The close protection operative / CPO is employed to protect their clients from physical attacks, kidnappings, and any other form of harassment or dangerous scenarios all around the world.
Often described as the men with black sunglasses and suits, their responsibilities don’t end there – this is only one of their responsibilities.
What is a Close Protection Operative (CPO)
Close Protection Operatives are also known as bodyguards. They are highly trained, specialist security operatives who keep people safe from physical harm, unwanted attention and other threats to their safety or privacy.
Close Protection officers provide physical security, risk assessments, pre-emptive care and even discreet surveillance, counter-surveillance and anti-surveillance.
With the rise in criminal activity, terrorism and specific threats, Close Protection offers a superior level of security to individuals, their families, and their business, political or financial interests.
Even though close protection operatives are often thought of as being employed solely by celebrities, they’re now in demand for clients in a wide range of different sectors. Whether that be for a celebrity, a politician, high-net-worth or ultra-high-net-worth individuals, or perhaps the royal family, applying the same standard care to each person receiving protective services.
What does a Close Protection Operative / CPO do
Its, obvious – it protects, but not always necessarily just people – it could be any type of asset as well – jewelry, cars, property, spaces or access areas. It may even include physical information protection like specialist key-cards or other items and on-site data vaults.
The tasks of a Close Protection Operative on any operation could be divided into seven task groups. Let’s explore them one by one…
- Guarding and Protecting
It’s important to distinguish the difference: guarding refers to static, often overt positions, like access points and control measures, such as gates or surveillance. Whereas protecting refers to mobile duties which oftentimes involve covert movements or camouflaged observation, like escorting a principal through crowds or low-profile areas and controlling assets, such as property or valuables.
Regardless of whether you are mobile or static, all CPO roles coordinate within a larger, often multi-layered structure, sometimes consisting of several teams. The close protection team members will always carry out different functions, to complete the operational objectives required. - Reconnaissance
Often overlooked as an initial phase in operations, the recon team provides the essential intelligence for an operation, beyond what can be gathered through Open Source, and provide continuous information prior to other CPOs attending sites. Reliance on technology – due to Insider Threat – can get CPOs and principals killed or kidnapped. Learning to rely on the basic eyes, ears, talking to people, blending in, and briefing/updating team members in real-time is an underappreciated close protection skill and complete game-changer. - Surveillance
If you are a tech guru, you may try to join a CPO team, even if you are not very good on the field – there are many other tasks, that may fit you perfectly. There are three main types of surveillance: surveillance, counter-surveillance, and anti-surveillance.
All surveillance is covert when done properly, but sometimes it may be used overtly to disincentivize certain activities. Whether it’s a camera that’s clearly marked, or a team watching a residence from afar, surveillance plays an important role in Close Protection. Counter-surveillance involves running interference such as jamming, hacking and actively using decoys or additional cordons/layers of protection, with the goal to evade or confuse surveillance. Whereas anti-surveillance could involve literally blocking views or detaining persons of interest near suspicious, out of bound, and hot locations, or instead, using cyberspace to deny adversaries the opportunity to exploit your principals, thus preventing surveillance. Information is today’s greatest currency, and your principals are most likely to either be physically attacked in transit or digitally attacked through cyberspace.
- Driving & Travel security
Whether its driving the principals and their families around or even doing the grocery run, CPOs fulfill the role of a chauffeur and butler when called upon. It’s not all about muscles, scowling, and suiting up for the paparazzi, it can even be the mundane things. Even so, you’ll be trained in defensive-offensive driving, escape and evasion tactics, and formation maneuvering. Alternatively, you may find yourself behind the wheel of a Principal Escort Service vehicle; usually armored and tuned with performance specs, or driving a principal vehicle – just as high-end, but often considerably flashier. That being said, you will still have access to a principal’s house(s), vehicles, and most importantly to them – their children. It could be the school run or taking them to activities, and you would hold an intimate professional trust. - Team Leader
Called a leader, but more of a coordination role, the Team Leader role is about overseeing an operation, planning it, working as a go-between and point of contact for their organization, the principal(s), and their team(s).
Team Leaders have a hands-on yet also administrative skillset, allowing them to work in a hybrid fashion. They deliver briefings and debriefings and ensure their close protection team knows an operation inside and out. Their role is about leadership and management, rather than one or the other.
