What It Means to Work as an Executive Protection (Close Protection) Specialist

by Executive Protection Institute EPI was founded in 1978

When most people hear the word “security,” the first image that comes to their minds is of an overweight security officer standing in a mall (à la Paul Blart: Mall Cop). The second most common image that will pop into their heads is the role of the “Bodyguard.”

The executive protection (close protection) specialist is by far the most glamorous of the security jobs—thanks to the innumerable portrayals of bodyguards in Hollywood. It is also the highest paying and most demanding job you will find in the security industry.

Working as an executive protection specialist has its perks. Therefore, it is no surprise that so many people want to try their hand in this field. However, the question remains, “How to become a bodyguard?”

To be an excellent executive protection specialist, you must:

Be highly trained in the field and always plan to get your client out of any risky situation.
Be in perfect physical shape as you will be standing on your feet for hours on end and must respond to threats instantly.
Know how to adjust your lifestyle to accommodate your client’s needs—whenever they go, you go as well.
Maintain constant situational awareness. Remember: being “at the moment” can take a toll on your mental health, making it one of the most challenging aspects of being an executive protection specialist.
Learn how to use the best approach for any situation. An executive protection specialist is expected to do everything necessary to keep their client(s) safe, but certain situations can sometimes hamstring them. A pop artist, for example, may have an ecstatic fan run up to hug them, and using a taser on them would not be “ideal.”

If you believe you have what it takes, enroll in a reputable bodyguard training program, get your license, and start sending out your résumé to security firms.