13 Things Needed to Help You Become a Personal Bodyguard

April 2, 2018 by Hucky Leave a Comment

Personal Bodyguard

Hearing the news of Corwin Noble’s passing was a dark day for me. I was fortunate to have been the recipient of this humble man’s wealth of knowledge when I was starting out as Personal Bodyguard in the Personal Protection field. He taught me so much and answered question after question; graciously dispensed wisdom that I rely upon to this very day.

His death five years ago at the age of 54 meant the world had lost one of the “good guys.” Corwin had dedicated his life to the protection and security of other people. He worked for the Police department, was on a SWAT team, and served in private protection in the US, the Middle East, and in Latin and Central America.

I hope you enjoy this article; it is meant to recognize Corwin’s contributions to a field I have come to know and love. His lessons made me the man I am today, and I’m honored to have known him and to be able to call him not only my mentor, but my friend. Here’s to you, Corwin.

Many times I am asked “What makes a good Personal Bodyguard and who would you have on your team?” I receive resumes every week from all types of individuals. Each resume attempts to show their skills and experience whether it is military, police, civilian, or corporate experience. But what personal attributes am I as a protector looking for that I would place my life and the life of a client in their hands? Let’s look at several factors.

Personal Bodyguard

Personal Bodyguards Need Common Sense

The first and foremost I attribute I am looking for in someone who wants to be a personal bodyguard is good common sense and excellent judgment. He or she must be intelligent because this job is a thinking person’s game. You are trying to keep our client out of harms way and this is accomplished at length by using your brain to analyze a situation, having the forethought to identify possible threats, and having the common sense needed to apply your skills efficiently and effectively.

They must have initiative and be a team player as a protective team must be a cohesive unit. Of equal importance on working as part of a team is the ability to work alone. On many assignments you may be by yourself. One-on-one protective assignments are quite common, or you may be assigned with just a security driver that always stays with the vehicle.

Personal Bodyguard Qualifications

You must be detail oriented and keep a good personal appearance- never attempt to dress better than a client but know what is appropriate wear and the right clothing for your environment. A personal bodyguard must have a positive attitude- you will work long, stressful hours, often with no thanks other than the fact that everyone is alive at the end of the day.

Demeanor comes with positive attitude- how you conduct yourself with a client and more importantly how you represent yourself with the client at all times. You are the closest person to the client at all times, and many times their direct representative. This allows you the Protector to always be “in position” and ready to act as necessary.

Physical health and strength are an absolute must to conduct a proper protective assignment. I can attest that this job is long hours spent being constantly on alert for any dangers. It takes a physical toll on the body each day and you must maintain your physical health and strength to properly survive as a Protector. You never know when an incident may occur and when you have to put into practice those physical attributes and strengths to remove yourself and your protectee from a dangerous or given situation.

Dangerous Situation

Having a background in security and security procedures is always important. Many times I am asked “do I have to have military or special operations unit training. Do I have to be a former law enforcement officer?” My answer has always been that having a solid formal background with the military or law enforcement is good but not always the best or necessary. Those life experiences that you received while being in combat or on patrol handling dangerous situations as a police officer are good but that does not always make you a Protector.

A Personal Bodyguard Needs Formal Protection Training

Consider this when reflecting on my previous statement- many years ago, I was assigned to conduct training for the United States Federal Police (now a part of the U.S. Homeland Security). Part of the training I conducted was a scenario in which Air Soft guns were used during a simulation of a direct attack on the principal.

The police officers in the formation did what came naturally: when the shots came they instinctively took cover and returned fire, leaving the protectee standing alone taking direct hits! Instinct is always a factor when stress is involved, but overall how you react to any given situation comes from a combination of instinct, life experience, and training.

Often your training can hold just as much if not more value than your background. Example, I know an individual that had no police or military background. In fact, his only experience was as the security manager for a major hotel chain in the city of Minneapolis.

But upon beginning his career as a personal bodyguard and as a result of good, continuous training and experience he has been acting as the Protector for many major celebrities for the past decade. He has been living and working in a high threat environment as his first major assignment and doing a fantastic job at it. He is a Protector!

Formal Protection Training is a necessary process for a Protector. Just like any career the education and knowledge you receive are the primary tools you will rely on for an assignment. I have attended many prominent schools over the last 30 years such as: Executive Protection Institute; Executive Security International; R.L. Oatman & Associates; Tactical Explosive Entry School (formally TEES).

Executive Protection Institute

All of these schools were excellent with great instructors. It is important to continue attending various schools in order to increase your knowledge base and to networking. You take something away from every school that you attend. You will often hear me referring to this collective education as “My Toolbox”. It encompasses all your knowledge, training, and experience, and as you expand your “Toolbox” you will reach that goal of becoming a professional Protector.

Driving schools are where you will receive one of the most beneficial educations, and the resultant skill set is one of the most important aspects that I look for in a member of my teams or when considering someone for hire. Daily travel by roadway is a way of life for everyone. As a personal bodyguard you need to know both defensive and offensive driving skills.

I personally place more emphasis on defensive driving skills. In most cities and assignments you are not going to need to employ a bootleg turn, PIT maneuver or car fighting, but those skills are important depending on the location in which you are providing service such as in a high risk country or city. However, defensive driving is something you can employ each day no matter where you are transporting the protectee. There are excellent schools where you can learn comprehensive, solid offensive and defensive driving skills such as Tony Scotti or Bill Scott Raceway (BSR).

A Personal Bodyguard Needs Basic Medical Knowledge

One of the most important aspects of training that I advise all individuals who want to enter into field is, have some kind of medical knowledge.

At the most minimum level a personal bodyguard should have CPR and basic first aid training. I would suggest that anyone who wishes to become a professional bodyguard to have training and certification as an Emergency Medical Technician.

This training can be received through most community colleges and there are also many private schools that provide the training. You as a Protector are more likely to have a medical incident than an outright assault occur with your protectee, and having a good medical background when that happens can save a life, even your own.

Last on the list of what makes a Protector are good defensive tactical skills and firearms skills. I placed them last because having those skills in my toolbox is important but in 30 years of providing personal protection I have not had to physically defend my client or deploy my weapon in a tactical role on assignment in a non-high risk environment.

You’ll notice that I say “defensive skills” instead of “martial arts skills”. I receive resumes and phones calls daily from individuals who immediately state how many different belts they hold in how many different martial arts. True, these are a great tool to have in your repertoire but not the most necessary skill to have as a Protector.

Martial Arts

I stress that you do need to have the skill base to defend yourself and your protectee if necessary, but it is not your primary tool. Too many times clients, and protectors, think along the lines of “I am skilled in all these martial arts and therefore you will be safe from harm.” Depending on your threat assessment and risk analysis, have you done all that is possible to keep your client safe from harm in the first place?

A Personal Bodyguard Needs Firearm Training

Last is included firearms training, and you see that I have emphasized you should carry a firearm only if you are legally allowed to do so. I have worked throughout the world over a span of more than 30 years, always complying with the host country’s regulations, and I can count on one hand the countries that allowed me to legally carry a firearm.

Does that mean that I provided protection in high-risk areas or countries without a firearm? YES! As a Protector I have worked in Mexico and in that country possession of even one round of ammunition can carry a very stiff criminal penalty and I for one am not going to sit in a Mexican jail. During my time in Mexico I have never lost a protectee nor has harm come to him or her.

If you are going to carry a firearm on a protective assignment then have the proper training and, more importantly, the proper licenses and permits. How many times have you seen a news report where the personal bodyguard of a celebrity has been arrested for illegally carrying a firearm outside of his permitted jurisdiction?

How many times have you heard something along the lines of, “Well I have a permit in California so…”The answer from law enforcement as the bodyguard is incarcerated and the client is embarrassed is more or less, “Well you are not licensed here in New York!”.

