Everyone knows Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson but did you know he likely has a team of bodyguards for his personal protection and safety? Why do you think that is? Dwayne is a rather large and muscular person, but the size of a person is not the only factor to consider in a bodyguard.

Celebrity bodyguards are always noticeable around their celebrity. You see the constant head swivel movements, controlling the gathered crowd or paparazzi, and the swift movement of getting their celebrity or client from point A to point B without incident. From the outside looking in, it may not appear to be a stressful career choice but, it is much more than the surface shows. Celebrity bodyguards must always be mentally sharp and aware of their surroundings. That means their alertness and situational awareness skills are constantly working.

What Sets Professional Celebrity Bodyguards Apart

 Bodyguards in general receive specialized training and more than likely come with experience in military and/or law enforcement. Specialized training ranges from tactical driving, and close protection techniques, to threat assessments, and communication. A bodyguard needs to have the ability to think quickly and respond accordingly to the situation at hand. It could mean life or death.

            Tactical driving is often used in high-risk situations and is a skill set that allows the driver to maintain enhanced vehicle control while maneuvering the vehicle in emergency situations. Close protection techniques are specialized skillsets in security strategies and tactics that maintain the safety of an individual or individuals from threats. The purpose of threat assessments is to prevent threat as it is an evaluation of the credibility and seriousness of a potential threat. It also assists in determining if a person poses as a threat to the protected individual and threat assessments assist in planning a response to various threat scenarios or situations. It is almost like playing the “what if” game to maintain all possible scenarios and how to best respond.

            Having a well trained and experienced celebrity bodyguard can make a difference in a life-or-death situation. Hiring a bodyguard with little to no experience or knowledge may not always be the best option to ensure an individual’s safety and protection. There are several ways a person can become a celebrity bodyguard. Law enforcement agencies send their newly hired officers to an extensive training academy that is typically a six-month duration. They are taught the basic law at local, state, and federal levels. They are also put through daily physical exercise courses to maintain their physical strength and taught basic Jiu-Jitsu tactics. Jiu-Jitsu, also known as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, is a martial art and combat sport that focuses on grappling and ground fighting techniques. They emphasize on controlled movements that force their opponent into submission through joint locks and choke holds. It is widely used across all law enforcement agencies and heavily encouraged continued training and development of the skills offered in Jiu-Jitsu. Anyone can take lessons for any reason; for personal protection, as a hobby, assist in career field, or competition.

            Hiring a person as a celebrity bodyguard that has military experience is highly encouraged. Like law enforcement agencies, the military sends their cadets through a basic training. It consists of ten weeks in basic training followed by a specialized training session. They strive to push their cadets to be in the best physical shape and mental shape possible during those first ten weeks. After the basic training is completed, they move into the specialize training portion of their training. Many soldiers deploy to combat zones during their career in the military. The specialized training received in basic training determines their position in combat zones. Combat zones are highly stressful and hazardous areas. The experience in a combat zone may increase the skillset to provide quality protection of an individual or individuals. They are used to high stress scenarios, they have established behaviors that keep them on alert and scanning their surroundings, and they always have an exit plan for every location they visit.

            Depending on State and local laws, celebrity bodyguards have the ability to carry a firearm while on duty. This requires a permit or license to allow the person to carry. This permit is known a Private Security Officer (PSO) permit and is available through the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS). This permit only applies for on duty carry only. It is typically up to the client if they prefer a celebrity bodyguard to carry or not.

            Having a peace of mind is popular reason celebrities hire bodyguards. When the protection is there by a well trained individual, the lifestyle of a celebrity can seem less hectic at times. The celebrity bodyguard can go hands on with a potential threat. The level in the use of force from the celebrity bodyguard must meet the means of the threat. Meaning, if a person is yelling and making threats at a celebrity, the proper response from the bodyguard should be a verbal warning. If the person attempts to or successfully physically attacks a celebrity, the bodyguard’s proper response should be to physically remove the person off the celebrity and maintain control until the proper authorities arrive to take control. This means the bodyguard will need to go hands on with the threat and deescalate the situation. This match in level of aggression and response is called a use of force continuum. The aggressor’s level of aggression is met with the same level of response in attempt to deescalate the situation. This is a tool commonly used across all police academies and other law enforcement training. It is the basic and backbone to de-escalation situations.

            A celebrity bodyguard is more than meets the eye. It takes a certain skillset and experience to provide top notch service. The experience gained in the law enforcement field and/or military service ties in with making a person a better fit to work as a celebrity bodyguard. They have experienced numerous high stress scenarios, have trained to be aware of their surroundings, how to assess threats and respond accordingly, and how to properly deescalate a situation safely.   

When it comes to elite protection, experience and training matter. At Fischer Protection Group, our team is made up of highly trained professionals from military and law enforcement backgrounds, providing discreet and reliable security for celebrities and high-profile clients. Your safety is our mission.

Contact us today to learn how we can protect what matters most!