The Bodyguards Bible

The Definitive Guide to Close Protection

Bodyguard Training – Skills You Should Turn up on Your Course With


To become a professional bodyguard requires plenty of training, if you have never done anything like it before there really is a lot to learn. However it never ceases to amaze me how some people feel that as long as they have the money then the trainer can do the rest and turn them into a bodyguard. This is simply not true. Whilst I would be the first to admit that close protection is not “rocket science” you do need to turn up for training with some skills and attributes. This article discusses the skills and attributes which are essential if you wish to become a professional close protection officer. It goes without saying that you should be honest, punctual and have a mature outlook; however I will outline other essential skills and attributes below.

Good Communication skills

The close protection officer has to display excellent communication skills throughout. He needs to be able to speak not only to his principal but to other team members as well as officials. You must be a “people person” because a bodyguard will find himself dealing with people at all levels, from heads of security to hotel chambermaids. Without good communication skills you are unlikely to become a professional bodyguard, in fact you are unlikely to get past the first interview for your first job.

Common Sense

You will need copious amounts of common-sense. Close protection officers often have to “think on their feet” making decisions on their own, assessing situations and working out the appropriate action to take. Unfortunately you cannot be taught common sense, you either have it or you do not.

A Professional Attitude

Close protection officers needed to project a totally professional attitude throughout their working day. You must display this attitude from day one. Anything less than a professional attitude will not see you through your course, let alone a subsequent career.

Good Team Player

Close protection is a team sport, if you are not a team player you should reconsider your career choice. There is absolutely no room for individuals who cannot function well as part of a team. Teamwork is everything and if you do not function well within one then close protection is probably not for you.

Confidence

Whether you have it or not you must learn how to ooze it. Your principal needs to trust that you will do the right thing in an emergency. The confidence that you show on a day-to-day basis will go a long way to you earning the trust of your principal. Professional close protection officers that are not confident in everything they do will just not be taken seriously.

SIA Chief Quits

The chief executive of the government body which licenses Close protection Officers has resigned.
Mike Wilson, who was head of the Security Industry Authority, resigned after it emerged that some of its own agency staff had not been security cleared. That this could happen after they had already owned up to giving licences to more than 6,600 illegal immigrants. The official government position was that there were “some failings”. The Tories called the government “staggeringly complacent”. 38 temporary workers hired by the SIA had not received “appropriate security clearance.”

That this can happen is no real surprise to those that have to deal with the organisation. The SIA have missed the perfect opportunity to really make the industry professional, but in effect they have dumbed it down. Wheel clamper’s might now have to have special training before they can work, but bodyguards need only pass a simple tick test to become licensed.

All the industry needed was the ability to have quick and efficient criminal record checks before employment, but what we got was an organisation that made the Child Support agency seem efficient. Even though every security officer, doorman, and countless thousands pay them £250 every three years they are still losing money. I wonder how long the organisation will last in its present form.

10 Reasons Why You Are Not Getting That Bodyguard Job.

1. Poor Training
Are you are poorly trained? Did you choose the wrong bodyguard training company? Take care when choosing the company that you train with, some have better reputations than others. Speak to employers. Who would they prefer that you were trained by?

2. Your CV is Poor
Think about revisiting your CV, it should be designed solely to open doors of opportunity. It is not an application form and nor is it your autobiography. Focus not on what you have done, rather on what you can offer the employer now!

3. Employers don’t get past your covering letter
If your covering letter is poor, or non-existent, this will affect your ability to gain employment. The cover letter is the first thing that the recruiters see. It is your proxy introduction. The cover letter should never be a stock letter. Each one should be personalised to the recipient. Take a look at the letters you send out, what do they say about you?

