Is Military Experience Necessary to Become an Executive Protection Agent?
Is Military Experience Necessary to Become an Executive Protection Agent?
In Short: No!
In Long:
Also no! It’s true that many bodyguards and executive protection agents come from military or law enforcement backgrounds, but the reason for this is that their prior roles in those fields have prepared them with a training foundation to pivot more-easily into the security industry.
Many men and women from these fields get into the security field due to prior military or law enforcement roles that required hand-to-hand, firearm, tactical training and more. That’s not to say civilians can’t also train to be in the security industry, it just has to be sought out and isn’t as seamless as a transition.
The advantages and disadvantages of security training as a civilian
Former military and law-enforcement workers in these training programs tend to have an advantage over civilians training when it comes to high pressure situations and risk assessment — in the opposite vein, they also have some unlearning to do as far as interpersonal tact and safety that may come easier for civilians in personal protection.
For example: Having a stone-faced expression and cold personality may be good for military operations, but it doesn’t go over well with a talkative client that may see military demeanor as angry or even disrespectful.
Civilians who become bodyguards or EP agents come from all kinds of different backgrounds from all over the U.S. Pacific West Academy has had students with martial arts, combat sports; and even collegiate, semi-pro, and professional sports backgrounds.
It’s important to note that the qualifications and requirements for bodyguards can vary depending on the specific needs of the client or the security company employing them. While a military background can provide a solid foundation of skills and discipline, it is not the sole determining factor for becoming a bodyguard.
How PWA trains you to be the best
At Pacific West Academy, we prepare students from a variety of backgrounds with a thorough education in the security and executive protection fields. Students, regardless of prior training experience, go through an extensive application process, including background checks and multiple interviews. PWA offers a variety of courses related to executive protection and bodyguarding. Some of the topics covered in the curriculum include:
- Threat assessment and risk management
- Defensive tactics and physical security techniques
- Firearms training and marksmanship
- Surveillance and counter-surveillance techniques
- Emergency medical response and first aid
- Communication and conflict resolution skills
- Legal and ethical considerations in executive protection
Our CESS program is a 39-day, 348-hour, immersive program to live and learn the ins and outs of executive protection and security training.
Students with non-military and non-law-enforcement backgrounds are part of every CESS class. Pacific West Academy aims to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to work as professional bodyguards and executive protection agents in a variety of settings, including corporate security, celebrity protection, and high-risk travel security.
Interested in applying to PWA to kickstart or elevate your career in the security and executive protection fields? Visit us online at https://pwa.edu.