"The principal never feels the threat. That means you did your job."
Advance Work and Operational Planning
Instructor Sele: The operation is won or lost before the principal ever leaves their front door. Advance work is where professionals separate from amateurs. A thorough advance means fewer surprises. No surprises means a safe principal.
Section 1 — What is Advance Work?
Advance work is the process of assessing a location, route, or venue for threats and vulnerabilities before the principal is exposed to them. The advance officer arrives ahead of the principal, surveys the environment, establishes communications, and confirms that the location is safe for the principal to enter.
A good advance answers: Is this location/route safe for the principal right now? Where are the threats and vulnerabilities? What are the entry, exit, and emergency evacuation routes? Where are the nearest medical facilities? Are communications reliable here? Who are the key personnel at this venue?
Section 2 — The Route Advance
Before every principal movement, the route must be advanced. Primary route — the planned route from A to B; check for road conditions, checkpoints, construction, crowd events, and known risk areas. Alternate route — a fully assessed secondary route in case the primary is compromised. Emergency route — the fastest route to the nearest hospital, safe house, or secure facility.
All three routes must be driven and assessed before the principal moves — not during.
Section 3 — The Venue Advance
At the destination: identify all entry and exit points — confirm which ones are accessible, locked, or monitored; walk the sterile corridor (the route the principal will take from vehicle to destination); identify a rally point — where the team will assemble if separated; identify a safe room — a lockable interior room to shelter if evacuation is not possible; locate fire exits, first aid points, and the nearest hospital; brief venue security on the principal's arrival and confirm their co-operation; confirm radio communications work in the building.
Section 4 — The Operations Order (Op Order)
Before every operation, the CP TL issues an Op Order covering: principal profile (who are we protecting and what is their current threat level); mission (what are we doing and where); routes (primary, alternate, and emergency); formations (which foot formations and vehicle configurations are in use); communications plan (call signs, frequencies, emergency signals); action on contact (what does each team member do if we make contact with a threat); medical plan (nearest hospital, first aid capability in the team); and emergency contacts (LNP, SafeHaven Operations, client liaison).
- •Advance work happens before the principal moves — never concurrent with principal movement
- •Every route needs three options: primary, alternate, and emergency
- •The venue advance confirms entry/exit points, sterile corridor, safe room, and communications
- •The Op Order must be briefed to every team member before every operation
- •A well-executed advance makes the principal's movement routine — a poor advance makes it dangerous
"I once had a new advance officer tell me a venue was 'fine' — he'd driven past it. I pulled the team and did the advance myself. The rear exit was locked with a rusted padlock that hadn't been opened in years. In an emergency, our evacuation route was a dead end. Advance work means getting out of the car, walking the building, and testing every door. Drive-bys are not advances."
What is the purpose of advance work?