The term “bodyguard” has adapted to the terms and standards of Hollywood, and probably not what you want. Vocational name is “Executive Protection” or “Personal Security” and is not hard to find specialists. Follow these instructions to make sure you find someone truly qualified to protect the lives and welfare of another person.
Understand that “personal security” is a profession, so keep your expectations realistic. As a core component of protection services, personal security is divided into several specialties that focus on the type of person that is protected. Those trained to handle corporate executives, politicians, dignitaries and families of high net worth individuals are grouped under the term “Executive Protection” or EP. In contrast those trained to handle celebrities, actors, musicians; professional athletes and other public individuals’ high profile are usually called “Security Talents.” All qualified practitioners are forced to keep a low profile and can be tailored to your lifestyle, and maintain discretion as possible.
There are no standards for training civilians for the profession in the United States or Canada, there are several titles that the practitioner can use: “Executive Protection,” “Personal Protection” or “Personal security”.
Before you hire a bodyguard, make sure your candidates are graduates of a course of government protection services of:
- Secret Service of the United States (Special Agent)
- The “Diplomatic Security Service” of the United States – Department of State
- Training Center of the Federal Law Enforcement (FLETC)
- The “Training Course Protective Services Military Police School of the United States Army
- The Criminal Investigation Division of the United States Army (CID)
- The Criminal Investigation Service of the United States Navy (NCIS)