Nuclear Power Plant Security

[Brent311]

Hey everyone. I am currently a college student, and working part time as a school security officer. I live in Mississippi, and in southwest MS we have a very large nuclear power plant called Grand Gulf. It is operated by Entergy. For a long time I have wanted to get a summer job there as security. I think it would be a great experience, and since I will not be in school I can work full time. Does anyone know how I could go about applying or getting a job like this? What are the typical qualifications? Thanks. Brent

[N. A. Corbier]

Hey everyone. I am currently a college student, and working part time as a school security officer. I live in Mississippi, and in southwest MS we have a very large nuclear power plant called Grand Gulf. It is operated by Entergy. For a long time I have wanted to get a summer job there as security. I think it would be a great experience, and since I will not be in school I can work full time. Does anyone know how I could go about applying or getting a job like this? What are the typical qualifications? Thanks. Brent

Woah. First, you have to figure out what company has that contract. Entergy usually likes Security Forces, Inc (SFI) in Florida. Unkown who it is in Missisippi.

Second, the standards vary. You may require 4 years military experience. You may need to be 2 years as sworn law enforcement officer. It depends on the contract.

Third, understand that you will not be a "security officer." Nuclear Power Plant security is basically a private army who's sole job is to slow the threat force down enough to overwhelm them - or to prevent the threat force from reaching sensitive or sterile areas of the facility which could trigger a meltdown. Both are to be executed at the cost of your life, if you are attacked.

Read up on Nuclear Security. THere are many articles which indicate that you may need to seek additional, on your own dime, training - that the security forces are a "front." There are, of course, exceptions to this. Its up for debate if Nuclear Security is suicidal.

When they're given money and resources to train, they can kick ass. When they're not... Run. Run Far.

[OccamsRazor]

Woah. First, you have to figure out what company has that contract. Entergy usually likes Security Forces, Inc (SFI) in Florida. Unknown who it is in Missisippi.

Momma 'W'. http://www.wackenhut.com/object.php?obj=890029

[N. A. Corbier]

Momma 'W'. http://www.wackenhut.com/object.php?obj=890029

Its a crap shoot, then, as to if they're tactically proficient.

[Brent311]

Ok, so Wackenhut most likely has the contract? I don't really know alot about Wackenhut, except from what I have seen of the security guards at various locations in my area. And, what i have seen is kind of scary in terms of security and protection! So maybe it would not be all that hard to get on with them at the nuclear plant. Any thoughts would be appreciated!

[Mr. Security]

Ok, so Wackenhut most likely has the contract? I don't really know alot about Wackenhut....

Do a search on the net and see what you can learn about the company.

[Bill Warnock]

I had a chance to meet one of the security specialist assigned to Nuclear Regulatory Commission a number of years ago. We talked and his job sounded interesting, 90% of his time was on the road. For me that was a bummer. We got to issue of security forces for the reactor sites. He described the first day of training. In a lecture hall they have the students shake hands with the folks on either side of them. The instructor then says if there is an attack on one of these facilities, the man you just shook hands with will be dead. He was dead serious!
They may have changed the criteria but at that time you had to have a military background or a sworn peace officer for at least three years and the ability to run fully equipped to include a protective mask 100 yards and back, I forget the time, but it wasn't much.
Hand-to-hand combat training and firearms training were high on the agenda.
If you like that kind of a job, inspections and exercises, dismissed on the spot for an infraction, by all means go for it.
Keep in mind as N.A. Corbier mentioned, you might work for a private security company, but it is in fact a private army.
Enjoy the day,
Bill

[Taser]

I knew a guy who worked for Trojan Nuclear Power Plant which was decommissioned several years ago but still employs on-site security. I can tell you quite simply that they don't **** around.

These guys walk around carrying AR-15s and if you cross the invisible line or, God help you, jump over a fence, there's a very good chance you're going home with a dozen .223 holes in your body.

