I recently received an email from a young man interested in entering the executive protection field. His perceived qualifications for this line of work really brought to light what I feel are some misconceptions about the industry. I have been running an executive protection training school for years and have produced some fine agents. Over the past few years it seems that people have caught on to what we are doing and now everyone offers a "bodyguard" school. Some are decent and some are just plain dangerous. I think it is important for people to understand just what is really involved with EP (executive protection) in order to educate yourself about the field.

First and foremost I need to clarify that my line of protection deals with executives, dignitaries and the political class. As a general rule I do not do celebrities with only a few exceptions. The celebrity division of EP is very popular because of the glamour it seems to possess. Many people new to the field see it as an opportunity to enter select circles of people and gain friends in the entertainment industry. It is not my cup of tea however. Contrary to popular belief, EP work is long, monotonous and for the most part uneventful. This makes it one of the most challenging fields you can enter. It takes a special person to stay attentive and aware during long periods of no "action". If things go bad, they will do so in a hurry and if your mind has wandered off you will not be prepared. Unless you are working for a NGO overseas, you will not be riding on the sideboards of a Suburban carrying an automatic weapon. This is not paramilitary PSD work. You are on your feet for very long periods of time and may face extreme heat or cold during the detail. With correct planning these can be dealt with, but they are simply part of the job. At the same time I will say that it is an extremely rewarding career. The act of providing protection is hard to describe to people outside this realm. I have had the pleasure of working with some fantastic clients and have become better because of them. At the professional level, EP can be lucrative as well. Understand that it is a tough field to get into as well though.

Training of a potential EP agent is critical. The training you receive is important to not only possibly entering the field, but to protecting your client and yourself. With that being said, there are core skills I teach in our EP classes. Each individual section is composed of real world experience and professional, qualified instruction. I say this because I have seen first hand some of the skills being taught at other schools and they are lacking (to be polite). This is especially true with firearms training. Instructors MUST be professional firearms trainers.

The skills developed in our courses encompass what I look for in agents I hire or pass work to. Underlining all of the individual components is pure and obvious professionalism. The EP industry takes a hit every time a knuckle dragger passing himself off as a bodyguard, acts in less than a professional way. I consider it one of my responsibilities to the industry to produce only professional operators. True EP work is a highly skilled and professional field. It is open to the dedicated protector that understands the depth of their responsibility. It is a field for true warriors. If you are looking for an EP school my suggestion is to ask questions. What are their qualifications to teach individual sections of the course? Are they the best fit for you? Make sure that they will provide what you are looking for. As I said there are some great programs out there, but be cautious about those that are not so great. I wish you the best in your training.

Fred Mastison President - Force Options Tactical Training Solutions