Department of the Army, HQ 1st Special Forces Battalion,
1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), SE Asia

I would like to express my gratitude to James Shortt and Larry Peak of the international Bodyguard
Association for the outstanding training that was provided to members of "Charley" company, 1st Battalion,
1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) from 3-7 March 2004.

All classroom information was put out in an informative, logical manner and was followed by hands on
practical application. The scenario driven exercises ensured that the attendees not only understood the
training, but were also able to perform the task to the desired standard. The materials that were taught
during IBA's basic Bodyguard Course has been put to use during several Personal Security Details (PSDs),
as well as used as the basis for an in-house training model and to establish our own Standard Operating
Procedures (SOPs) when dealing with a PSD mission.

We in Special Forces understand the need to draw knowledge from other professionals or subject matter
experts in order to increase our survivability and chances of mission success. Your contribution to the
preparedness of this unit is greatly appreciated and we look forward to working with you again in the future.

Name Withheld for Security
Major. US Army
C Company Commander
Letter of Recommendation
International Bank of Asia HQ (Hong Kong)

We write to express our thanks for the Bodyguard Training course for the International Bank of Asia
Bodyguard team. We are highly impressed and enjoyed the course very much.

The training material is very useful for the bank, especially the VIP escort drills. Beside we are also proud to
be members of the International Bodyguard Association.

Once again we thank you for your time and sincerely hope to join the advanced course in the near future.

Yours sincerely
For and on behalf of
International Bank of Asia

Andrew Wong Tak-Sin
Vice President
Head of Security
Letter of Recommendation Microsoft Headquarters Corporate Security  

During my extensive period of contact with the International Bodyguard Association, I have been greatly
impressed with the Director General, James G, Shortt’s professionalism and enthusiasm. The techniques
and written material delivered by James Shortt are without doubt unsurpassed in the field of personal
protection science. This is due in no small part to his broad knowledge and personal expertise in this field.

Microsoft Executive Protective Unit has evaluated numerous so-called ‘high end’ Security Training
companies. None of these companies were able to provide training to equal that of the International
Bodyguard Association. Therefore the International Bodyguard Association has been selected as the
training provider; and James G Shortt as the specific advisor for all bodyguard, Electronic Counter
Surveillance and Improvised Explosive Devices Search and Special Tactics training for Microsoft Executive
Protection unit. Microsoft Corporate Security has also used IBA trained personnel to assist with high risk
security operations during travel outside the United States of America. To date Microsoft has tasked James
G Shortt to provide Executive Protection training during September and again in December 2002. Both
courses completed successfully. The December course included the Executive Protection Team of Amazon .
com.

I would have no hesitation in recommending James G Shortt to any Corporations or any clientele and would
be more than happy to provide this document as a reference on his behalf, and that of the International
Bodyguard Association.

Yours truly,


Stephen A Hall
Security Program Manager
Microsoft Executive Security Team
Letter of Recommendation Michigan Minutemen VFW Post 1370

I want to thank all three gentleman; IBA Director General James Shortt, IBA North American President Col.
Roy Hobbs, IBA North America Deputy Director General Thomas Bermudez, for the IBA Training I received at
the VFW Post #1370. The training was intense but rewarding.

Thanks once again.

A.J. (New IBA Member)
Letter of Recommendation

The IBA Master Class was full of information.  I took close to 50 pages of notes.   The exercises were great
and really brought home the lessons from the classroom.  The suicide bomber/IED management was
eye-opening too.  I look forward to attending more classes in the future.     

Jason Gramling (New IBA Member)
Letter of Recommendation

I recently participated in the I.B.A. Patriot program, which took place at the veteran of foreign wars post 1370
in Pontiac Michigan, U.S.A.. The class was very informative and practical.  The instructors were top notch,
and down to earth.  They did not waste our time with a lot of
superfluous nonsense, they stuck to the primary subjects, and because of that I feel that everyone in the
class walked away with a better understanding of what proper body guarding is all about.  I'm looking
forward to further training with the I.B.A..

Aaron B. Swackhamer (New IBA Member)
International Bodyguard Association
The oldest and largest bodyguard association, with sites of protective service and education worldwide!
Letter of recommendation Orion Professional Services

Dear Mr. Thomas A. Bermudez                                                                                                 Thursday, June 21,2007
Deputy Director General,
International Bodyguard Association
(IBA) HQ, North America

Deputy Director General Bermudez,

I wish to compose a few lines to express my appreciation for all that you have done for IBA Master Class
Graduates of May 31, 2007, as well as the level of dedication you have provided to the association. As these
are only words on paper, they are a mere shadow of how I feel inside about this matter.

I, personally, have grown both in mindset and heart since graduating from the IBA Master class. I attribute
this to the level of pride and integrity you and your staff exemplify in providing such high quality training in the
field of Close Protection. I look forward to attending more classes and learning as much as possible from
my new family.

As I have not received any basic or specialized training of this calibre since the military, I MUST tell you that
attending this class was definitely a great breath of fresh air. The experience as a whole was quite the
reminder of how attention to detail is imperative in the security field.

In regards to your level of dedication, I would like to thank you for sharing everything that you did share with
us, including, but not limited to, your expertise in a highly specialized field, your accomplishments over the
past 20 years and the true passion which you ALWAYS show regarding Close Protection and all matters
closely related to that field. Also, I would like to thank you for the aspects of your personal life you saw fit to
share with us.

Being a trainer, particularly in the capacity which you are for the IBA, is quite an undertaking and I can only
hope that this letter begins to express my gratitude.

In closing, I recommend IBA training to anyone who wants to be trained by true professionals.

Sincerely and Professionally Yours,
Owner Orion Professional Services
IBA Master Class May 31, 2007
Our Founder Major
Lucien Victor Ott
(1931-1990)
The Following write up was posted on the  Sekai Dentokan Bugei Renmei (World School of Traditional
Martial Arts Federation) Web Site on their News Page.

11-05-07 The International Bodyguard Association (IBA) bodyguard fundamentals course was a
tremendous success. The course was mostly taught by Thomas Bermudez (IBA Deputy Director), because
Col Hobbs (IBA North America President) was due for a regularly scheduled refresher course. That's one of
the great things about the IBA, it is an organization that takes training, continuing education, and maintaining
skill currency very seriously. Col Hobbs did teach the Defense And Restraint Techniques (DART) /Combative
portion of the course. Others of note attending the course were the Deputy General's Aide-de-Camp (Aaron
Swackhammer), also as a refresher, the owner of the Belleville Indoor Shooting Range and Police Officer
(Steve King), two Dentokan members (Guy Witt & Jack Murra), and a transplanted South African (Eddie
D'Almeida). The amount of military, security, law enforcement, and martial arts experience at this course
was truly remarkable. It added so much to the course, and made it one of the very best ever attended by Col
Hobbs. The venue (Belleville Indoor Shooting Range) was absolutely outstanding, and for that a hearty thank
you goes out to Steve King. Plans are already being made for future courses to be held in the St Louis Metro
East, and we're hoping it'll be at the Belleville Indoor Shooting Range.

Dentokan Hombu
Letter of Reccomendation BSR Gunshop

In 2007, BSR hosted an IBA certification course under the instruction of Deputy Director Tom Bermudez.  
BSR was proud to lend its superior facilities to such a stellar and professional organization. King and his
staff continually seek to learn by partnering with the best.  

S.L. King and Staff