A bodyguard (or "close protection officer") is a type of security guard or government agent who protects a person—usually a famous, wealthy, or politically important figure—from assault, kidnapping, assassination, loss of confidential information, or other threats.
Most important public figures such as heads of state or governors are protected by several bodyguards or by a team of bodyguards from an agency, security forces, or police forces (e.g., in the US, the United States Secret Service or the Bureau of Diplomatic Security). Less-important public figures, or those with lower risk profiles, are often accompanied by a single bodyguard who may double as a driver. Some celebrities also use bodyguards to protect themselves from aggressive fans or violent stalkers.
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Roles
Bodyguards often have training in firearms tactics, unarmed combat, tactical driving, and first aid. In multi-agent units (like those protecting a head of state) one or more bodyguards may specialize in specific tasks, such as providing a protective escort, crowd screening and control, or searching for explosives or electronic surveillance devices ("bugs"). Bodyguards may also work with other security personnel to conduct threat or risk assessment and analyze potential security weaknesses. Bodyguards often examine a premises or venue before their clients arrive, to determine where the exits and entrances are, find potential security weaknesses, and meet the staff (so that a would-be attacker cannot pose as a staff member). As well, some bodyguards do research to be aware of potential threats to their client, such as a protest by a radical group or the release from custody of person who is a known threat. While escorting a client, bodyguards have to remain alert so that they are able to react quickly to threatening situations. In some cases, bodyguards also drive their clients, which means that they have to be aware of suspicious vehicles and prepared to practice evasive driving techniques. Depending on the laws in a bodyguard's jurisdiction and on which type of agency or security service they are in, bodyguards may be armed with a lethal weapon such as a pistol or with a non-lethal weapon such as a stun gun, pepper spray, or a Taser. Agents from government security agencies protecting heads of state may have a fully automatic machine pistol or a mini-submachine gun concealed under their clothing or in a briefcase. Bodyguards may also wear body armor.
Job requirements
Bodyguards often work long shifts in order to provide 24-hour protection, and shifts often include evenings, weekends, and holidays. Since bodyguards follow their clients, the work locations may range from indoor office meetings or social events to outdoor rallies or concerts. Bodyguards often have to travel by car, train, and plane to escort their client, and in some cases, international travel is required. Bodyguards often have backgrounds in the armed forces, police or securtiy services, prison guard services or martial arts, although this is not required. Bodyguards must be physically fit, with good eyesight and hearing. Bodyguards need to have a presentable appearance, especially for close protection work for dignitaries and heads of state. However, bodyguards protecting celebrities or pop stars may be able to have tattoos and facial piercings. A drivers licence is usually required. In the UK and some other countries, bodyguards have to have a licence or certification, which involves identity and criminal record checks. Bodyguards need to be observant and possess quick reflexes. As well, they need to be able to work as member of a team, with assigned tasks, or be able to act independently, and adapt and improvise an appropriate response if the need arises. Bodyguards need to be able to recognise potentially dangerous situations and remain calm under pressure. As well, they need good interpersonal and communications skills and strong decision-making and planning skills. Since bodyguards accompany their client throughout their day, the bodyguard will be privy to the private life of the client, which means that a bodyguard has to show discretion and maintain confidentiality.
Notable organizations
In the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, most bodyguards are former or current police officers, or sometimes former military or other government agency personnel. One well-known public agency that provides bodyguard services is the United States Secret Service which safeguards the lives of the President, his family, and other executive officials. Another agency, the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security, is responsible for protecting U.S. missions and their personnel overseas, as well as selected dignitaries in the U.S., including the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, the Secretary of State, and visiting foreign dignitaries below heads-of-state level. While the US Secret Service's close-protection role is its most visible, its historic role as agents of the United States Treasury (although they are now agents of the Department of Homeland Security) made it unusual internationally, as usually "official" bodyguards are part of general police forces. A significant example is the Royalty and Diplomatic Protection Department of the Metropolitan Police, which is responsible for the security of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. Archangel-Group based within the EU is a provider of specialist close protection training to it's Corporate and VIP clients. Archangel also provides consultancy and training in other forms of protective security including, security driving, crisis management team training,personal security awareness training, kidnap and ransom training and in aviation security. Archangel-Group's close protection training is a fully accreditted training programme by the UK Awarding Body ASET. ASET is ranked as one of the UK's top Awarding Bodies. Archangel-Group has a dot com web presence. Archangel Group evolved from Archangel Security Agency.
In India NSG (National Security Guards), an organisation particularly trained in anti-terrorist activities, also provides Body Guards for the VIPs. The Organisation functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India. In 1984 Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two of her security guards, reportedly chosen as personal bodyguards. The International Bodyguard Association was established in December 1957 by Major Lucien Ott of the French 2eme Bureau. In 1960, Major Ott at the request of General Montsabbert formed the bodyguard group known as 'Les Gorilles' ("gorille" is used in French as slang for bodyguard) ; recruited from French special forces veterans to protect President de Gaulle from assassination by the Organisation de l'Armée Secrète (OAS). In countries where the head of state is a military leader or dictator, the leader's bodyguards may also be part of an elite military unit. Such was the case with the former Iraqi Special Republican Guard, the Schutzstaffel in Nazi Germany, or the Praetorian Guard in the Roman Empire.
