By Harlan (Hucky) Austin

Hiding behind a shroud of decency, claiming that their intentions are noble, Michael Jackson’s bodyguards are the latest to tell-all on their celebrity principals.  In an interview with Good Morning America three of Michael Jackson’s bodyguards spoke openly about his children, family routines, his parenting, and they even spoke about his sexuality in a veiled attempt to bring honor to the pop star’s tarnished reputation.

Showing little regard for the Jackson family’s reasonable expectation of privacy, these three bodyguards eagerly offered an inside glimpse into the private life of one of the world’s most public figures and the children he trusted them to protect.

The public veneer of any celebrity is an image they struggle to maintain while the camera rolls, but when they step into the closed quarters of their vehicles or their private residences it is, or at least should be, their opportunity to be themselves, whoever that “self” might be.

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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…)

I was privileged this weekend to participate in a piece that Fox News ran on the surging demand for female bodyguards. Over the last 10 years there has been a huge increase in requests for female executive protection specialists. Even though, the overall number for female executive protection specialists is less than 3% I see an incredible potential for growth for any female considering this industry.

By Nathan Seabrook

Working as an Executive Protection Specialist will lead you to be placed in various locations and assignments as well as being exposed to various clients.  Some clients will treat you with the utmost respect and dignity and will listen to your direction and insight, while others will talk down to you and treat you as an object they own and control. The unfortunate reality is that many clients fall into the later category.  With this said, remember that regardless of this unfortunate treatment you have to rise above the situation and always act in a professional manner.  If your feelings become hurt easily then this is not the job for you!

Recently, one of my associates contacted me and wanted to share with me a situation that he had recently dealt with while on the road.  My associate had been hired to protect an entertainer that is an up and coming rap artist.  After a recent show the rapper, his posse, and countless guests were partying in a small private space at a nightclub.  While the party was in full force, the local fire marshal came to the club and met with my friend.  The fire marshal explained to my friend that if anyone else came into the private space that he would start to issue citations and “shut the place down.”
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Executive Protection (EP) has an extensive history spanning over two thousand years and has assisted in influencing many cultures throughout the world. Many of the most well known EP Specialists include the Samurais of Japan, the Medieval Knights all over Europe, and the Vatican’s Swiss Guard. The earliest protection organizations were most often military divisions assigned to protect one individual. 

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