security officer

armed security officer

security specialist

site manager

security supervisor

FCS Security

Comming from someone who has worked at 3 other security companies not including First Coast in the past, I can say that First Coast has been the best experiance out of all of them.

There is give and take (pros and cons) to this job. The biggest con that will hold most people back is the inconsistant hours you will be working. You could have split days off, working on day/swing/or grave OR all shifts in the time span of a week. You might be under hours being the new guy on the job. They will tell you during your interview that your hours and days you work and have off ARE NOT guaranteed and they mean it!!!! It will get better if you stick it out, pick up shifts when they call and do your job correctly and dont start drama. Which is hard for some people. YOU WILL be terminated if you are a problem or cannot do your job.

It should also be noted that this is contract work, meaning that First Coast security might not hold the contract 3 years into the future. The current contract they hold has been held by 3 previous and current security companies. More than likely if First Coast loses the contract, the workforce will just be laterally transferred from First Coast to the succeeding Security company. Whoever that may or may not be.


What's the job like? That depends on the shift, day and position you are working. Example, Weekday dayshift can be very active and downright chaotic at times. "An unorchestrated mess" that's what I call it. However, Swing shift and Grave are both usually calm. If you are a patrolling officer (you will be), your job duties include responding to alarms and patrolling. You could potentially walk 5-6 miles a day OR MORE! if you are patrolling a big building. If you are a posted officer, you just sit there for 8 hours and practically do nothing.

There is opportunity for advancement within the company. But, you have to wait for slots to open up before you get put into the position. If you want to advance and you let your supervisors and your peers know that you want to advance, then you will advance! Most of the supervisors have been with this contract for years and have seen multiple security companies come and go. They know what they are doing.

The biggest take away from this that you must apply to your job is this, they cannot accommodate everything you need!!!! Just because you want monday-friday dayshift does not mean that you will get it. Understand that some people have been working there for YEARS to get a position like that. They want people who are flexible and willing to work REGARDLESS of shift or day. Show up on time. Do your job right and dont start drama and YOU WILL go far with this contract. If you start slipping up, you'll find yourself out of the job sooner than you think.

Long story short. Favoritism, idiots who are power hungry  and like to use their "maneger" position  to try to control you. Instead  of working  with you. And here is the difference  if you get this job. Understand that their are three different  positions.  Number 1 core officer. Number 2 control room officer. And 3 supervisor. Control room  officer literally  do not do anything and they get paid to sit on there behinds and  eat all dang day while watching  Netflix  or something on there phones. They're probably told by there suppservior  to tell you not to have your phone out while they're all using  theirs. I can totally  understand  if a person  is just  chilling  on there phone not paying  attention why that could  cause problems  but maybe just to check the time or picking  up a call because  of a family  emergency. What if you have children? What is so confusing  about  this place is the order that things are ran in. It could  be likable  if they made more sense and actually  gave us "corr" officer who are only  making  12.80 an hour our raise that we where supposedly  supposed  to have gotten any minute  now... Haha this job is a joke. Why are potions  separated? and not including  the supervisors  potions. Why cant corr and control rotate through  out the week so every body would work and get paid. We have all these cameras  but our own security  is watching  the corr officers more than the actual  property or employees of the the buildings. Who know how much stuff could  have been sneaked out of the buildings, because  power hunger tryna get a retirement  check because they never went to college  supervisors  want to pick and bug with people. Great job on setting these knowledgeable  examples for the other superior. It's cool because the turn over rate is high and if they hire someone  who is about  "that life" they will be proud  to knock out a couple  of teeth on someone. Darkness will come to light in due time and things will soon change.  And you get paid every two weeks and if you work in a location  where your doubled tax then don't  be surprised  if your check looks like you make 11.50 and hour. Smh

Cons oops I mean pros: if you aren't  a people  person  which  I suggest  you shouldn't   because it's best to keep to yourself  and your business  trust me you'll see why eventually. Any way you will like the fact that most of your post will require  you to work alone. And half an hour lunch and that's it if you're a corr officer. If you  work  in control  you got the world in your palms and you can do whatever the heck  you want and get paid. But you have to be indoors  all day. But you won't be the goofy person  risking  your life over 12.80 in case a real situation  occured.. hmmmmmm am I'm talking  stuff or giving  facts? Work here at your own risk.