Notable individuals
- Melvin Key - Retired Police Captain turned CEO of MVP Protective Services, based in Washington, DC. MVP is the only Executive Protection Company in Washington, DC that can legally carry weapons to protect thier clients. MVP protects Executives of Fortune 500 companies, Professional Athletes, Celebrities, Government Officials and foreign dignataries.
- Timothy J. McCarthy - Former US Secret Service Special Agent who took a bullet in the stomach for President Ronald Reagan in 1981.
- Sempronius Densus - bodyguard of Piso Licinianus, deputy Roman emperor.
- Dian Wei- bodyguard of the warlord Cao Cao.
- Walter H. Thompson - bodyguard of Winston Churchill for 18 years in the period 1921-1945.
- Mykola Mel'nychenko, an agent assigned to provide communications protection for the Ukraine's President Leonid Kuchma, publicly accused his principal of committing numerous crimes in 2000, causing an international scandal.
- Satwant Singh and Beant Singh - bodyguards who assassinated Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi
- Manuel de Godoy - bodyguard of the Queen of Spain, made General, Minister and finally, Prince by Napoleon
- Avi Korein - Owner of Screen International Security Services in Los Angeles. The Israeli bouncer turned bodyguard established his company as a major security provider to the stars in Hollywood. His company provides protection for Will Smith, Ozzy Osbourne, Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt (before their infamous divorce), Cameron Diaz and Tom Cruise.
- Michael Clarke Duncan - The Oscar-nominated actor worked as a bodyguard for a number of celebrities.
- Frank Alexander - The former bodyguard of Tupac Shakur. .
- Trevor Rees-Jones - A bodyguard of Dodi Al-Fayed, son of the Egyptian billionaire Mohamed Al-Fayed. Rees-Jones was the only survivor of the car crash which killed the driver, Fayed and Diana, Princess of Wales.
- Chris Boykin is Rob Dyrdek's bodyguard on the TV show "Rob and Big".
- Maurice "Big Moe" Brighthaupt - Bodyguard of Anna Nicole Smith, and a former college basketball star and firefighter/paramedic.
- Cory Smith (aka - "Big Coco") - Former bodyguard for "Prince" Rogers Nelson.
- Mr. T- Now celebrity himself, he has protected personalities as Muhammad Ali, Steve McQueen, Michael Jackson, Bruce Lee, Joe Frazier, and Diana Ross.
- Walter Brennan - Bodyguard turned actor, formerly protected Howard Hughes.
- Elijah Shaw - CEO of Icon Services Corporation and a director of security for many in the entertainment industry such as Usher Raymond, Supermodel Naomi Campbell and R&B singer Chaka Khan. His company has provided free bodyguard services to victims of domestic abuse through the ISC Safety Net Program.
Fictional individuals
Brave and fiercely protective bodyguards have long been depicted in fiction. The character of the Scottish hero Quentin Durward appears in stories as the bodyguard of the king of France. The character Charles d'Artagnan appears in stories as the bodyguard of the French crown. The character Atticus Kodiak is a professional bodyguard who acts as narrator and protagonist in a series of novels by Greg Rucka. Bodyguards also appear in Usagi Yojimbo - Stan Sakai's anthropomorphic-rabbit samurai based upon Miyamoto Musashi and in the Artemis Fowl series of children's books. Bodyguards are also depicted in a number of films. Japanese director Akira Kurosawa's film Yojimbo depicts a samurai bodyguard in Japan. The Bodyguard is a film about a bodyguard who protects a celebrity singer. Gogo Yubari is O-Ren Ishii's bodyguard in the film Kill Bill 1. In the science-fiction/fantasy Star Wars films, MagnaGuard is General Grievous's bodyguard. In the film Lord of War, the main character's brother protects him while he makes arms deals in war-torn countries. In the film Man on Fire, John Creasy (Denzel Washington) is a burnt-out ex-CIA officer and counter-insurgency operative who grudgingly becomes the bodyguard of a young girl (played by Dakota Fanning). Several films have been made about guarding the President of the US, such as In the Line of Fire and The Sentinel. Bodyguards are also depicted in television shows, comics, and other media. Bodyguard is a Japanese television series starring Reiko Takashima. In the UK, Bodyguards is a television series. Sheeva is the personal protector of Sindel. Suki is aJapanese manga about a relationship between a teenaged girl and a 32-year old bodyguard. Kevin Nash is Shawn Michaels' bodyguard. The Human Target is an American comic book and television series.
External links
General information:
- Working the Doors (Website and Forum for Bodyguards and Bouncers Worldwide)
- Close Protection World (Website and Forum for Close Protection and for the security industry)
See also
- List of protective services
- Security police, Persons who guard government property.
- Yojimbo, the Japanese word for bodyguard
