BODYGUARD SKILLS

In addition to planning, law and a bodyguard’s interpersonal abilities, there are six recognised skills areas:

Escort

This is walking in close proximity to the principle. As the threat increases, the number of bodyguards required to escort increases, and they assume a phalanx formation. The object of escort is observation through 360 degrees, and intervention where necessary.

Protective Driving

Obviously the principle will not wish to walk everywhere. Protective driving has three phases: defensive, evasive and offensive. The defensive phase seeks to avoid potentially dangerous situations. The evasive phase enables the vehicle to escape from an ambush or situation. Finally, the offensive stage is where the vehicle is used as a weapon.

Communications

Two terms dominate communications: ‘en clair’ (meaning clearly) and ‘en code’ (meaning securely). En clair enables the members of the team to communicate without misunderstandings through a variety of mediums. However, the bodyguard team does not want details of ‘who’ ‘where’ and ‘when’ to fall into unauthorised hands – enabling the planting of a bomb, a sniper or close quarter attack, or an ambush.

Part of communications security is ECS (Electronic Counter Surveillance). This is the physical and electronic search for passive and active means of electronic surveillance (commonly known as ‘bugs’). Its includes the electronic counter measures needed to defeat electronic surveillance.

Improvised Explosive Devices

Search and recognition enables the bodyguard to locate and identify threats posed by explosive and incendiary devices constructed from military or civilian components. Rather than do a ‘Leathal Weapon’ job with the nifty nail-clippers, the bodyguard’s responsibility is then to evacuate the area and contact the appropriate authorities.

Close Quarter Combat (CQC)

CQC is a generic term for combat in close proximity to the principle. The methods used include firearms, chemical agents, edged and impact weapons, unarmed combat, and arrest and restraint techniques.

It is necessary to have an understanding of body language and verbal command – both yours and the potential attacker’s.

Paramedicine

First aiders restore function. The various grades of paramedic do the same, but go a step further. Where a vital function of one of the body structures can’t be restored by normal first aid techniques, then the paramedic can restore the function by ‘invasive’ techniques. These include intubation, tracheotomy, venous puncture and blood volume expansion.

Besides life support techniques for the principle and other bodyguards, the management of ballistic injury is required to cope with the various effects of bullet and shrapnel wounds such as haemorrhage, as well as burns.

These skills will be further expanded upon later however, before any of them can be brought into operational effect, planning or risk assessment must occur.

In addition, the interpersonal skills of each bodyguard will also have a major impact on any operation as planning is based upon the specific resource of ‘information’. Without information, any form of protective service is severely limited.