Longevity in Close Protection – Does Age Matter?

Written by Tibi J Roman

Should age be a factor in determining when it is time to step back from working in close protection and specifically from being a bodyguard?

My ambivalent response – Well, Yes and No.

After saving the US president’s life a reporter asked Frank Horrigan, why are you retiring from the Secret Service?

Frank replied, “Well because I hate desk work and I’m too old to go running along the limousines, and thanks to you people plastering my picture up everywhere I’m no good for undercover work” …. The quote is taken from the movie “In the Line of Fire” starring Clint Eastwood, as dedicated Secret Service agent Frank Horrigan whose character was in his early 50’s.

It is recognized that “age” has the potential to be a sensitive topic, yet I have never heard this discussed during executive protection online discussions. It certainly is not a pro-recruiting topic for businesses/organizations wishing to promote executive protection training. It is recognized that some individuals retiring from law enforcement, the military, and other government enforcement positions transition into executive protection work when they are older however they may have special skill sets that will serve them well in performing executive protection duties as a civilian.

I had never given age much thought until we had our Prime Minister visiting Vancouver. As the division security file coordinator I was advancing to a venue when I received a phone call from Peter, a good friend and a former Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) protective services officer who had retired. His call was more of a rant – What he stated was this,

“I just passed the PM’s motorcade on Cambie Street, I see that you guys are still using the same old GERIATRIC drivers.” I just laughed saying “I’ll call you back” … click.

Peter made a valid point, all the motorcade drivers were in fact older, and their ages were all north of 50.

Why this Happens – When you are the security file coordinator planning a VIP visit you want a smooth, safe, and uneventful visit. To play it safe you reach out to your seasoned VIP trained resources with lots of experience. This may include seconding resources from other units. These individuals are typically older. I want to add that it is important to develop your protective resources and to accomplish this you need to provide learning opportunities for your staff using good sense. For example, you should never pair or use an inexperienced motorcade commander with a new or inexperienced lead security vehicle (S1) driver.

When you choose to embark on a new career there are prerequisites or skills that you are expected to BRING to the new position and maintain. For example, if you start a career in executive protection, you must have a valid driver’s licence on day 1. Being physically fit should be another “must BRING and maintain” to the new position.

At What Age Should You No Longer Perform Bodyguard Duties?

In the private sector, there are no obvious age restrictions limiting your ability to perform bodyguard duties however there can be some limitations that include age (directly and indirectly) for executive protection professionals working within government /law enforcement. For example – I was fortunate to be a part of 2 visits by Singapore’s President S.R. Nathan. One of the visiting foreign security officers from Singapore advised me that they can only be a bodyguard until the age of 37. This pertained to working on the Presidential and Prime Minister’s security details. At that time, I was one of the RCMP bodyguards in my mid to late 40’s.

When I was a police officer in the RCMP working full time in Protective Services there were no age restrictions however for some specialized units such as ERT, UN Missions, and Protective Services (VIP Security), you were required to pass the Physical Ability Requirement Evaluation (PARE) test meeting the 4-minute standard.

The PARE is an occupational test used to measure an individual’s ability to perform the physical demands of Police work (in our case close protection). I am certain that most individuals working in executive protection will agree that close protection duties can be physically demanding. In the aging process, some individuals may find it a challenge to meet the 4-minute requirement. Once you were on the protective (VIP) unit you were required to pass PARE annually, if you failed to meet the 4-minute standard the policy was in place that you were not supposed to perform bodyguard duties until you were able to meet the standard.

Age and Its Impact on Your Fitness Level

As we age, we typically decline in the following 4 key areas (used to measure our fitness level.)

1. Aerobic fitness (how well the heart uses oxygen).

2. Muscle strength and endurance (how long & hard muscles can work).

3. Flexibility (joint ability to have a full range of motion).

4. Body composition, (how much fat, bone, and muscle are in the body).

Pay attention to your Waist circumference (for most individuals this expands with age)

If the size of your waist, called the circumference, is greater than your hips, you carry more weight above the hips. This means you have a higher risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

The risk is even greater for women with waist sizes of 35 inches (89 centimetres) or more. For men, the risk is higher with waist sizes of 40 inches (102 centimetres) or more. The mayo clinic

As humans our peak fitness potential is usually around the age of 20. This is true for both men and women. From there, fitness typically declines between 5%-20% per decade in healthy individuals between the ages of 20 and 65.

For the average man, the body is in its best physical shape in the early to mid 20’s but time can take a toll by age 30, when muscle strength starts to decrease by as much as 3 percent to 8 percent every 10 years. By age 40, reaction time starts to slow and at age 50, bones become brittle. https://www.bondclinic.com/tip-top-shape-at-any-age-an-article-

Activities That a Bodyguard Can Be Engaged In

Running, walking, pulling, pushing, twisting, bending, jumping, reaching out, and lifting. As a bodyguard, unless there is a scheduled walk or run planned you may not have the luxury to warm up and stretch. Protective activities can include but are not limited to the following examples.

• Jogging with the VIP for 3-5+ Kilometers/miles.

• Walking with an executive. This can be a brisk walk for an extended period. For example, being with the VIP when they are shopping or playing golf.

• Standing for a long period of time waiting for an executive.

• Going mountain biking, hiking, or snow skiing with an executive.

• Racing up and down stairs to clear a stairwell or stop foot traffic.

• If there are several bodyguards, everyone cannot be on the executive’s elevator. Bodyguards may be required to run upstairs or an escalator to get in position.

• Moving quickly to clear an event room, holding room, or washroom.

