Bodyguard

A bodyguard is a person or group of people who professionally protect someone (known as their principal) from personal assault, kidnapping, assassination, loss of confidential information, or other threats. Alternative term for bodyguard that is gaining popularity (particularly with the bodyguards themselves) is close-protection officer. Many professional training courses identify themselves close-protection training instead of bodyguarding training, for example.

General overview

Bodyguards may be armed, depending on the laws in their jurisdiction, and have expertise in unarmed combat, tactical driving, and first aid. However, the most important skill for a bodyguard is the ability to assess a situation and decide how best to respond to minimize danger to his principal.

Most important public figures are protected by several bodyguards who work as a unit (or even agency), using sophisticated tactics. Less-important protectees (or those with lower risk profiles) are accompanied by a single bodyguard, who may double as a driver. However, some billionaires and dignitaries choose to dispense with bodyguards in all but the most risky situations.

In multi-agent units (like those protecting a celebrity or a head of state) one or more bodyguards may specialize in specific tasks, such as:
*communications/communications protection
*operation of physical security measures (regarding premises, transport vehicles and personal armor)
*intelligence, threat/vulnerability/risk assessment and analysis
*explosives and chemical detection
*sniper warfare and special weapons
*crowd screening and control
*SCUBA patrol, and other.

Regardless of the team size, there must be a comprehensive security plan with a staffing plan and budget.

Famous bodyguards and bodyguarding agencies

In the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, most bodyguards are former or current police officers, or sometimes former military or other government agency personnel. E.g., former members of the Special Air Service often go in close-protection after retirement, since many are given specialised training in the field during their time in the regiment.

One well-known public agency that provides bodyguard services is the United States Secret Service which safeguards the lives of the President, his family, and other executive officials. The Secret Service can be compared to historical bodies such as the Praetorian Guard, Varangian Guard, Swiss Guard and the Janissaries.

Another agency, the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security, is responsible for protecting U.S. missions and their personnel overseas, as well as selected dignitaries in the U.S., including the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, the Secretary of State, and visiting foreign dignitaries below heads-of-state level.

Whilst the US Secret Service's close-protection role is its most visible, its historic role as agents of the United States Treasury makes it somewhat unique internationally as usually "official" bodyguards are part of general police forces. A significant example is the Royalty and Diplomatic Protection Department of the Metropolitan Police, which is responsible for the security of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom.

In India NSG (National Security Guards), an organisation particularly trained in anti-terrorist activities, also provides Body Guards for the VVIPs. The Organisation functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India. In 1984 Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two of her security guards, reportedly chosen as personal bodyguards.

Notable bodyguards

*Sempronius Densus - bodyguard of Piso Licinianus, deputy Roman emperor, who singlehandedly fought an entire company of soldiers in 69 AD.
*Harald Hardraeda -swashbuckler adventurer,of royal blood.Bodyguard to the Emperors of Eastern Rome.Later king on his own account
*Walter H. Thompson - bodyguard of Winston Churchill for 18 years in the period 1921-1945.
*Mr. T - bodyguard of modern American celebrities stars such as Muhammad Ali and Michael Jackson.
*Mykola Mel'nychenko, an agent assigned to provide communications protection for the Ukraine's President Leonid Kuchma, publicly accused his principal of committing numerous crimes in 2000, causing an international scandal.
*Satwant Singh and Beant Singh - bodyguards who assassinated then PM Indira Gandhi
*Jim Grover - The head of Crucible Security.
*Manuel Godoy -bodyguard of the Queen of Spain,made general,minister and finally,Prince by Napoleon
*Avi Korein - Owner of Screen International Security Services in Los Angeles. The Israeli bouncer turned bodyguard rode the coattails of Bruce Willis during his rise to fame in the '80s, managing to establish his company as a major security provider to the stars in Hollywood. His company provides protection for some of the biggest names in Hollywood, to include Will Smith, Ozzy Osbourne, Angolina Jolie, Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt (before their infamous divorce), Cameron Diaz and Tom Cruise.
*Michael Clarke Duncan - The Oscar-nominated actor worked as a bouncer in various Chicago nightclubs. Through working at the clubs, he was able to get a security job and ended up in Los Angeles. He took other security jobs while in Los Angeles while trying to get some acting work in commercials. Eventually he was cast in a walk-on role in Ice Cube's Friday. During this time, he continued to work as a bodyguard for celebrities like Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Jamie Foxx and LL Cool J, all the while doing bit parts in television and films.

Fictional bodyguards

Quentin Durward -Literary scott hero,bodyguard of the king of France.Charles d'Artagnan -Bodyguard of the french crown,perhaps the most famous ever of all,along with his three comrades.Based on Charles de Batz,a true officer from Gasconny.
Bodyguard - former Japanese television series starring Reiko Takashima
The Bodyguard - film about guarding a celebrity singer
Bodyguards - UK television series
Kevin Nash as Diesel was Shawn Michaels' bodyguard.
*The Human Target - American comic book and television series
*In the Line of Fire - American film about guarding the President
*Usagi Yojimbo - Stan Sakai's anthropomorphic samurai based upon Miyamoto Musashi
*Yojimbo - Akira Kurosawa film
*Sheeva - The personal protector of Sindel
*Domovoi Butler - From The Artemis Fowl series
*MagnaGuard - General Grievous's bodyguards.
*Lord of War - The main character's brother protects him while he makes arms deals in war-torn countries
*Suki - A Japanese manga about a relationship between a teenaged girl and (unbeknownst to her) 32-year old bodyguard.
*Man on Fire'' - Denzel Washington plays the ferociously protective bodyguard of a young girl, played by Dakota Fanning.

Other uses of the term

Minders

A minder is a bodyguard who protects the financial interests of the principal rather than their personal safety.

Bodyguard: Encyclopedia BETA

Contents