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Executive Protection Training New War Zone Bodyguard Protection Close Protection Training Tips

By Dr Mark Yates

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 04Dec2009 Word count: 1478 Viewed: 1244 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

During the current recession many bodyguards employed in the executive protection jobs sector are looking to make the transition into providing bodyguard protection in one or more of the war zone regions.

Every professional close protection officer knows that conventional close protection training and/or bodyguard training can never prepare you for war zone executive protection services. This is only for a serious executive protection specialist.

Given there are tens of thousands of new executive protection training recruits graduating from close protection training programmes in just about most countries every year, it is wise to carefully evaluate your long term bodyguard training goals.

It's no secret that although the executive protection services industry is a huge growth sector of the security industry, there are far too many bodyguards chasing the high end, highly paid executive protection jobs.

One of the less crowded areas of bodyguard protection is that of war zone protective service operations. The main reason for this is, that few of the bodyguard and close protection training academies know how to train a close protection officer to survive and thrive in a war zone hostile environment.

Security experts and close protection specialists find it quite amusing when reading Resume or Curriculum Vitae from conventionally trained bodyguards claiming to be an executive protection specialist, even though they have never serviced a fee paying VIP client in anything higher than a low to medium risk contract.

One thing is certain, and that is any close protection officer with only basic close protection training entering executive protection services in a war zone environment is a huge liability. This liability transcends client safety to include inferior bodyguard protection for the team of bodyguards.

In simplistic terms these types of executive protection jobs are only for the highly trained executive protection specialist. Working with any close protection officer without war zone or hostile environment experience is likely to get people attached to your protective service detail killed.

In the 42 countries I have provided my high and extremely high risk close protection security services in, I have also attended several executive protection training or bodyguard training programmes as an adjunct close protection instructor. I have heard numerous close protection instructors informing their basic bodyguard students that their basic training is good enough for war zone environments.

This information is so far out of wack it's incredible. However what's even more incredible, is that although these instructors were talking the talk, none of them had actually walked the walk by personally providing protective services in a hostile environment or war zone.

Some of the world's most reputable close protection training academies, schools and recognised industry leading close protection instructors are aware there is a huge niche in the protective service industry, in providing advanced professional bodyguard training for war zone environments.

The only reason this niche exists is because it is too costly and too financially risky, and a logistical nightmare to organise and run the first war zone executive protection training programme for the more serious executive protection specialist.

However this all changes in April 2010, as a group of industry leading close protection specialists have partnered up to run the worlds very first War Zone close protection training programme in Cyprus.

This advanced training programme will feature recognised international close protection specialist instructors from the USA, Cyprus and the UK. All of these instructors have years of extremely high risk protective service operational experience in various war zone and hostile environments.

Some are full time employed in Iraq and all hail from a military, law enforcement, intelligence or security special forces background. The war zone Cyprus training programme will train professional bodyguards in how to counter contemporary tactics and strategies employed by modern terrorist organisations.

Cyprus was chosen for its close proximity to, and similar environment to other Middle Eastern regions of conflict.

Going the extra mile in your close protection officer career means attending the very best advanced training in the world. If you are looking for highly paid executive protection jobs, then you have to consider stepping into the war zone-hostile environment executive protection services arena.

However be advised, extremely high risk bodyguard protection is not for the feint hearted, and besides the obvious risks there are other risks involved in ensuring you receive great value for your war zone close protection training.

Before you part with any finances for any type of bodyguard training you should read the following security tips.

Executive Protection Training New War Zone Bodyguard Protection Close Protection Training Tips # 1 Executive Protection Jobs

First it is worth while adopting the 'take two paces backwards, to take one pace forward' option. If you are reading this article, then it is likely you are already involved in executive protection services.

You may have already participated in bodyguard training, if so, then you are likely looking for executive protection jobs to recoup the money you invested in your close protection officer training.

It is worth while re-evaluating your goals and aspirations as an executive protection specialist. After training tens of thousands of bodyguards and security personnel, I have spoken to a great many who feel that once they have completed their basic training, then that is the end of their professional training and development.

This is so factually flawed that it frightens me. I have 20 plus years protective service operational experience across 4 continents of various hostile environments. I've survived building IED and car bomb attacks, a grenade attack, vehicle ambush, knife and physical attacks and more shoot-outs than Arnold Schwarzenegger, and I'm proud of the fact that I've never lost a VIP client.

Despite this vast experience, I still pay to attend advance close protection and security training programmes. Some of my proudest close protection training moments came when former members of the SAS, SBS and other international special forces attended my close protection training programmes at our Ground Zero training facility in Alabama USA.

This is the level of commitment required for war zone executive protection jobs in hostile environments.

I suggest you take a moment of reflection to contemplate whether the extremely high risk arena of protective service operations is really for you. If it is, then there are executive protection jobs out there for a highly trained executive protection specialist.

Executive Protection Training New War Zone Bodyguard Protection Close Protection Training Tips # 2 Bodyguard Training Company Due Diligence

Sadly the bodyguard training industry has received some very negative press during the last 10 years or more. Many a close protection officer has invested in what they believed was professional bodyguard training to prepare them as an executive protection specialist seeking executive protection jobs.

Unfortunately many executive protection services companies were staffed and run by cowboy bodyguards. Many of the trainee bodyguards found themselves being badly trained, and in some cases simply ripped off by conmen.

Fortunately the introduction of SIA close protection licensing in the UK and other variants of licensing in many states of the USA, has led to a reduction in the number of close protection cowboy companies and instructors.

However I strongly advise you to conduct a rigorous due diligence investigation of anyone taking money from you for close protection training. There are some great International companies renowned for providing a blue chip close protection training service, but in all honesty I can count these companies on both hands.

Executive Protection Training New War Zone Bodyguard Protection Close Protection Training Tips # 3 Bodyguards & Risk Categories

No Risk: This is a myth, as there is no such thing as a No Risk protective service operation.

Low Risk: One to two bodyguards.

Medium Risk: Two to four bodyguards.

High Risk: Four to six bodyguards.

Extremely High Risk: Over six bodyguards.

Executive Protection Training New War Zone Bodyguard Protection Close Protection Training Tips # 4 Where To Attend Your Close Protection Officer Training Programme

Straight off the bat I'm going to tell you that if you've paid for, and attended basic bodyguard training of less than 500 hours, and invested less than £8,000 or $12,000 dollars in your close protection continuous professional development, then you are probably not the executive protection specialist you may have been led to believe you are.

The executive protection services industry is an organic industry, and as such all professional bodyguard training needs to be refreshed, updated and re-certified frequently.

If you have aspirations of gaining executive protection jobs as a highly trained close protection officer then you need to step out of your comfort zone and attend a difficult advanced training programme like the one already mentioned in Cyprus.

Professional bodyguards who do this have the most success in the jobs market.

Executive Protection Training New War Zone Bodyguard Protection Close Protection Training Tips # 5 Executive Protection Specialist

When I mention an executive protection specialist I am referring to a 'Serious Participant.' You only achieve this status by attending a war zone course like the one in Cyprus.

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