That blue Honda Civic looks familiar. Did I see it on the highway? I’m taking the next exit. Sh*t, the civic is still behind me…phew, they pulled into the gas station. Is that Chevy pickup the one from the parking lot this morning. It is. I know it. I remember it. The Civic must have pulled off to pass the surveillance of to the pickup. I’m burned. No way I can make the meet with this heat on me. Let’s take them on a nice ride up the highway for a few hours. Mission over.
In the movies, James Bond or Jason Bourne would take off at a 110MPH to shake a tail, engage in a fierce shootout, and cause millions of dollars in damage, while killing twenty bad guys.
The real life of a spy is nothing like the movies. It is hours and hours of mission preparation to make one simple meeting. If you are “burned” then you don’t engage, you take notes of everything that happened so you can brief your superiors (and gather intelligence on who is following you!)
Not to say the life of a spy can be adrenaline fueled as well, with danger lurking at every corner. It can be and it is.
Let’s talk to a real spy and see what a day in the life is like of an intelligence officer.
Jack Beaumont, Former French Spy
Jack Beaumont (not his real name) is a former member of France’s Direction Généralede La Sécurité Extérieure (DGSE). DGSE is the equivalent of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, according to Jack.
Jack didn’t set out to be a spy; he started as a fighter pilot flying missions until an injury sent him on a new path into the secret world of special operation aviation. Jack first saw inside the secret agent world flying missions in the Balkans hunting war criminals.
Jack ventured into the clandestine world after his military service ended. After a lengthy process, Jack found himself on the frontlines of the spy game; developing sources and running countersurveillance.
A Day In The Life Of Jack
Q: What is a day in the life of a spy like? I know it varies
Jack: A usual day is: checking out the window to see what is in the street before leaving the building you live in, checking for pedestrians with no good reasons to be there, vans, specific cars, etc. You always have an itinerary of security to ensure you’re not followed.
You walk out, make sure you are clean. Then, head to the metro and ensure you are “clean,” meaning you are not being followed. Then, when clean, popping out of the metro being “someone else” somewhere in Paris, going to a safe house, grab your false life and drop the real one, exit by another exit from the building, checking that you’re clear again, and then go and do what you have to do; this someone else. It can be approaching a target, recruiting a target, following a target, etc.
When it’s done (one day, several days, weeks), check you’re not followed, go to another safe house, recover your real life, and drop the false one, exit by another exit, dive in the metro, check you’re not followed, virtually become yourself again, and come back home when you’re clean. If there is any doubt, you go back for more checks.
Q: How do you deal with stress
Jack: Try to do some sport every day when you can and spend some time with mates of the company you trust for drinks – this means checking you’re not followed when you go and rejoin them as you don’t want to burn them as well if someone is on you. Then same again to come back home.
Q: What do you tell friends and family
Jack: Usually, your wife knows where you work but not what you do exactly. Close friends and family that you work for the Ministry For Defence, or Army, Air Force, or Navy HQ. But you lose many friends, and even family members don’t see you for a while. Very hard to keep a social life. And very hard for the partner not to have any.
Q: What would you want the public to know about?
Jack: It is a fascinating job as you feel very privileged to know what 99.9% of the population don’t. However, it’s not James Bond or Bourne, as we are usually married with kids, and it can have a heavy toll on your family. People should feel thankful to those who make this sacrifice for them.
I want to pay tribute to all those men and women who are fighting the devil to protect others, whatever Force (Intel, SF, Army, Air Force, Navy,..) they are in, as I know how demanding it is, the individual sacrifice it can be, for sometimes a very little recognition from the others.
Adapt To The Role
Jack On Recruiting Sources
Protect Your Family At All Costs
Jack is not only a former French spy, but also a thriller author of THE FRENCHMAN. “Based on the experiences of a real French spy, Jack Beaumont's first-hand knowledge and experiences make this thriller plausible and frightening as you're plunged into the very real world of terror, espionage, and danger.”
FULL Podcast Interview On Apple Podcast
FULL Podcast On Spotify