• Moving quickly to open a door.

• Potential crowd scenarios may require pushing.

• Stopping and moving an individual trying to push or force their way towards the VIP.

• Reacting to an individual or individuals who are trying to access a stage when your executive is on the riser and or at the podium.

• For media events, there could be pushing and pulling involved for example – during a scrum where the media is in the VIP’s space.

• Pushing may be required when the media and individuals / a crowd are blocking the VIP’s walking route on an aisle. The intensity of pushing can vary based on the subjects involved.

• Pushing the VIP into the limo if there is a threat, an incident, or an attack.

• Going in and out of vehicles. There is more strain on your lower back when you have additional weight which includes body armour and use of force equipment.

Wearing a firearm, body armour portable radio, belt, ammo clips, handcuffs, and OC spray can add up to 15 pounds of unbalanced weight to your body.

• Moving your body to have proper positioning includes changing your direction.

• Placing and removing luggage to and from the limo.

• Opening building C limo doors. There is considerable weight with armoured limo doors.

• Worst case scenarios – i.e. reacting to a physical threat.

• Lifting to carrying the VIP if there is an injury or an attack.

When I was in Protective Services our fitness and lifestyle coordinators put our Protective (VIP Security) Unit members through an appraisal to assess our fitness for duty. Here are the areas that were considered.

When you are on a protective team, members should attain at least an “average” rating under each fitness component. There are no adjustments based on “age”. Scoring categories include a rating of Poor > Below Average > Average > Above Average > Excellent

What Happens to Your Body as You Become Older?

“We must recognize that, as we grow older, we become like old cars – more and more repairs and replacements are necessary.” – C.S. Lewis

Medical Issues will increase as we all age creating more challenges when assigned to bodyguard duties for example – As a runner in your 20s and 30s, you may develop shin splints, hand knee, and hip issues requiring medical treatment into your 40s and 50s.

If you work in executive protection as a supervisor there is merit in knowing if there are any medical issues regarding your staff that could impact their ability to be deployed. Some individuals may not wish to share this information and there is no mandatory requirement to self-disclose medical-related conditions.

A Few Potential Medical Issues May Surface as We Age

Diabetes – Working in executive protection creates an unhealthy work environment. Being on the run, very long shifts, missing meals, and eating in restaurants. I worked with one officer who had diabetes and there was only 1 occasion where he needed support in this area. It was during a major event briefing.

Kidney and Gallstones – Adults should drink 2 to 2.5 litres of fluid (8 glasses) per day. Not a chance if you are a bodyguard as you will need to use a washroom, frequently.

Hearing loss/hearing aids – My father-in-law was a train engineer for almost 40 years. CN Rail tested him prior to his retirement. I was surprised that he did not qualify for a hearing pension as his hearing was very poor and he requires 2 hearing aids.

If you have team members with a hearing pension, to qualify they must have significant hearing loss arguably rendering them unfit to work as a bodyguard.

Epilepsy – Executive protection work can be stressful with long shifts. Taking prescription meds can create challenges. I can see why someone who has a history of epilepsy would not disclose this condition. If they have a seizure, they will lose their driver’s licence for 1 year and their employment would likely be terminated.

Vision issues – As we age night vision can become more of a concern for some individuals. Pupils get smaller with age. At night there is a reduced amount of light entering the eye. This may lead to mild night blindness. When you have executive protection driver training, courses include a night driving segment.

It’s a Matter of Being Smart, Making the Right Choices

Yes, there are hereditary factors that can impact your health however, you must focus on what is controllable.

• Wear quality shoes and rotate your footwear (don’t have only one pair of shoes). This includes quality running shoes. Your shoes should have laces (never wear slip-ons). Use good sense – Do not wear high heels or platform shoes.

• If you need orthotics do not procrastinate, get on it.

• Always wear quality suspenders for back health.

• If your VIP is a runner, especially long distance, consider purchasing a mountain bike for your EP security detail. If you have contacts within law enforcement where they have a bike squad, determine if you can have 1 or 2 positions on a future course. I was on a police bike course, I never realized how much I did not know until I received the proper training that included tactics when dealing with protesters or an adversary.

• Consider packing 1 or 2 healthy snacks i.e. protein bar (in case you miss meals).

• Be medically proactive by completing a yearly medical even when there are no obvious medical issues. If there are medical concerns promptly see a physician.

• As a security manager consider a schedule with 8-hour shifts versus being with a VIP from first movement until they are in bed.

• When given a choice, opt to take time off versus paid compensation.

• You need a healthy life-family-work balance.

Good News – You Have Options

1. As we age, our cardiorespiratory fitness typically declines. However, this loss of performance ability can be slowed and even reversed, to an extent, with regular physical activity. https://www.garmin.com/en-US/garmin-technology/health- science/fitness-age/

2. With the right training, conditioning, and diet, you can mitigate many of the effects of aging to maintain your physical capability or even increase it. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/fitness/art-20046433

3. There is more to executive protection than just bodyguard work, allowing you to continue in executive protection well into your 50’s and 60’s. From being a security file coordinator, advance, motorcade commander, motorcade driver, limo and spare limo driver, site commander, site security, working in intel, counter surveillance, performing residential / accommodation security, to luggage and aircraft security. There may also be an opportunity to be an executive protection training instructor.

In executive protection you may not be required to physically respond and react all the time however you must be able to physically react and respond when it’s time. To be effective and perform at a high level you must be physically fit regardless of age.

All the best on your executive protection journey. Surgite,

TJ Roman