NATO’s Close Protection Unit is made up of highly skilled and highly trained individuals. A team leader, kept anonymous for security purposes, speaks about the role of close protection agents; how they’re trained; what kinds of personality traits are required to do the job; and the need to encourage more women to apply for the job. Includes footage of simulated close-quarters firefights and protection procedures.

TEXT ON SCREEN NATO CLOSE PROTECTION AGENTS SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH ANON “There are people working at NATO who are doing their best to keep the world safe. Our job is to keep them safe. Often people get the impression that a close protection agent should be a macho type, which is absolutely not the type of person who works in the NATO Close Protection Unit. A close protection agent is trained for a lot of things, and they just need to be ready to be able to do what is expected in normal situations, in tense situations and in situations of a higher risk.” UPSOT “Contact front, contact front!” --SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH)-- ANON “We are constantly developing medical skills, studying and training on weapons, improving our driving skills and communication skills. There are many highly skilled female close protection agents, but unfortunately we don’t have any working in the NATO Close Protection Unit right now. We are actively recruiting for female agents. Working as a close protection agent for NATO is a great privilege. It’s a high-profile environment with high-profile people. You are protecting men and women who are really making an impact on the world.” END

Media tags

Reference

NATO729040

Date filming

02 Apr 2018 12:00

Location

Undisclosed

Country

Undisclosed

Usage rights

This media asset is free for editorial broadcast, print, online and radio use. It is restricted for use for other purposes.

Type

Master