In addition to your “Toolbox”, I encourage you to utilize the following seven rules. Take a moment to reflect on how they may affect the chances of survival for you and your protectee, and how this affects your status as a Protector.

THE SEVEN RULES OF A PROTECTOR

1. ASSUME NOTHING, QUESTION EVERYTHING

2. STAY WITH THE PRINCIPAL

3. CONTINUALLY SCAN YOUR AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY

4. ALWAYS HAVE A PLAN OF ACTION

5. PROJECT A FIRM POSITIVE IMAGE

6. YOU MUST PROTECT YOURSELF BEFORE YOU CAN PROTECT THE PRINCIPAL

7. MAINTAIN A SURVIVAL STATE OF MIND, COMPLACENCY AND BOREDOM ARE KILLERS!

This article was written by Corwin K Nobel

Corwin K Noble

So let’s connect soon!

Warmest Regards

Founder of Bodyguard Careers

Harlan (Hucky) Austin

Filed Under: Featured Articles

Executive Protection Schools

February 15, 2018 by Hucky 6 Comments

The Truth About Executive Protection Schools

Executive Protection School

What you should know about executive protection schools. Several years ago I was on a layover at Midway Airport when I noticed a professionally dressed woman looking in my direction wearing an expression that I quickly recognized as one of familiarity.

You know the look that someone gives you right before the index finger begins to wag and that age old line rolls off the tongue, “Hey, don’t I know you from someplace?”

The interesting thing was that she wasn’t so much looking at me as she was looking at my black portfolio with the bright red embossed emblem which read, “SPI” for, Southern Police Institute.

That black portfolio and the Kentucky Colonel plaque that hangs in my office are the membership cards that tie me into an elite group of law enforcement professionals with whom I share a common experience and a common set of credentials.

In law enforcement circles there are only a few command schools that really matter, The FBI Academy, Northwestern Command School, and the Southern Police Institute. If you have attended one of those three schools you have met the first several key requirements for any command level police chief job you might be pursuing.

Essential Ingredients When Selecting an Executive Protection School

Much talk has been made of two essential ingredients for success in the professional world these days. The two new buzz words are “Branding” and “Networking.” If you want to get the job or the contract its all about your brand and your network, few other things matter as much.

As it is in the world of law enforcement, there are certain executive protection schools that will set you apart from the competition and effectively “Brand” you as a serious contender for desirable work and that will expand your “Network” so that you are not alone in marketing yourself.

At the conclusion of this article we will show you how to make an informed decision about which executive protection school you will attend. But first, lets talk a little bit about what’s out there and how to avoid some of the predatory marketing practices of schools that will leave you broke, ignorant, and empty handed, when its time to produce some credentials.

If you want to be certified in CPR go take a Red Cross course and they will certify you. If you want to be certified to teach a firearms course the NRA can fix you up. But if you want to be a certified executive protection specialist there is no such certification available.

A school can give you a certification that says you passed their course, but that certification is not universally recognized as a qualifier to perform EP services. Any executive protection school that promises they will certify you as an EP specialist without carefully explaining that their certificate does not meet any legal standard for qualification is trying to take advantage of you.

Because there is no legal requirement of certification for EP services, there is no true need for any executive protection school to offer certification other than as a document to indicate you passed their course.

Make Sure you Look at Reputable Executive Protection Schools

However, it is important to note that some reputable executive protection schools are accredited by the state which they operate, and many schools will teach you legal requirements for use of force and use of firearms.

You also want to be on the lookout for schools that promise you work upon completion of their course. Let’s face it, the job market is tough out there and getting EP work is just as competitive as ever.

Attending a reputable executive protection school can open doors for you but no one can promise you work just because you completed their course. A good and reputable school will tell you this up front.

Most potential clients will want to know that you have been trained. Anyone who is not interested in knowing whether or not you have been trained is probably only looking for a couple of knuckle dragging goons to knock people aside or to look impressive.

There is a substantial amount of liability involved in hiring untrained bodyguards.

Some celebrities have paid out large sums of money for having friends or relatives serve as protection only to have them respond inappropriately in critical situation and cause harm to citizens. A well trained bodyguard is well worth their wages and will protect the client physically and religiously.

When you are looking for a reputable executive protection school look for one that is run by individuals who themselves have stellar credentials and years of experience in the business. There are several important factors to consider when selecting an executive protection school:

•   Location
•   Price
•   Coursework
•   Reputation

LOCATION: Fortunately, some reputable executive protection schools now offer online courses. This is important because often traveling to another state to receive training can become cost prohibitive.

However, if possible it is best to attend a local executive protection school because more than likely your first jobs will not be long-term assignments traveling the world with a Rock Star or Rapper, living in hotels!

Newbie

You will likely find yourself on short-term assignments working a small venue for a political client for one night or working as a stand-in for someone who is unavailable for an executive that needs to get safely to the airport.

A security company may want to hire you to do access control at the building entrance of a major corporation at first, or you may be asked to volunteer with a small team to protect the family of a CEO at a fundraising event.

Earlier I mentioned the importance of networking. Attending a local school where you are face to face with other EP professionals and the instructors affords one the optimal opportunity to network.

If you take an online course you miss the opportunity to interact personally with others.
PRICE: Do your homework. Compare prices of different programs. Determine how many hours of training you will receive for the fees you are expected to pay.

Don’t fall for those ads that promise you a new career for $1500 and 30 hours of coursework. The promise of a job upon completion of coursework is an outright lie.

One “training program” tells people they will be a “certified executive protection specialist” upon completion of the program. When you see ads like this ask to speak to alumni of these programs. Review the refund policy. Visit other websites and read blogs or boards to read what working professionals in the business have to say.

COURSEWORK: Again, compare the coursework of the various schools. 15 hours of coursework does NOT train you to be an EPS. It takes months of hard work and study to become a police officer and even more hard work, study, and years of experience to become a police executive. The same can be said for becoming a firefighter, an EMT, a paramedic.

Military personnel and other professionals also go through extensive training before taking an active role in their field. Even these professionals with all their training and experience will find it difficult to obtain work as an EPS.

A handful of classes with Acme Bodyguards School will not make you a “Certified” EP professional. The fact is that if it sounds too good to believe it probably is too good to believe.

REPUTATION: Word of Mouth in this line of business is important. While it’s true that not every individual is going to be happy 100% of the time with even the best of programs, the positive comments will out number the negative comments made by the public.

You need to look at the big picture. Contact the Better Business Bureau prior to investing any money in an EPS training program. Consider contacting the schools personally via telephone and ask questions. Ask to read bios of the instructors and complete course descriptions. Read about people who have had careers you admire and learn where they trained.

In the beginning of this article I mentioned meeting a person at Midway Airport. A uniform, a certain tattoo, or even a black portfolio can gain you recognition and identify you as one of the club. The right executive protection school can open doors for you as well, but you have to be realistic in your expectations.

My black portfolio and the school it represents got me noticed and it gave me a platform for speaking to a stranger who had nothing more in common with me than the school we both attended. However, it is my own experience, personality, and winsome nature that kept the door of opportunity open.

Years later, I brought that same portfolio to a job interview. The man interviewing me was an FBI graduate. He took one look at that portfolio, smiled, and asked me a few serious questions before the interview turned into a casual conversation about the two different command schools we attended.

Look carefully at the executive protection schools we recommend and understand that when you walk into that interview or you make your pitch to get the job, you may be taking the reputation of that school into the interview with you, so choose carefully.

This article about executive protection schools

was written by Douglas Belton

So let’s connect soon!

