Bodyguard Careers is pleased to announce its partnership with, Prof. Leonard Holifield, and the International Academy of Executive Protection Agents. Our first executive protection course in Atlanta is scheduled for January 17th, 18th & 19th 2009 and is filling up quickly!

Due to popular demand, the International Academy of Executive Protection Agents is going to offer another round of courses in Washington D.C Las Vegas and New York, the first and second week of February. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn from one of the top professionals in the business!

For more information please contact Harlan Austin via email:

hucky@bodyguardcareers.com

 

For more than twenty five years British born Jacquieline Davis survived as one of the top operators in a male dominated profession – the secretive, often dangerous world of covert operations. After leaving the police force she worked as a bodyguard, where her training – which included combat training – and a willingness to risk everything for “the client”, led her into increasingly dangerous operations, so much so that she became recognised as “The World’s Top Female Bodyguard”.

Her book, The Circuit is a fascinating account of one woman’s amazing experiences involving the dangerous job of rescuing children and adults around the world to the more glittering world of guarding well-known celebrities such as Diana Ross, Liza Minnelli and J.K. Rowling. Available from amazon.com or www. jacquiedavis.com

BGC: How did you get started in the Executive Protection Field?

JD: Back in the 1970′s, police pay was very poor and everybody moonlighted to earn more money. Working as a bodyguard  was one of those jobs we were asked to do. Our Pay as a bodyguard was £30 per day for 12 hours.  It was a fortune to us as police take home pay was about £120 per month ($240 dollars at today’s rate).  I was then asked by an agency if I would like to train as a Bodyguard, I said yes and the rest is history.

BGC: Who are your typical clients? Celebrities? Executives?

JD: Most of my clients are Executives, I shy away from the pop bands and singers, they have minders, not Bodyguards.

BGC: What is a “minder?” (more…)

“DEAD CLIENTS DON’T PAY”

by Leroy Thompson Paladin Press, 1984 120 Pages

This book is certainly dated, but has some good information. It has somewhat more fluff than substance, but is an entertaining read. Topics related to bodyguarding include: protecting and securing the home, office, and automobiles, threat assessment, weapons and tactics. There’s alot about the “perks” of this type of work, and the author highlights the glitz and glamour of the job. A good primer for someone curious and looking for an overview of the profession.

Job location Austin, TX

Looking for Executive Protection Specialist with a minimum of five years domestic, corporate EP team experience, preferably several years with a CEO/family. Candidates
need to be athletic and in excellent physical condition with a Bachelor’s degree.

Good salary, OT, Bonus, paid relocation and great benefit package, to include a take home car and gas card. For immediate consideration, please e-mail your resume as word attachment to hucky@bodyguardcareers.com

As you’ve read from our interviews with professionals in the field, they all strongly encourage individuals to invest in career training. It will set you apart and above from individuals with military or police training alone. Also, to hire someone without professional training can be a liability. I recall a few years ago when a major basketball star hired friends for personal protection-well, there was some sort of altercation and these untrained bodyguards injured private citizens and there were very costly consequences to their actions. The basketball star was ultimately held liable for his friends’ behavior.

First, it is important to understand that “officially” there is no such this as “certification” in this field. There are no government standards to which schools are expected to adhere. It is not like medical school or studying to be an attorney where you must take standardized tests, passing boards or exams to be considered “certified” or “licensed” to practice. However, some educational programs are accredited with the state, and certainly programs teach individuals about the specific licensing requirements to carry firearms, and use of force laws. What this means is that any school claiming that upon completion of their program that you are a “Certified Protection Specialist” simply means that you’ve completed that particular program’s coursework. It is not the same as receiving a diving certification, or even being CPR certified…there are no regulations or standards in the EP field in the United States. If you are already on the inside, you understand this. The “certified” designation is intended more for the benefit of the individual who is hiring you, or to sell newcomers on the idea that said “certification” implies you are in accordance with some regulating body. There is no regulating body that accords individuals “certified” upon completion of EPS coursework.

That being said, it is certainly meaningful when I see Executive Protection course work from a reputable school on an individual’s resume. By reputable, I mean a program that is run by individuals who themselves have stellar credentials and years of experience in the business. At the end of this story you will find our top picks.

There are several important factors to consider when selecting an EPS training program:

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