lets start with the work life... its all good your first couple of days cause its new then you tire of standing for 8 hours and get called out for sitting down for more than one second. If you get promoted to supervisor (which i did) You are held responsible for everyone else's actions and become the target for the management to focus all of their troubles. Even though you are promised additional compensation (12.50) a one dollar raise, you'd be lucky ever receive a penny of that. If you are 18 and this is your first job I recommend getting the first bad job experience out of the way because 11.50 an hour isn't terrible for a college student in the middle TN area. Management will drive you insane with daily changes in rules and an overall lack in consistency.

Being Targeted.
If you are a young attractive woman of African descent you will be harassed by the accounts manager (his fetish i guess) who frequents the location I worked at. He will offer to buy you things in exchange for time attention and in some cases sexual relations.
Assuming you take the bait you may be promoted to a position you are not qualified for. So weigh the pros and cons against your own ethical code.

Smoke Away!
Smoke weed on the regular? NO problem! not only will they not drug test you but they will also buy from you if you sell.(at least 75% of employees and management smoke)  

Veteran employees.
One employee has been there almost 10 years still makes the minimum pay they offer and is afraid of being promoted for fear of having a target on his back and getting fired. This man is the only one there who deserves a promotion and should be runningthe company because he ios a man of principle unlike everyone else that comes through there.

If you ask for a day off you will be  met with disgust and dismissal. never have I had a job where asking off a day 3 months in advance granted me a disdainful look of  hatred and I even had to find someone to cover my shift and with the turnopver rate here at this company you would be hard pressed to find someone who would be around that long.

When I was supervisor I was expected to work monday through friday (normal) but if i was out on a weekend and someone called out I was expected to be at work immediately and if i wasnt i would be written up because i took the position of supervisor so therefore it was my fault.

Overall, college students and people of low morale or homeless people in search of work should apply for this job. but dont expect a lot.

What is the best part of working at the company?
I’ve had a really good experience working here. The team is supportive, people help each other out, and there are real opportunities to grow. The company promotes from within and actually invests in employees when they see potential, which is something I really value.

Communication can always be improved—just like in most companies—but there’s a clear effort from upper management to improve it. They’re actively looking at what needs adjusting and offering more training in areas like communication, employee engagement, leadership development, and other skills that make the whole team stronger. 
It’s obvious they want things to keep getting better, and that matters to me.

One thing I appreciate is that negativity doesn’t stick around here. People who don’t fit the culture tend to move on quickly, which helps keep the environment positive and focused.

I genuinely enjoy my job. I feel like I’m able to make a difference day‑to‑day, and this company gives me the support and opportunities to do that

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The job can get stressful when urgent tasks pop up with tight deadlines, and you have to move fast to get everything done. Luckily, the team is great about jumping in and working together when things get busy. The harder part is that communication on‑site isn’t always perfect, and sometimes there’s gossip or negativity that doesn’t contribute to a comfortable work environment. My goal is to try and break this pattern of communication in the team.  

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The culture is supportive, team-oriented, and focused on growth.  

Overall, it's a place where people want to do good work, support their team, and keep improving together. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
A typical day for me includes recruiting, hiring, and onboarding new employees, along with being a daily resource for officers and supervisors. I help answer questions, support problem‑solving, and handle investigations in a straightforward, people‑focused way. There’s also plenty of office work and documentation, plus a big focus on employee engagement—checking in with staff, helping with concerns, and making sure people feel supported. Every day is different, but it’s a mix of teamwork, communication, and helping create a positive environment across our sites.

