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I completed my first executive protection training for bodyguards programme in the UK several years ago and was bitterly disappointed with the poor level of service and knowledge I was provided with. This programme never provided anything like more value than cost. In fact it is safe to say myself and the other 70 bodyguard students were ripped off. As bad as my initial close protection training was, it made me more determined to become a professional bodyguard working in the security executive protection sector. To state I was bitterly disappointed at the close protection training I had previously received would be the greatest understatement ever made. However I realised that the poor quality of the vip protection knowledge passed on by the previous security company was enough for me to learn there must be a better executive protection security company in the marketplace. My next task was to conduct enough research and due diligence to ensure I received the very best executive protection training for bodyguards and avoid being ripped off again. My intense desire to become a professional bodyguard was driving me forwards. I contacted 10-15 executive protection bodyguard training companies who claimed to specialise the provision of executive protection training for bodyguards. As this was some years ago computers and IT technology world was new to me, but I could got by ok. I logged onto the internet and began my research by typing in key words and key phrases like security, close protection, close protection training courses, bodyguard, bodyguards into the Google search bar. It provided a lot of information, but as the internet was still in its early days I wasn't overwhelmed with responses. I turned my attention to each of the web sites flagging the most relevant security and close protection training companies who offered executive protection training for bodyguards. Eventually I shortlisted about 15 bodyguard companies. I either phoned them, wrote letters or sent them emails. The security companies who actually had a human being answering the phone agreed to send me information on close protection training in the post, I received email replies saying their information for executive protection bodyguard training and bodyguard courses were posted on their website. Two vip protection companies would not discuss close protection training or anything to do with any reference to bodyguard subject matter over the phone. By the end of 2 weeks and up to today's date I only received 5 replies from security companies with information regarding close protection training. As a former business owner I was quite dismayed at this terrible lack of professional business courtesy and considered it no wonder many bodyguard training and vip protection companies went out of business. My next task was to contact each security company by phone and have a general conversation about my executive protection training for bodyguards. I informed them also that I would like them to address my letter which contained 30 questions about close protection training that I required answers to before I consider investing in any further vip protection training. These questions were part of my due diligence to help me identify the most professional security company. One security company refused point blank to answer any of my questions informing me that they only answered questions after I had fully paid and booked onto one of their close protection training courses. Given I'd been ripped off for my training money, and ripped off of vip protection knowledge previously, it was a no brainer for me to assign this security company into the cowboy bodyguard category. I was not going to make the same mistake twice. The other 4 replies provided very different answers in relation to the costs of their bodyguard training and also the running of their close protection training courses. No 1 security company only held a 15 day close protection training course which was overseas only. Both the second and third security companies I phoned made me feel very uneasy, they were quite aggressive and very unprofessional. Clearly they had failed to attend any customer service training. The fourth security company was completely the opposite; in fact they were very friendly and understanding. They also did something amazing compared to the other security companies, they listened to me. They asked me to outline my expectations from my proposed executive protection training for bodyguards. It was clear and apparent that the first three companies were only interested in taking my money. In fact the entire conversation revolved around getting me to pay straight away. They were aggressive in trying to hard sell me and even more aggressive in trying to close me over the telephone. They were more interested in "when are you going to book with us, can you send your deposit today." They then started to add financial extras which made their information misleading. They were very keen to explain I had to part with my final payment 14 days before I went onto any close protection training course. This made me feel very uncomfortable and ill at ease. I remember thinking this is De Ja Vue Kevin Hodder make sure you don't get ripped off again. The fourth security company gave me a different outlook. I held many phone conversations and spoke to different staff about the life of a professional bodyguard, close protection training and bodyguard jobs. They were very patient with me and provided honest responses. Their business attitude and customer concern was outstanding I spoke to the same person a couple of times and he couldn't have given me any more encouragement about the close protection industry as a professionally trained bodyguard. I was informed by a staff member later that day the person I had my long conversation with was the boss himself, who has pioneered VIP close protection training courses in over 40 different countries and has ultimately become respected as one of the global leaders in VIP close protection training and bodyguard operations. his specialty is conducting extremely high-risk executive protection operations in many of the worlds global hot spots. At last I had found the security company that I wanted to complete my close protection training with, and I have to admit I was very excited. I was so excited I phoned the boss back and spoke to him personally enter my request for him to train me to personally train and mentor me to develop the skills required to become a close protection/bodyguard. I explained I was not from a security or martial arts background and that I was probably older than most of his other bodyguard students. I mentioned I was nervous and that as I was self employed I was concerned about being able to afford time off for my executive protection training for bodyguards due to having a young family to support. His reply was to politely interrupt me and he requested that I banish all these negative issues until we discussed each individual one on a point by point basis. He informed me he could train me to become a professional bodyguard as he had trained thousands of others around the world. He even offered me financial grant aid to finance my close protection training. Best of all he mapped out a bespoke training programme that fitted in with my lifestyle. He mapped out the following 3 steps for me. 1. Register as a student with Ground Zero International for close protection training. 2.Register with the Ground Zero International affiliated Law Enforcement & Bodyguard Association International LEBAI membership association. 3. Supply passport, driving licence, photos, C.V for my Ground Zero International I.D. card. He mentioned that after all security checks were complete I would be notified when to attend my residential close protection training for bodyguards. At this stage I had no idea how this professional relationship would work but I admit I was very excited at the prospect. I also have to admit that I had no idea that several years later I would be running my very own Ground Zero Kent security bodyguard close protection company. But that's something for my next article. Copyright (c) 2009 Dr Mark Yates
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