From the Frontline | Get Licensed

"He never felt the punch that blinded him."

In episode four of the Frontline Security Podcast Specialist Series, host Anthony Milner and US Army veteran and Get Licensed trainer John Redfern look at what really happens inside the human body when violence kicks off, and why most of what you think you saw in a fight is wrong.

John and Anthony break down the body language tells that come before a fight starts, why your brain stops processing sound when adrenaline floods your system, why you can be hit and not feel it, and why a colleague's emotions can be the most dangerous thing in the room.

In this episode:

- Pre-fight tells: clenched fists, weight shifting and blocking exits

- Why John has only been punched six times, and never felt one

- Tunnel vision, lost hearing and how your brain fills in the gaps

- Spotting when a teammate is about to cross the line

- The under-25 brain, and why the military recruits young men anyway

- After-action reviews and how good teams debrief

- What security teams can learn from pilots about staying calm

- Why getting your ego out of the way is the most important skill in the job

Chapters:

00:00 Cold open

00:41 Body language and nonverbal communication

01:38 Pre-fight tells: clenched fists, weight shifting, blocking exits

02:29 Why you can't hear when you fight

03:15 Tunnel vision and why your memory of a fight is wrong

04:04 "I've only been punched six times", and never felt one

04:22 The colleague who was blinded by a punch he never felt

05:07 Court or the hospital: what happens when adrenaline wins

05:26 Spotting when a teammate is about to cross the line

06:39 The prefrontal cortex and the under-25 brain

07:20 Why the military recruits young men

09:11 After-action reviews and how good teams debrief

11:01 "Get your ego out of the way"

13:23 The aviation parallel: why pilots stay calm

14:21 Fight, flight or freeze explained

15:26 The painting that fell off the wall

17:28 Why your brain fills in the gaps

19:17 Reading your colleagues without saying a word

20:31 Why cohesive teams have fewer incidents

21:32 A manager's job: putting people where they thrive

23:24 Closing thoughts

Guest: John Redfern, US Army veteran and Get Licensed security trainer

Host: Anthony Milner

Next episode: AI, Drones and the Future of Security

Explore the full series and apply to be a guest: https://www.get-licensed.co.uk/frontline-podcast

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejKXIpZgz14

Train for your SIA licence with Get Licensed: https://www.get-licensed.co.uk

Find security jobs with GuardPass: https://www.guardpass.com

Hiring security staff? https://www.guardpass.com/employers

Follow Get Licensed on Instagram, YouTube and Facebook: @getlicensed

"This field is absolutely massive. It's not just standing on a door."

In episode three of the Frontline Security Podcast Specialist Series, host Anthony Milner and US Army veteran and Get Licensed trainer John Redfern map out the UK security industry: what the SIA actually does, where each licence can take you, and the careers nobody tells you about when you sign up for your first badge.

John and Anthony break down the four core SIA licences (Door Supervisor, Security Officer, CCTV Operator and Close Protection), where they overlap, and the paths that open up once you treat security as a career: corporate security, risk management, travel and hostile environment work, nuclear power plants, NGOs, maritime security, women's shelters and AI data centres.

In this episode:

- Why the Private Security Industry Act 2001 was "brought in to protect the public from us"

- Why CCTV training matters in court, and how one paperwork mistake can let a guilty person walk free

- Why dual licensing is one of the smartest moves you can make

- "The only thing I own that can make money for me is my time"

- Why your CV gets binned, and how to get past the AI filter

- Festivals as the fastest way to build a security CV

- What the 2027 SIA qualification update might bring

Chapters:

00:00 Cold open: "It's not just standing on a door"

00:31 Welcome back and what this episode covers

01:36 Every business needs security

02:49 The Private Security Industry Act 2001 explained

04:23 Why the SIA is 25 years behind the threat

06:16 The four core SIA licences

08:23 The Manchester Arena attack and why CCTV training matters

11:33 Evidence, court and how paperwork mistakes set guilty people free

12:26 Security Officer licence vs Door Supervisor licence

15:02 Why dual licensing is the smartest career move

17:24 Why your CV gets binned and how to beat the AI filter

18:46 How to present yourself in a security interview

20:48 Close Protection licence and the festival circuit

21:53 Beyond the door: corporate, risk, travel and hostile environment security

23:30 Nuclear power plants, NGOs, maritime and women's shelters

24:50 Festivals: the fastest way to build a security CV

25:13 BTEC pathways from Level 2 to Level 7

26:08 AI data centres: the next big security employer

26:48 What the 2027 SIA qualifications might change

Guest: John Redfern, US Army veteran and Get Licensed security trainer

Host: Anthony Milner

Next episode: Body Language and Staying Calm Under Pressure

Explore the full series and apply to be a guest: https://www.get-licensed.co.uk/frontline-podcast

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQ6vQLN_PzQ

Train for your SIA licence with Get Licensed: https://www.get-licensed.co.uk

Find security jobs with GuardPass: https://www.guardpass.com

Hiring security staff? https://www.guardpass.com/employers

Follow Get Licensed on Instagram, YouTube and Facebook: @getlicensed

Control yourself, and you control the situation.