Warmest Regards

Founder of Bodyguard Careers

Harlan (Hucky) Austin

Close Protection: Lessons in Stalker Psychology

February 14, 2018 by Hucky 4 Comments

Close Protection

CLOSE PROTECTION SETTING THE SCENE: It is the premiere of a much-publicized movie. A large crowd of excited fans, holding autograph books and associated memorabilia has gathered on either side of the red carpet, anxiously awaiting the arrival of the stars. Media and photographers have gathered around the entrance to the theatre.

Violence Consultant

Hans Van Beuge is leading a close protection protective detail, tasked with the safety and security of one of the stars of tonight’s event.

The security team has planned and prepared extensively as, according to Van Beuge, this is the time the client could be at greatest risk.

Finally the last stretch limousine arrives at the red carpet. After giving final instructions to the driver, Van Beuge is the first to exit the vehicle. He scans the crowd carefully and makes eye contact with advance agent Scott Agostino, who has been on site for several hours already. Agostino has been assessing the crowd as they arrive with the intensity of a lifeguard watching swimmers in the water. He gives a nod to Van Beuge who then opens the rear door of the limousine and escorts his client onto the red carpet. The walk into the theatre has been carefully choreographed. The movements between the protectee and protectors has been meticulously synchronized. It is imperative that the security team achieve a balance between maximum exposure for the celebrity and minimum security risk; a goal which they achieve with the easy grace of seasoned close protection professionals.

Van Beuge knows that from a threat management perspective, award nights and premiers have inherited weaknesses. Due to the publicity surrounding these events, any individual who has inappropriate intentions towards their clients knows exactly where they will be at a specific time. He is aware of the need to be extremely well-prepared and vigilant.

On previous such occasions, Van Beuge has had to manage stalkers attempting to make contact with his clients as well as protesters and serial pests trying to cause embarrassment or gain publicity at a celebrity’s expense. In all these instances, early identification and intervention has neutralized any potential confrontation. According to Van Beuge, the mentally disordered individuals who engage in pursuit behaviors (Van Beuge’s preferred term for “stalking”) that cause him the most concern. To counter these threats, Van Beuge relies on psychology as much as traditional security methodologies to provide effective protection.

“The greater our understanding of people who engage in pursuit behavior, the better our chances of predicting what they may do and then implementing preventative measures,” says Van Beuge.

Rise in Celebrity Stalking and Media Exposure Increases Need for Close Protection

According to Van Beuge, there are far more cases of celebrity stalking than are reported in the media. Many cases go unreported to law-enforcement agencies. Most famous public figures don’t want the publicity associated with these cases. Instead, they rely on private sector specialists qualified to manage their close protection deal in a more subtle manner.

Van Beuge says he believes there are bio psychological factors associated with stalking behaviors, and that there has been a massive increase in celebrity stalking over the past 30 years.

He cites research in the United State that claims over 30% of the population is affected by what can be called a Celebrity Worship Syndrome to some degree, or CWS has been described as “an obsessive-addictive disorder where an individual becomes overly involved and interested (i.e., completely obsessed) with the details of the personal life of a celebrity. Any person who is “in the public eye” can be the object of a person’s obsession (e.g., authors, politicians, journalists), but research and criminal prosecutions suggest they are more likely to be someone from the world of television, film and/or pop music.” (Mark D. Griffiths, Ph.D., Psychology Today)

For most people it is just a fascination with the lives of the rich and famous. They follow the news of celebrities in the media for entertainment or social reasons. However, in its most intense form, celebrity worship syndrome can affect about 1% of people who develop borderline pathological conditions.

Van Beuge says that the media has played a major role in the increase of celebrity stalking. Imagine what it’s like for those people who have difficulty separating reality from fantasy, having a celebrity seemingly talking directly to them out of a television set in their own home. Television creates a feeling of intimacy for some people. Look at the large number of interview and gossip shows and the huge range of magazines that are devoted to celebrities and their lifestyles. People are likely to know more about their favorite celebrity then they do about their next-door neighbor.

John Ellery, one of Australia’s leading Hostile Environment Specialists and a former SAS Counter-Terrorist soldier, agrees on the value of Van Beuge’s study of psychology as an aid to understanding violent behavior.

According to Van Buege’s research, unwanted pursuit behavior is the result of a mental illness. Someone who is mentally ill may develop delusions related to anything that is within their environment. Television brings celebrities and their private lives into that environment. Combine this with a general increase in mental illness and a decrease in effective treatment for the mentally ill, and you have a situation that gets worse by the day for famous individuals, who are becoming increasingly dependent on close personal protection.

Close Protection Check List: Factors in Determining and Deterring Pursuer Behavior

Van Beuge believes the two most important factors in determining whether a celebrity unwittingly draws a stalker are: How many people know about the celebrity (how famous is he/she?) and secondly, how approachable does the celebrity appear to be?

Celebrities who are perceived as nice, friendly, approachable and non-threatening are likely to have more problems. The disordered pursuers who seek relationships with celebrities are drawn to those who seem less likely to reject them.

Van Beuge cites six types of situations where unwanted pursuit behavior may occur:

An individual can be deluded in the belief that another is in love with him or her, despite evidence to the contrary (erotomania)
An individual is strongly attracted to another and pursues him or her to gain attention (love obsessional)
An estranged spouse or lover refuses to be rejected (rejection- based)
A current spouse or lover has delusions of jealousy with respect to his or her partner
Individuals in business or social relationships seek revenge for a perceived wrong (revenge-based)
A serial sex offender or murderer stalking a potential victim as part of his planning process (sociopathic-based).

The Erotomaniac Stalker

According to Van Beuge, the erotomaniac stalker is the one most likely to pursue a celebrity or famous person. In their delusional state they believe that the victim is in love with them. The Erotomaniac receives what is clinically known as ego-syntonic messages from the victim. They believe they are getting personal communications directly from the celebrity when they sing a song or appear on screen.

Celebrities often receive a huge amount of fan mail and some of it comes from these types of pursuers. Van Beuge explains that while receiving threatening or inappropriate communications can be very distressing for a celebrity, only about 10% of pursuers who send inappropriate material will actually attempt an encounter with their victim. However, of those who attempt a face-to-face encounter, approximately 70% have previously written or phoned the celebrity before-hand.

Van Beuge points out that this is good news, because these individuals usually give advance notice that they are going to be a problem. So the first line of defense for the close personal protection detail is in monitoring all unsolicited mail, phone calls, e-mails, cards and gifts that are received by the client. It is crucial to identify, investigate and assess these items. There are about 40 factors that are “red flags” in communications, things considered to pre-cursors of behavior that may be dangerous to the client’s well-being.

Van Beuge explains that he reviews about 300 items a month for his clients. When there is a concern, they investigate the individual who sent the item. On a positive note, he says research shows that people who send threatening letters to a celebrity are statistically no more likely to try and approach them than those who write them love letters. It’s important to remember that behavior that is based on fantasy is very likely to escalate, so it is foolhardy as a close personal protection operative to assume that only a letter that sounds threatening should be reported to the authorities. The love letters could be problematic too—possibly more so.

Observation & Restraint Key in Close Protection

How a stalking or unwanted pursuing incident is case-managed can also impact on its level of severity. Van Beuge recommends treading very lightly at the start. He always tightens the physical protection of the client but usually investigates the pursuer in a surreptitious manner, working towards containment rather than confrontation. Confrontation, according to Van Beuge, can often incite more extreme behavior. Seeking restraining orders or reporting the activities of a stalker to authorities may escalate the risk for the victim. These courses of action can be perceived by the mentally ill stalker as a challenge which can increase their anger.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard

The goal is not about achieving a conviction for the pursuer, it’s about achieving a safe conclusion for the client. The two are often not compatible. Only a very small number of stalking cases end in violence. Stalkers usually don’t want to hurt the person they are pursuing–they want to form an attachment. According to Van Buege, it manifests as a methodical, ongoing intrusiveness, and he just keeps reading the letters and monitoring their movements. It can go on for many years, but as long as the behavior isn’t dangerous to the client, he is satisfied his team is providing appropriate close personal protection.

