| A bodyguard is a person who professionally protects | | | | A high degree of dedication to duty and cause is a |
| someone (known as their principal) from personal | | | | must for the successful executive protection |
| assault, kidnapping, assassination, loss of confidential | | | | specialist. The ability to perform under adverse and |
| information, or other threats. Alternative term for | | | | dangerous situations is mandatory. |
| bodyguard that is gaining popularity (particularly with | | | | The Protection Specialist must have the training and |
| the bodyguards themselves) is close-protection | | | | aptitude in which he can defend himself and his client |
| officer. Many professional training courses identify | | | | and have knowledge of disarming and defensive |
| themselves close-protection training instead of body | | | | techniques which would enable him to defend himself |
| guarding training, for example. | | | | and his client in both armed and unarmed situations |
| In multi-agent units (like those protecting a celebrity | | | | and at the same time be able to maintain control of a |
| or a head of state) one or more bodyguards may | | | | perpetrator until the proper authorities are notified |
| specialize in specific tasks, such as: | | | | and arrive. |
| · communications/communications protection | | | | As a Protection Specialist you will be required to |
| · operation of physical security measures | | | | complete many tasks and have many responsibilities. |
| (regarding premises, transport vehicles and personal | | | | The following list is a summation of some of the |
| armor) | | | | responsibilities you will have in the protection of your |
| · intelligence, threat/vulnerability/risk assessment | | | | client. |
| and analysis | | | | 1. Stay awake and aware or the changing |
| · explosives and chemical detection | | | | circumstances and plan ahead so you may avoid |
| · sniper warfare and special weapons | | | | problem areas. |
| · crowd screening and control | | | | 2. Pre-plan a course of action as you continually |
| This job is unlike other security watchman's jobs. The | | | | re-assess the situation. |
| important person, whose life you are guarding, totally | | | | 3. The hands of the persons near your client are |
| trusts you because the question of his or her life | | | | always the greatest threat and as such you should |
| depends entirely on you. Your alertness and integrity | | | | always watch their hands and plan defensive |
| and the sense of dedication must be of highest | | | | countermeasures. "If you can't see their hands |
| degree. Still, there are more traits of equal | | | | expect trouble". |
| importance, this job calls for. | | | | 4. If a close-in attack occurs then attack the weapon |
| 1. high degree of duty consciousness | | | | of the perpetrator and in doing so you may defeat |
| 2. fearlessness and courage to fight back | | | | the purpose of the attack. |
| 3. expertise in hand to hand combat technique and | | | | 5. Do not look directly at a suspicious person as this |
| firearms usage | | | | may result in the person attacking outside your zone |
| 4. strong eye for suspicious people and movements | | | | of control and enable the perpetrator to successfully |
| 5. unmindful of 9-5 type work hours | | | | carry out the attack. Use your peripheral vision to |
| Most Bodyguard Training courses are designed to | | | | keep the suspect in sight and you will not signal your |
| provide you with basic first aid training, self-defense | | | | scrutiny to the suspect. |
| techniques and sometimes weapons training. Although | | | | 6. When a potentially hazardous situation arises you |
| not all Bodyguard jobs require that you carry a | | | | should immediately escort your client from the scene |
| weapon, there are some Bodyguard jobs that do. A | | | | to a predetermined location of safety and stay in |
| person with Military training, or Martial arts training, is | | | | concealment until such danger has passed. |
| usually highly regarded in the Bodyguard industry, as | | | | 7. Don't engage in any Confrontation. If you do, how |
| their skills are often needed in certain Bodyguard | | | | can you know what is happening to your client during |
| positions. Although you are not likely to ever have to | | | | this time. The Protection Specialist should quickly |
| physically grapple with a person, there is the | | | | escort the client from the danger while another |
| possibility that it can occur, so knowledge of | | | | confronts the attacker. |
| self-defense techniques are important. | | | | 8.Be alert for covert diversions which may be a ploy |
| There are many situations in everyday society that | | | | to attack your client. (For instance: a loud commotion |
| require a Bodyguard. For example, many film and | | | | nearby.) |
| music stars often hire Bodyguards to protect them | | | | 9. When people want to see your client, |
| from the possibility of kidnapping, or from the | | | | double-check to ensure they are among those who |
| possibility of being attacked by a crazy fan. There | | | | have the right to access of the client. |
| are also less glamorous Bodyguard positions, such as | | | | 10. Protection Specialists should develop both a verbal |
| protecting a bank, shopping mall, or private properties | | | | and non-verbal method with which to maintain |
| at night. Often these Bodyguard positions require you | | | | communications with themselves and their client to |
| to be on your own, hence the need for self-defense | | | | relay information on the changing circumstances. |
| skills. | | | | 11. A plan of the scenario at hand should include |
| What are the necessary requirements to work as a | | | | multiple escape routes and options and should be |
| bodyguard? | | | | changed as necessary to stop potential perpetrators |
| Be in good Physical Condition; in that persons who | | | | from seeing a pattern of protection develop and |
| are excessively overweight, or who have respiratory | | | | locations that are repeated. |
| or heart problems or who have high blood pressure | | | | 12. Use of alternate routes to enter and leave a |
| or other physical problems which would keep them | | | | location should be random and change frequently. |
| from engaging in strenuous or physically challenging | | | | Alternate routes should be known to all members of |
| activities are not normally capable of performing the | | | | the Protection Specialist team and should provide for |
| job of an Protection Specialist. Vision should be easily | | | | non-emergency situations such as traffic problems as |
| correctable to 20/20. Although age requirements are | | | | well as emergency situations. |
| not specifically set the average is from 21 to 55. | | | | 13. The Protection Specialist should train the Client in |
| More important than the age of the bodyguard is | | | | basic survival techniques in a manner which shows |
| their physical condition, their training and experience. | | | | the necessity of such training and actions for the |
| The psychological makeup of the Protection Specialist | | | | survival of the client. |
| is also of prime importance. The candidate must be | | | | If you do possess the vital skills and psychological |
| mature and precise in his ability to quickly and | | | | requirements for this dangerous profession, an elite |
| correctly assess a situation and respond in the proper | | | | career position may be available to you as a |
| manner as dictated by the situation at hand. He | | | | Protection Specialist with all the benefits, glamour and |
| should not be overly aggressive, hostile or moody, | | | | challenges that this unique position entails. |
| nor should he be slow to respond or correctly adapt | | | | Freelance writer for over eleven years. |
| to quick changes in any given situation or emergency. | | | | |