Protective Services

[cowboy]

At the request of TheFallen I have written this up. Let me know what you think, as well as any questions/scenarios.

Ok I am writing this in word as it will be pretty long, and encompass a lot of information. I am not sure if the forums have a limit as to much how many characters you can put in one post but if this is to much I will place it in several posts. Also just as a disclaimer I have been shooting weapons for 16 years, and have been through extensive training in Protective Services. I am only publishing this as an educational guide, and make no promises that anything contained in here will save your life if put in a tactical position (although this information wouldn’t hurt you if you practiced the techniques). I will warn you now this may be a little hard to follow as I really need scenarios to kind of explain what to do, and there are so many scenarios I don’t know which ones to pick. If you have any please feel free to post them and I will respond with tactics and techniques.

Protective Services Tactics

There are four different main types of duties you might expect to be assigned to, and the tactics you use to perform your job can change depending on which one you are doing. These will be discussed after a small list of recommended trainings (all of which I have been through).

Recommended Trainings:

Krav Maga Self Defense Training
Blackwater Lodge Trainings as Follows:
Basic Pistol
Advanced Skills Handgun Course
Tactical Pistol 1
Tactical Pistol 2
Basic Shotgun
Advanced Highway Safety Driver Training
Executive Protection
Advanced Executive Protection
High Risk Security Operations
Three-Day Pistol/Two-Day Carbine
CQD Protective Specialist Level 1&2 Readiness Certification
Blackwater Personal Protection Specialist
Bushmaster Carbine Operator Course
Now anyone who thinks I am joking trust me I am not. I graduated high school at 17, and used my college fund to pay for the training. I have been a bodyguard for 2 years now and I have enjoyed every minute of it. I am not gunna say it’s the greatest job out there, but it can be fun. Now there are unarmed bodyguards, but I am always armed, and wearing a IIIA vest with ballistic plates. Called me a paranoid bastard if you want, but if I get shot I want to be able to brag about it! Ok sorry bout the rant. Here we go….


The four main types of Personal Protection are Close Contact, Armored Transport, Perimeter Security, and High Profile Appearances. The most common are Close Contact, and Perimeter with the clients I work with, but the company I work for does all four, so I could possibly have to do them, and because of that have been trained in them. In the following paragraphs I will out line the suggested attire/armament and tactics/precautions that are routinely used in protective situations.

Close Contact:

This is what most people think of when they think of a bodyguard. This detail is where you follow them everywhere they go. There are a lot of people who do have a 6 man rotating protective detail, but that is rare, most people just have someone who is with them anytime they are out of their house. The best attire is usually a business suit, with out without a suit vest (always a body armor vest) depending on your client. Sometime I have to wear khakis that have cargo pockets (I will explain that one later) and a polo shirt for the CEO that is in town and wants to play golf or some other activity that you wearing a suit would look odd. I personally carry a 1911A1 that I have heavily modified, just for my own preferences. Most bodyguards carry a Glock 21 which holds 15+1 .45 rounds, where as I only have 8+1. The thing is I spend at least 8 hours at the range every week, and use Ballistic HP rounds. I know I don’t need to but I want to be at the top of my game at all times, and I would recommend everyone to do the same if your line of work consists of someone else entrusting their life to you. Anyways the point is if you shoot the way you should if you even HAVE a gun 8+1 is perfect unless there are more than 9 guys, but hey that’s what extra magazines are for. Now the thing about close contact is that you have to be always watching everything around you. One of the best habits you can develop is when you walk in a room, or building you notice the fastest and safest route to escape, and multiple ones if possible depending on the layout of the building. Just going to the range is pointless unless you know how to draw your gun from its holster. Also you need to practice drawing it while pushing your client to the ground, without causing them harm, and being able to “put the bullet to the target” in a point and shoot mode of firing. The best tactic in the event someone is running towards you and your client with a knife or some other hand weapon, is to try and flip them, and if they do not comply try joint locks, or worst case shoot them in the leg while they are running at you if you have a clear shot. If they have a gun in their hand, they are posing a threat to your client, and I personally put 3-center mass, and 1 in the forehead, if I know there is only 1 threat. You always have to give a verbal warning but the delay between that and the first shot by law only has to be 1 second. By the time I give them the first warning my client is on the ground and I have a strong shot ready on the threat.


