From Bush to Obama: Vietnamese officer’s journey guarding global leaders

Lieutenant Colonel Tho, former officer of the special event and international guest protection unit, spoke to Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper with evident pride about his years of service with the unit.

To many people, a close-protection officer may appear to be nothing more than the person standing or walking beside an important figure, he said.

Behind that seemingly simple position, however, lies years of rigorous training.

Close-protection officers must be thoroughly trained in security operations, firearms, martial arts, foreign languages, and diplomatic etiquette and protocol.

Swimming and rescue skills are also vital.

During roughly two decades in close protection, Tho estimates that he took part in around 150 assignments guarding international VIPs entitled to state security protection.

The first assignment he clearly remembers was in 1997, when he and other officers protected Russian Prime Minister Nikolai Ryzhkov during his visit to Ho Chi Minh City and the former Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province, which is now part of the city.

His final assignment, which he completed successfully before retiring under the regulations, was the protection of the Cambodian prime minister in 2017.

Among the international dignitaries he guarded were then-U.S. President George W. Bush during the 14th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in 2006 and then-President Barack Obama during his visit to Vietnam in May 2016.

However, the foreign dignitary who left the strongest impression on Tho was former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.

“Kerry was very friendly,” Tho recalled.

“From his eyes and the way he spoke, I could clearly sense his warmth and closeness.”

Conversations between VIPs and close-protection officers are usually brief, sometimes lasting only a few exchanges.

For officers like Tho, however, such moments become lasting memories.

Before he left, Kerry invited the security officers to take group photos with him.

Tho has kept those photographs as cherished mementos of his years on duty.

What he can only tell now

What appears to the public to be a simple trip by a foreign dignitary actually requires extensive preparation behind the scenes, Tho shared.

The lead close-protection officer must understand the VIP’s schedule in detail and constantly update any changes to the itinerary.

This information must be reported promptly to the commanding officer so that the security plan can be adjusted and implemented as quickly as possible.

Every situation that could potentially affect the VIP’s safety must be anticipated.

One unforgettable incident occurred during an assignment in Nha Trang in south-central Vietnam, when Tho unexpectedly received instructions to go into the sea with an international guest.

The guest was a strong swimmer and ventured quite far from shore.

Tho and the other security officers had to swim after him to ensure his safety.

The long swim made Tho appreciate the value of the training he had received.

Skills in swimming, rescue, and approaching people in distress – practiced as part of his professional training – suddenly became essential in a real-life situation.

Officers never know what situation they may face and therefore must always be prepared to receive an assignment and carry it out successfully.

After nearly 40 years of service as an officer, the things Tho emphasizes when talking about his profession are not the famous figures he once protected, but two principles he has always reminded himself of: having no fear of sacrifice and maintaining absolute loyalty.

“As a close-protection officer, I determined that I could make the ultimate sacrifice at any time,” he said.

“It is a sacred duty.

“When I was trusted by my leaders and commanders with an assignment, I felt deeply honored and proud.

“Therefore, I had to be prepared to make that sacrifice and remain absolutely loyal.

“Nothing could shake that loyalty.”

For him, preparing to be a close-protection officer is not simply about professional skills or the ability to respond to unexpected situations.

It also requires mental preparation, so that when danger arises, an officer can remain composed and steadfast, putting the mission and the safety of the person under protection first.

Now in his 60s, Tho continues to exercise regularly.

The skills he developed through decades of service have become part of his everyday life.