By Doug Belton

I remember seeing Will Smith in “Enemy of the State” being tracked on satellite cameras that could pin point his exact location no matter where he went.  We are now living in an age where we can get detailed real time images of an area half way around the globe from satellites orbiting our planet.  This technology can and should play a vital role in the preparation for your executive protection assignment.
Imagine having access to information on everything from road conditions to hostile activity in the area you will conduct your next executive protection detail.  Conducting a detail without using Google Earth is like taking a road trip in a foreign country without a map.  The program is simple to download and once it is up and ready you get a 3D map view of the world. 

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By Doug Belton

I remember reading Robert Ludlum’s Bourne series back in the early 1980’s.  I was fascinated by the places Jason Bourne traveled to and the way he out foxed his enemies at every turn.  Sometimes he was shot or beaten, but he always got the upper hand through sheer guile. 

I know everyone says the book is always better than the movie and in most cases I agree.  However, having seen the Bourne books brought to life by Matt Damon in movie form, in this case, I have to disagree.  In particular I want to draw your attention to the third movie, “The Bourne Ultimatum.” 

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By Doug Belton

I have a great suggestion for your first executive protection assignment.  I recommend that before you start saving the rest of the world, begin by making the man or woman in the mirror your first primary protectee.  Right now you are in the cross hairs of some shady people that want to squeeze as much out of you as possible.  Scam artist who know that you are looking for a quality school to train for executive protection are hard at it working every angle to lure you in, but don’t let them.

The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) released its 2009 findings, and from January 2008 to December 31, 2008 they received 275,274 complaints which represents a 31% increase from the previous year.  5% or over 1,600 complaints were from Nigerian Letter Fraud, and advance fee fraud.  These criminals from the West African Nations, prey upon unsuspecting people by sending out letters and emails soliciting advance fees for services to be rendered. 

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By Doug Belton

As it is with any field, success as a professional bodyguard is a matter of choice not chance.  If it is your choice to succeed the rewards are exceptional, but success will require your active engagement.  There is an old saying that if you aim at nothing you will hit it every time but here are 10 action words laid out in the acronym, BODYGUARDS, you can use to ensure that as you aim for the bullseye of success, like an expert marksman, you will hit your mark every time. (more…)

On October 10, 2009 Brett Lorenzo Favre turned 40 years old during what has become arguably his best season in the NFL.  True, Brett Favre has kept himself in excellent physical condition but more than maintaining his fitness, Brett Favre has learned valuable survival lessons from all the hard knocks of his 17 years in the game.  In fact, it is Brett’s cerebral fitness which makes him a harder target to hit.  Although it would be foolish to say age is irrelevant in the executive protection business, age certainly is not the most relevant consideration.  Knowledge, experience, and a keen ability to learn from one’s mistakes will take you further as an executive protection specialist than a 350 pound bench press or a six minute mile.

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