Executive Protection

Rising like a Phoenix, or Sinking like the Titanic?

by Frank Gallagher

As the profession gets bigger and bigger I often find myself wondering, "Where do we go from here?" More men and women are attempting to find jobs as more and more people find that they have a need for our services. Where do the "new" protection specialists find the employers who can use them? Where do the employers find the new people they need? Where do the "Principals" find the kind of protection specialists that they need to keep themselves from harms way?

I do not have all the answers to these questions. As a matter of fact, I have far more questions than I do answers. I will make a few general observations and offer (for whatever it is worth) the thought process that I use when confronted with these issues.

First off, how does the next " world famous" bodyguard get his start? First, get some training. Go to a recognized school that will teach you the basics. Right now, I very rarely hire or even interview someone who has not graduated from Dr. Richard Kobetz's school, "The Executive Protection Institute". This is not to say that there are not other schools that will teach you the basics as well. There are. But none of the others teach you the mindset of total protection as well as Dr. Kobetz does. He will make you understand what the job is all about. He will also touch on the subject of honor, which has become a lost virtue lately. Too many men and women finally land that elusive first job, only to begin searching for the next one almost immediately. Show some appreciation to the organization that took a chance on you.

The most important thing that prospective employers will look for after training is the ability to make AND keep a commitment. If I see a guy who has the training and has worked on 6 details in 14 months, ( unless they are working a free lance) he WILL NOT work for me. I do not see experience. I see instability. I see someone who runs as soon as the job becomes difficult or boring. All details are fun in the beginning; they all suck 3 weeks later. Remember that we are in a service industry. As soon as we no longer provide satisfactory service, the principal no longer needs us. As soon as a guy thinks that the grass is greener on the other side, his or her performance will begin to deteriorate. Maintain some integrity. Honor whatever commitment you make to the man or woman who takes the chance on hiring you. He or she is taking a much bigger chance on you, than you are on them. If you are good, then the rewards will come. When the time comes for you to move on, be honest and upfront about it. There is nothing worse than having your boss find out from someone else that you are shopping around. Most employers are extremely anxious to help their "good" employees find their next position. Use it to your benefit.

Another huge plus for people whom I interview is military experience. I am a former US Marine and have a tendency to hire men who have a similar background to mine. (You do not necessarily have to be a former RECON guy, but it sure helps.) I have found that when the going gets tough most military types have the ability to maintain their wits and their WIT better than those who do not have the military discipline to fall back on. This is not a criticism- just an observation that I have made after watching guys crumble under the constant stress of a long-term detail. Another huge problem that many of us are running into is all the bogus backgrounds that former military guys have fabricated. I know of a number of very successful men in the industry who have managed to reinvent their military careers and sell the bulls***t to the civilians that do not know any better. Know your audience. Do not tell me that you were a former RECON guy because I'll find out. Don't claim to be a SEAL because I know whom to ask if you were or were not. Be forewarned, I and a few others now have implemented a policy of total brutal honesty, if someone asks me about you and you have lied to me I promise that I will be sure to make sure that everyone knows you are full of it. The others have promised the same thing. You have been warned!

A lot of former law enforcement guys think that because they were cops or feds that they automatically qualify as "bodyguards". The training that I mentioned earlier is even more important to these guys because we have no union. We do not have 8-hour shifts. We work for 3 or 4 days in row. There are no pushes, no coffee breaks, nobody cares whether you've eaten or not. Get used to it. In the private sector you will always be undermanned and over worked. Most cops have retired after 20, 25 years on the job and think they will retire to an easy life as a protection specialist. Not in the real world. Not on any real civilian protection job that I have ever seen. All principals want as much as possible done with as little manpower (read- salary expense) as possible. This occupation that you think that you want, will break your will to live. Think long and hard before you pursue this occupation.

Join an association such as SecurityDriver.Com. This will help you find people who may be interested in people with your background or skills. Networking is very important. I may not need you, but if you impress me I may be able to recommend you to someone else. Be prepared to answer tough questions about your background and offer real world references. Not your father or your uncle. They may be great guys, but if they do not know security they cannot help you. After all is said and done, however, your background is not going to make or break your future in the field. I have hired a number of guys who were not former military or former law enforcement types and they have done quite well. I tell everyone who will listen that I do NOT care what you did yesterday. I only care about what you can do for me today and tomorrow. But first get the training.

There are two types of principals today. The first is the newly wealthy or newly threatened family or business that decides they need real security protection. In some cases these are the easiest people to work for because they do not know exactly what you as the new "protection specialist" can or will be able to do for them. We are not attack dogs. We do not beat people up on command. We do not shoot at fleeing cars, dogs or purse-snatchers. What we do is attempt to make sure that nothing bad happens to those who have placed their safety in our hands. How do you do this? Go to a school and find out.

The second type of principal is the most satisfying and dangerous to work for. He or she knows what you should be able to do. You will be compared every day to those who have worked before you. Woe to those who do not match up to their predecessors. This comparison process is usually enough to scare most guys away. Those of you that answer the bell and perform adequately will never lack for jobs. There are very few of us around. This type of principal is the easiest to work for because there are very few gray areas. He or she knows what they want and what to expect from a professional.

Where do these folks find their protection guys? They usually come from recommendations made by their friends. Most guys are only capable of around a 2-year stint with any one organization before they become burnt out. (Or the principal tires of them.) If you have done a good job, your employer will usually be very anxious to help you find a job somewhere. Of course, the first job is the toughest to get. Get the training, join an association, network,be honest about your background, (I do not care what you did yesterday, I only care about what you will do for me today and tomorrow.) and stick with it. Be realistic with your goals. Any job is better than none. You will not start out as the detail leader, but you may wind up there.

I hope this helps. If I have offended anyone, I am sorry. If not, then you are not sensitive enough. I'll try harder next time.

Remember, WE are the future of this profession. What we do in the next year or so will decide in which direction this thing goes. Be a PRO. We collectively must stop all the mudslinging and deceit. We only hurt our own image when we resort to this. The liars and the poseurs must be rooted out and prevented from ruining the profession for those of us who take it seriously.

I welcome your comments.

Thanks,
Frank Gallagher