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