Natalie Foster, of Girls Guide to Guns, highlighted this little piece of news recently, about Kate Middleton’s female bodyguard. Upon reading the article, I discovered that Muammar Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi hired a legion of 40 female bodyguards, called the Amazonian Guard. Wow. To say that I was amazed is an understatement.
So, I started thinking … hmmm, say I was given the task of putting together an Amazonian Guard, a band of females from the shooting industry that would make, for lack of a better description, killer bodyguards?
Vera Koo, Jessie Harrison and Julie Golob at the prestigious Bianchi Cup Match, 2011. Photo by Chip Lohman, NRA Shooting Sports USA.
Vera Koo. Photo courtesy of Verakoo.com.
First of all, they’d need a leader and I’d choose Vera Koo. Classy, stylish, calm-headed and very accurate, aka deadly, with a pistol. Vera would be the mission planner and then, arrive looking elegant in the entourage.
Then, I’d choose these women to be in the bevy of bodyguards, and in no particular order:
Julie Golob. Photo by Yamil R. Sued.
Julie Golob – Captain of the Team Smith & Wesson shooting team. In her prime, at peak performance right now and with Army background. A mom of a toddler, too, so that means her reflexes are always getting tested, and so are the “eyes in the back of her head.”
Jessie Harrison. Photo courtesy of Jessie Harrison.
Jessie Harrison – She used to shoot Cowboy Action Shooting Sports, and now wins a lot of high ranked pistol competitions. But, have you seen this woman move? And methodical; in fact, she thrives on practice makes perfect. She and Julie? Point women.
Lisa Munson
Lisa Munson – Aka The Mouse. I’d put this competition pistol shooter on the perimeter, because she is uber fast on her feet and a self-proclaimed “perfectionist.”
SC05-KayMiculek-1.jpg
Kay Clark-Miculek – The strong, silent type. I’d want her helping Vera with assessment first, and then, onsite. Also on Team Smith & Wesson. She and Julie and Jessie are adept with all types of guns, too, so throw ‘em a shotgun, rifle or pistol and they’ll take care of business.
Tasha Hanish
Tasha Hanish — She just came back from a bout with sickness and still won the Industry Masters recently. A three-gunner, lives in the desert, mom of two little children, FNH USA team. Got that sixth sense going on.
Randi Rogers
Randi Rogers — Again, so very good with a pistol. Champion GLOCK shooter and super party planner (witnessed last January’s GLOCK party at SHOT Show). From the South, so she can take the heat (and give the heat, so to speak).
Maggie Reese. Photo courtesy of MaggieReese.com.
Maggie Reese – Speaking of three-gun competitors and fast … but, also extremely capable of thinking fast on her feet and smart. Did you see her in Top Shot Season 2?
Athena Lee. Photo courtesy of History.com.
Athena Lee – Whoa. Watch it. Competitive pistol shooter that kicks you-know-what and takes numbers. Definitely want her onboard. Also in Top Shot Season 2, with Maggie.
Dianna Liedorff.
Dianna Liedorff– Cop. Three-gunner. Been there. Done that. Will get it done. Will bring handcuffs. On FNH USA team with Tasha.
Sara Ahrens. Photo courtesy of History.com.
Sara Ahrens – Cop. Former SWAT. On Season Three of Top SHOT. She has the cuffs, too. Good friend and confidante already. Mom of a teen. On it.
Laura Torres-Reyes
Laura Torres-Reyes — Physician, super shooter and competes on International Training, Inc. team. Just won High Lady, High Military and High Industry at inaugural IDPA Triple Crown recently. I like the fact that she will be on the scene with her medical knowledge, just in case … you know, there might be a lot of swooning going on when this team enters a room! Get the smelling salts, Dr. Torres-Reyes!
Our “Q.” Laura Burgess.
And finally … every great team has to have its own Q. We’ve already had a volunteer. When I mentioned the concept of female bodyguards to Laura Burgess, she wrote, “That’s a way cool idea! Can I be your Q – you know — the gal who supplies you with all the cool gear and guns?” Why, sure, Laura! We want a Q that is the Jackie O. of the industry. I mean, just look at this woman. Talk about way cool.
OK, who else should be on this team? I know I missed a few … and we would always be looking for a few good women.
A special thanks to Chip Lohman, Editor of Shooting Sports USA, for permission to use the attractive photo of Vera Koo, Jessie Harrison and Julie Golob.
Publisher/Editor Barbara Baird is a freelance writer in hunting, shooting and outdoor markets. Her bylines are found at several top hunting and shooting publications. She also is a travel writer, and you can follow her at https://www.ozarkian.com. View all posts by Barbara Baird
Wow, thanks for reaching out to us, Jacquie. We’d love to talk with you sometime!
These ladies are definitely bad mamma jammas! I’d let them protect me any day!
May I nominate SSG Sherri Gallagher as the teams counter sniper and her mom as her spotter?
Sherri is the first female to become the US Army Soldier of the year (2011) and as a member of the 10-“man” Inter-service Rifle Team for the US Army Marksmanship Unit kicked all kinds of a** at camp Perry in 2011 including 11 national records (outright not gender specific).
Nancy Tomkins (Sherri’s mom) is a four time National Long Range Champion. She was the first woman to hold that distinction and one of two to hold that title. Care to guess who the second woman is? … SSG Sherri G of course.
Great suggestion, J.Doll. I think Sherri would be the person who could plan visits out of the country, and her mom … we’d probably have to put her on the roof somewhere, right? Thanks for reading The WON, and feel free to pop on in here anytime with such super comments!
What a GREAT lineup of bodyguards, Barb! Who wouldn’t want a team like that covering for them?? No worries!
Barb,I love it! And let me tell you, I’ve got some very cool guns for the ladies in the very near future. I love my job.
Q … we will be relying on you! What a great idea and thanks for playing along!
You forgot to include the over-watch person. I nominate Anette Wachter who just won the British Columbia Open Rifle Championship. She shot PERFECT in the final round! This is 500 meter shooting by the way.
as the real bodyuard in the original article can I say they would make a great back up team. Jacquie