SPOTLIGHT INVESTIGATIVE Invest in Your Future Take investigative classes this year and get certified. you over someone else because of more certifications that show your expertise in locksmithing. I think back to when I was applying as a reservist to the U.S. Air Force Office of A 14 Special Investigations (AFOSI). I thought maybe they would choose me because I was also a police officer. In my one-hour interview, we spent about 10 minutes on my law enforcement experience. My screener was blunt: He told me that there are a lot of police officers in the reserves, but “Tell me about this forensic locksmith certi- fication.” We spent the rest of the interview talking about that and what specialties I could bring to their team. I made the cut aſter a 75% washout rate of applicants, and I became an AFOSI, Special Agent. There is no doubt in my mind that the CFL credential made the difference. Forensic Classes Coming Up My point about your certification is that if you have it, keep it. If you’re close to get- ting it, finish it. If you’re interested, start it! You never know what doors it may open. If you have a training class need for CFL completion, let us know so we can better plan courses to help you get there. There will be an excellent two-day forensic safe class at SAFETECH in April taught by Tom Demont and James Ashley. Register today. You can find out more about the class and convention by going to SAVTA.org and clicking on the Convention tab. We will also have two investigative classes coming up at the ALOA Convention in July in Las Vegas. One of those will be a photography class. Look for more information coming soon online at ALOA.org and in Keynotes. Don’t forget, if you’re a current member of IAIL, you can join our Facebook page through the ALOA page (which you must like first). From there, you can join IAIL page. If you have any questions, please email me at [email protected]. KEYNOTES MARCH 2022 ttention, Certified Forensic Locksmiths! Don’t forget that re-certifications are due by the end of this month! Don’t let all the hard work and training fade away. Even if you’re not currently working cases, you never know when the certification may make the difference. Maybe a new customer will choose A New Beginning Recently, I was recruited by a major cor- poration for a full-time position to in- spect and test security-related issues. Once again, my certifications played a major part in this opportunity. I wasn’t even looking for a new job when this was recommended to me. Unfortunately, my new position's commitments and related travel will interfere with my position with IAIL. In the best interest of the organi- zation, past President Tom Demont will reassume the presidency of IAIL until a new president is selected.Thank you for the honor and opportunity to have served as IAIL president and board member. Brian VanDenburgh is the president of the Inter- national Association of Investigative Locksmiths (IAIL). He can be reached at [email protected]. Get Published! IAIL members: Submit your articles for the Investigative Spotlight department. Send your information to Tom Demont at [email protected]. WWW.ALOA.ORG