When violence occurs, it is usually because the pursuer realizes that their fantasy is not going to happen, resulting in cases where there may be either an explosion or implosion of violence, such as homicide or suicide.

In the course of his work as a close personal protection specialist, Van Beuge has dealt with several cases where pursuers have become suicidal. In these instances, he has liaised closely with psychotherapists and other mental health professionals, and if possible, the pursuers family, to achieve a safe solution for the offender.

The bottom line is that these individuals should never be allowed direct contact with the client, according to Van Beuge. He urges everyone in the close protection field to research and explore psychology. He believes that in order to effectively protect your client, you need to be an acute observer of human behavior. “You will never work out the solution to a problem if you don’t understand it in the first place,” he cautions.

BACK AT THE PREMIERE: Van Beuge escorts his client out of the theatre fifteen minutes before the conclusion of the event.

The publicity requirements having been satisfied at the start of the evening, Van Beuge now utilizes the anonymity of the darkness and the emergency exit to take his client to the repositioned limousine. Van Beuge and his client travel away from the theatre before the house lights have come on.

Agostino has advanced the after-party and is waiting with venue security to meet them at the rear door of the crowded nightclub. In this tightly packed environment, they will balance the client’s need to enjoy the party whilst maintaining privacy.

By the time the party is over, Van Beuge will have completed a 21-hour shift. This is the life of a close protection specialist. In four hours, he will escort his client to the film set, where he will spend another day managing his client’s safety, assessing fan mail, liaising with studio security and film safety officers and pre-planning his clients after work activities.

This article was written by John Bigelow

Filed Under: Featured Articles, True Bodyguard Stories

Executive Protection Specialist Is A Crucial Business. Learn Why!

February 13, 2018 by Hucky 10 Comments

Working as an Executive Protection Specialist

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.”

Types of Executive Protection Clients

My friend advised the fire marshal that he would comply and not allow anyone else to enter the room. Keeping true to his word, my associate was diligent in his task and ensured that no additional guests entered the party. About 45 minutes after meeting with the fire marshal, my associate was summoned to go speak with the “rapper.” When he arrived, the “rapper” began using loud and obscene language which was then followed by the threat to fire my associate for not letting “his people” into the party.

The moral of this story (which goes hand in hand with this post on particular clients) is to always ensure that you are comfortable working for those you are protecting, be confident that this is “the right fit” for you when it comes to Executive Protection operations. Many individuals entering into this field believe that they have to take the first job that is offered to them; however, this is the wrong attitude to have. Working a protection detail, in many cases, is similar to marriage. In short, in a marriage both parties must learn to respect one another and must understand the others’ needs and concerns.

If one member of the relationship fails to follows these guidelines, that marriage is doomed to fail. The same holds true when working with a client. I have known numerous cases where an executive protection specialist has “pissed” off the client for what ever reason and was terminated from employment. The executive protection specialist then faces what is labeled “blackballed” by the client who will pass on partly true and false information about the executive protection specialist , thus causing him or her a hard time in finding employment within the industry.

Think about this for a minute…before you are going to be hired by that musical pop-star or owner of a fortune 500 company to provide EP services for them, these individuals, their record labels or private investigators are in many cases going to put you thru the ringers by conducting a background check, financial check, and then will speak to references that include former co-workers, family, and friends.

So my question to you is this, why would you not look into the background of these individuals prior to accepting employment with them? Be leery and always check on who and what the individual(s) you are going to protect are about. Practice your due diligence, find out what others can tell you about a specific client, and join some of the executive protection based forums offered out there. Remember in the end, the final choice is yours and yours alone, but an educated individual who takes the time to learn about the client he or she is working for will have a much better chance to increase their longevity within the EP game.

Remember: As an executive protection specialist you are not only protecting a client but you are also protecting yourself. As a mentor to those entering this field I applaud you to heed to what I have shared with you in this post. I want you to be successful in this career if this is the path that you wish to follow. As someone who has had the opportunity to travel these roads alone and in many cases has had to find things out the hard way I want you to know both the positive and the negative sides of this business and how cut throat clients can sometimes be.

This article was written by Nathan Seabrook

Filed Under: Featured Articles, Nathan Seabrook Tagged With: Bodyguard, bodyguards, Executive Protection, Executive Protection Specialist

Female Bodyguards Now In High Demand

February 3, 2018 by Hucky 1 Comment

Shortage of Female Bodyguards

David Cameron, Tony Blair, Kate Middleton, Chinese billionaire Xiao Jianhua, and the late Libyan revolutionary Muammar Gaddafi all have one thing in common. It’s not their influence on politics and business within their respective countries. Each of these political and financial leaders was protected by female bodyguards.

All too often, a stereotypical image of a bodyguard permeates the media and social conversation. The ideal bodyguard is almost always described or portrayed as a man who’s 6’5”, weighs 300 pounds, and is clad in all-black. The average person’s idea of a bodyguard matches the kind of tough guys you’ll find working as bouncers at your local nightclub. But these days, the most in-demand bodyguards look like Polly Wilton.

Wilton is a 35-year-old mom of one who might look like any other suburban mother in plainclothes. But when she’s on the clock, she’s a powerful operative. She spent years working for the Royal Military Police and the British Army, and she’s been tasked with protecting some of the latter’s most high-ranking officials. She’s proof that female bodyguards are just as capable of doing the job as anyone else. Or, today’s “typical” bodyguard might look like the women in Edemm, a Spain-based group of female bodyguards who protect survivors of domestic violence and abuse.

Female bodyguards have a place in the Executive Protection industry; they’re not on the job for us to ogle or drool over, as one ill-advised Medium article suggested. The demand for female bodyguards is increasing rapidly for several reasons.

Why leaders and celebs are choosing female bodyguards

The most immediate difference between male and female bodyguards is their size. There’s an assumption that the only way to provide adequate protection is with bulk. However, there are plenty of women proving this isn’t the case.

In an interview with The Independent, commercial bodyguard Lisa Baldwin explained why women are more suited for this line of work.

“Nine times out of ten, the people I work for want someone who can blend in,” she told the publication. “They don’t want obvious security, like the kind used by Madonna or Britney Spears. Those bodyguards, the big guys, actually draw attention to the clients and put them at more stress and risk.”

Baldwin touches on one of three main reasons female bodyguards are in high demand.

Blending in: Female bodyguards can easily assume the role of nanny, family member, tutor, or any role which would require someone to travel with a family or celebrity. Though they’re no less qualified, they’re unassuming. In the event of a threat, they can spring into action and catch an assailant off guard.
Comfort: Many situations require bodyguards to have physical contact with women, for procedures like searches or pat-downs. Female bodyguards ensure this process is comfortable and respectful for all parties involved.
Conflict resolution: Women are more skilled at handling conflict. They can read body language more accurately, quickly diffuse an intense situation, and focus on the needs of the person posing a threat. In a dangerous situation, a level head is mandatory for the best outcome.

For those who think female bodyguards don’t work as hard or might not be expected to do as much in the field, think again. The standards are even higher. Women in Executive Protection are expected to master 1-2 foreign languages, in addition to their native tongue, and they must secure certifications in skilled activities like scuba diving and skiing. They must be prepared for every scenario. Wilton works out every day of the week to stay in shape, alternating between yoga, running, weight lifting, and cycling.

Jacquiee Davis

Executive Protection Not just a boys’ club

Female bodyguards are dispelling the myth that Executive Protection is exclusively a boys’ club. The best protection is about brains over brawn. Sheer size isn’t enough to stop a dangerous situation from becoming worse. True protection requires agile thinking, effective decision making, and many other soft skills.

