I hope I can give you some insight into the world of a Personal Protection Officer (PPO), known by many names: bodyguards, BG's, executive protection officers, close protection officers, no matter the name used, we all have 1 common interest....

Keeping our client safe.

Most people assume, wrongly, all PPO's  work like those on TV or in the media,  the "Big Guys behind Dark Glasses", but, there are many of us who do not wish the limelight and go about our craft quietly.

If you are contemplating a career within this industry, here's some good advice; research the courses you would like to attend; don't ever think you are fully trained, becoming " street wise" is a long learned skill, having a "Sixth Sense" about things takes years of experience

If you have military or police/ security background...... don't think you will make a good PPO, it takes a very strong person to admit they are not good at something, it takes only one injured, embarrassed  or dead client to prove it!

No-one is completely safe, no matter what measures they take to secure themselves, we all take precautions to make our lives safer, we look both ways just crossing the road, why? We don't know what COULD happen, we assess the situation and make a plan, then execute that plan, we just don't realise we're doing it, it becomes second nature, this is where a PPO starts their job, RISK ASSESSMENT, looking long and hard at the situation, evaluating the risks, then making and executing those plans, I call this: covering the "what ifs?" and the "maybes".

It's not, chest out and looking tough, that maybe the opposite effect your client requires, REMEMBER, you protect their IMAGE as well.

You have to be adapt at social changes, blending in with your surroundings. Not all work is carried out dressed in business or dinner suits, sometimes you could be  in everyday clothes, even beach wear, try concealing a pistol with a pair of swimming trunks or a swimsuit on!

Please, use this site to help make your own mind up.... "It's hard work....... 99% boredom and 1% pure adrenaline".  I hope you find the information you need using the FAQ and Links (UPDATED!!!) pages. 

PLEASE DO NOT ask me to answer questions such as: 

1. How do I become a PPO?

2. Where can I train to be a bodyguard?

I DO NOT RECRUIT BODYGUARD/SECURITY PERSONNEL

If you are new or old to "the business" if you are looking for further information about training to become a bodyguard, or wondering what is your next step, be aware... THERE ARE MANY WEB SITES OUT THERE CLAIMING TOP RATED TRAINING AND SUPPORT FOR BODYGUARDS, THIS IS NOT THE CASE WITH 99% OF THEM, THEY WILL TAKE YOUR MONEY, FILL YOU FULL OF FALSE HOPES AND TAKE MORE OF YOUR MONEY.

To become a "trained Bodyguard" takes years and years, no commercial course available will give you ALL of the skills to walk amongst the "best" or the "elite" if it was available it would last 6 months, you would be tested daily and cost hundreds of thousands .......... 

There are "Home Study" courses available, even "video training" but let's look at it this way:

You would trust your life with a doctor, he has trained hard, studied hard, taken course after course, exam after exam, for years before he can call himself a Doctor, but if he told you he was qualified after completing a "Home Study "course AND "video training" would you want to be examined by him??????? Would you listen to his advice????

The best courses are out there, a minimum 10 days, will give you some of the "practical" skills and these skills need practiced, over and over, your tuition needs to be in a controlled environment with experienced instructors, men and women who have been "walking the walk" for years, who know what it's like at the "sharp end"  people who can give you their personal experiences in a clear precise manner and who can watch you with an experienced eye and show you where you are going wrong, then you need the work.

REMEMBER THE DOCTOR THEORY!!

This does not mean I condone "Home Study Courses" or "video training" but in "REAL LIFE" you need "REAL LIFE TRAINING". 

Experience comes from studying, and knowing the theory before getting "REAL LIFE TRAINING" is a good start, even classroom work is required before you can really get down to the practical lessons. Most, if not ALL Protection Details need visits, meetings and desk-bound activities, coordinating and planning are the mainstream of a PPO's life!!!

So for those of you interested in a Personal Protection career, be careful in the training you choose and pay for, studying all the information you receive, ask for references, ask advice from those that have completed the courses.

As for organisations now available on the www, these again, MUST BE LOOKED INTO....

Don't believe everything on the www, don't believe everything that is stated in "so called" BODYGUARD organization web sites, not ALL of them are there to genuinely aid the Protection Officer/Bodyguard, some people actually make money from this, and lots of it!