My experience with First Coast Security has been overall positive. My assigned manager is very proactive and addresses issues quickly or in a reasonable amount of time. Thus far I haven't had any payroll issues. From time to time my co-workers have had pay issues. But they were addressed as soon as they brought it to the manager’s attention and received the pay correction by their next pay-check I not sooner, we get paid weekly. 
 The following may be site specific as I don’t have any experience with other accounts within the company:

All of our equipment and uniforms are provided including boots, firearm and ammunition. They are quick to replace damaged uniform items at no cost. They provide paid training if it’s required by our client. We also receive a paid lunch break, the caveat being that we must be available to respond to emergency incidents while on our break. Most all of the time our lunch break is not interrupted. There is almost unlimited overtime potential. However the shifts are long at 12 plus hours on some days. But the work to time off day rotations give you 3 day weekends every other week.

The Cons would be no company retirement fund match. What you pay into an investment account comes solely from your contribution. There is no shift overnight or weekend differential. There is no sick leave. You receive a week’s vacation time after 1 year of service. There may be one but I haven't seen an employee recognition program. Some co-workers can be difficult to work with and due to staff shortages bad apples slip through the cracks for a while. Could use higher pay due to the nature of the work. But hey, who couldn’t use higher pay? It’s close to the area pay standard for armed security guards. However this site deals with inmate control so the work isn’t your standard observe and report security work, it’s privatized correctional officer positions. Also the healthcare option is really bad and expensive. The dental is great.

Overall I would highly recommend First Coast over many of the area security companies. We have a lot of employees that have came from other companies and most of the complaints they have had from those other companies I havnt seen with ours. Our hours are consistent, we get paid on time, there a great support system from our management. 

For everyone who wants to work for this company, I suggest that you don't. For staters they don't pay on time. I worked for this company 3 weeks so far and I haven't seen a paycheck. Also, I talked to other coworkers and they explained me to that you have to keep a list of the days that you work and the times because they mess up paychecks frequently. I worked at the datacenter and it was very strict. I couldn't use my phone at all and if they catch you then you are terminated instantly. Furthermore, they're cameras everywhere so the supervisor is constantly watching you and waiting for you to mess up. Also, in the company you can get demoted and if you get demoted then you can't be promoted ever again so you might as well find another job. I have heard a story where a supervisor got demoted to an officer and he eventually left the company. Additionally, you can get demoted from an officer to an on call officer which means that they take you off your permanent schedule and they just call you in for work so an officer isn't the lowest position.While working at the datacenter you have to respond to an alarm in 3 minutes and if you don't then you could get written up for it. There are alarms for every shift because the supervisor conducts them. Also, you could be audited at any moment and if an employee from the datacenter complains about you, you could either lose your job or be transferred to a construction site. The job is very dull because you can't use any type of technology even though the supervisor can use their phones which doesn't make any sense to me but anyways moving on. Furthermore, you are patrolling for hours no matter what the condition of the weather is. Lastly, the job is stressful and you could lose it at any moment so always keep that in mind. For this company you are just a number even if you put years with them. The pay might appear enticing but for what you are going through it's not worth it. I am calling HR tomorrow and quitting this goofy job. When one door closes another door opens. Take my advice with caution and good luck to everyone looking for a job! God Bless.

During a typical workday, I meet regularly with my Site Managers to check in, provide support, and ensure operational alignment. I also make it a point to connect with officers at their assigned posts to stay engaged with day-to-day site activity and maintain visibility across the operation.

Throughout my time with FCS, I have learned a great deal. I began as an interior patrol officer and worked my way up through the ranks, gaining both professional and interpersonal skills that apply not only to security operations but to a wide range of leadership and career paths. That progression has given me a deep appreciation for the work our officers and supervisors do every day.

Over the past nine months, I have seen significant growth within our management team. The leadership structure, communication, and accountability have strengthened in meaningful ways. If someone has worked here previously and is considering returning, I would encourage them to give it another look.

Our workplace culture can be very positive. We have a diverse team spanning different ages, backgrounds, and experiences. That diversity creates opportunities to build connections, learn from one another, and grow together as professionals.

The most challenging aspect of the job can be the hours and time commitments. While extended shifts are not frequent at every location, there are times when 16-hour shifts are required to meet operational needs. That level of commitment can be demanding.

At the same time, the most rewarding part of the job is working alongside dedicated professionals who are genuinely invested in improving the company and supporting one another. Being part of a team that takes pride in its work and strives for continuous improvement makes the effort worthwhile.