In episode two of the Frontline Security Podcast Specialist Series, US Army veteran and Get Licensed trainer John Redfern joins host Anthony Milner to talk about the skills that keep a door safe long before anyone has to step in physically: leadership, self-control and communication.

In this episode:

- Why every security role is a leadership role

- Assertive vs aggressive vs passive, and where each one gets you

- Dressing and thinking two levels above where you are

- Culture: what you do when no one's watching

- What trainers can't teach in the classroom

- Hard skills vs soft skills, and why business owners should hire ex-security

- Real stories from closing time and "the fog of war"

- Adapting to the room: restaurants, hotels, R&B clubs and football

Chapters:

00:00 Cold open: Control yourself, control the situation

00:43 Welcome back and what this episode covers

01:48 Why every security role is a leadership role

03:46 Assertive vs aggressive vs passive

04:41 Dress (and think) two levels above where you're at

06:03 Culture: what you do when no one's watching

07:48 The limits of the classroom and what trainers can't teach

08:00 Conflict management: who gets in, who doesn't

09:30 The right team on the front door

10:36 Hard skills vs soft skills explained

12:37 Why business owners should hire ex-security

13:32 Real stories from closing time and "the fog of war"

18:19 Tony, the most adaptable doorman ever

19:45 Managing a busy pub shift

21:43 Restaurant, hotel, R&B club, football: same job, different room

24:43 Closing: lead yourself first

Guest: John Redfern, US Army veteran and Get Licensed security trainer

Host: Anthony Milner

Missed episode one? Go back to I Wanted Nothing to Do With Security for John's career story.

Next episode: It's Not Just Standing on a Door

Explore the full series and apply to be a guest: https://www.get-licensed.co.uk/frontline-podcast

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dyhvl_C2cRY

Train for your SIA licence with Get Licensed: https://www.get-licensed.co.uk

Find security jobs with GuardPass: https://www.guardpass.com

Hiring security staff? https://www.guardpass.com/employers

Follow Get Licensed on Instagram, YouTube and Facebook: @getlicensed

John Redfern joined the US Army at 18, was tapped for security work, and wanted nothing to do with it. Then he fell in love with it.

In the first episode of the Frontline Security Podcast Specialist Series, John sits down with host Anthony Milner to share the career that took him from Kansas to the US Army, through deployments in South Korea and Afghanistan, and into the UK night-time economy, where he now trains the next generation of security professionals at Get Licensed.

In this episode:

- His first real security role: a checkpoint in South Korea

- The major incident involving six hard drives in a gas mask carrier

- Why looking "out of place" is one of the first things security should notice

- Deploying to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, and the night three guards were caught asleep

- Leaving the Army in 2016, moving to the UK and starting over on the door

- Why he became a security trainer

Chapters:

00:00 Cold open: the night three guards were caught asleep

00:36 Welcome to the Frontline Security Podcast

01:52 Meet John Redfern: Kansas to the US Army

02:14 Joining the Army at 18 in 1993

05:51 "I wanted nothing to do with it... and I fell in love with it"

07:18 First real security role: a checkpoint in South Korea

08:46 The major incident: six hard drives in a gas mask carrier

12:14 Why looking "out of place" matters in security

14:11 Deploying to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan (2009-2011)

16:33 The sleeping guards story

19:43 Leaving the Army in 2016 and moving to the UK

21:39 Starting over in the UK night-time economy

22:53 Why he became a trainer

23:31 What's coming in future episodes

Guest: John Redfern, US Army veteran and Get Licensed security trainer

Host: Anthony Milner

Next episode: The Best Doormen Never Use Their Hands

Explore the full series and apply to be a guest: https://www.get-licensed.co.uk/frontline-podcast

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lj1NAznRNOw

Train for your SIA licence with Get Licensed: https://www.get-licensed.co.uk

Find security jobs with GuardPass: https://www.guardpass.com

Hiring security staff? https://www.guardpass.com/employers

Follow Get Licensed on Instagram, YouTube and Facebook: @getlicensed

Welcome to the Frontline Security Podcast from Get Licensed.

