Jobs in protective services range from high-level private security for government officials to private security and bodyguard services for celebrities and their families. Protective service jobs are frequently filled by companies doing business in high-risk areas of the world to ensure that their employees and property are safe. Individuals performing protective service jobs, such as driving children to school or accompanying the family on vacations or shopping trips, are occasionally employed by wealthy families. Many people who work in this field have military or law enforcement backgrounds, as well as advanced martial arts and firearms training.
There are several types of protective service jobs within a typical government administration that oversee the protection and safety of elected and appointed officials, as well as their families. After the official’s office has been resigned, many workers in these types of protective service jobs go on to become privately hired employees of the official. Protective service personnel frequently travel and live with their employers for many years, if not the rest of their lives. The almost dependent nature and feeling that develops between the protector and the protected is the reason for this.
Protective service workers who provide security for families and children in some areas act as a sort of parental figure for the children, as they are often with the children more than the parents. The children begin to rely on the protection service for more than just safety; they also seek advice and companionship from it. This is also a common occurrence in private security jobs where singers and performers are involved. Because of the intense interaction and constant companionship in some scenarios, romances between the protector and the protected can develop. For most protective service jobs, thorough screening and thorough background checks are required.
Former law enforcement and military personnel make up the vast majority of protective service positions. Only a small part of the reason that this type of background fits so well within the business of protecting people and property as a bodyguard is the critical firearms and hand-to-hand combat and defense training. These individuals have been trained to notice anything out of the ordinary and react appropriately in the event of an unnatural occurrence. This may result in the odd false alarm and unnecessary response, but it is usually better to err on the side of caution whenever someone’s safety is at risk.