Russian Bodyguards

Part 1 of the series: What you NEED to know about being a female bodyguard

LeMareschal

There’s a lot of talk when the discussion focuses on the female bodyguard and her ability to handle an attacker.  One will hear…”You may not know she’s there until she knocks you down her attacker” or, “Don’t let the small size fool you — she is well trained in martial arts”.  However, comments like these never really point to the actual job of a woman bodyguard.  Here are a couple of things to understand about a female bodyguard that go a lot further than her ability to knock an assailant on their hind quarters.

First and foremost female bodyguards are strategists.  If you are not thinking that this plays the dominate roll, then you have no business in the business.  Also, for consumers or would-be clients, if you don’t see a strategic plan in place by your female bodyguard or there is no discussion we recommend you take a second look.

Strategy is part of planning.  Strategic planning is what a female bodyguard does to keep tight controls.  First and foremost if your not developing a plan then you have already lost control.  Planning is paramount to having ones finger on the pulse, so to speak.  Are you a strategic thinker?  Are you well organized, a prerequisite to being a strategist?

I really don’t care how fast you can draw your sidearm or what martial arts you are trained in, if you have no organizational skills, planning experience or are not a strategic thinker…then you should really not consider being a female bodyguard.

Every facet of working with a client starts with organizational skills.  Developing and cataloging information on your client and their lifestyle gives women bodyguards the ability to have important data when and where needed.  The planning skills a female close protection agent needs makes the clients life easier from ones experience in travel security, knowledge of clients needs and expectations and an understanding in goals and objectives they may have.

In part 2 of this series we will discuss deeper into the planning and strategy skills a female bodyguard needs.

Denida Zinxhiria, CPSS

How to Hire Female Bodyguards

LeMareschal

We predicted the surge of the need for female bodyguards a couple of years ago. It was not that it was rocket science, but the fact that a female bodyguard or female executive protection agent, have so much to offer not only on their own, but also in conjunction with their male counterparts.

I won’t discuss this time around what makes hiring a female bodyguard such a good choice. I think its pretty clear that there is enough room and special circumstances that warrant hiring women bodyguards in todays world. What I will speak a moment about is what to look for when you are hiring a female bodyguard.

1. Look for the same thing you would in hiring a male bodyguard. Yes, what ever preconceived idea you would have of hiring a male agent goes for the female executive protection agent. You hire based upon the circumstances of your particular needs.

2. Hire based upon experience. If I told you I would like to come over and work on your Mercedes, would you automatically allow that? Probably not, as you know your fine German automobile is created with high-performance characteristics and require parts that are not “off-the-shelf” and a mechanic with related high performance experience. Why would hiring a female bodyguard be any different? You want to know know if they have any formal education not only as an executive protection operative, but what about higher educational experience?    Have they achieved and professional development in security, investigations or psychology?  Have they attended a criminal justice program or gone to a business school?  Maybe they have additional education in para-medicine or other applicable transferable skill sets.  It is true that you want your bodyguard to know how to protect you, but you also want them to have some intelligence because their ability to think quickly and maybe use their skills of persuasion before their skills in using knuckles may go a lot further.  You get the point.  Look for overall experience that is demonstrated by their professionalism when they sit down with you.

3.  Look for a photograph.  It is true that if you don’t tell the prospective agent who you are, they probably will not want to tell you who they are.  In some cases it is necessary to enter into a non-disclosure before you wish to divulge your identity.  However, if you are dealing with a reputable organization you should feel comfortable in sharing a bit about yourself.  Whether you are hiring an a one-person operation or an entire company, having a professional head and shoulder photo is not too much to ask.  Looking for a photo does not mean you are looking for someone of specially good stock.  No, rather your wanting to know if one is play cloak and dagger games or if they are a professional looking to present themselves in their best light.  Also, at times it is necessary to match a person based upon characteristics.  However, work in conjunction with your point of contact in this regard.  They will always have this in mind.

4. Look for all the right paperwork.  The right paperwork depends upon where in the world you will be going.  For example, if you hire a bodyguard in California, USA you will need to hire one who is appropriately licensed as a security company or private investigator.  Private investigators can provide you with protection as long as their is an investigation that they are conducting as well, ie: who is threatening you.  A security company can provide you with security for any reason, including uniformed security but they cannot provide you with threat investigations.   If you are travelling with a bodyguard that started in an area where its not the law to be licensed and you are going into jurisdictions where they do require licensing, you are usually okay.  Most of the laws are to keep the consumer protected in respective states and other jurisdictions.  Also, if your female bodyguard is not armed, you never really have an issue as they are just a travelling companion.

Do they have a passport?  As part of the paperwork process ask them if they can travel at a moments notice, if need be.  Ask them what resources they have such as car services, private jet services, secure hotels, networks of other professionals if need be.  Making sure they have the legal authority to travel is paramount.  Also, do they carry insurance?  Do they have international driving privileges, do they enter into a written contract?  All these are necessary when evaluating your potential female bodyguard.

