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Looking Good, Feeling Good and Fighting Good

Bruce Alexander, Featured Articles

By Bruce Alexander

A few random thoughts about Executive Protection issues were swirling around in my mind this weekend and I thought I’d share them with you. Perhaps random isn’t the right word because at least one of these thoughts is a pet peeve, and the other two are concerns. I’ve titled these three thoughts as: looking good, feeling good and fighting good.

First, looking good. I cringe when I see Executive Protection professionals dressed like they are auditioning for “American Idol.” I don’t have anything against “American Idol” but then again I don’t have anything for it. It’s not my kinda show. I’m not a “fashionista” either but I believe that Executive Protection professionals should exhibit a professional appearance while on a mission.

That doesn’t mean you should out dress your principal but you shouldn’t embarrass him or her either. Attire should be appropriate for the occasion but in every instance, conservative. I also think that personal grooming falls into this category as well. What you wear off duty is your own business but I don’t think earrings on men are appropriate for an Executive Protection specialist regardless whether your principal is an entertainment celebrity or not.

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Going To The Ground: Executive Protection Considerations For Ground Fighting

Bruce Alexander

By Bruce Alexander

Richard Nance’s article From the Mat to the Street: Realistic takedown defense at Officer.com and started thinking about how to apply Rich’s points from the Executive Protection perspective. It’s pretty clear that being on the ground is not where you want to be but you need to accept the fact that you are most likely to end of there at some point in time. However, Rich’s article got me to thinking about whether there was a time when you want to go to the ground despite the inherent dangers. I came to the conclusion that there’s at least two times I can think of in Executive Protection when going to the ground makes sense.

The first instance I can think of when going to the ground is the right response is when you are responding to an Attack on Principal (AOP) and you are arm’s reach from the threat. Quick (and simplified) review here.It the most basic form, the proper response to an AOP is sound off, cover and evacuate. However, let’s assume for the purposes of this explanation that you are arm’s reach to the threat as one of the agents in the protective formation. In this case, you’ve got to engage the threat. Since action is faster than reaction, at this point you are already behind the power curve so what to do? In a situation like this, your options start to narrow very quickly. Therefore since time is of the essence, you move to a situation of neutralizing by containing which can best be accomplished by taking the subject to the ground without any further delay. Taking the subject to the ground at this point reduces his/her ability to present a threat. It doesn’t eliminate the threat entirely but for the very same reasons we don’t want to be on the ground, it places the adversary in a situation of limited mobility, limited options and distracts from their initial intent. Simply put, your objective is two-fold. You want to neutralize the threat while creating sufficient time to evacuate the principal. Taking the subject to the ground answers both of these requirements.

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Cell Phone Spotter Useful in Executive Protection

Bruce Alexander

By Bruce Alexander

Danger Room, one of my favorite blogs, has a piece out entitled “Army Wants Cell-Spotter,” that I thought I would share since this has an application for Executive Protection. According to Danger Room, the Army is looking for technology to detect “communications transceivers or components” typically found in cell phones. The purpose is to locate cell phones ostensibly in an unauthorized area (unauthorized being open to interpretation) for reasons of Operational Security (OPSEC). They didn’t mention it, but I assume the system has to be “soldier proof.”

If the Army ever successfully fields such technology I see a definite application for Executive Protection since we have similar OPSEC requirements although we might call it something else. Ensuring confidential meetings stay confidential or safeguarding the privacy of our principal falls within the scope of Executive Protection. This technology would go a long way towards mitigating the threat to OPSEC from cell phones.

Buddyguards: A Dangerous and Growing Trend

Brandon J Delcamp, Featured Articles, Featured Bloggers

By Brandon J Delcamp

As the sales and marketing director for Executive Security International I have had a number of conversations with protective agents working in the industry that have little or no formal training.  They are filling the roles of close protection agents for celebrities, ministries, music artists and for the most part are getting by, but the, “what if” factor is frightening to say the least.

