Roles and responsibilities of a bodyguard

by Executive Protection Institute EPI was founded in 1978

A bodyguard is a professional security expert that protects their clients from incurring any physical harm. They are trained to prevent kidnappings, invasion of privacy, theft or destruction of property, and any other related tasks.

There is a lot more involved when you work as a professional bodyguard than protection. A specialist must know how to handle documents, control crowds, operate vehicles, communicate with the public, and even save the lives of those around them using techniques such as CPR and first aid.

Difference between a security guard and a bodyguard

There is a lot of difference between working as a security guard and a professional bodyguard. The two should never be confused.

Security guards ideally work in a lower capacity and often work in parking lots of stores and buildings, ensuring that things are as they should be while maintaining logs of all the rounds they must make.

It's their job to report any unusual activity, theft, and possibly detain suspects in certain situations until the authorities or police arrive.

On the other hand, bodyguards risked their lives to ensure the well-being and safety of the client they are protecting.

This is done with a great deal of expertise and skill. There are numerous kinds of dangers and threats in which a professional bodyguard protects their clients. These threats often include murder, assault, kidnapping, and blackmail.

Securing a job as a professional bodyguard

Before digging deeper into how to be a bodyguard, individuals first need to decide if risking their lives to protect their client is something they want to do.

Once decided, the next step is to get the required training, either by securing a job with an agency that will provide you with the necessary training or by paying for a bodyguard training course from your pocket.

Individuals will then choose to work for an actual government agency such as the CIA, FBI, or private bodyguard agency.

Training and education requirements

To become a bodyguard, you only need a high school education, but you need to undergo a lot of in-depth and specialized training. This training is often pervasive.

As a bodyguard, you may work in different capacities, with numerous job descriptions requiring a magnitude of skills.

Professional bodyguard training that every armed bodyguard needs to undergo to have a successful career includes but isn't limited to:

Firearms training
CPR and first aid
Tactical shooting
Defensive tactics
Emergency evacuations
Hostage negotiation
Evasive driving

Physical requirements

besides having the appropriate training, a bodyguard must also meet a certain level of physical requirements needed for the job.

Since the job often requires frequent travel on foot and by car, having the right height and weight proportion is critical.

Since professional bodyguards cannot predict when an emergency may arise, they need to be prepared for any dire circumstances. They should be capable of physically running for a long distance if required.

It takes a lot of skill and training to be a bodyguard. If you feel like you are up for the task, then you should go for it!