So, how can women break into the industry? A series of programs and institutions have pulled together curricula that focuses specifically on the needs of women in Executive Protection. For example, the Athena Academy offers a slew of courses covering everything from child protection and urban awareness to crisis management and tactical firearms. At one point, it was tough for women to break into the business. But now, there are plenty of resources tailored to women’s needs.

In recent years, the Executive Protection industry has shifted and changed at record speed. In her interview with The Independent, Baldwin suggested women were now the highest paid operatives. The business is ripe with opportunities for female bodyguards. It just takes the proper training and dedication to get started. This is a lucrative career that promises opportunities both at home and abroad. Women are more than welcome in this security industry—they’re necessary for its success.

There are many and varied opportunities in the protection industry, it would be my pleasure to assist you in finding the best possible fit as you make your way into the world of executive protection.

So let’s connect soon!

Warmest Regards

Founder of Bodyguard Careers

Harlan (Hucky) Austin

Filed Under: Featured Articles

Entry Level Personal Protection

February 2, 2018 by Hucky 16 Comments

Personal Protection

Entry Level Personal Protection Specialists can gain experience working at Special Events:

By Jerry Heying, CPP, PPS

As the owner of a mid size personal protection agency located in New York City and as an Instructor at the Executive Protection Institute (EPI), I am often approached by recent EPI grads (and others who have graduated from other programs) who are looking to get their start into the personal protection field.

Generally for those without much experience and limited credentials personal protection, I usually suggest they try working at Special Events. Fortunately, my firm in New York City specializes in Special Event Security and every year we have numerous events with celebrities and dignitaries in attendance or performing, such as post Grammy parties, non-profit fund-raisers with as many as 100 celebrities, and many others. These assignments (although lower paid) offer a chance to accomplish many objectives. The first is to get your feet wet, and start getting some type of security and protection experience. When you lack experience and overall credentials, you have to start somewhere.

Working on Special Event Security is a proving ground that will allow the inexperienced yet well trained EP school graduate a chance to show everyone what they are made of. I equate this to an apprenticeship or like a farm system in baseball with A, AA, and AAA minor league teams supporting a major league team. To get to the “show”, you have to do well on a consistent level in the minors and rise through the ranks to make it to the majors.

Another similarity to baseball is that of acting students; an entry level acting student has to audition for bit parts first before they can expect a leading role, especially if they are just entering the personal protection profession. Even though your Special Event experience might only be simple “escorts” , being posted along a red carpet, or posted at a dressing room door, those experiences will be valuable in more ways than you can imagine.

Special Event Security

Many Special Events have opportunities to escort a celebrity or other VIP from one point to another, for example, from a limousine at the curb to a dressing room backstage. This can be done as a highly visible “secret service” type escort with multiple agents or a low profile one person escort. In any case, to be well prepared it is essential to advance the route and to know every possible alternate route.

Even working in facilities that you have been in hundreds of times can prove difficult with the construction of complicated sets, lighting, and temporary stages often constructed overnight that changes everything. An experienced operator knows by experience to check and recheck and have a contingency plan and this is good training for an entry level operator.

So often with celebrities or other dignitaries, you won’t know if they want to be high profile and go through a crowd signing autographs, or be low profile and go a back way until they say so getting out of the limousine or a few minutes out, especially depending on the number of photographers or the size of the crowd and fans.

Sometimes celebrities will tell you absolutely no autographs but will change their minds midstream depending on their feeling. Even with the best plans, you always have to be prepared to handle unexpected situations. I will definitely be looking how someone with limited experience handles this kind of change and pressure.

The entry level operator may be waiting for a celebrity to arrive at the front door when they are told that the celebrity changed their mind (imagine that, they change their minds?) and will now be arriving at the stage door in 2 minutes. Watching how this person handles the situation will tell me whether I will be able to fast track them into full scale personal protection operations, or if they need more training and experience.

Personal Protection Assignments

I have seen new operators completely crash and burn so bad that I have to let them go to operators doing so well I put them on immediate EP assignments. I’m sure other company owners or supervisors who have the same opportunity to observe entry level protection specialists will agree with what I’m sharing here.

And more important than impressing me, I highly recommend that the entry level specialist impress everyone they work with and are around (including doormen, housemen, elevator operators, etc), because I will ask everyone how they did, and if I get consistent feedback that they had an attitude, or were late, took long breaks, that information will certainly have an impact.

It’s easy to impress me if I happen to come by for a few minutes, but I want to know how you did all day long, from start to finish. How you were with support staff, co-workers, and supervision. And I will hear about you from everyone. It’s like when we were growing up, our mom’s knew everything. As a company owner, I tell entry level operators that the walls talk to me, the sidewalk tells me things, and I will know everything. And don’t think I won’t know.

Even a brief escort with a celebrity from their limousine through a crowd can be challenging for an experienced Executive Protection Specialist, let alone a “rookie”. I will often put a new Protection Specialist posted at a critical control point or will sometimes have them be the advance point person to open the crowd and to lead the way.

Best Training Since 1978

As is often the case, the “new guy” is usually farthest from the principal. It’s been surprising to see the number of people new to protection work become “star-struck” the first time they see a celebrity. Or worst yet, stop them and ask for an autograph or to take a picture. Once I see that a new operator can hold their post and carry out their assignment, they usually quickly work themselves closer to the center of the action. The lookie-loo’s will have to spend more time in the minor leagues and I’ve had to fire some for taking photos with celebrities. How can I trust that type of operator?

As most everyone knows, there are a lot of mundane duties on an EP assignment, such as the overnight suite duty (“Halls and Walls” where you’re lucky to even to see the principal), as well as many other thankless and sometimes boring, yet important duties. I will usually see that a new EP rookie gets to experience these exciting duties at special events to fully experience what it’s really like on a regular detail.

Without fail, a certain number of highly inspired individuals will not pass the test because they could not hold their post, were telling EP war stories instead of paying attention, were in the wrong place at the wrong time, complained that they are away from all the action, or were handing out their business cards instead of being on point. Some will take themselves out of service because they realize that it’s not what they expected.

While every assignment is an excellent opportunity for exposure and to network, it is essential to establish your personal trust and integrity both as an individual and as a team player. It is critical to not be the type of person viewed as biting the hand that feeds you or seen as someone trying to steal an account. Choice assignments don’t come easy and those in charge of details will not take a chance with someone who hasn’t proven themselves, especially with trust.

I’ve been burned and it really hurts, so I don’t want to get burned again and am very cautious (as are other owners). Unfortunately, our industry is full of tales of owners being undermined by the very people they put on the assignment. A word of warning; this is a small industry and word will quickly spread if you are less than trustworthy.

I am looking for individuals with natural skills and those who are constantly polishing their abilities. I strongly consider those who take every assignment seriously regardless of the pay or the importance of the person being protected. The basics are equally important: being on time, properly dressed, and with the right attitude. I can learn a lot from observing someone on a short term special event security detail to consider if I will use them for a future major protection assignment.

When you do gain some experience, make sure you don’t overstate your experiences. Veteran Personal Protection Specialists that have been around awhile can tell the difference from details of substance or those full of “BS”. There’s no shame in being young and having limited experiences but you will lose credibility glorifying simple short term special event escorts into full blown details.

If you’re trying to impress someone, do it with your integrity and your honesty, not some razzle dazzle.

In conclusion, I believe that Special Event Security assignments can be a valuable experience for those looking for regular Personal Protection work but have limited experience. And I also believe that there is something to “being in the right place at the right time meeting the right person”; it can happen by chance, or you can know exactly who you need to meet, and when, and then put yourself there on purpose. That happens often working at Special Events. Something to think about.