5. Do they know their business?  One of the first thing your female bodyguard should always do is conduct a threat assessment.  This is not always done in the detail we may like due to budget and time constraints.  However, your female executive protection agent should do a one on one assessment of your needs.  You as the consumer cannot just tell them you need a woman bodyguard.  No, you must quantify your needs with some explanation, documentation or your concerns.  Female bodyguards can’t see through walls, so help us help you.  Some of our questions during our assessment may seem invasive and they are.  For example, do you have anyone besides your mate that your having a relationship with?  Or, a complete list of medications you are on would be another necessary inquiry.  These issues help us to protect you.  So, expect your female close protection agent to ask tough questions so they can develop the most appropriate plan.  Remember we are strategists first and bruisers last.  If your female bodyguard does not do an assessment of some reasonable sort…get out of there!

6. Personality, Presentbility, Professionalism.  Look for the female bodyguard to be reasonably personable.  You may be travelling with such one for long durations, living in close quarters or other such circumstances that warrant your female close protection agent to have a decent personality.  True enough we are not there to be your best friend, however, we should have a personality that you feel comfortable with.  The bodyguard you seen in a movie acting aloof or unapproachable it not what your looking for.  You want someone especially in one-on-one situations (just you and your bodyguard) to act friendly towards you, but respect your space and know what not to do.  This comes to our point on professionalism.  Look for a female bodyguard that behaves kindly to others, knows how to get what is needed through tact and diplomacy – not by use of force or the fact that they are a “bodyguard”.    Professionalism is many things and someone that is polished in appearance is also a deciding factor, but don’t be fooled.  A female bodyguard that shows up in a tidy little suit does not mean she is qualified, remember to look at the big picture we have discussed here.

Stay tuned for our next installment or feel free to contact us by going to our website: http://www.athenaacademy.com

Denida Zinxiria, CPSS

The Importance of Being a Well Trained Female Bodyguard

LeMareschal1 Comment

The last 5 years has seen female bodyguards grow in popularity and their pay increase to in some cases surpass our male counterparts.   Many principals (clients) that are in showbiz, royal families or even politicians are interested in hiring female bodyguards for their safety. Thousands of dollars are paid in contracts between security companies who provides females bodyguards and V.I.P’s.  However, because there is such demand, many of these are under trained and put into place just to provide a body, yet they insufficient experience and training.


Because of the high demand in female bodyguards and the difficulty to find and hire trained ones, many security companies are hiring female who just have a related experience but not specifically bodyguard training. What is the problem of hiring a female that has an experience as police officer or a private investigator or being a martial arts athlete instead of a female who has passed through a specific bodyguard training and certification courses?


In order to answer that question we have to explain what does a  female bodyguard course consist of? Some of the topics the student is train in are:  Armed and unarmed combat, on her own or covering the V.I.P.  Police officers are trained to cover themselves and return fire, but a bodyguard has to learn not to cover herself but to cover her principal’s body. Our instinct tells us to cover ourselves in dangerous situations. It requires many hours of practice to overcome it and learn automatically to cover someone else with your own body.


A female bodyguard will be trained in risk analysis and management, anti-terrorism, body language, how to identify and react in explosives devices, organization of event security, self defense techniques, First Aid, how to react in hostile behavior, driving skills, media management, walking drills, armed and unarmed combat, etc.


Everyone has an experience in his own field. A police officer in law enforcement, a private investigator in investigations, and a martial artist is an athlete in fighting. If you have heart problems you wouldn’t choose a plastic surgeon instead of a cardiologist, even though they are both doctors.


In my previous work experience I had to work in a team with colleagues that didn’t have the needed bodyguard training. So, I had to pay attention twice and cover their back. But who was there to cover my back? I knew that I couldn’t rely on them and feel safe, if anything happened they would not be able to react professionally. Why? Because no one has trained them how to appropriately provide protective services.


If you are a female who want to work in security industry, take a minute and think seriously of the importance of being trained. Your previous related experience will help you but by its own doesn’t  make you suitable and ready to work as a bodyguard. You can find many bodyguard courses available. Whatever you choose for your professional training be sure that is from a certified body.  This means that their curriculum has been validated, given attention to and reworked in some cases to meet some standards.


ATHENA Worldwide and ATHENA Academy(TM) promote courses and female bodyguards around the world with the first centralized formal location for the promotion of females in the close protection industry. We are the answer to many who would like an all female training staff in the areas of – Child Protective Services, Nannyguard(TM), Bodyguard Training, Urban Awareness and many other female self defense issues.

Most that have a desire to learn how to provide protective services really enjoy their training, they look forward to it and embrace the challenges.  If you have the desire to make protective services a career as a female bodyguard, then contact ATHENA Academy by going to http://www.AthenaAcademy.com and learn how to get started.  A counseler will be assigned to you as you work through your training to help you get the most applicable education for the services you would like to perform.


