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The DBT and Its Role in Protection
By Rick Colliver
In my capacity as both a “consumer” of protection services and as a member of several associations seeking to standardize and professionalize the protection industry, I spend my spare time talking to other security professionals, attending conferences and surfing the internet for protection training programs; all in an effort to identify the competent professionals in this business.
By now, most of us agree that protection is a unique career field that we can’t learn about in college, in the police academy, or by watching re-runs of our favorite crime drama. Depending on where we envision our careers going, we should embark on a never-ending pursuit of training and refinement, hopefully from competent and capable instructors. But, how do we find them?
I have often been disheartened when I have been told by school operators (or worse yet, they advertise this on their websites) that “we don’t waste time on theory…we get people out doing the hands-on stuff”.
Are you kidding me? Do you really consider protection theory a “waste of time”? What is it about the protection profession that would make us different from any other profession out there, where we feel comfortable diving into specific techniques without understanding why we’re performing them?
Would you want someone taking your tonsils out after only having watched it done a couple of times by another doctor? Or would you rather your surgeon had several years of graduate level anatomy and physiology supporting their knowledge of “where to cut”?
Oprah Winfrey’s Bodyguards
IN THE NEWS – In what’s already been a rough week image wise for the bodyguard industry, Britney Spears ex-bodyguard breaches client confidentiality, and then Madonna’s ex-bodyguard jailed for smuggling guns into the UK.
Now it seems that three of Oprah Winfrey’s bodyguards were detained by Indian police after a scuffle with local TV journalists.
The incident occurred while the internationally acclaimed TV host was shooting for her show ‘Next Chapter’ while visiting the Hindu pilgrimage town of Mathura, about 90 miles south of Delhi, Indian police briefly detained three of Oprah’s bodyguards after they scuffled with local TV journalists. No one was reported hurt.
The three bodyguards were released after apologizing in a letter to the journalists.
Today, she visited the Taj Mahal and on Friday, she plans to attend the Jaipur Literature Festival, reports AP.
Britney Spears ex-bodyguard
Usually when you see the word ex in front of bodyguard it’s a negative story. Well this one is no exception; Britney Spears ex-bodyguard Fernando Flores becomes the latest bodyguard to consider writing a tell-all book about his former client. Like many other bodyguards who have decided to go down this dark road of no return, Flores decides to empty the Spears laundry bag on the table of public opinion for all to see. I won’t deny that there may be a lucrative payday in front of him. But without a doubt, his inconsideration for the EP business will cast a negative impact on the industry as a whole, and will surely prevent him from ever working as a protective agent on this scale again. To read the full article click on the following link: http://www.nme.com/news/britney-spears/61496
Security secrets left on train
In the News: Security Secrets Left On Train
Top secret security documents detailing plans for policing this summer’s London Olympics was left on a train. The file, which could have provided terrorists planning an attack with very useful data, was lost by a policeman.
A commuter found it and handed it to The Sun, who returned the file to the police, the newspaper reported Tuesday. The chief inspector in Scotland Yard’s Territorial Policing branch is said to be “hugely embarrassed” by the potentially serious blunder.
“Restricted” files spell out the security plans in place at the sites of events and provide minutes of top-level meetings in which ways to beat terrorists were discussed. The document contains dates and details of pre-Olympics rehearsals, explains emergency lockdown procedures and sets out plans to avoid traffic congestion. It also reports at length on damning complaints from officers about the radios they will use during the Olympics.
The documents were found by a commuter on a train in Dartford in Kent, southeastern England, on Jan. 5. “I couldn’t believe any policeman could have left this on a train. It’s a worry,” the unnamed commuter said.
London’s Metropolitan Police played down the incident, saying the files were not thought to be operationally sensitive. A spokeswoman said, “An officer lost his bag containing a number of documents. He reported the loss. The Directorate of Professional Standards have been informed, as is routine.”
The Bodyguard Job Hunter’s Checklist
Bodyguard job hunting is a job in itself, and there are many ways of going about it. Job agencies, sending out resumes and posting ads are the traditional ways to get a BG and they still work. However, there are more ways to hunt for a bodyguard job. Use the bodyguard job hunter’s checklist below for your assistance.
1. Direct approach; knocking on the door of the corporation you are interested in working for and dropping off your resume personally. This may be done whether they have posted an bodyguard job opening or not. This is called “cold calling” contacting the corporate bodyguard department or executive protection unit directly to find out if they foresee any upcoming vacancies.
2. Most bodyguard jobs are not advertised; for this reason it is a good idea to send your resume out to corporations at random. There are always hidden BG jobs waiting to be discovered out there.
3. The old standby networking; however I believe it should be done with a new twist. Don’t ask everyone you meet you are looking for a job, first develop a relationship with that persons, let them know what resources and expertise you bring to the table. How you can help them, and not how they can help you. The more people you develop a relationship and know what you bring to the table the more opportunities you will have.
4. Target overseas companies; don’t be afraid to send your resume to overseas corporations if you are not having any luck locally. Make a list of overseas companies in the areas of operation that you would like to work. Call these overseas companies directly to see if they have any bodyguard job openings.
5. Meet directly with bodyguards; put on some professional attire and meet up with bodyguards that you have met on the social networks (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc). Again, tell them how you can assist them with their operations locally and overseas. Don’t ask for a job, build a friendship, but do bring your resume for his or her review and for verification of your bodyguard training and experience so they know you are a legitimate professional.
6. Look for temporary bodyguard employment; these type of jobs can be found at boxing, mix martial arts (MMA) events, concerts and cultural entertainment and beauty pageants, anywhere there is a need for bodyguards due to local or international stars, celebrities, VIP’s and famous individuals being in attendance. Obtaining a temporary bodyguard job at one of these events, get your foot in the door, you may be called upon for future work or it can lead to permanent bodyguard position.
I hope this has been of assistance and I wish you all Good Luck on your bodyguard job hunt. Keep safe and God speed.
http://www.trafford.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?Book=182707
http://www.amazon.com/Corporate-Executive-Protection-Inspiring-Bodyguards/dp/1425135927
http://international-corporate-executive-protection.com/order.asp