I queried one of these agents concerning the application of an “advance” his reply. . . . “An ad-what?”
Initially I was shocked, but after some consideration I realized that the people doing the hiring are not always educated as to what skill sets a protective agent should possess.  When hiring someone to protect them they rely on superficial skill sets.

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Client and Bodyguard Categories

Doc Rogers

By Doc Rogers

The following article is submitted humorously, but with a slight serious edge to it. Don’t take it too seriously and enjoy the article, on the light side.

The bodyguard must be highly sophisticated with good etiquette and have the ability to blend in with the client’s environment such as the celebrity scene, the corporate boardroom or the golf course. The following are the types of client categories you may come across in your career and the various types of bodyguard categories often hired by the clients and encountered on the job.

High-Risk Types

High risk clients (not including clients in war-zones) have numerous enemies. Celebrities and high-profile professional athletes sometimes fall under this client category.  They typically hire bodyguards with more brawn than brains, to keep fanatical admirers at arm’s length and set up security zones for crowd control. These bodyguards generally aren’t real smart, but they can react with considerable muscle, which can create millions of dollars in lawsuits and liability judgments for their clients. If you fall into this type of category of bodyguard, don’t embarrass us, smarten up and get some training.

Medium-Risk Type

Moderate risk clients have modest amount of enemies. CEOs and senior corporate executives fall under the medium-risk, medium-profile category clients. They may have made enemies from being on the cover of TIME or PC Magazine. Some may be at moderate risk of kidnapping, robbery, or even murder from criminals or obsessive followers. The bodyguards they hire are smart and can out think the average bodyguard. However, some executive bodyguards lack certain street smarts and toughness. If you fall into this type of category of bodyguard, bulk-up by hitting the weight pile, take up a sport where you bleed a lot, such as boxing, mixed martial arts or bull riding and raise your street IQ.

Low-Risk Type

Low risk clients have small amount of enemies. Low risk clients can range from anonymous millionaires who don’t look or act the part, to low-profile politicians or retired CEOs or senior executives with little enemies or troubles and who stay out of the limelight.  This is the most difficult assignment level there is. Sure you’ll spend your time keeping your clients “safe” at clubhouses, swimming pools, health clubs and members’ only cigar clubs, lounges and wine bars. The point is, don’t lose your focus, act cordial, be professional and you will be treated with respect. Facilitate the confidence and trust of your client by watching his or her back; looking and acting the part of a bodyguard. If you fall into this type of category of bodyguard; step up your game and do not become complacent on low risk assignments. Get out of your comfort zone and start doing some real bodyguard work.

In conclusion, this article was submitted humorously and for a laugh, readers should not be offended by the comedy. Sometimes we need to lighten up; become less serious and more cheerful, unless of course career improvements should be made, then you should get busy. Keep safe and God speed.

How to Manage Threats Against Your Clients

Doc Rogers

By Doc Rogers

As bodyguards we are hired to protect our clients from indirect and direct threats, it takes knowledge, preparation and planning.  What follows is a summary of activities you are likely to perform when your client receives a direct threat against his or her life, with a appropriate approach to each to address direct threat challenges such as; aggressive individuals, disgruntled ex-employees, clients, mentally deranged persons or even ex-lovers.

The direct threat factors to your client could come in a variety of ways:

•    Direct confrontation.

•    Telephone threat.

•    Letter, email or other method.

•    Keep all evidence to turn over to the police (correspondence, telephone records or recordings, etc).

The individual who has threatened or continues to threaten your client may have had some trigger point to cause him or her to take such action. At this stage you are trying to establish the motive of the threats, the trigger points may include:

•    Being fired from a job or recent employment trouble.

•    Real or imaginary injustice.

•    Breakup in a personal/intimate relationship.

•    Money issues, etc.

•    Remember; your client has no weak enemies.

Upon being hired by the client it is imperative that we quickly orient ourselves to the threat against the client and swiftly start prioritizing security arrangements to prevent physical harm, we need to move and make our protective services happen to avoid potential bloodshed.

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