Denida Zinxhiria, CPSS

7 Basic Principles for a Female Bodyguard

LeMareschal1 Comment

The 7 Basic Principles for a Female Bodyguard

We all in the security industry know that no one of us can offer 100% security to a client. For Athena Academy members it is necessary to follow and practise some simple basic principles in order to be able to reduce a potential attempt to a minimum percentage. Being well-trained, prepared and aware makes a female bodyguard able to carry out her duty.

1) Avoid  Routine

Routine can be deadly as a bullet. Many studies in attempted cases have proved that even the best team of bodyguards has failed when some of the team members have been vulnerable to routine. Someone who is following the same programme every day can be easily predictable from his enemies. We can mention Ronald Reagan’s assassination attempt on March 30, 1981, while he was leaving the hotel entrance, as one of the most well-known cases that failed cause the routine. (http://photosthatchangedtheworld.com/reagan-assassination/)

Someone who is planning to attempt an attack on your principal will study your team. He will note and study your daily programme. The routes you are following. Your reactions, even your escort techniques in order to find the weak points that will give him the opportunity to act against you.

So, what a female bodyguard can do in order to avoid routine? You can use different routes, entrances, and exits when you are in escort with your principal. Surprise your enemy by exiting from another entrance or using different routes. Change the techniques you are following when you control his car, office, home, and even people from time to time. Also when you are following different techniques not only is difficult for someone to study you but also gives him to understand that he is messing with a professional and he will have to think it twice.

2) Use Common Sense.

You don’t have to be an expert in physics or science or have a BSc degree in order to be succeeded as a bodyguard. What you always will need is to use common sense when dealing with situations.


3) Always Be On Alert

A principal’s safety is dependent upon his bodyguard’s professionalism. So although he is the target, you as his security team are the first who will be monitoring and the one that will accept any attack. By being always alert and having in your mind, you will be able to pay more attention to faces, facts and places. Do not ever allow yourself to believe that your job is safe. You have to take the necessary measures to protect yourself first and by extension your principal. You are there cause there is a risk factor. If you have to be in front of a bullet that means you have failed in your job, you haven’t predicted the incoming threat and avoided it.

4) Stay On Track

You have done this through your training and the necessary education of being a bodyguard. So, you are able to adopt your own way and technique of how you will work. Follow an orderly on how you work but also allow in some cases and situations new ideas and techniques. Remember we want to avoid falling into the trap of the routine.

5)Be Suspicious

As a security team member, you should have a higher level of suspicion toward people. When you are in a crowd everyone can be a potential threat. In order for your enemy to come closer to you and your principal he can adopt every ID that you can imagine. He can be a photographer, visitor, fan, waitress, etc. What you need to do is to pay attention and see if someone is behaving accordingly to his ID. If something doesn’t look normal to you take a moment to investigate the person. Is better to spend more time and effort and be sure to have a risk behind your back. Always trust your gut. We all know how women trust their 6th sense. As a female bodyguard use that sense of yours. If you don’t like something search it more.

We can mention here a very famous case in which the disaster was avoided because of the excellent job of the ElAl security officer at Heathrow Airport on April 17, 1986. He was on duty and has to check Anne Marie Murphy, a 32-year-old Irish woman who was six months pregnant and was carrying without her knowledge explosives under a double panel in her suitcase.

http://www.shabak.gov.il/english/history/affairs/pages/anne-mariemurphycase.aspx

If we think about it, how many would suspect a 32-year-old pregnant woman? The ElAl security officer did it, while he was interviewing her he found something suspicious, and his suspiciousness save the life of 395 passengers and crew.

6) Take Necessary Initiatives

Sometimes you will have to take over initiatives during your services that are outside of your duty in order to prevent any threats. Don’t be afraid to do it, just have in mind to act with responsibility, professionalism and respect toward your colleagues and people.

7) Maintain Good Communication

Remember as a female bodyguard you are not responsible only for your principal and your team’s safety but also responsible for your acts that may damage his image. Is very important to keep a respectful level of communication with people you are dealing with such as the paparazzi, media, fans and supporters. Who can forget cases like Nicole Kidman’s bodyguard beating a paparazzi almost near to death (http://www.theinsider.com/news/727571_Nicole_Kidmans_bodyguard_beats_photographer_black_and_blue), or when Barbra Streisand had to intervene and stop the fight between her bodyguard and a paparazzi in the streets of Paris (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yuLmc_kP1g&feature=related). Although your primary is your principal’s safety that doesn’t mean that you can break the laws and use violence toward others in order to make your job easier for you.

And of course, we can’t forget the importance of good communication between you and your colleagues. You are in the same team offering services for one common achievement, your principal’s safety.

Denida Zinxhiria