Armored Transport:

This consists of “Babysitting” a large transfer of cash (like Swiss banks), Jewels being transferred, or any other “valuable”, and very very seldom a person. Whatever you are transporting it is usually not in an armored truck. Most of the time they are transported by armored SUV’s that look normal except for tinted windows. You have a four man team in the SUV, and depending on how high scale either one or two sedans with a four man team each. Standard gear is casual clothes, with personal sidearm (again cargo pockets) and usually 12g rifled shotguns, or M14 Carbine, again depending on the cargo. If it is a person the sedans usually swap out about 3 times during the trip so that they are not obviously following one another. The SUV’s can take an indirect RPG or a direct grenade attack, as well as repetitive machinegun fire, and keep going. You must be able to drive under great duress to be able to become driver, and I will admit I don’t like doing it, I get too paranoid. The thing about armored transport is there is A LOT of planning involved. You have to plan out your initial route, and then you have to study the road leading away from that route incase anything were to happen.



Perimeter Security:

This one is pretty much self-explanatory. It is used with a VIP in an unsecured building, and things such as a VIP arrival into town, or even a foreign diplomat in town, as all areas around them must be secured at all times. Perimeter Security is most of the time covert. What I mean by that is your not supposed to look like you are securing the area. This is achieved several ways. Most of the time agents sit in cars around the building the client is in, and depending on who it is sometimes there are agents with rifles on building tops. It’s not like what you see in the movies, as if you see them on the building top, they have failed in their jobs. There are exceptions when you need to be seen when working Perimeter security and that consists of a bunch of agents in black suits, patrolling. Now as far as what you are carrying that depends on the situation, but most of the time it consists of just a sidearm, with backup weapons in your vehicle if you are positioned in one. This position is usually the most boring, and tests your endurance, as you just sit and watch for anything out of the ordinary.




High Profile Appearances:

This type of protection is one of the most extensive, complicated, and risky. This type of situation doesn’t come up very often, but again it is possible that it could happen. There is about 2-3 weeks of recon and planning when it comes to high profiles appearances. Examples of this would be if their was going to be a celebrity, or high profile politician going to an event, or performing a speech. When they tell you the site of the appearance, you start by scouting out the area, looking for possible weaknesses in security, possible breech points, and possible high angle (sniper) positions. After you have indetified all the possible breech points you take steps to secure them, and then set up all the details of the protection detail. Most of the time this type of protection will incorporate the other three types of protection, as the client would need armored transport, close contact, and perimeter. Since I have started we have not had any client whom has needed this type of protection, but we do train, and prepare for it. Once the site has been scouted it is secured until the client arrives. There are usually 2 transports standing by incase one is disabled or blocked, and the paths to both transports are always secured by agents.

Armament:

I have mentioned that I carry a 1911A1 and that most of the people I work with carry a Glock 21, and I have also explained why. Now I have also mention Khakis with cargo pockets and this is why I choose to wear those when a suit is not dictated. There is a tactical holster system that is designed to fit inside cargo pockets, and the gun and holster are inside the pocket, but it is still connected to my leg. In the opposite pocket (n the other leg) is 2 extra magazines. Most bodyguards do not carry a back up weapon but I choose to. It may not be much, but it is like a condom: I would rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. I carry an H&R .22LR 9-shot revolver with 1 speed loader on my ankle. Now during the assignment, which warrants carrying a rifle, we are issued M14 Carbines, or if it is for high angle work, we are issued a Remington model 700 in 7mm caliber. When doing armored transport you generally want a shotgun, as if someone poses a threat they are usually are close by, and a shotgun is perfect. My company uses Benelli M4LE Which is a semi auto 12g with the collapsible stock, and pistol grip. Depend on the situation determines whether it is loaded with slugs or 00BS.


Well I know this is just skimming the surface, but again I would need a scenario to be able to tell you what the reaction/planning would be, as it differs greatly from situation to situation. I hope you have enjoyed this, and feel free to ask any questions you have.

[TheFallen]

Thank you very much Cowboy!!! I loved that!!! *is saving for further reference*

Also, any tips/ recommendations for someone interested, paths, what you need to be aware of, the high and low points of your job? But this, wow, I wasn't expecting something this good.

[Carternator]

Yes i have to admitt, this was a great read!, i have always been interested in this line of work since a young age.
Obviously the whole situation would be different in the UK in this line of work, but i imagine it is more or less the same principals involved.
Like TheFallen said, it would be great if you could point people in the right direction, and give some more details of your line of work!
Once again this is a great post, and i think it was very easy to understand and grasp!
Also do you know of how this line of work is but into practice in the UK and the differences? as like said above this topic i have been interested for many years!
Thanks very much, any response is appriciated!
Well Done!

[cowboy]

Ok guys sorry it has taken me so long to reply, but I did do some investigating into some of the topics that were brought up. I have never worked in the UK, so I had to do some investigating through some people I know, and some books I own. I am going to break this down into each question asked so I make sure I get all of them.

