Having met a vast range of people and been in many situations, I believe that there are many things still substandard, missing or lacking in the profession, including effective communication, professionalism, leadership skills and professional courtesy. I have met many bodyguards working on the international circuit in locations such as Africa or South America, where there is still no formal government-recognised and accredited training. Bodyguards in these places have surprisingly little knowledge of the close protection industry. There is also a distinct lack of specific industry skills and basic education, and a definite need for psychological training and evaluations, as well as instruction in conflict resolution and management, thorough risk assessment and general man-management skills. Although this is changing slowly, close protection training in Canada is still significantly behind the training offered in many other countries, including the UK. I also believe that good training should feature a detailed understanding of the dangers faced by close protection agents, a comprehensive analysis of body language, in-depth profiling of possible aggressors, and instruction in dealing with stress and operating in demanding and hostile environments. There is support for soldiers working in Iraq or Afghanistan but very little support for the private contractor.

There are various reasons for close protection assignments in the private industry, and most security companies run background checks on their clients as a matter of course. But if you are tasked as an individual to provide personal protection to someone, you should always request a criminal background check on the client and, if necessary, also check with the credit reporting agencies – the last thing you want as a professional close protection officer is to find yourself hired by someone involved in the criminal world.

A decade or so after the Second World War, the close protection profession underwent a revolution of a kind, and celebrities, pop stars, artists and actors all started to employ an entourage of beefy, mean-looking security guards. Bodyguards in the celebrity sector were (and still are) built like brick walls, which certainly made them great to hide behind, although they weren’t always the most intelligent. Most people in the protection industry will end up protecting a celebrity at some point, even for just a short period of time, and it will quickly become apparent that for many celebrities it is cool to have bodyguards. Employing a security detail is a trend they feel they have to follow, rather than because of any specific threat against them.

One very important factor in an executive protection assignment is the legal contract between the protection company and the executive or his corporation. This aspect is often missed. It doesn’t matter if the contract is for a one-day assignment or for a job lasting six months or more, it is a very important aspect of an operation, as subjects, issues and protocol have to be clearly stated in writing between you and your client, as this could ultimately keep you safe if anything goes wrong. Remember, no one will remember the thousand things that you have done right over the years; the thing people will remember is your one and only screw-up.

Another very important and often neglected aspect of a protection assignment is that you need to assign a liaison officer between the contractor, client and yourself if you intend to use aircraft, limousines or any other method of transportation. If possible, the protection company should organise this, but try not to let the client arrange it, as you personally want to make sure that there are no last-minute delays or fuck-ups, and you have very little control over things if they are managed by the client.

In 2006, I accompanied a client to Mexico on an 18-day assignment. Contracts were all signed and sealed six weeks before the assignment commenced, all the necessary details were arranged, the retainer was cleared and we completed our reconnaissance efficiently and effectively. Everything went to plan until the chartered plane was delayed and the airline overlooked notifying the chief of security, who handled those matters. If a specific liaison officer had been assigned, this would not have happened.

As all of us in the industry know, fuck-ups never come alone, and on this assignment we had started with one. What else would go wrong? We arrived in Mexico at a private airport, and initially everything went well. The transport was smoothly organised, and the local traffic into town was not too much of a killer; however, the client suddenly decided to make changes to his travel arrangements without notifying his chief of security. Clients can sometimes be very difficult people to work with! So, last-minute arrangements had to be made without compromising the executive’s safety and comfort. Since the assignment was in Mexico City, where I had an office, we could facilitate this change.

All of our local drivers were trained to the same high standards as our other Canadian, US and European counterparts. However, the armoured vehicle we were using came with its own driver, which happens from time to time, as transportation companies occasionally provide their own for insurance purposes. The driver was checked out and seemed fine, and upon arrival at the hotel and the VIP being settled in his secured suite, I returned to the driver who was stationed at his vehicle and made sure that it could not be compromised in any way. I briefly spoke to the driver, and as I checked over the vehicle I immediately noticed that the fuel gauge was well below halfway, which could be a major security risk, especially with the additional weight of an armoured vehicle plus the possibility of driving in a potentially hostile environment. The thought of running out of petrol with a client sent shivers down my spine. When I asked him why this was the case, he answered that his boss had not given him the money to fuel up before departure! They were now in breach of security procedures, which had been signed off six weeks before the assignment.

In this situation, every good protection officer asks himself, ‘What else has happened? Has the driver’s integrity been compromised? Will the VIP and protection team be compromised?’ Since the local security company was already in breach of contract, we solved the matter by demanding that we immediately relieve the driver of his duties and put our own man in place. Our driver was a native Mexican and knew the streets and routes. However, because we didn’t know whether we had been compromised, we changed all the pre-arranged routes, the times for departure and arrival, and everything else the previous driver had been aware of. We were then able to securely complete the assignment without any further problems.

Assignments are never the same, no matter how many times similar procedures are implemented, and lessons will always be learned each time we undertake an operation. It is a never-ending process.

Two of the main attributes that a protection agent should possess are good communication and conflict-resolution skills. Communication is one of the most important aspects of any security or protection detail. No matter which country they originate from, NATO soldiers across the world use English for all their radio communications, because language must be consistent and standard for effective multicultural, multinational security operations. If you are tasked to provide international security to a company that does not use English as a standard form of communication, think twice about joining them. Misunderstanding can lead to injury and death.

Other than to your client, you will not always be recognised as a close protection specialist. You might be introduced as a business associate or colleague, or a personal or public relations assistant, which then enables you to conduct covert protection, as you will be able to stay close to the VIP without generating too much attention. An undercover approach to personal protection can be a very effective form of security.

Some protection assignments are a lot less interesting than others, especially low-profile or long-term assignments that require a certain daily routine in functions and duties. However, never try to create patterns in your assignment: modify your patrol times, change directions of departure and switch vehicles, and advise the client to do the same if his schedule and arrangements allow him to do so.

For long-term assignments, it is very important to build up a rapport with your client and anyone else associated with the operation. Effective communications will not only assist you in having an easier and less stressful assignment, but also keep you up to date on the client’s day-to-day activities, especially private and social engagements. Etiquette in social situations with your client is a very important tool in the industry – no one will ever be retained if they embarrass the client in any way or at any time. A good protection agent should feel just as comfortable on the streets of Iraq as at an exclusive event at a foreign embassy.

The most important aspect of any protection assignment is to keep your client safe and secure at all times. Remember, your VIP has a certain position and status, and as well as his life you are also hired to protect his reputation. Don’t ever forget, dead clients will never pay their bills. Each day you and your client return home without incident or injury is a great day, and it means you have conducted yourself in a professional manner.

Keep a professional image at all times, and try to be extremely diplomatic and tactful in situations involving the VIP, not to mention those involving your teammates, no matter if they work for the same company or are contracted out. There are too many cowboys out there already, and you don’t ever want to be known as one. Keep in mind that a good reputation is hard to build, whereas a bad reputation is hard to shake off.

Close protection is a great industry – enjoy it!

Marc can be contacted at [email protected]