Executive Protection Selection

by Héctor R. Torres, PhD, CPP, CFE, CHS

A fraternal greeting from Puerto Rico to all colleagues and readers of this column! It is a pleasure to share again with you.

In this edition we will talk a little more about executive protection. I have received a large number of emails from colleagues asking me for information on how they can become professionally certified in the field of executive protection. Specifically, I am asked about what skills should be included in an executive protection training curriculum and how to choose a good executive protection school. Before entering fully answering these questions we must first highlight a little the need for executive protection in a business organization.

The need for executive protection

Our world is changing vertiginously and therefore the security requirements in organizations. One of the security disciplines that is growing in importance due to the criminal wave and terrorism that occurs in many countries is that of executive protection. Due to the growing demand for executive protection, many organizations see the importance of having bodyguard teams for the protection of their senior executives and officials. By the nature of executive protection work, organizations must ensure that members of bodyguard teams are professionally trained and certified to carry out their duties.

Many practitioners of our profession make the mistake of thinking that because they have been police or military they are duly certified and prepared to assume the role of a bodyguard in an organization or business corporation.  The reality is that the experience of having belonged to the police forces or armed forces of a country does not adequately prepare a person to exercise the role of bodyguard in a civilian organization.

This is because the needs, approaches, methodology and legal framework in which military organizations operate are completely different from those of a business organization. The executive protection program of a business organization requires that bodyguards be trained and certified in a different way and taking into consideration the perspective, environment and image of the organization.

What skills should be included in an executive protection training?

There are many schools of executive protection but few actually teach the skills required for the role of a bodyguard in a business organization. To complicate the situation there are schools with different approaches and methodologies. The first approach is corporate or what is known as low-risk executive protection. This is seen primarily in the United States and Canada and emphasizes the role of the bodyguard more as a facilitator than in a person protecting a principal.

The second approach is medium-risk and is predominant in European countries. Schools that teach the medium-risk methodology focus more on protecting the executive by taking into consideration risks that range from criminal acts to acts of terrorism.

The third approach is high-risk and predominates in the Middle East. Schools that teach the high-risk methodology focus on protecting the executive taking into consideration that he is constantly in danger. Depending on the country where the executive resides or works, this approach would be good to use in countries where there is a regional conflict or war. The approach tends to require a large number of bodyguards, which is a great cost to an organization.

Analyzing these approaches from the point of view of a business organization, the need for the high-risk approach is not really necessary unless the executive is in a country where there is a regional conflict or war. The remaining approaches are more appropriate in the business world.

What should we take into consideration to select a good school of executive protection?

The first criterion that must be taken into consideration is the focus of the school or course. At a minimum, it should cover threat management including measures to prevent, escape and confront them. The second criterion has to do with who will teach the course. As the late Lucien Victor Ott, father of the modern methodology of bodyguards and founder of the International Association of Bodyguards, would say, you can't learn from anyone who doesn't have experience in the field.

Learning from an experienced bodyguard is a must as it takes several years of experience to develop these skills and even more to teach them. Finally, it must be discerned which skills will be indented during the course. There are six skills that modern bodyguards must possess: escort techniques (pedestrian and vehicular), armed and unarmed combat, search for explosive devices, communications and electronic surveillance, vehicular driving and paramedicine.

Of these skills, the most important is paramedicine, since it is worth mastering the other skills and not knowing how to rescue our principal from a heart attack.

In an era where there are so many "experts" in the field of executive protection, we have to be very careful about who we learn and who we work with. Credibility in our profession demands it. That is why it is important to learn from the true professionals of this discipline. It is sad to see how many security practitioners are cajoled with misleading advertisements from executive protection schools that do not teach the skills necessary to practice the profession of a professional bodyguard and can expose us to unnecessary litigation.

With a little time and study we can make a good investment in our continuing education and save ourselves the money from a bad investment. I invite you to continue to share your ideas and concerns from the world and security management. A hug and see you next time!!

If you wish you can write to the author of this article by email: [email protected]