Every Thursday BodyGuard Careers will bring you a “Must-See” video. This weeks video comes from Mark ” Six” James CEO of Panther Protection Services.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-C_d-i0Ugc[/youtube]
Grammy Award Scenario
Question:
You are the agent in charge of a four person security detail protecting a music industry celebrity. This evening you are en route to the Grammy Awards. In the limousine’s front seat is the driver and you as agent in charge. In the rear seat is the celebrity and his/her companion.
One other agent of your detail is driving behind you in the chase car, and the fourth agent is awaiting your arrival at the Grammy’s having conducted a security advance. As you arrive at the Grammy’s, you visually locate your advance agent and as planned, your driver/agent pulls the vehicle curbside directed by the advance agent.
Upon arrival, you open the rear limo door for your celebrity client and he/she exits and begins to walk slowly toward the front door to the convention center hosting the ceremony. You position yourself to the rear of the celebrity and the advance agent walks ahead of the client.
At this point, you observe a man with a gun at his side break through the ropes that are securing the press and run towards the celebrity. You can see that the conference center has security agents stationed nearby, and local law enforcement is on scene.
How do you handle this situation? Choose one of the below responses:
a.) You pull your client down to the sidewalk and assume your advance agent will neutralize the threat.
b.) You grab your client, turn him/her around, simultaneously pushing their head down, and as fast as possible move back toward the limousine. When you get back to the limo you push your client back into the car, keeping their head down and covering their body, the vehicle evacuates the scene, chase car providing additional
protection.
c.) Both you and the advance agent draw your weapons and engage the potential assassin.
d.) You continue walking assuming this potential threat will be neutralized by the local police.
What is your answer?
Key to Marketing Yourself
By Hucky Austin
One of the questions I’m asked most is, “How do I find work?” It can be very difficult to secure bodyguard or executive protection contracts and I’d like to address what I perceive as a shortcoming in terms of landing good jobs: Self-Promotion.
If going solo is your desire, go after the work diligently and persistently. Sales and marketing is very much a numbers game. You’ll be rejected or ignored a hundred times for every nibble or yes you’ll receive. It’s rough going at first but in time, if you conduct yourself well, apply yourself to personal and professional development, your reputation will bring work to your door or nowadays, your email inbox.
Avoiding Scams
In today’s internet world it has become increasingly easier for scam artist and criminals to take advantage of individuals who are trying to break into the executive protection field. This post will provide you with some insight, ideas and common sense tactics to use when you are looking for training or employment using internet resources.
The first thing to keep in mind when searching the web is to remember the age-old saying, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
There are fraudulent businesses operating online, trying to make a fast buck off of your lack of knowledge (and your eager pursuit to find a “fast and easy way”) and if you’re not careful they will guide you down the slippery slope of deception.
Don’t Believe In Hollywood Fairytales
In the past few years Hollywood media outlets have played a negative role in the portraying of today’s Executive protection specialists that have created popular misconceptions about both the EP industry and the job itself. Action packed movies where “bodyguards” are able to identify the threats and then immediately neutralize the bad guy with gun blazing deadly force is nothing more than a myth.
The true reality is that specific threats, both real and perceived by the client are in many cases difficult to fully pinpoint. In the real world, an Executive Protection Specialist has no legal right to actively “engage” a threat with either reasonable force or deadly force unless an attacker has made or attempted to attack the principal or the protection specialist and or team. [Read more…] about Don’t Believe In Hollywood Fairytales
My Favorite Things List
By Hucky Austin
Okay, so I kind of ripped off Oprah’s concept of her favorite things list, but Oprah was not talking about her favorite EP items so I think we are ok.
1. The Tactical Tailor – The Tactical Tailor was the brain child of Logan Coffey, who was killed in a tragic car accident in 2008. The Tactical Taylor has numerous products for individuals working in both the executive protection and high threat protection industries. For more information on their gear go to; http://www.tacticaltailor.com
2. 511 Tactical Clothing – I have to admit that I am a die hard fan of many of the items that 511 produce. The tactical clothing line, especially the covert dress shirts work extremely well when you need to be armed on a protection detail, the choice of colors reasonable prices and durability are one of the reasons I prefer to wear these clothing articles if I work a detail. You can find additional information on 511 Tactical clothing at; http://www.511tactical.com
3. Panasonic Tuff Book – Any individual who is going to get into the executive protection field MUST have a laptop computer of some kind. A laptop is essential when you are conducting and preparing mission briefs, going on line to do background checks and for use on advanced work. I have found that Panasonic makes a series of well built, rugged and durable laptops that you can take into the field without worrying about dust, dirt or banging the computer into a hotel wall. To find out more about this great tool go to; http://www.panasonic.com/business/Toughbook/toughbook-products.asp
4. Google Earth and Street View – Ok so know that you have your new Tuff Book you will need some software to help you with your movement and advanced work planning. Google Earth has both free software and also has a pay version ($400) that gives you additional tools not available with the free subscription. Along with Google earth there is now also Street View which is an awesome tool for helping you plan for advanced work, routes and selection and placement of personal and vehicles, you can find more on both of these excellent tools at; http://earth.google.com/ and http://maps.google.com/help/maps/streetview/ .
5. Brickhouse Wireless Camera Hunter – An important part of your job as an Executive Protection Specialist is to ensure that you also protect your client from embarrassment. One of the best tools on the market right now is a camera hunter that is able to find any hidden camera in a room. The system picks up frequencies that range from 900 MHZ to 2.52 GHz’s and is able to find a wide range of cameras including PAL/NTSC/CCIR and EIA. Take a look of this great piece of equipment; http://www.brickhousesecurity.com/dd9000.html