4. You are speaking to the wrong people
You are sending your CV to the wrong companies or individuals. Do your due diligence. Are they recruiting? Are they even in the business? Do you fit the bill? I advertised for some staff quite recently, the advert stipulated that applicants must be able to speak French. Predictably I still got countless CVs from those who could not speak French. Some even started their covering letter with the words “I don’t speak French but…”

5. You are not following up
Once your CV is out, do not just sit there and wait for the call. Be pro-active and chase that work. Never send a CV out without following it up with a call, or at least an email to ensure that it was received. Whether they got your CV or not; try and get an interview. There is a fine line between persistence and pestering. Be consistent with your follow-ups but don’t do it so often that you become a pest. That will be counter-productive.

6.You only have basic training
If your CV shows that you are only trained in the basics, then do not waste time whilst unemployed. Use this down time wisely. Look for some complimentary training courses that might make you appear more of an attractive proposition to employer. Courses like surveillance, surveillance detection, fire-fighting or learning another language will greatly assist you in your search for employment.

7. You are not networking
You must put yourself about, let everyone know who you are and what you do, never miss an opportunity to hand out a business card. The more potential employers that know you, that know you are ready to work, the better.

8. You are too narrow-minded
It is rare that close protection officers are always working. Think about adding a string to your bow, such a surveillance or event security. You might scoff at the idea of doing these menial security tasks but they always afford a good opportunity to network. Try to think outside the box, who could you write to let them know that you are available for work? Who hasn’t seen a copy of your CV yet? Write direct to individuals such as industry leaders, the rich and famous or their managers. They can only say no or they might ignore you altogether, but what if they say yes!

9. There is no work
Close protection is a popular occupation and sometimes there just isn’t enough work to go around. Even the very best close protection officers can go without working sometimes. We all like too rest a bit between jobs but do not get used to big gaps between them. Be proactive and whenever possible start looking for new contracts before the last one finishes.

10. You’ve given Up
Plenty of people give up this career before they even start, close protection can be a difficult business to get into, especially in the early days of a new career. One thing is certain, those that are tenacious and determined to succeed are the ones that do. If this is the career you want, do not give up.

The Modern Bodyguard

Most people, if you asked them to describe a modern bodyguard will conjure up two of the archetypal stereotypes. The first of these might be some large gorilla/gangster-like character, with fat fingers festooned with heavy gold rings. An intimidating figure that speaks in words of one syllable, clearing people out of the path of his client with a grunt and an elbow rather than an “excuse me” and looking like he could not run twenty yards without stopping to catch breath. The second stereotype will probably be the American Secret Service type, large pair of sunglasses, a curly wire leading to an earpiece, and a hand inside a jacket ready to withdraw a machine pistol whilst talking into his sleeve.

Others have no idea what a modern bodyguard is or does. They assume that the security staff they see at music or boxing events are bodyguards. These people are not bodyguards; they may well be trained in crowd management functions and may work part-time as bouncers in bars and clubs, but they are not bodyguards. The reasons for people having these popular misconceptions are not hard to find. The heavies employed in advertising, exhibitions and soap style television are purposely easy to spot. Their already high profile is often over emphasised.

The man in the street sees real bodyguards working every day, if not in the flesh then on the television news. Seeing them is one thing but realising that they are security professionals is another. They are seen but not noticed because they strive to maintain a low profile. Not only do they look normal, their suit fits and their knuckles don’t drag along the ground! The reasons that these professionals can go unnoticed are that they devote a lot of their time into maintaining a low profile. Because they do not look like the public’s idea of a bodyguard this actually helps them as they go about their days work.

So, who are these modern bodyguards that we generally do not notice, and what makes them so special? The twenty-first century bodyguard is often found in a smart but neutrally toned business suit, presenting a discreet and subdued image to the outside world. He is a highly skilled and motivated individual, constantly assessing potential risks and weighing these against his skills and the measures he must take to minimise them. He is fit, not overweight, and an expert in first aid, fire fighting, defensive driving, weapon systems, unarmed combat and communication skills. He will be well trained in all of the skills and drills that he uses daily providing peace of mind and a safe environment for his principal.