Jerry Heying, CPP, PPS, CST, Executive Director, Executive Protection Institute, and President and CEO, International Protection Group, LLC located in New York City, (212) 268-4555, E-mail: jerry@personalprotection.com Web: www.personalprotection.com

Filed Under: Featured Articles, Jerry Heying Tagged With: Executive Protection Institute, Personal Protection Specialists

Professional Security Services

February 2, 2018 by Hucky Leave a Comment

Selecting Professional Security Services

The security officer force is frequently the backbone of any professional security organization. Every security manager is faced with the task of determining the best source and approach for staffing and management of this force. Contract security agencies provide the promise of flexible staffing options, experienced management, extensive training, detailed selection and recruiting, professional officers and more. How many contract vendors truly deliver on this promise? How do you ensure that the vendor you select is in a position to provide the service you require?

Professional Security Who Determines the Vendor Focus

A successful professional security program will be based on paying attention to factors specific to each individual client. Generic training programs will not prepare the vendor’s officers for work at your site. Broad scope recruiting and hiring standards will not result in officers assigned to your site that truly have the skill sets and personality to fit your needs. Policies and Procedures set forth by the vendor may not provide the foundation necessary for success at your location.

Professional Security Services

Developing a professional security program for your business is a complex process. At every stage of this development, consideration must be given to the unique qualities of your location and how each of the vendor’s actions lead towards catering to these needs. Vendors have designed training programs, selection standards, recruiting plans, operating procedures and more. The goal is to improve efficiency and effectiveness of their security programs.

The problem lies in the fact that this is virtually the definition of the “One Size Fits All” mentality. If the vendor implements a physical ability criteria, they may eliminate a potential officer that would fit your needs if your site does not have strenuous physical needs. Conversely, failure to take physical fitness into account can negatively impact the ability of their officers to perform adequately if your site does have duties that require the officers to be in good physical condition. The same concept holds true for many other areas. It is impossible for any training program to adequately prepare and individual for all possible duties and incident responses. As such, it is imperative that training programs are focused on areas that will most likely serve the officer in their current position. It is not feasible to develop a single program that achieves this for all officers on all assignments.

Once again, initiating and managing an effective security program is a complex endeavor. Every action by the vendor must be directed at taking the best course of action for your business. As a result, the company template for recruiting, hiring, staffing, training, management, and operations must be specifically tailored for your organization. Anything less than full customization is a recipe for failure.

Warning Signs

When you are meeting with your current or a potential vendor, look for signs of the “One Size Fits All” mentality. Obviously every vendor will have their reasons for why they believe they are better than the rest. Let them explain this to you. However if they begin talking about their programs, that is a sure sign they do not understand the value of the Fully Customized Security Program.

Let me tell you about OUR training program.
We have established selection standards to ensure the best people are assigned to your site.
We have instructed all of our people to ___________.
Our managers focus on _______________.

We all want the security vendor to have a plan. However, this plan must be focused on achieving the goals for your location. If the vendor begins talking about how the operate, prior to learning how you operate, you have a problem. Whenever a vendor is making a statement along these lines, ask yourself:

“Is this catered to providing the best service for me,

or focused on ease of operation for the vendor?”

Once you are aware of the warning signs, the next step is to make sure the vendor is truly partnering with you to create a program specific to your needs.

Recruiting and Selection Professional Security Services

All of the training, policies and procedures and management responses are not enough to overcome the problem of placing the wrong person in the wrong position. It is important to remember we are not dealing with machines. These are people. Individuals are capable of making mistakes, even misrepresenting themselves. As such there is no cure-all for finding the right person. However, it is imperative that the efforts of the vendor are focused on finding and assigning people who possess the required skill sets and personality to fit into your operation.

Before moving too far in the process of developing your security program with the vendor, identify key requirements and create a job description for each position you will require. This job description can include, but is not limited to, any of the following as allowed by law:

Education requirements
Physical requirements (lifting, walking, etc.)
Experience requirements
Medical training requirements
Availability requirements
Computer aptitude
Job specific training requirements
Minimum age requirements

In addition to minimum requirements, the vendor should be aware of the personality and approach to security you expect from personnel assigned to your business.

Professional Security Training

In my career, I have seen many good people fail as security officers simply because they did not know how to do their jobs. They possessed all the skills, personality traits and drive to excel, but did not possess the knowledge required for the position. I have seen good officers make poor decisions when trying to determine the best course of action when presented with an incident in which they had not been trained in the proper handling.

Each state has different minimum training standards. The State of Minnesota, for example requires twelve (12) hours of preassignment training and six (6) hours of continuing training each year after. This is obviously insufficient to prepare the individual for work as a security officer. Additional training will be needed.

When the vendor creates a training program to further the education of the employee, you as a user, should ask “How does this training prepare the officer for work at my site?” If the training the officer receives is related to CCTV operation and monitoring, but your site does not have any cameras, nothing of substantial value to you has been taught.

Partner with the vendor. Ensure there is adequate continuing training provided, and that the course work taught is focused on areas of study pertinent to your location.

Professional Security Management

One of the factors that distinguishes one company from another, separates the good vendors from the bad, is the quality of the managers, especially the one assigned to your account. The hope is that when you hire a security vendor, the manager for your account is a security professional and can provide insight and leadership in directing your security program. Unfortunately this is not always the case.

Beyond questioning hiring practices, training, and operating policies, question and interview the manager that would be assigned to your account. Make sure there is a sufficient knowledge base and that the personality is conducive to a future partnership. Remember this person is potentially going to walk step by step with you in designing and managing your security program. You want to be comfortable in them as a person, and as a security expert.

Beyond determining who would be your manager, you want to explore management practices and potentially set forth some ground rules. Some clients want frequent contact. Some what to be left alone. Some prefer email, while yet others will settle for nothing less than face to face meetings. It is not uncommon for a relationship to fail, simply because the manager was unable to determine the true needs of the client. Don’t make them guess. Tell them exactly what you expect

Explore the manager’s security background. Beware of career managers, that have simply found their way into security.
Evaluate management style and personal interaction.
Make sure you have a comfort level with the manager
Clearly outline your expectations. Any resistance to these expectations is a serious “red flag”.

Professional Security Procedures and Policies

All too frequently, vendors have already determined many policies and procedures that encompass all of their officers, prior to even speaking with the potential client. Vendors frequently choose what is safe for them from a liability standpoint, or what their officer pool is capable of handling.

Scenario

A property management firm is hired to run a urban mall located in a downtown environment. In addition to some retail outlets, the center houses a hotel and numerous establishments serving alcohol.

The management firm initially wanted a security staff capable of handling the undesirables that were to be expected in an urban setting. The client wanted officers trained in use of force, as well as alternatives dealing with handling disruptive persons.

The vendor insisted the best role for the security department was to serve in a preventative role as opposed to a response role. The continued to imply that incident response was best handled by the police.

This made sense to the client. Unfortunately the client was mislead by clever language. What the vendor had done is ensure his staff would not be handling any volatile situations. While this was a definite plus for the vendor, the client was forced to stand by as incidents that could have been handled quickly by the security staff they had paid for, continued to disrupt the mall as they waited for police response.

In this scenario, based on a true account, the vendor already had preconceived notions as to how security is to be performed at all accounts. Unfortunately in this case, the approach was not what was best suited to the client’s needs. The same problem presents itself on the opposite end of the spectrum, where some vendors insist on a high profile, proactive approach, when a more subtle presence is appropriate.

Ideally you will find a vendor that is understanding of your needs, and will adjust the program to suit those needs. If this is not an option, ensure you select a vendor whose vision of security, parallels the needs of your site.

