The Field of VIP / Bodyguard Protection

Police Science Institute’s highly specialized course in VIP / Bodyguard Protection has been carefully constructed and presented in order to properly instruct and prepare those individuals seeking a career in this important, but unfortunately “misunderstood”, field of security specialization.  By broad definition, a “Bodyguard” (a/k/a Close Protection Officer) is effectively a security guard (or government agent) who protects an individual, most commonly a famous, wealthy or politically-important figure, from assault, kidnapping, assassination, stalking, loss of confidential information and/or other direct and indirect threats.

However, the true role of the “Bodyguard” is very frequently misunderstood by the general public given that the typical layperson's only exposure to this field is by way of highly-dramatized TV / action film depictions of the profession.  In “reality contrast” to the exciting lifestyle depicted on the screen, the actual role of a “real-life” Bodyguard is substantially more mundane.  It consists primarily of planning routes, pre-searching rooms and buildings where the client will be visiting, researching the background of individuals who will have contact with the client, searching vehicles, and, attentively escorting the client on their day-to-day activities.

Many important public figures such as heads of state or politicians are regularly protected by several Bodyguards or by a “team” of Bodyguards from an agency, security forces or police forces.  In countries where the head of state is a military leader or dictator, that leader's Bodyguards may also be part of an elite military unit, while less-important public figures, or, those with lower risk profiles, are provided more standardized protection modes.

Our Course sets out that the role of a Bodyguard depends upon numerous factors.  First, it depends upon the specifically-assigned role of a given Bodyguard within the context of a close protection team.  Therein, a Bodyguard can serve as a driver-bodyguard, a close-protection officer who escorts the client, or, as part of an ancillary unit that provides support (such as IED detection, electronic "bug" detection, counter-sniper monitoring, pre-searches of facilities, and, background-checks, etc.).

Second, the role of a Bodyguard further depends upon the level of risk that his / her client faces.    A Bodyguard having been assigned to protect a client at high risk of assassination will be focusing upon very different roles (i.e., checking vehicles for IED bombs, watching for potential shooters, etc.) than a Bodyguard escorting a celebrity who is being stalked by aggressive tabloid photographers.

Other Bodyguards specialize in the close quarter protection of children of VIP’s in order to protect them from kidnapping or assassination … a role which is nicknamed "nanny guarding".  But regardless of the respective case / assignment or situation, Police Science Institute has stepped up with both real-life and practical considerations through our extensive course in VIP / Bodyguard Protection !

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