He worked there prior to 9/11 and also right after. The FBI came and briefed them and basically told them, if anyone gets over that fence, you shoot to kill and ask questions later. He had plenty of confrontations with people including one where he came up on some people who were fishing on the Columbia River right next to the power plant. He went up to them and told them to get the **** off the property and one of them got beligerent. The entire time the supervisor was yelling at him on the radio, "Control the situation! Neutralize the threat!" He ended up cracking the guy in the face with the butt of his rifle, broke his nose. County deputies came out and hauled the perp off to jail.

There was another incident where a vehicle fleeing the police was heading right for the gate of the plant at a high rate of speed. He had his rifle zeroed in on this car and at the last minute the car swerved the other direction. He said he got pretty close to shooting.

They do a lot of simulations too. Military personnel will do mock attacks against the plant. They'll come flying in on zip lines or paradrop in and systematically go through and "kill" the guards.

Anyway, it's a pretty serious business, at least it was at this particular plant.

[Charger]

^ Agreed... I'll vouch for everything Taser just said, as I live in the area.. (About 10 miles from Trojan, actually.. lol)

Currently the contract belongs to a PNW-local company called Metro Watch... Personally, I wouldn't work for them, due to some policies they have that I don't agree with, but overall they're by far one of the better companies I've come across in my experience... And only the cream of the crop gets to do the Trojan detail...

[N. A. Corbier]

That's the thing. I've read reports from NRC on the failure of nuclear security forces (For some reason, the public police think they can do a better job. I don't know why, they're not a military unit either). I've also read accounts as described above.

I think alot of it depends on what company has the contract, what the state allows (There were reports of SFI at Crystal River carrying .38 revolvers because that's what security guards in Florida carry,) and what the training budget allows.

As I said before, its a crap shoot. If Wackenhut hires you for Wackenhut Government Services (It is not Wackenhut Security that patrols NRC sites, usually), then its up to the installation command staff and training staff to ensure your properly trained. Hopefully, they do their job.

If they don't, and you are clueless warm body with an M16, then its time to find another job, but hell, you get to list "nuclear plant security guard" on your resume.

[Mr. Security]

Radiation exposure.

Some officers have complained that they are required to go into areas that they shoudn't due to the risk of radiation exposure. I would check on that to. Otherwise, you might get a "glowing" performance review if you get my drift.

[Bill Warnock]

Some officers have complained that they are required to go into areas that they shoudn't due to the risk of radiation exposure. I would check on that to. Otherwise, you might get a "glowing" performance review if you get my drift.

Those personnel who work in hazardious areas are provided dosimeters. When I was a physical security specialist/inspector for the Naval Sea Systems Command and inspected nuclear submarines, I was given a dosimeter and before I left the yard is was read.
I would hazard a guess, NRC would be all over that one as would the contracted company.
Enjoy the day,
Bill

[Mr. Security]

Those personnel who work in hazardious areas are provided dosimeters. When I was a physical security specialist/inspector for the Naval Sea Systems Command and inspected nuclear submarines, I was given a dosimeter and before I left the yard is was read.
I would hazard a guess, NRC would be all over that one as would the contracted company.
Enjoy the day,
Bill

That's what I thought. I was surprised when I read the complaint. I can't go into specifics due to privacy concerns. I'll PM you.

[ff000525]

Usually to work for Wackenhut's Nuc. Security you have to have pretty good qualifications. A lot of ex-AF Security Forces, Army and Marine Infantry ect. do that when they get out of the service. I knew a few guys who's sole job was to "escort" spent fuel rods ect, to disposal sites. That whole crew was pretty "squared away". I've also seen pictures of Nuc. guards who currently work for the company I work for and they didn't look all that prepared for situations. IE uniforms sloppy, rifles causally slung across thier backs...ect. To me the appearance is everything, and is usually the first way to deescalate or prevent a situation. I know a Plant is opening up by me soon (my company has the contract), and if things don't work out, I'll probably try to get an account transfer there.

[Brent311]

I have seen some of the officers at Grand Gulf(MS), and they do not look like ex-armed forces at all. Maybe ex-boy scouts! Most wore polo shirts along with BDU's, and many of them were half untucked and very sloppy looking. I may have a chance then. I wear either a button up with BDU's or a Security polo. I wear shirt keepers to keep my shirt neatly tucked in, and sometimes even wear a tie. I know it is not necessary in security but I like to go the extra mile.