This is your first look at the new chapter of the show, now hosted by Anthony Milner. Anthony has spent around 25 years working in UK security, and he's bringing that experience to the mic.

Each episode, Anthony sits down with special guests from across the industry: frontline officers, trainers, business owners and leaders. Together they talk through the topics that matter most, from licensing, training and door supervision to public safety, and the bigger national and international stories shaping security.

As Anthony puts it, the podcast is about "talking to amazing guests, learning with you, and sharing with you." Follow the show so you don't miss an episode.

Explore the full series and apply to be a guest: https://www.get-licensed.co.uk/frontline-podcast

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@getlicensed

Train for your SIA licence with Get Licensed: https://www.get-licensed.co.uk

Find security jobs with GuardPass: https://www.guardpass.com

Hiring security staff? https://www.guardpass.com/employers

Follow Get Licensed on Instagram, YouTube and Facebook: @getlicensed

What’s it really like working inside a UK prison?

In this episode of the FrontLine Security Podcast, Carl sits down with Lester Hales, a Prison Custody Officer with 15 years of experience in the security industry — and a Royal Humane Society bravery medal to prove it.

We talk about:

• Life behind the prison walls
• Officer corruption and how it’s spotted
• The mental health challenges prisoners face
• How Lester was assaulted on duty before earning national recognition
• And the skills he brought from private security into the prison system

It’s raw, insightful, and packed with real frontline experiences — from riots and restraint training to teamwork and second chances.

In this July 2025 edition of Frontline Round-Up, Carl dives into the latest happenings in the UK security industry. From celebrating International Security Officers Day and the heroic actions of Abdullah Tanoli, to major SIA business updates, private security initiatives, and summer festival season successes, this episode has it all.

Also, Get Licensed updates on the Project Transition initiative, which has trained over 100 candidates now working in the industry, and exciting news about upcoming giveaways and opportunities in security training.

Tune in for all the industry news, shoutouts, and inspiration from the world of security!

Ask ChatGPT

In this episode of the Frontline Security Podcast, host Carl Randle sits down with Daniel Blackwood, the Managing Director of ResponSec, to explore the high-pressure world of event and festival security. From managing massive crowds at football stadiums and music festivals to keeping calm under pressure, Daniel shares his journey from frontline security to leading one of the UK’s most respected event security firms. We also cover crowd control techniques, essential safety tips, how Martyn’s Law will impact the industry, and the traits that make a great security professional.

Whether you’re working in event security, thinking about joining the industry, or just curious about what goes on behind the scenes, this episode is packed with insights.

🎯 We cover:

• What it's like running security at massive events
• How to manage huge crowds safely
• Why training is key for security professionals
• How to handle high-pressure situations on the job
• Safety tips for festival goers and event attendees
• How Martyn's Law will affect the events industry
• What the future holds for security professionals

This is a must-watch for anyone in the private security sector, aspiring to work in event security, or interested in the behind-the-scenes of how safety is maintained at the UK’s biggest venues.

In this month’s Frontline Round-Up, Carl dives into the latest updates from the UK security industry. We’ve got a major SIA enforcement win, as a security boss faces the consequences of illegal activities, plus the UK government’s new National Security Strategy and its impact on security professionals.

We also talk about the rise in private security services for families, the growing retail crime crisis, and the latest industry trends, including SJUK Leaders Conference highlights.

Plus, we’ve got some shoutouts to security professionals making a real difference in the industry. Tune in to stay updated and ahead of the curve in the world of security!

Welcome to this month’s Frontline Round-Up, where we bring you the latest updates from the UK security industry! 🎧 In this episode, host Carl Randle covers everything from new laws that will impact your career, like Martyn’s Law, to exciting updates from Get Licensed. Plus, we’ll dive into the SIA’s consultation on criminality criteria and enforcement actions against forged licences.

But that’s not all! We’re celebrating industry heroes at the ACS Pacesetters Security Officer of Distinction Awards, where brave operatives went above and beyond — from saving lives to even delivering a baby!

Plus, we’ve got some fresh free training opportunities, including the WAVE e-learning course to help you improve your vulnerability awareness and keep your skills up-to-date.

Finally, shoutouts to the standout professionals making a difference in the security world.

🎧 Tune in to stay informed, level up your skills, and keep your finger on the pulse of the security industry.

Listen now and stay sharp!