| The "hard" skills necessary for an executive | | | | weigh the student before you start and right |
| protection specialist (EPS) and/or personal | | | | after you stop. People with poor stress |
| protection specialist (PPS) are often | | | | control tend to loose more weight, even in a |
| perceived as being that of a policeman or | | | | short period of time, than those with a |
| (elite) soldier. Though there can be certain | | | | better stress condition. Again let the |
| similarities i.e. the use of handguns, | | | | student make a written report, right after |
| hand-to-hand combat and the ability to | | | | the debriefing, of his physical and emotional |
| control a vehicle, most people having worked | | | | wellbeing.3. Dealing with life-or-death |
| both in executive protection and either of | | | | situations can be hard to do under training |
| the latter careers, will deny that the skills | | | | conditions in the private sector. The |
| are parallel. They may look alike but the | | | | mentioned approach may or may not be |
| methodology of each skill differs from | | | | applicable to your country or culture, but |
| segment to segment.However, the psychological | | | | will fit into most cultures in the western |
| skills needed are almost identical. Knowing | | | | world. If your staff already has experienced |
| basic psychological skills is essential in | | | | the mentioned situations, this approach is |
| this line of business, as it is in law | | | | unnecessary and can trigger grim flashbacks. |
| enforcement and military combat. Any person | | | | But it is still a realistic way of dealing |
| taking responsibility for another person's | | | | with the students or new EPS/PPS who never |
| life will have to consider the adaptability | | | | have been in active combat or equally |
| of his/her psychological capabilities in a | | | | dangerous situations.I suggest that you try |
| variety of situations. These will include but | | | | to deal with this in five tempi:a) Take any |
| are not limited to; adaptability in awkward | | | | and all of your staff to an undertaker's |
| situations (state of mind going from humble | | | | office and let the undertaker explain their |
| to authoritative or vice versa), adaptability | | | | point of view. They normally have a rather |
| in different work atmospheres (Keeping body | | | | pragmatic view on the corps as a holster in |
| and mind relaxed when waiting for a client | | | | which we just reside until we pass |
| and suddenly change to a high stress level) | | | | away.b) Thereafter you go to a hospital and |
| and the ever so popular question of | | | | visit the emergency room. Some hospitals have |
| considering life-or-death situations (can I | | | | guided tours others do not. But the |
| kill or will I freeze?).Knowing, and openly | | | | blood-n-guts approach is essential for anyone |
| accepting, your physical and psychological | | | | who later on will be responsible for saving |
| limits are a lifesaver. Not only will it save | | | | another mans life.c) If possible, visit a |
| your own life, but it could very well save | | | | forensic examiner during working hours (some |
| the lives of your teammates and your | | | | work 8/12-hour shift and can have a rather |
| client.Since training in this area is almost | | | | "cold" approach to things).d) Take them |
| non-existing in the private sector, allow me | | | | hunting for deer or similar creatures and let |
| to suggest a few easy-to-conduct training | | | | them assist when you skin the prey.e) Last; |
| scenarios:1. Take a student or new EPS/PPS to | | | | let people reflect a few days on what they |
| a party and assign him to a "VIP". It can be | | | | have seen, before they write a report on |
| your own private party and the "VIP" can be | | | | their own view on life-or-death situations. |
| whomever you choose, but be sure to let the | | | | They should now be motivated enough to fight |
| "VIP" know that the EPS/PPS are there to look | | | | back with all that they got, if |
| out for them. Depending on your assessment of | | | | attacked!Always remember to let your students |
| the EPS the assignment can be a very | | | | train under as realistic conditions as |
| attractive woman (possible problem: jealousy | | | | possible. If possible try to use fear |
| or multiple worshippers) or a man with a | | | | induction in the training.These descriptions |
| tendency towards drinking (possible problem: | | | | may seem harsh and cold. And I admit that a |
| inappropriate and/or reckless behavior). Now | | | | certain percentage of the staff/students will |
| observe the EPS/PPS throughout the night. If | | | | quit when exposed to this kind of training. |
| you deem it necessary, have someone help you | | | | But I would not have personnel protect me, no |
| creating a scene, so as to provoke the right | | | | matter how physically fit, if they never had |
| behavior from your "VIP" and hopefully your | | | | been tested emotionally. Nor should you or |
| EPS/PPS.The direct goal of this scenario will | | | | your client!Besides from the explained |
| be to find signs of insecurity and/or | | | | skills, any EPS/PPS should also develop good |
| confusion in the moment where the EPS/PPS has | | | | character judgment, direct/indirect attack |
| to decide whether or not to intervene. The | | | | recognition skills, be able to recognize |
| secondary goal could be to have the EPS/PPS | | | | manipulation and have an overall assertive |
| make a written report, right after the | | | | approach to people. Not all can have a degree |
| debriefing, describing any flaws in his own | | | | in psychology, but anyone working in the |
| emotional pattern. Thereby assessing his | | | | field of executive protection should have |
| understanding of self-esteem and related | | | | some sort of psychological training. This |
| cognitive abilities.2. Working environment. | | | | kind of training is part of a normal police |
| Take a student or new EPS/PPS on a job with a | | | | academy education as well as part of the |
| low-level director/manager. Preferably on a | | | | average army combat training and should, in |
| 3-5 day assignment. Let him be a part of the | | | | my personal point of view, be compulsory in |
| entire planning and let him be part of the | | | | executive protection training.Henrik |
| personal escort section (introduce him to the | | | | Bramsborg is the managing director of |
| director/manager as a disciple if necessary). | | | | Bramsborg Security & safety, a security |
| Now, at any and all meetings, this particular | | | | company based in Denmark. Henrik is a |
| student should be put on post in front of | | | | stalking- and surveillance detection |
| doors, in hallways, offices etc. Let him | | | | specialist and the author of several Danish |
| experience the joys of waiting. Be sure that | | | | books on security. Henrik is also an |
| he gets all information last. Also make him | | | | experienced instructor in personal |
| change pace whenever possible. Soon after, | | | | protection, having trained NATO S-FOR forces, |
| observe how the "Relax-hurry" syndrome kicks | | | | police officers, correctional facility |
| in. Depending on the students ability to | | | | officers and private bodyguards. He holds a |
| elevate and descend stress hormones he will | | | | management degree and is furthermore a |
| feel tired after a while, almost leaning | | | | certified motivation instructor.Bramsborg |
| towards a depressive state of mind. If he has | | | | Security & Safety, have been quoted or |
| a low stress border, the before mentioned | | | | profiled in several Danish media as the |
| state of mind will be obvious. If not, it is | | | | "Danish stalking experts". |
| barely visible. It would be beneficial to | | | | |