Professional Security Pay Rates

Wage rates, above all else, are the greatest cost concern when developing a security program. The best way to control security costs, is to limit wage rates. Before doing so however, it is important to examine the needs of your program in terms of salary for officers, and ensure the selected pay rate affords you the opportunity to recruit and retain quality personnel.

There are two approaches to take in determining the appropriate wage level for officers assigned to your site. First is to take a look at your geographic market. Market information is typically available from the Department of Labor. This will provide you with a wide range of wage data, both for the security profession, and other comparable professions. The second approach is to simply consider the contract companies recruiting base. Taking into account this recruiting base, do you want the best the company has to offer? If so, you will want to be at the top of their pay scale. If falling into the middle is acceptable to you, a middle of the road pay scale will work.

Regardless of how you evaluate pay scales, it is important to remember the job you are asking the officers to do. You want to ensure the pay rate selected affords the contact agency the ability to attract and retain quality personnel. In many cases, security officers are paid in line with custodial workers. In most circumstances the duties and responsibilities you will assign to security personnel will be far greater and require a greater professionalism than those you assign to your cleaners. It is only logical that you will want to pay more to the security personnel in an effort to attract quality personnel capable of protecting your property and people.

Professional Security Bill Rates

Security pricing, when done by true professionals, is actually nothing more than execution of a formula. While it is a complex and intricate formula, it is none the less a mathematical equation. The vendor simply totals real costs, estimated costs, and profit expectations into a bill rate.

Security Guard

Real Costs

Hourly Wage

Payroll Taxes
GL Insurance
Vacation Costs
Holiday Costs
Worker’s Comp Insurance
Other Taxes/Insurance
Commissions

Estimated Costs

The vendor must then estimate these costs and include them into the bill rate. The problem here lies in that none of these are truly definable costs. No one is sure until the end of the year, how much overtime will be used. No one knows for sure what turnover will be and what costs dependent upon that factor will total.

Overtime
Training Costs
Uniform Costs
Recruiting Costs
Hiring Costs
Company Overhead
Employee Benefits

The next step is to take all of these costs into consideration, and then look at the proposed bill rate. This will leave you with the anticipated profit the vendor hopes to achieve. We all understand that the vendor is in business to make money. That is the purpose of the business. However, if one vendor is charging $24.00 per hour and is investing $12.00 per hour into the product, while another vendor is charging $25.00 per hour, but investing $18.00 per hour into the product, which is a better value. It is imperative that you analyze the cost breakdown to see what you are truly getting. Take into account base wage, training costs, even quality of uniform will result in costs.

The easy way to do this is to look at the mark up or percentage of the bill rate that is passed onto the officers in the form of salary. If you were to read a textbook on running a security company, it would most likely give the number of 67%. This means 67% of the bill rate should be passed onto the officers. A $15.00 bill rate would result in the officer being paid at $10.00 per hour. This leaves 23% for company expenses and 10% for profit. Assuming all goes to plan for the company. Be aware that for smaller companies, maintaining the 67% ratio is frequently impossible as their costs per hour of service are typically higher. However, if this number falls into the 50%-55% range, or even lower, the vendor is most likely taking exorbitant profit.

Officer Pay Rate / Bill Rate = Percentage

This simple formula will allow you to judge whether the bill rate proposed is fair, or slanted towards excessive profits.

Summary

You want to ensure you are getting a quality professional security program that will meet or exceed your needs. You want to get it at a fair price. You want a company that will partner with you in developing this program. You want officers that are competent and capable. You want your personnel to be sufficiently trained. You want a recruiting professional security program that will provide a quality officer base, and allow for replacement of departing officers. You want a vendor management team that is knowledgeable in security and committed to your program.

This may sound like a lot to ask, but in reality it is not. All you are asking for is a good product at a fair price. This is not too much to ask in any other industry, why is security different? Ask the right questions. Be a knowledgeable consumer. You will be able to find the right fit.

Filed Under: Bodyguard Careers Staff, Featured Articles Tagged With: professional security

How to Become a Bodyguard

February 1, 2018 by Hucky 7 Comments

How to become a bodyguard

By Doc Rogers

How to become a bodyguard, considering a career change from your present line of work. Maybe the bodyguard industry is the right fit for you? This article gives 10 powerful thoughts to help you become a bodyguard.

How to become a bodyguard

Do you have the ability to help others:

As a bodyguard you keep your clients out of harm’s way and give them the confidence they need to achieve their business and personal goals securely.

Continuously learning:

As a professional bodyguard you will be constantly obtaining special knowledge (expertise) from your formal training, on-the-job training and independent study (often at your own cost). You should never stop learning the trade.

Appreciation for different cultures:

As a bodyguard you will gain an understanding of the world we live and work in, this will help you to better protect your clients. As a bodyguard you will learn about the cultures and the traditions of the countries you will be operating in as well as the respect for it’s people.

Great salary:

Bodyguarding is a labor intensive profession, charge your clients accordingly. You will want to avoid having your fees to low or to high. Provide the best quality service at the best price, at a happy medium. As a bodyguard you won’t starve, but you won’t become a millionaire either.

Bodyguarding is a rewarding profession:

Bodyguards have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of their clients. Bodyguards are not only rewarded with money, but also the feeling of fulfillment in keeping their clients safe.

Career security:

Even with a weak economy bodyguards are still needed worldwide. Bodyguards rarely take pay-cuts; our salaries stay stable even in these tough economic times.

Job mobility:

Bodyguards can move to any part of the world and conduct business. Bodyguarding is an excellent mobile occupation that allows you to live anywhere in the world and there’s a big world out there with lots of opportunities.

Prestige and respectability:

The respect accorded to trained bodyguards rivals that of law enforcement and the military. Bodyguarding is considered a noblest profession, according to folklore it’s the fifth oldest profession in the world.

Client versatility:

You have a choice of working with high powered business executives, politicians, superstar athletes, famous entertainers and celebrities, as well as everyday individuals who are under threat.

Life long friendships:

Bodyguards develop life long friendships with other professionals throughout the world. Some of these friends will become your second family while on the road. This is one of the greatest aspects of the job. So now you know what to do to become a bodyguard.

Doc Rogers is the author of Corporate Executive Protection – A Manual for Inspiring Corporate Bodyguards and president and CEO of International Corporate Executive Protection Ltd. Doc has earned a Ph.D. in Security Administration from Southwest University and he is SE Asia’s leading expert on executive protection and corporate security. To learn how to make a full time living as a corporate bodyguard visit the websites below for more information.

Bodyguard Careers

Filed Under: Doc Rogers, Featured Articles Tagged With: Bodyguard, bodyguard industry, bodyguarding, bodyguards, Executive Protection, How to become a bodyguard

Bodyguard 380 Review

January 17, 2018 by Hucky 16 Comments

Review of the Bodyguard 380

Bodyguard 380 Review

By Mark “Six” James

Recently, I received an email from an individual seeking advice on purchasing a Bodyguard 380 pistol for his wife’s personal protection use. He knew nothing about firearms but wanted something that would be easy-to-carry, and slim enough to slip into her handbag. I remembered in 2012 I reached out to my friend Mark “Six” James and asked him if he would write a review of the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380. I didn’t know much about this particular pistol, so I thought it be best to have an expert weigh in on it. Below is his review.

A friend called me the other day and asked if I wouldn’t mind taking a moment to write a review of the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380. As a protection specialist and firearms instructor, I chuckled and said, “Harlan you know I don’t shoot starter pistols.” He then replied, “You have never seen a handgun you didn’t like to shoot.” I said, “You are right, give me a week and I will get back with you.”

My everyday carry weapon is typically a compact or full size .45 ACP or 9 mm subcompact when I want to travel light. I am not one to be sucked into the caliber wars as accuracy should always trump caliber size and in close quarter engagements it is often your tactics more so than the caliber size or marksmanship which will keep you alive.

