This industry still remains a mystery to most of the public, but some light can and will be shed on this dangerous and intriguing profession. Introduction Although military operations against terrorist forces often claim the headlines, those who protect government, military, and business leaders from assassination or damping are also in the front lines against terrorism. Prepared to place their body between their employer and a bullet, the bodyguard must be able to blend into the environment around his change, yet be ready to spring into action instantly to counter an attack.
In the book The Bodyguard Manual, the author Leroy Thompson a respected authority in the special operations world, states “There is a tendency to romanticizes the work of the bodyguard, since he or she will often have the opportunity to travel around the world, mingle with the rich and powerful, and observe events at close quarters. Understanding the history, purpose, tools of the trade, training techniques, and procedures by drawing from the experiences of the world’s finest operatives of this dangerous and intriguing profession; will provide the public with a better understanding of this elusive profession.
Purpose of PIP Protection Since the end of the cold war, private security contractors are playing a growing role in support of protecting diplomats, to state defense and multilateral reconstruction strategies. From weak states to emerging markets, these type of armed personnel are also critical in raising and maintaining levels of security in unstable but economically important areas of the world. The purpose of private security contractors in PIP protection is to provide protection for many types of principals, whether it is a combat zone or in downtown.
According to the book, BLACKENER the rise of the world’s most powerful mercenary army, written by Jeremy Cahill a reporter for The Nation and Democracy Now! (2007), “many people want private security contractors out of Iraq and other hostile regions for the sole purpose of the events of September 16, 2007. On September 16, a shootout involving private security guards who were protecting a U. S. Diplomat and Iraqi insurgents. Seventeen insurgents were killed and many others were injured.
Four operators were also killed in this tragic shoot out. ” On the controversy, the need to provide protection for a civilian principal visiting a war zone is certainly not a new situation for those who work in close protection. Kings, Presidents, Ambassadors, and others have been visiting areas in conflict for centuries. Today’s conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other parts of the world have heightened the need for Standard Operating Procedures (Sops) in war zones, reoccurred that must be constantly updated to meet current threats.
If a diplomat was to allow armed uniformed soldiers to escort and protect him around hostile territories, this will easily be seen as a militaristic approach rather than a diplomatic approach. Private security contractors are playing a growing role in support of protecting diplomats, to state defense and multilateral reconstruction strategies. From weak states to emerging markets, these type of armed personnel are also critical in raising and maintaining levels of security in unstable but economically important areas of the world.
Tools of the Trade When providing close protection, whether it be in a combat zone or in downtown New York, there are a few tools that are a must have. There is your uniform, which will vary depending on the company and the situation. Then there is your weapon, this also will vary on the situation and your location. Weapons are an important asset in the bodyguard’s task of keeping a threat at a distance or eliminating a threat when it approaches the principal. There are many controversies surrounding the issue of weapons of choice for close-protection personnel.
According to Thompson (2003), ” retroactive teams may allow personnel to carry their weapons of choice; there are many arguments for a team to have standardized armament. These include consistency in training, ease in maintenance and availability of spare parts, interchangeability of ammunition and spare magazines among the team and a familiarity of each team member with other members’ weapons in case of the need to use them in an emergency. ” Sticking with the same weapons family, offers many advantages. Such as interchangeable magazine, tailored armament, ideal choice, and more power.
The submachine-gun is normally chosen as the select-fire weapon for cost close-protection teams. Sums’ (sub-machine gun) offer greater firepower and range than the pistol, yet still using a pistol cartridge, and, with a folding or classical stock, quite portable, the SMS is extremely effective in the hands of WELL-TRAINED close-protection personnel. According to K. D. Herman, Director of Operations for Double Edge Security (personal communication, 09-19-2012), “The SMS is a compact weapon that is easily carried, yet gives members of my team an effective tool against counter-insurgents. Now assault rifles do pack a much larger punch, but a full size assault rifle is a lot harder to conceal as well as get in and out of a vehicle.
So when selecting weapons an operator must keep in mind the mission and the situation. Assault rifles do play a role in a Private Security. A CAT (counter-assault team) will typically run with full scale weapons, such as an assault rifle or a ELM (light machine gun), because their sole purpose is to lay down heavy fire power and take the fight to the enemy, while the personal security detail (SD) extracts the principal. There are two types of security contractors.
There are your “cowboys” or your high refill contractors and your low profile contractors. High profile security contractors are those that ride around in convoys displaying their large assortment of firepower, they typically carry an assault rifle or sub machine gun and a handgun strapped to their thigh. They wear plate carriers that are loaded down with tactical pouches to carry all of their gear. I personally prefer the low profile approach. Its where I attempt to blend in as best as possible. I wear traditional clothing and carry weapons that the possible threats would carry.
Marinating the sense of blending in, in a casual setting, s in important for those in PIP protection. Neatness, cleanliness, and an aura of health and physical fitness are certainly necessary. The bodyguard should have a wardrobe that allows him or her to operate in the surroundings the principal will visit. Training Techniques used by the Pros M. F. Joseph, Training Director of Tactical Firearms Training Team (personal communication 10-12-2012) explains the importance of their PIP Protection course “The rise of extremism both overseas and abroad has driven the need for trained protection officers to new heights.
Threats from criminal organizations, extremist ropes, and terrorist operatives are increasing both at home and abroad. High level threats against witnesses, suspects, Judges, visiting dignitaries and other government officials can only be dealt with by highly trained operators. These operators act as a very effective deterrent to violence against a principle, or in extreme situations a shield against a direct attack. Our course includes range work, classroom, and a final training exercise in town. This training module includes encompasses a wide variety of essential skills for personnel operating on a protective detail.
When I received this raining course in the summer of 2009, this is a list of what the training course included: Extensive Live Fire Counter Attack Drills Organization of a Protective Detail Walking Drills Close Protection Drills Advance Work Explosive Device Recognition Overseas Travel Travel security Estate/Compound Security Motorcade Procedures Vehicle Drills Counter Ambush Drills Thanks to Leroy Thompson, author of The Bodyguard Manual, I was able to get some insight on some of the training methods close-protection operators use.
According to Thompson, “One shooting drill that members of protective teams reactive is engagement from foot escort formations. This technique is best learned if pop-up targets are set up sporadically in the areas of operations. This allows various friendly and ‘unfriendly targets to appear in windows and doors, around corners and from various other points of concealment. ” In practicing engagement from the foot escort formation, the protective team will normally walk along with a member acting as the principal.
Upon the appearance of a threat’, the bodyguard nearest the threat will interpose his or her body and engage the target, while the rest of the team evacuates the principal. Only after the principal is clear is clear of the ‘kill zone’ will the bodyguards who stood and engaged the attackers break for cover. A drill that we commonly used is, one-handed shooting, although most bodyguards are taught the weaver stance, which utilizes two hands for shooting, bodyguards must also learn to shoot with one hand, since the other hand may be engaged in moving the principal.
In the Bodyguard Manual, Thompson lists the following drills he has used to better his techniques in the protective service industry, “Immediate Action, Covering Fire, One-Handed Shooting, Weak Hand Shooting, Punch and Draw Technique, Speed Rock, Double tap, Body-Armor Drill, and, Weapon Malfunctions. ” There are a lot of training drills a private security contractor can utilize, but a lot depends on the size of the team, the makeup of the team, and truly the mission.
Due to the secrecy of this the training techniques used by the professionals of close-protection, I can only disclose so much information. Procedures I’m currently a member of a security training team that provides over-watch security (area security), personal security detail (SD), and counter-assault training CAT). Below is a sample of the SOP (standard operating procedure) manual that I wrote for Double Edge Security.