@TheFallen:
Tips/Recommendations
I would recommend spending at least 4 years in the military, as 90% of the worlds highest paid bodyguards are ex military. Now my dad was a cop, and I have been hunting for 14 years, and I mean bow hunting. If you have ever been bow hunting you know what it is like to be a bodyguard. I am talking about true bow hunting where you wait in one place on the ground, not in a tree stand, and you have to be aware of everything around you at once. When you are protecting someone you have to pay attention to everything at once. For instance if you see someone’s hand go into their jacket you watch them closely but at the same time, keeping an eye out all around you. I know I harped on being a good shot before but that can make you or break you. Some clients want to know your qualifying scores, and if they are not in the top, then they may not choose you.

High/Low Points
The high points would be when the client is a very very hot woman (I am glad my wife won’t read this), when it is an easy transport, just knowing the fact that if I do my job correctly, my client will go home to their family, and I will go home to mine. Low Points would be wearing a full suit, with my 1911, 2 extra magazines, MP5 under my right arm, and a IIIA vest with 6 ballistic plates (I have a triangle on the front and back), and some clients are stuck up, snobby, and are way to needy. I would say it evens itself out, and sometimes it just feels good to be done with a job. No matter how pissed you are that day, or how tired, you have to do your job, because if you don’t someone could possibly die.

Paths
As far as paths, the training you get doing this would look good on an application for the US. Secret Service (Mi5 for the people in the UK), or even become the bodyguard for some CEO of a huge company and hop around the world with them. A solid understanding of the Criminal Justice system doesn’t hurt, but again you can receive the training you need from several reputable training academies.

As far as working in the UK this is the only restriction: it is illegal to work in the Close Protection field without a Close Protection license issued by the Security Industry Authority. This currently applies to England & Wales only.

My experiences have mostly been Close Contact, and Armored Transport. I have only logged 12 transports I have almost more hours in close contact than most of the people that work with me. I am young so I don’t look like a bodyguard and my qualifying scores are high, and as I said before that looks good on your dossier (internal personnel file). The following paragraph will explain a little more in detail Close Contact and hopefully answer any lingering questions.

Now first off I will dispel some myths about Close Contact Duties. You do not flash your gun to get someone to follow your way; this is why you MUST be trained in martial arts (I would suggest Krav Maga). You also do not talk into your wrist. Yes the Secret Service does this, but not many other people. If you are on any sort of multi person duty you have a radio, and depending on the situation you may have one of those funny ear plugs sticking out. If we do use mics they are either throat mics for tactical duties, or collar mics for business attire. Sometimes when a client has a Full Detail, they even have agents assigned to do surveillance on places that the client is known to go to. This is more for High Profile Appearances, but can apply to some Close Contacts. The highest profile person I have ever had the pleasure of guarding was an Arabian prince that owned a hotel in Dallas, and came to see it. I cannot say who but I can tell you that he hade more guards than anyone I had ever seen. I was part of the 4-man Tactical group in the SUV in front of them. That was the most intense detail I have ever done. It all went perfectly, but there was so much planning and precautions that went into him being in town for only a week, but we all got extra pay as we were expecting something to happen.

[Carternator]

Yes i have read up abit about the subjects, i understand about the SIA License and needing to do a minimum amount of training, and also needing first aid in order to get this license is that correct?
Obviously all background checks need to be taken out on crominal records and such.
I have looked at many different training company's and i am looking into applying once i am 18.
I have also been looking into different kinds of Firearm training, which are based in the UK, but are actually carried out in Switzerland. Will it help if i get other forms of training such as transport security ETC, will this look good, as well as the firearms training.
The courses i have looked at are very reasonable, price wise. And i think i would also enjoy them fully, as its not often people in the UK people will get to handle firearms, such as MP5's, Glock's ETC legally.
Also would it be better to go self-employed or work with a agency that specializes in this kind of thing? i.e. Close protection Detail, Transport Security, Personal Security ETC.

As always any response is greatly appriciated!
Thanks.

[cowboy]

Sorry it has taken me so long to reply. I have been working about 80-90 hours a week for the last few months, and also changed companies. I posted a new post in another thread with a picture of what I look like when I go to work.... Anywho to answer the questions:



@ Carternator

Yes you do have to have First Aid Training, but it is not that bad, and it wouldn't hurt EVERYONE to have that training IMHO. Any sort of training you can possibly get on any subject that may come up in the course of your duties always helps. I am constantly looking at different training facilities to see if there are new classes, or any sort of subjects that I could use training on. This kind of job requires you to be updated on all the newest policies, and procedures at all times. As far as working for yourself or for a company, I would work for a company for at least 5-15 years just so you can show that you know what your doing. If anyone has any other questions feel free to ask, as I will be on here alot more now that I am not traveling except to train.