Bodyguard - Executive Protection

 

What a Bodyguard Does

 

Unlike the movies, most of the work performed by a bodyguard is not all that glamorous. The majority of time spent on the job, by a personal protection specialist, is very routine and calculating work that is more of an intellectual thought process than a physical activity. Yet, a bodyguard should be in top physical condition.

 

In reference to applying defensive or fighting skills on the job, the reality is, they are seldom used. But you must be ready to turn it on at the drop of a hat; at all times. Potential threats are a reality and you must be prepared to cover, protect, and evacuate your principle. Part of the team should also be ready to initiate a strong decisive response.

 

The whole routine of defending a principle is more like a chess game where you attempt to think several moves ahead of the opponent. At the same time you must be mentally prepared for unexpected violence and sudden ambush style attacks. The mindset of being prepared to react to danger is one that you can learn and integrate into defending both yourself and your family.

 

Surveillance, counter surveillance, perimeter protection, identifying potential threats, field first aid, scheduling and planning, along with hand to hand combat and firearms skills are a few of the skills needed for a bodyguard. These are also skills that would be extremely useful for you to learn.

 

When working as a bodyguard, I often worried more about legal issues and potential civil liability than getting injured. Legal complications in a self defense scenario can be extremely negative reality. Be sure lethal force is justified.

 

Gun fighting is not necessarily the most important skill a bodyguard needs to learn. Using your intellect to prevent the opportunity for someone to commit a violent act against your principle is infinitely more important than shooting skills. In other words use your brain, not your brawn. Employing a weapon is a rash and last resort effort.

 

Regarding defensive skill sets, a civilian can be quit effective. I have taught H2H combat and firearms instruction to LE and military personnel. The average LEO is not very proficient in either H2H combatives or combat shooting. On the other hand some of the best shooters in the world are LEOs. The skill levels run the gamut from poor to the best.

 

True professional LEOs will take additional courses in H2H and shooting of their own accord. And they will practice on a continual basis. Unfortunately many do not take courses beyond the minimum needed to qualify. They simply collect a check and hope they never encounter a threat while on duty. As a civilian, if you train, you should be able to do an effective job of defending yourself. If you learn my system, your level of skill could be higher than those LEOs who don't take the time to keep improving.

 

Remember, intelligence, not brute force or muscle, is vital to being successful. You also need to develop a step by step check list of SOPs. If you are forced into a situation where you must fire a gun, it is often the result of either poor planning or you were facing a well thought out persistent person or group of criminals intent on doing harm. Random acts can usually be prevented more easily than a planned execution. As a civilian, keep in mind that there are determined criminals who plan home invasions, plan murders, plan rapes, and other atrocities. Your diligence, awareness, and preparation will thwart their plans.

 

Part of a bodyguard's job is risk analysis and assessment to determine the likelihood of a threat ensuing. This also includes planning and foreseeing a threat on an on going basis. As the defender of your family, you should do the same.

 

 

 

Secret Service

 

The Secret Service is among the best in the world when it comes to personal protection.

 

They have massive budgets and a level of manpower that seems almost unlimited. Even with all their resources there are potential threats that they may not be able to stop.

 

As a bodyguard, you will always feel under budgeted. You will also be concerned with the unlimited ways that you are vulnerable. To a high degree, if someone wants to get you bad enough, they will eventually get you.

 

The better you plan, the more manpower you have, the better overall security you have in place, will all make your principle a harder and safer target, and an attack less likely to happen. Proper planning is not a game of reacting to a threat in progress. Reacting to a violent attack is the final and last resort; something you plan on preventing.

 

As a home owner and family, you will have a limited budget to spend on home security and personal defense. Fortunately, your risk exposure is probably not as high as a celebrity, a CEO, or a high ranking politician. With a small budget and an adequate amount of training you can make your home and family safe and secure.

 

It Is Not About The Money

 

For me, being a bodyguard was never about money. I always sought out interesting and adventurous opportunities. I also love the challenge of out thinking an opponent. For some bodyguards it might be about money, but there are safer and easier ways to make a buck.

 

Even as a bodyguard I had what I call a "sheepdog mentality"  sheepdog

 

My First Bodyguard Job

 

When my cousin worked his way into the graces of the Chicago mob, he introduced me to their top bodyguard Tony. Tony and I clicked and hung out together chasing women, having drinks, and what I thought at the time was fun. It was a wild time that was guaranteed to lead to disaster.

 

The Chicago mob at that time was about 95% legitimate and had a lot of money. They had government contracts and owned all types of investments in sports and even large industrial complexes, including property and buildings. The mob was extremely well invested and diversified. Yet they still hung on to some of their illegal activities. My new job was to work with Tony to protect the bosses, and to pay visits to people who were not in the good graces of the outfit.

 

This job opened my eyes to what is truly evil. I began to realize that it was not who I was or what I wanted. After a short while, my conscious started to bother me, and I questioned whether there was another way. I simply wanted out.

 

Start of a New Life

 

After trying to turn a new leaf, I met my wife Susan, my friend Jay, and my Hapkido Master. They all helped me become a new creature. In time, I was saved by grace.

 

I eventually went to college and got a degree in Accounting, passed the CPA exam and became a CPA and a CFP. But I was bored. Being a bean counter or a financial planner was not terribly exciting, so I opened several martial art schools and taught self defense.

 

One of my students was a firearm instructor for all the police departments in the region. We traded skills. He taught me combat weapon tactics. I taught him martial arts.

 

Most of my students were black belts in other styles, bouncers, repossession experts, bounty hunters, law enforcement officers, and bodyguards. I seemed to attract a pretty rough group of students.

 

A couple of my students were bodyguards and operated their own business. They invited me to go with them on a few assignments. It was very interesting, exciting, and a new challenge. I learned everything they taught and expanded on what Tony had taught me. I was now an official legitimate bodyguard.

 

Moving to Palm Beach County Florida

 

Eventually, I moved to Palm Beach, Florida and lived on the island among the super wealthy. In a short period of time, I was able to get into the Palm Beach lifestyle and the upper echelon social circles. On the island is where I met people who helped me get established with wealthy clients. I was now the legitimate bodyguard for several of the islanders. With my experience and background, I was able to handle unusual circumstances that my clients faced.

 

On numerous occasions I hired other bodyguards. Often I would hire people to act as window lickers and trunk monkeys. I would also hire a few totally untrained individuals. I looked for the biggest guys I could find only to project an image of strength and to discourage any aggressive actions.

 

In your journey towards towards learning self defense skills, keep in mind that often the appearance of strength and power can be enough to dissuade an attack. Carry yourself with authority and confidence. Never have fear or show it, and be willing to take action. A demented criminal thug is no match for a well prepared individual. Make a commitment to learning the skills you need to defend yourself and your family.

 

(At some point in the future, I hope to write a book and create a DVD highlighting the many experiences of my life.)