Defending the White House: What a special forces guard wears when he's protecting the president



Dressed head to toe in black, he exudes an aura of steely determination and controlled aggression.

This is a highly-trained member of the Secret Service Emergency Response Team which guards the U.S president at the White House.

Dedicated to protecting the president and securing the White House grounds, they are skilled, unobtrusive and absolutely lethal when called upon.

This member of the team was pictured yesterday as he waited for President Barack Obama to walk from the Blair House back to the White House after a meeting on the economy with corporate CEOs.



A member of the Secret Service Emergency Response Team stands guard on the North Lawn of the White House in Washington, bristling with hi-tech equipment

As well as being impossibly fit, members of the ERT are equipped with the very latest in armour and weaponry and receive advanced gun and defence training.

Formed in 1992, ERT's primary mission is to provide tactical response to unlawful intrusions and other protective challenges related to the White House and its grounds.

He is wearing a Kevlar assault suit and is probably wearing Kevlar underpants, vest and gloves. In his assault vest he carries a torch as well as additional magazines for his guns.

It is likely that his holstered pistol is a Glock 9mm, a favourite amongst Law Enforcement and Security Forces. The magazine holds 17 rounds, according to an expert at anti-terror specialists SDMS Security.

The sub machine gun is probably a Belgian FN P90 - a weapon with magazine housing which holds 50 rounds.



The side pouch may well have some form of respirator inside made by UK form Avon Protection who are world leaders in this technology. He may also have a set of Night Vision Goggles with a head harness in a pouch.



He is also carrying a very powerful flashlight which could be the Wolfeyes 320 lumen torch that is more powerful than a BMW’s headlights.

His ballistic vest probably rated NIJ Level 3A and may contain lightweight ballistic plates to increase it armour-level to NIJ Level 4, according to SDMS.



He also looks as though he has a camelback rehydration system judging by the tube coming down his left side.



Special forces stride through the White House grounds