However I am a proponent of a person carrying the largest caliber that they can shoot accurately. A well trained operator will handle their business with any caliber you put in their hand, unfortunately most people are not well trained and handgun encounters are rarely one shot stops.

I had seen the “Bodyguard 380” advertised but had not taken the time to really look into it, as I had not historically been a big fan of pocket guns.

A Place for “Pocket Guns” like the Bodyguard 380

Although, I am a firm believer the situation should always dictate the tactics and the tools. With that said there is a definite place for pocket guns.

Personally I think pocket guns function best as secondary and tertiary tools. Most have poor sighting systems, undersized grips and are often underpowered. Probably the biggest challenge I see with them is how they are often sold. I see many people attempting to buy them as primary weapons for new shooters. Many people are of the misconception that because they are small in both stature and caliber they will be easier to shoot and have less felt recoil.

Effective recoil management starts first with a good grip. Since most people buy firearms and never get proper professional training they often suffer from poor fundamentals be it improper grip or poor sight alignment. Thus rarely learning how to master the tool.

Bodyguard 380 a Small Gun that Acts Like a Big Gun

When I went to my local gun shop and range today to take a closer look at the Bodyguard 380, I was pleasantly surprised to see a large number of big gun features built into this small package.

The Bodyguard 380 has a polymer frame with a stainless steel barrel and slide. It is also equipped with a manual thumb safety, slide stop, external takedown lever and loaded chamber indicator.

It has useable raised stainless steel adjustable sights (dovetail cuts) and an integrated Insight laser sight on the vertical axis with ambidextrous laser controls (constant on, pulsating, off). The laser features a battery saver cut off, which automatically shuts off after 5 minutes.

It is a double action only, hammer fired semi-automatic handgun. While the double action may help reduce accidental discharges, from the new shooters I polled some were uncomfortable with the long trigger pull. The trigger pull appears to be around 8 – 9 pounds. However effectively managing a long double action trigger is something that a few more lessons can easily address. It also features a steel guide rod.

The magazine for the bodyguard 380 has an extended finger tab on the bottom to make the grip more ergonomically pleasing.

The bodyguard 380 performed well on the range. The sighting system was effective and the recoil was what I expected out of a sub 3 inch barrel on a polymer frame. The weapon will also fire with the magazine removed. The slide also locks back on an empty magazine.

Bodyguard 380 Not Good for Novices: Training Suggested

While I am not ready to make the bodyguard 380 my everyday carry weapon, I would move it to the front of the line for pocket pistols. The $399 suggested retail is a good value for the features built into the handgun and explains why dealers are having a hard time keeping them on the shelf.

The bodyguard 380 is more than fit for duty as an ultra concealment or secondary tool. In my opinion it is not a starter handgun and functions best in the hands of an experienced shooter.

The light weight, small frame, and short sight radius are not features that lend themselves to new or untrained shooters. With the right operator or training the Bodyguard 380 can compliment your defensive capabilities.

In the hands of the untrained operator it has the potential for a bad experience.

Bodyguard 380 Review

Model:         BODYGUARD® 380
Caliber:         .380 Auto
Capacity:         6+1 Rounds
Barrel Length:     2.75″ / 7.0 cm
Frame Size:         Compact
Action:         Double Action Only (Hammer Fired)
Front Sight:         Stainless Steel
Rear Sight:         Drift Adjustable
Grip:             Polymer
Overall Length:     5.25″ / 13.3 cm
Weight:         11.85 oz / 335.9 g
Frame Material:     Polymer
Material:         Stainless Steel w/Melonite® Finish
Finish: Matte     Black

Purpose: Personal Protection, Professional / Duty
Mark “Six” James is the Executive Director of Panther Protection Services a full service protection agency.

He is a firearms and combative instructor and internationally published author. To find out more about Panther Protection Services visit www.pantherprotectionservices.com or www.facebook.com/pantherprotectionservices

Filed Under: Featured Articles, Mark Six James Tagged With: Bodyguard, Bodyguard 380

History of Executive Protection

January 4, 2018 by Hucky 5 Comments

History Executive Protection

The History Executive Protection spans over two thousand years and has assisted in influencing many cultures throughout the world. Many of the most well known executive protection 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.

One of the earliest acknowledged examples of an executive protection is the Praetorian Guard who began as a select group of bodyguards for Roman generals in the 2nd century BC and eventually developed into a protective force for Roman emperors. As the Praetorian Guard grew, they had gained enough power to ultimately effect the appointment of emperors; thus, becoming labeled as disruptive and were disbanded by Constantine I in 312 AD.

Another well known group of protection specialists were the Yeomen of the Guard, established by King Henry VII in 1485. The Yeomen’s primary focus was to serve as the organization that provided personal protection for the ruler of England. Originally, the Yeomen provided security for the ruler while in transit to battle or overseas. With time the Yeomen took on the additional duties of guarding the palace entrances and tasting the food of the ruler.

The Yeoman of the Guard is still in existence today. The United States has a modern form of Executive Protection. In 1865 the U.S. developed the Secret Service which is still used today. Originally, the Secret Service was created to investigate currency counterfeiting crimes and did not truly take on EP efforts until 1894.

Beginning as an informal part-time agency until 1901 when Congress invited the Secret Service to provide protection for the president. The need for presidential protection arose following the assassination of President William McKinley in 1901.

Full-time commitment for presidential protection was acquired by the secret service in 1902. In a more contemporary form, Executive Protection no longer relies on resources and powers of law enforcement and federal government. The separation is attributed to innovative techniques of mid-20th century corporations developing security departments. Within these security departments protection for top company executives was provided.

Initially, Executive Protection Specialists were chosen from organizations like the Secret Service, police departments, and military personnel. Eventually Executive Protection Specialists were able to ascend above the ranks of corporate security. These protection specialists began developing skills specifically pertinent to Executive Protection work; this derived from attending Executive Protection training programs/schools. These training facilities and schools were becoming

increasingly common in the early 1980’s.

Executive Protection

Executive Protection exploded in the early 1990’s as crime and violence grew within the workplace and high profile executive kidnappings led to having ransoms attached and death (in some cases). The main stream media played a major role in making these types of scenarios highly publicized and stimulated the swift growth of the protection field. Corporations quickly recognized the value of personal protection for top executives and began taking advantage of the safety protection specialists provided.

Following the September 11th attacks, interest flourished and the need for executive protection expanded even further. Now executive protection was inclusive of not only high profile government officials but also persons who served in international diplomats globally.

In the Corporate world, Executive Protection is seen as a necessary business measure taken to preserve a corporation’s human capital and to maintain corporate confidence with stock- holders, employees, and customers. Any attack can raise questions about a company’s intellectual capabilities as well as its preparedness to continue business as usual.

In times of elevated risk, Executive Protection exists to create an environment in which business can flourish and executives are able to concentrate on business activities with a successful modicum of safety.

The goal of an protection specialist is to provide protection while drawing as little attention to the principal as well as the protector. Today’s protection specialist develops a mindset that focuses on preventing and avoiding threat first, and utilizing combative tactics last. There you have it, the History of Bodyguards, for more info see infographic below.

There are many and varied opportunities in the protection industry, it would be my pleasure to assist you in finding the best possible fit as you make your way into the world of executive protection.

So let’s connect soon!

Warmest Regards

Founder of Bodyguard Careers

Harlan (Hucky) Austin

The history of executive protection agents and other practitioners of personal protection has spanned hundreds of years. High profile figures like Kings, Presidents, and Popes as well as the wealthy have all required personal protection.

Filed Under: Featured Articles Tagged With: Bodyguard, bodyguards, Executive Protection, Executive Protection Specialist, protection specialist

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