- Principal Protection Officer
A highly coveted role, being the individual directly responsible for a principal’s safety, carries great responsibility along with opportunity. Whilst you would gain the opportunity to become professionally close to a principal, as a Principal Protection Officer, you would also be required to act as their point of contact to the Team Leader at any given time. Essentially, you would live their life around them, whilst on the job, which is often a high-profile role, meaning increased risks and threats. Some principals like a friendly active engagement with their Protection Officer, whilst others expect to keep a discreet distance. - Medical
One of the most highly sought-after CPO roles is excellent and highly qualified field medics; whether this is from a paramedic background, hostile/trauma medic, or a disaster zone relief medic, a surgeon or a doctor. Having an expert medical CPO on your team goes a long way to allay the concerns of your principal(s). Medical CPOs will always accompany their principal(s) in transit and be on site within domestic or secure locations, fulfilling likely the most vital, albeit ordinarily passive, role within a CPO team.
How much money do close protection operatives make
The salary of a close protection operatives really depends on whether you have a military background or not and the company you apply to work for. For those that do have military background, they can expect to earn at least $55,000 per year ($150+ per day).
As in every other profession the salary really depends on the job specifics, location, and qualification. Companies that hire bodyguards do not disclose all the relevant particulars regarding the payroll.
It’s also important to factor in the fact that your engagement can be for a few months at a given salary, but after that you are on your own for the remaining months of the year so the calculation of a yearly salary becomes trickier.
How to become a close protection operative
The job demands courage and integrity, as well as unique abilities that consist of excellent organizational skills, impeccable time management and calmness under pressure, observation and surveillance skills, flexibility, a good level of physical strength and fitness, and trustworthiness and reliability.
The process varies from person to person, but in general if you want to become a close protection operative, you need to:
- Get a high school degree
Get a high school degree in criminal justice, police science, public safety, or military science to have an edge over other applicants. - Gain security experience on the field (or from a course)
The best way to do this is by serving in a police department, governmental law-enforcement agency (ie. CIS, FBI, CIA / alternatives in your country), or the military. The experience should include the fundamentals of gun use and control, self-defense tactics, and security services, all of which will be useful when you turn in the bid to become a contractor.If you do not have these types of experience, then you should enroll in courses to pick up skills. There are a few licensed and trusted providers in such courses, and Alfa-Metal is one of them. We have a specific course for Close Protection Operative (CPO), that will give you the needed experience to start your CPO career, but prior experience is key. You can check our other courses here.In detail, you will need to know how to handle guns and firearms. Familiarize yourself with the typical weapons used by military personnel and security organizations, such as AR rifles, Mossberg shotguns, Glock 9mms and other weapons. - Getting qualified
Depending on where you want to work, there are different routes as each country has a separate licensing system. For example, in the UK, executive protection is a field that the SIA oversees. Training schools and private providers have various licenses for different levels of security. But the SIA close protection licensing stipulates a minimum of 139.5 hours contact time and is only valid in the UK. When it comes to working in most of the rest of the world, you may want to research the required qualifications to attain employment legally. In addition, rely on providers with extensive industry knowledge that offer the newest materials and techniques training. Alfa-Metal is approved from SIA.
- Create an impressive CV
This step is not easy, requiring a lot of effort and time, but it is essential in today’s competitive world. The better your resume is, the higher chance you have of getting hired as CPO. The CV should be up to date and accompanied by an application or cover letter as well and its best if you get help from someone already employed in the area. - Network, network, network
Тhe more potential employers you acquaint yourself with, who know you’re open and ready to work, the better. Never scoff at the idea of attending workshops, events, and meetups: as these always allow for networking. Also, don’t forget to use LinkedIn and network there as well.
Summary
A close protection operative is a professional, often called bodyguard, who uses their experience to provide protection for clients from physical attacks, kidnappings, and any other form of harassment or dangerous scenarios all around the world. It is of vast importance for the CPO to continuously sharpen their skills with all the latest technologies, weapons and strategies to be prepared for any situation. As with every skill, you need to work on it over time to become really valuable on the market and in this case more safe as well.
The daily salary of a CPO can be expected to start from $150, but it varies highly. If you want to become a close protection operative its best if you have a degree in the security space, have relevant work experience, know how to handle guns, have impeccable time management and calmness under pressure, observation and surveillance skills, flexibility, a good level of physical strength and fitness, and trustworthiness and reliability.
If you want to work in the security space, but you do not have past experience, you can enroll in our courses where professional instructors coming from the military sector (active or retired) will teach you everything you need to start or advance your security career.