What is the best part of working at the company?
My coworkers were the best part of the job. There were good people on the team who made the work environment more tolerable.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Pay is not sufficient, and there are no merit-based or annual raises. There is no shift or weekend differential, and the benefits are subpar with a 60-day waiting period before eligibility. Overall, there is little incentive for employees to stay, which contributes to a consistently high turnover rate.

Additionally, commitments made during the hiring process were not followed through after employment began. This created a clear disconnect between expectations and the reality of the position. Greater transparency and consistency from management would go a long way in improving employee trust, satisfaction, and retention.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The work environment is generally not fast-paced in terms of workload, but ongoing staffing shortages due to high turnover create challenges. This often requires administrative staff to assist with coverage for regular shifts and breaks. My team worked well together and was supportive, but the constant need to compensate for staffing gaps adds unnecessary strain. The overall culture would benefit from improved staffing, communication, and follow-through from management.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
A typical day involved coordinating and overseeing inmates’ medical appointments, whether on-site at the clinic, at the hospital, or at off-site medical offices. My team was responsible for ensuring proper supervision, security, and movement throughout each appointment. Due to ongoing staffing shortages, we were also frequently required to assist with covering regular shift duties and breaks, which added to the daily workload.

Overall
We were issued company service weapons and ammunition. The weapons frequently jammed after firing only a couple rounds. The ammunition was literally disintegrating is the chamber of the service weapon and the magazines. We were not allowed to use our own personal weapons or ammunition so we had no choice but to use the poor quality weapons and ammunition issued. We were not provided with bullet proof vests or even given the option to purchase one. The ONLY vest offered was low quality stab proof and nobody in HR or management would even offer it to employees. Once asked about this vest it took almost 5 weeks for someone to order it and send it out. Uniforms are men's sizes only so women have to work with pants that don't properly fit making the job harder to do. There is ZERO room for advancement. Those that did advance were the careless ones from post. You leave your service weapon (loaded) in the public bathroom unattended and two weeks later you are a supervisor??? That makes clear sense! You show up late to post and within 15 minutes you take an hour long unapproved break because you didn't have your lunch yet and in three weeks you get promoted to area supervisor??? That makes clear sense! For such an established nationwide security company these guys are a joke!!! They don't know what they are doing one bit!!! Way too many chiefs leaving the little indians unaware of who they need to contact if things go wrong. And if they do go wrong....any supervisor is an hour or more away so you are pretty much on your own with inferior equipment to perform required duties. RUN AS FAR AND FAST AS YOU CAN!!!! DON'T EVEN WASTE YOUR TIME APPLYING!!!!

I was so excited to work with FCS I just finished my security classes and was ready to start a new career. I applied at many places but they were the first to call me with good pay. Catch is I had to drive all the way to Jacksonville which is 2 hours away from home, they compensate gas *IF YOU GET THE JOB*. I was assigned my contract and hired on the spot but many problems with FDACS and covid prevented me from working for almost 3 months. Once I started I loved my contract and the people who worked at the building I occupied. I soon found out management is very very poor. They don’t communicate. They play the phone game of call this guy or this guy. They took deductions from my check for benefits and when I was finally able to get them they laid off tons of us officers with a 4 day notice and some got a 1 day notice. Lots of us are jobless. They broke our contract, tons of missed holiday pay and the only way to get anything fixed was calling HR. They barely could help too. The managers don’t exist your on your location and they are on the other side of Florida. Job security is low but rehire ability is high which isn’t a good thing. I would have loved to stay with FCS and work my contract but unfortunately it was taken from me. Pay isn’t worth a lot of the stuff they put you through with 0 communication. Overall my contract and experience wasn’t horrible because of the coworkers from the building I occupied but other than that it was a lonely boring and unorganized job.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Security officer 3 salaries reported	$26.78 per hour
Armed security officer 1 salary reported	$27.50 per hour
Security specialist 1 salary reported	$21.56 per hour
Site manager 1 salary reported	$52,000 per year
Security supervisor 3 salaries reported	$25.00 per hour

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