This is a very good article on Bodyguards
What is a Bodyguard?…….. A Secret Service Agent lookalike?……..A Goon?……..
By Joseph LaSorsa
Bodyguard training courses in USA
What does one envision when thinking of a “bodyguard”? When one considers the historical image of a “bodyguardâ€, most people envision a large, tall, mean looking individual, capable of lifting you in one hand and tossing you across the room, seemingly without effort.
In today’s world, security professionals refer to “bodyguardsâ€, our associates, as “executive protection specialists” or “EP agentsâ€.
In terms of answering the first question, “What is a bodyguard”; let’s first ask the question: What is Executive Protection?
Executive Protection is the integration and deployment of physical & technical security measures and countermeasures to protect the life of the protectee (person protected) and/or corporate asset or property.
Executive protection is not simply the traditional image of a “goon” guarding a dignitary, V.I.P. or celebrity. The modern protection agent image is centered on:
• a “non-confrontational, incident avoidance†professional.
• the offensive, tactical, assault minded individual serves his/her purpose in a “compound†environment.
• today’s executive protection specialist is trained to “cover and evacuateâ€.
PAST or TRADITIONAL IMAGE of an EXECUTIVE PROTECTION AGENT
 • large stature
 • flashy clothes
 • always armed – legal or not
 • forceful & aggressive
 • “gofer†or “lackey†role
 • site protection only
 • overuse of personnel
 • not always trained or educated
CURRENT IMAGE of an EXECUTIVE PROTECTION AGENT
 • average height
 • business dress
 • armed when necessary
 • diplomatic & flexible
 • security professional
 • 24/7 total protection
 • technology used when possible
 • educated & computer literate
The above comparison and/or delineation leads to an issue which is dear to my heart, because all too often in today’s business world, an unsuspecting client attempts to seek out a qualified professional and without knowing or realizing, the client calls on a firm or individual whom he or she has located through the yellow pages or internet, and winds up discussing their very serious issues with an individual directly from the above list: the past image of an Executive Protection Agent.
All too often today, alleged professionals emerge, almost on a daily basis, having received their state license or ‘no’ license at all and hang up ‘shingles’ and conduct business. In New York or Florida, for examples, the requirement for providing Executive Protection or bodyguard services is possession of a Private Investigator’s license. There is no other training or experience required. This occurs all too often and these so called professionals present themselves as the Executive Protection expert “extraordinaire!
They forego any semblance of proper operational protocols such as ‘security advance work’ and usually without even conducting a proper threat or vulnerability assessment, offer to provide clients protective services and worse of all, at ‘cut’ rates.
They not only compromise the quality of service rendered the client, but they also dilute the profession, undermining the ‘qualified professionals’ out here and completely undermine the profession from a ‘business aspect’.
The bottom line is the unsuspecting client can’t understand why he or she is being quoted rates as low as $40 and as high as $200 per hour. Note: The truth be known, a client can easily procure services of a qualified professional for around $100-$125 per hour domestically and somewhat higher for international assignments.
The truth also be known, the majority of these ‘shingle hanging non-professionals’ couldn’t explain or expound on the essence of “Executive Protection, it’s procedures and concepts and probably do not know or understand the basic difference between a threat and vulnerability assessment.
Another untruth in this business is the belief that experience in the military, specifically, the ‘special ops’ experience, is critical to this field. This is so not true. Domestically, in the continental U.S., highly strategic, offensive combat experience is not the ‘end all’ and ‘be all’ when it comes to protective assignments. This experience, however, does have a seriously important role in some ‘very high risk’ environments, such as Colombia or Iraq, but the normal, routine, every day protective assignment is usually a ‘one man’ and sometimes a ‘two man detail’ and seldom more. In fact, this routine type protective assignment is usually nothing more than ‘armed escort’ without the luxury of advance security work.
Essentially, protective service without the use of the security advance is simply ‘armed escort’. In this scenario, the protectors, especially, the ‘shingle hanging non-professionals’ will be just as vulnerable to attack as the person protected.
Lastly, another point to mention and a sad point at that, is, these individuals’ incredible lack of understanding of the importance of attention to detail and in being prepared. If a protection agent abides by nothing else, he/she abides by the slogan, “failure to prepare is preparing to failâ€. This mentality was constantly ingrained into the mindset of all Secret Service Agents and the result was evident in all aspects of operation.
Essentially, clients should be diligent in their scrutiny of the ‘Protective Services’ provider. Prospective clients should take a close look at the principal behind the firm and look to see if the website offers BIO’s on any of the principals. In many instances, clients can not determine the background or credentials of the principal(s) behind the firm because the ‘page’ subject matter in “About us” is conveniently light or skirted altogether. There may be general statements about background, experience and credentials.
So, in conclusion, as in most other consumer purchases, “the buyer must bewareâ€.
Mr. LaSorsa manages J.A. LaSorsa & Associates, a South Florida based security consultancy and investigative firm. He provides: asset and executive protection, corporate security consulting, expert testimony as it relates to premises liability & security negligence; anti-wiretapping, safe rooms & security systems consulting, event and tour security & investigations; workplace & school violence intervention, threat & vulnerability assessments. Joe has over twenty-nine years of experience in the Criminal Investigations, Executive Protection and the security field, which includes a twenty-year Federal Law Enforcement career as a Senior Special Agent with the United States Secret Service, having been assigned to the Presidential Protection Division, the White House. J.A. LaSorsa & Associates can be contacted at: 954-783-5020 or via e-mail: jal@lasorsa.com or by visiting: http://www.lasorsa.com
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Could not agree more and with the right training and mentoring anyone can pass a test or sit through hours of boredom. However, it takes the right attitude and aptitude to remain calm, think quickly and know when to move and move fast. You go to a function and you are not there to enjoy yourself or check out other women, you are there for 1 reason only. You learn to give up a personal life for your assignment and this means not drinking anything out of hours or going out on the town 2 days before your next job.
Worst feeling is coming back from the 7* lifestyle where clothes are washed and pressed for you and meals are prepared for you without a 2nd thought. Best hotels, bonuses and then you come home to a crap house or apartment and back into routine and often it is good to be home to recharge the batteries but usually you are itching again to move out into your next assignment. No work means no income so too many days off mean you need to prepare for this in your agreed rates as you may go weeks without your next full time project.
I very much agree…
I have been in the industry of P.P.P for years including a vast history of military and vast forms of law enforcement.
I am presently involved in opening my own service.
This industry isnt what it use to be.
I has become too mainstream.
The definition of being a agent is being that fly on the wall until otherwise called for.
NOT BEING ON FILM OR WAITING FOR YOUR BIG BREAK!!!
Its about being proactive instead of reactive and never lose focus on your objective.
I myself know i am a pitbull when it comes to standards, but it is nice to see that there are still people out there that are trying to keep the original profession alive and strong.
ill see ya on the battle brother…
nice topic, i support you mr hughes.
I could not agree more with Mr. LaSorsa comments. We need to be vocal about the realities of so called “PROFESSIONALS”. Mercenaries, or private military companies employees are not Personal Protection Specialist or EP’s, they are hired guns paid to do 1 job, while PPS/EP’s have an abundant of vital jobs. The Professionals who are fully qualified and trained need to express their views and be heard in order to pervent our profession from going back to the “BODYGUARD” sterotype