If you think you have the skill sets needed for a career in security or being a bodyguard, it’s good to cultivate that dream and desire in your heart and explore it as a career option. As the world continues to deal with political tensions among different nations, as wealthy and influential VIPs having to contend with targets on their backs, and as government leaders need more protection than ever before, everyone who is anyone will always need a certain level of protection. For all these reasons, there will always be a demand for more bodyguards.
If you think you have what it takes, read on to know more about how to become a bodyguard.
The necessary traits
Here are some traits that are crucial for someone who wants to do this line of work:
- Common sense. This is simply the ability to have sound and good judgment during the most stressful situations. You need to be able to calmly and decisively take action for your client’s safety, no matter how dire the circumstances are.
- Intelligence. This is the capacity for knowledge and logic and applying what you know to your immediate surroundings and circumstance to get the job done.
- Initiative. Bodyguards cannot be apathetic or unbothered; they need to be the first to take action in every situation that may arise.
- Presence of mind. If you’re the type to zone out or get distracted easily, this line of work may not be for you. Your presence of mind is crucial for keeping your clients safe from any harm that may come their way.
- Team player. You will most likely be working with a security team as well. One of the most potentially harmful kinds of bodyguards is rogue ones; you need to be in sync with the rest of your team to keep your clients safe.
- Ability to work alone. On the other hand, you also need to be able to work independently when the need arises. If you get split from your team with no chance of communicating with them, or you have to protect a VIP alone, you need to be ready to be a one-man team.
- Detail-oriented. You need to be able to walk into a room or a situation and read it to know if anything or anyone could potentially risk your client’s safety.
- Strong appearance. Unfortunately, having a strong or intimidating presence can help a lot in getting hired as a bodyguard.
- Positive outlook and attitude. You also need to see the good in any situation and be positive that you will always find a way to protect your client out of any seemingly hopeless circumstance.
- Calm demeanor. The last thing you need to be is more panicky than the people you’re supposed to be protecting. Good bodyguards are calm at all times.
- Physical health and strength. You also need to be able to overpower any physical threat to your client’s safety. You need to be able to run and not be faint.
The necessary training
If you want to become a bodyguard, whether as a freelancer or part of a bigger security company, you need formal protection training. Some security companies require certifications, and they also do background checks on potential hires. If you have a background in military, police work, security, and forces, you already have a lot of tools in your arsenal to be a good bodyguard.
The necessary qualifications
A high school diploma, a GED, or any equivalent to these qualifications are key to being a bodyguard. You must also have a first-aid and CPR certification since knowledge of these basic components is crucial to being effective in this line of work. Some basic first aid includes assisting someone who’s choking, treating a burn, treating all types of wounds, making an arm sling, and many others. Some other training you need includes tactical skills, weapons, armed and unarmed combat, advanced driving skills, disarming, and others.
Kinds of bodyguards
Bodyguards or security officers work in various ways: Armed and unarmed, uniformed or plain-clothed, remote or onsite. Some are assigned as residential security teams, while some purely protect their clients at work. Some are hired by governments, while others are contracted by private institutions. Even affluent families even hire their own security teams.
Whatever type of bodyguard you become, know that this is an incredibly noble task—and one that requires hard work, dedication, and a certain level of fearlessness. Give this dream a shot—you might end up saving a life or two.
