COMBINING THE WARRIOR / GUARDIAN MINDSET TO SHAPE PROTECTORS

By Dale L. June Combining the Warrior / Guardian Mindset to Shape Protectors

Are high-level protectors warriors or guardians? That question has been bandied about for several decades at least as far back as the 1980’s when the field became recognized as a valid and professional field of occupation.

A deep analysis of research topics and opinions leads to a conclusion that to become the best protector possible they can and ought to be both. In most dictionary definitions a warrior is “a person engaged or experienced in warfare; soldier; a person who shows or has shown great vigor, courage, or aggressiveness, as in politics or athletics; a brave or experienced soldier or fighter;” Even the word “warrior” connotes war and violence; War-ior.

Ancient Sparta raised boys to be warriors, taught to endure hardships, the use of martial weapons and tactics of warfare. During the Crusades, Christians traveled to the Middle East to fight as “Warriors for Jesus”. The study of martial arts leads to a mindset of “thinking like a warrior”, especially among novices who

“One who recognizes all men as members of his own body is a sound man to guard them” - Lao Tzu

“Truth is not what you want it to be. It is what it is, and you must bend to it’s power or live a lie” – Miyamoto Masashi

believe learning the art will make them capable of conquering any aggressive action toward them. A warrior is a person at war with something and that often leads to an “us vs. them” attitude approach common when a protector’s goal and procedures conflict with the protectee’s staff.

Those definitions and examples are what is normally conjured up in one’s mind when talking of a warrior. They do not fit with personal protection as we have come to know it. Closer to the warrior mindset of a protector is a definition by the famous Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux leader Sitting Bull, “The warrior, for us, is one who sacrifices himself for the good of others. His task is to take care of the elderly, the defenseless, those who cannot provide for themselves, and above all, the children - the future of humanity.”

The Sitting Bull warrior mindset opinion influences attitudes and approaches in the protective services and shows a disciplined and courageous mind to make difficult, often risky, strategic, and tactical decisions. Protection is a battlefield, not in the sense of war but in a sense of facing difficult challenges that must be overcome.

A warrior is a natural leader with a conviction of ,“follow me.” A warrior mentality includes good leadership as the protective agent is looked upon as a leader by the protectee and his circle of family, staff, and The Sitting Bull warrior mindset opinion influences attitudes and approaches in the protective services and shows a disciplined and courageous mind to make difficult, often risky, strategic, and tactical decisions.

associates and by his own team. A good warrior leader is adaptable, capable, and confident in believing in success with a zero mission fail mentality.

He works “in the zone” with a tough mindedness maintaining focus and concentration on all the details and works to his and the team’s full potential solidifying priorities, controlling emotional anxieties and mindful of potential mental mistakes. The protection warrior does not stagnate, he keeps moving forward with training, education, and practice. He believes in his own ability and

learns to avoid distractions using every opportunity to learn.

The Guardian Mindset incorporates many factions of the warrior mindset but adheres to a different overall attitude and approach. They think holistically, not paramilitarily, seeing the “big picture” in all phases of the protective responsibilities. They do not nourish an “us vs. them” attitude and will listen to all opinions, thoughts, and recommendations. They are protectors who also serve. They serve understanding and compassion, underlined with respect, confidence, and reliability for that one moment in time when they must respond with assertive aggression against an immediate danger. They are flexible in thought and action but not as authoritarian, dogmatic, “do as I say, I am the expert” boastfulness.

They acknowledge their psychological and philosophical

part of being in another person’s world while not being a part of it. It is knowing their capabilities and understanding the mindset, psychological and philosophical personality of the protectee.

According to the philosophy of Sun Tzu, “All war is based on deception, be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness. Even to the point of soundlessness. Therefore, you can be the director of your opponent’s fate. The art of knowing (intelligence gathering and analysis) is of vital importance. It is a matter of life and death. A road to either safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected. Do not rely on the likelihood of the enemy not coming, but on your own readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that you have made your position unassailable. The best victory is when the opponent surrenders of his own accord before there are any actual hostilities. Be as hard to know as the shadow and move as fast as lightening.”

Carlos Castaneda in The Second Ring of Power said “A warrior is a way of life, a way of thinking, a way of being. we choose only once, to be warriors or ordinary. We choose only once. Because choosing to be a warrior alters your fundamental approach to life. While others will view everything as a blessing or a curse, you see only challenges.” A guardian accepts challenges to be beneficial to his duties of preserving the safety of his protectee.

Warriors and guardian mindset codes of ethics and morality include personal accountability to deliver the best service to the client possible under all conditions. Accountability breeds responsibility and respect and creates better relationships between the protector and protectee.

Protectors should have a guardian/ warrior mindset combination in their operational toolbox. Not the warrior image involving aggression, violence, and warfare but the spiritual warrior philosophy of Sitting Bull.

The combination of the two mindsets makes for a formidable protector, who by virtue and understanding of the advice of Sun Tzu, knows his enemy as well as he knows himself.

Dale L. June is a former U.S. Secret Service Agent serving the Presidential Protective Division at the White House with four presidents. He’s worked directly with executives of multi-national corporations, VIPs, political figures, royalty, and celebrities. An accomplished author, his two most recent works Introduction to Executive Protection & An Introduction to Celebrity Protection & Touring, co-authored with Elijah Shaw, spent weeks on the best sellers list. Find them both on www.ArmsLengthAway.com/books

project based off of your skills are not now weighing the tone of the words and language you are using to express your political viewpoints. This might never be brought up in conversation, instead you are simply passed over in favor of someone who is a bit more opaque in their political passions.

“Grey man” is a term used in our industry to describe someone who blends into the environment, leaving very little wake in his passing. It is a state that many of us actively work to achieve, as it will allow us to more effectively complete our assignment, because by bringing as little attention to us as possible, we gain a tactical advantage. If this is a preferred state, then why are so many of us running counter to that, by actively trying to bring as much attention as possible to our political beliefs? In this new era of political expression via social media, our words and actions are not aligning with the codes we profess to exemplify. As we move into 2021, my question is, will it get better or worse?

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