States Secret Service, America's first line of defense against the counterfeit and the crank. The Secret Service was founded in 1865, its primary mission to combat the counterfeiting of US currency. The famed Secret Service, whose foremost duty is protecting the president of the United States and his family. The Secret Service began its protective mission after the 1901 assassination of President William McKinley. I have the president's personal bodyguard. I go where he goes. I want to say that anybody who has no business with him better look out, and believe me, I don't mean maybe. Since the Secret Service began its protective mission, the president has remained a target. Since 1901, President Kennedy has been the sole president to die at the hands of an

assassin. Despite numerous attempts by others, like in 1994. Oh my god when a gunman opened fire on the White House while President Clinton watched a football game inside. Put it down, put it down due to the weight of our protected Mission. We have to make sure that anyone in those positions is uh truly worthy of trust and confidence, which is our motto here. We're getting ready to go into another campaign year, so we have to uh build up our Workforce in order to help support that. The base salary for new agents and officers starts as low as $47,000 a year. Potential recruits apply on the Secret Service website, but most applicants are eliminated during an intense vetting process. Generally, it takes quite a long time in order to get through our screening process. The very in-depth background checks, qualification to obtain a top-secret clearance and maintain one, to undergo a polygraph examination, successfully pass that. They have a lot to be proud of just for the fact that they're sitting here. Stay right there. One thing done understand guys.

this is not a video game. In this exercise, recruits interact with a video screen that plays a scenario involving a potential threat to a protect de se. Stop moving, stop moving, and are judged on how quickly they're able to assess and respond to the threat. So there's the gun. I knew I was going to find. What can I do with this? Recruits also engage with role players who create realistic law enforcement scenarios. I'll Che, I got over here. Off working in Motor Vehicles plays a big part in training and what the academy calls protective transportation. Recruits train behind the wheel of high-speed Dodge Chargers and Chevy Suburbans. The Secret Service's mission is to get protect e safely from point A to point B. The training that we provide enhances that mission, that foundational driving that they are going to need to be effective Secret Service agents. All right, is everybody ready ni right? Recruits also experience a rollover simulator to prepare them for what it's like inside a vehicle that's flipped over. Next four up. The instructor allowed us in the

simulator. I'm upside down to experience it from the inside. Recruits spend hours on the firing range standing healing and prot position. They cross paths with active agents who've come back to the academy for inservice training. Drop the weapon recruits engage in water-based scenarios, including being challenged to escape from this apparatus, which simulates being trapped in a helicopter that's flipped upside down underwater. You guys good? Someone to be here. You guys ready to do some team tactics? Yes, ma. Recruits learn control tactics used to detain and subdue an assailant. Male and female recruits train together throughout basic training. Of the approximately 7,000 people in the Secret Service, less than 25% are female. I'm going to come around and check your seals one more time. One of the most challenging parts of training occurs when the recruits are exposed to tear gas. Holy, it is burning my eyes. We couldn't bring our camera inside the gas chamber, but we did convince an officer to shoot inside with an iPhone, showing us what

it's like for recruits when they're exposed to the gas. The Mas here we go. Good job, good job, good job. We weren't allowed to interview recruits during training or to film at graduation. Once training is complete, these future agents and officers begin their zero fail Mission. Against The backdrop of an intense election year in a nation divided by politics, we protect the Office of the President. We're not political appointees. It doesn't matter to us who the people elect. We're going to protect those individuals with the same zealousness that we would regardless. Political opinions don't come into play at all. What we're focused on is training, preparing them to do the job that they're going to need to do, and that's all that counts for us.

How Secret Service Agents Are Trained For A 'Zero-Fail Mission' | Boot Camp | Business Insider

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The High Stakes of the Secret Service's Zero Fail Mission

The Secret Service has a critical mission where failure is not an option, as it would have dire consequences for the President's safety and the global economy.

The agency's recruits must undergo a rigorous six-month training program at the James J.

Riley Training Center in Maryland to prepare for this immense responsibility.

The Secret Service's role goes beyond the portrayals in movies and TV shows, requiring a constant readiness for protecting the highest office and global stability.

Training at the United States Secret Service Academy

A new class of recruits goes through rigorous training at the Secret Service Academy, including a 3-month program at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in New Mexico.

The training involves various skills such as driving, marksmanship, and hand-to-hand combat, as well as realistic threat scenarios.

Access to certain parts of the training is restricted to ensure the safety of the protectees, including the use of a partial replica of Air Force 1 for specific threat scenarios.

The United States Secret Service: From Counterfeit Combat to Presidential Protection

The Secret Service was established in 1865 to fight US currency counterfeiting.

Its mission expanded to protecting the president after President McKinley's assassination in 1901.

The agency has faced numerous assassination attempts on the president, leading to a rigorous vetting process for new agents with a starting salary of $47,000.

Secret Service Training: Preparing for Protective Transportation

Recruits train to assess and respond to threats, interact with role players, and engage in protective transportation practice.

The training includes driving high-speed vehicles, experiencing a rollover simulator, and spending time on the firing range.

Recruits also participate in water-based scenarios, learn control tactics, and undergo exposure to tear gas, with less than 25% of the Secret Service being female.

The Non-Political Mission of Secret Service Recruits

The Secret Service recruits undergo intense training without exposure to gas or media coverage.

Despite a divided political climate, their focus is unwavering in protecting the Office of the President, regardless of personal opinions.

The main priority is to train and prepare recruits for their future job.