Blood Money – The Second Pillar

My career in security formally started with my military service. I served active duty in the United States Marines from March 28, 2022 until August 11, 2023.

I completed my Initial Security Guard training on January 7, 2026 — about a year after getting my Life and Health Insurance License on January 11, 2025. I ended up permanently moving to Florida on January 21, 2026 — meaning I’d have to start my security guard training all over again.

In Florida, the two key security credentials are Class D and Class G. Class D is the security-officer license; to carry a firearm while performing security duties, you also need Class G. Since some of the roles also have driving, I’m using my time in Florida to get my Driver’s license, since it’s much easier to get your driver’s license in Florida when compared to Maryland.

$0 → Armed Security Plan

Important (Disclaimer):

It’s not realistically a literal $0 process because the required training, fingerprints and licensing costs can involve fees.

The “$0” part of the plan means don’t buy unnecessary equipment or spend money before it’s necessary.

Use free study materials and, if possible, practice with a properly licensed family member/friend before paying for extensive lessons.

Jobs You Can Work Toward

The purpose of Armed Security isn’t to provide fulfillment or a sense of purpose, but rather to provide a sense of financial security and physical discipline, similar to what I had while I was in the military. As much as I love the insurance space, it can be emotionally overwhelming, financially inconsistent, and a lot to manage at any given time. It’s more than just “clocking in or going through the motions”. Having a more stable income gives me something to build my insurance business on top of, and I’d rather work 80 hours a week through two different jobs than 80 hours a week on one, but I digress.

One example is an armed-security opening with Signal in the Tampa area. The current listing requires:

• 21+
• High school diploma/GED
• Florida Class D
• Florida Class G
• Reliable transportation
• Driver’s license/clean driving record
• Duty-approved firearm
• Background check
• Drug screening where permitted

It lists previous security, military or law-enforcement experience as preferred rather than required. 

That’s a useful target because it shows that you don’t necessarily need a military or law-enforcement background to enter armed security.

Don’t make hospital armed security your first target unless you have relevant experience.

For example, a current Moffitt armed-security position in Tampa lists five years of hospital security experience, although it allows military/law-enforcement experience to substitute on a one-for-one basis. It pays $19.17–$29.21/hour and requires a Florida driver’s license, with Class G and D obtainable within 90 days of hire. 

That’s more of a future target after you’ve built experience.

Phase 1 — Get your driver’s license

Target: Weeks 1–4

Assuming you’ve never had a driver’s license:

• Complete the Florida TLSAE course.
• Study the Florida Driver License Handbook.
• Take the knowledge exam.
• Get driving practice/lessons.
• Pass the road test.
• Obtain your Florida Class E driver’s license.

This is particularly important because some armed patrol jobs require you to drive. For example, Allied Universal currently has an Armed Patrol Transport opening in New Port Richey that specifically requires a valid driver’s license. 

Phase 2 — Get your Class D

Target: Weeks 2–5

Florida requires applicants for a Class D security officer license to complete at least 40 hours of professional training at a licensed security-officer school/training facility, unless an applicable exemption applies. You must generally be at least 18 and meet Florida’s eligibility requirements. 

You can submit a new Class D application through Florida’s online licensing system. 

Phase 3 — Get your Class G

Target: Weeks 4–7

After you’re eligible for armed security work, complete the Florida Class G training.

Florida requires an initial 28-hour firearms course consisting of classroom and range training. The initial qualification includes firing 144 rounds. 

The course covers things including:

• Firearms law
• Legal liability
• Firearms safety
• Firearm operation
• Range procedures
• Qualification

You must also maintain the Class G through required annual requalification; Florida currently requires four hours of annual requalification training. 

If your goal is to have all three in Florida—Class E driver’s license, Class D security license, and Class G statewide firearm license—you can realistically work through them in roughly 2–4 months, assuming you can schedule the training promptly and your background check doesn’t require additional review.

It costs approximately $650–$1,100 all-in for all three, depending primarily on the training providers you choose, driving lessons, and fingerprinting arrangements.

This combination gives me a security-income option while I’m continuing to build my Insurance/Medicare business.

If we add the time and costs to get the insurance license, we are looking at about 4-6 months and $1,000-$1,500 total in expenses. I think it’s worth it however since it would open up the job market as opposed to struggling to find work, but it’s also worth noting that there are recurring fees in addition to the initial licensing costs.

Part of the value of working in Armed Security is that it gives me a financial incentive to learn firearms and defensive driving aligns with three key Hadith (an instruction of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him), which are:

1. Archery
2. Horseback Riding
3. Loving your Spouse

Firearms have effectively taken the place of Archery, and Driving has replaced Horseback riding, as forms of ranged combat and transportation respectively. I feel as though people sometimes forget that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was a military leader, similar to the Prophet Moses, who came before him.

The importance of these professions and how the three Hadith tie this story together can specifically can be understood by what is written in the Quran.

Surah An-Nisa (4:34) states: “Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, as God has given some of them an advantage over others, and because they spend out of their wealth. The good women are obedient, guarding what God would have them guard. As for those from whom you fear disloyalty, admonish them, and abandon them in their beds, then strike them. But if they obey you, seek no way against them. God is Sublime, Great.”