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‘Tactical Nanny’?: New Service Recruits Former Military Women to Protect Children as Caregivers

Feb. 5, 2013 10:20am Liz Klimas

It might be some parents’ dream to have a nanny that runs a tight ship like that only a former military member could provide. But such help might be more of a reality than they ever thought.

Former Navy SEAL Jonathan Gilliam is beginning a new program called Tactical Nanny, a part of his firm United States Continued Service that is employing retired female veterans to work as caregivers, the New York Post reported.

Gilliam came up with the idea, according to the Post, after the horrific slaying of two children in the Upper West side of Manhattan last year allegedly by their nanny from the Dominican Republic, who plead not guilty to charges.

Gilliam told the Post the former military women being recruited as a Tactical Nanny are already trained to protect people and in crisis management. They’ll even come armed if that’s what their client wants.

“We’re not just offering another nanny service. These women have a proven track record. They’re veterans protecting the future of the USA,” the 43-year-old owner of the 3-month-old firm told the Post. “They can keep tragedy from happening. You’re paying for the peace of mind.”

Watch Pix 11′s report about the Tactical Nanny pilot program:

Here’s a little about one of Gilliam’s recruits, 23-year-old Army reservist Melissa Fraga from Miami:

Reservist Melissa Fraga is one of Tactical Nanny’s recruits. (Photo via New York Post)

As a reservist, she’s trained to track enemies and oversee mission communications. She’s a certified combat lifesaver, meaning she has high-level first-aid training.

And her résumé says she’s also kid-friendly and has taught 4- to 13-year-olds in martial arts.

Asked what sets her apart from your average sitter, Fraga responded, “It’s just being able to handle situations under stress.

“Let’s say a nanny would freak out if she hears sounds around her. I’d be able to see the situation, figure out where the noise is coming from, check around the house and then do whatever other steps I need,” Fraga said.

Some parents might have concerns though with trusting their children to the care of someone who might have been in hostile zones and might have post-traumatic stress disorder. The recent shooting of former SEAL Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield by a veteran they were helping who supposedly had PTSD illustrates this point. But the Post reported Gilliam saying background checks and problems during service are reviewed during the candidate’s application process. He is also using a psychologist to help match the nannies with families based on personality traits.

A Tactical Nanny will cost at least $1,500 per week or $30.75 an hour, the Post reported. According to ABC Nanny Source, New York nannies make between $600 and $900 a week, depending on hours and agreed upon duties.

The Post reported NYC mother Kathleen Histon saying she’s interested in the service and that you can’t put a price on “really knowing the quality of the person you bring into your home.”

Let us know what you think of Tactical Nanny by taking our poll:

Read more details about Tactical Nanny in the New York Post here.

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Comments (22)

The_Cabrito_Goat
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:00pm
hahaha oh wow

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FightingBear
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 9:12am
My wife (stay at home mom) and I will raise our own children.

No Nanny necessary.

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KEELHAULUM
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 3:59pm
We don’t have nanny’s where I come from and unless I hit the lottery ( which I don’t play) we never will.
We birthed ‘um we’ll take care of ‘um. That said I know everybody is not as fortunate as I, if you need such things I guess you could do a lot worse than a tactical nanny, like say,…one from the Dominican Republic, who incidentally wouldn’t be alive to plead not guilty if I had come home and found that.

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battles
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 1:28pm
No thanks. My stay at home, gun toting, non-military wife can take care of this herself.

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- DogTags
  Posted on February 5, 2013 at 3:36pm
  Even conservatives do not understand proper principles for right living. An aggressive, highly disciplined female caretaker seems like a good substitute for a loving, caring mother, but that is not God’s ideal for the rearing of children. This Tactical Nanny service is simply a breakdown of the family from a conservative perspective rather than a liberal one.
  
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RabidPatriot
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 1:23pm
One my co-workers was a fellow soldier and now an officer. She is a highly trained tactical entry officer and an expert at combat arms. She occasionally takes care of my children and they could not be in more capable hands. I would pay good money for a highly trained patriot to take care of my kids. They would always be safe when I was not around to take care of business.

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- Marci
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 12:08am
  I think it’s a great idea. I have to admit I am slightly biased because Jonathon is a childhood friend of mine, but I can see this being an excellent option for people who need that extra assurance and I can certainly see local high profile people choosing this as well.
  
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DogTags
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 1:15pm
This story has a few cultural problematic angles. 1) That women are nurturers is a big reason not to allow them into combat roles; 2) That military life turns these natural nurturers into parental drill sergeants makes for unnatural, aggressive motherly roles in the home; 3) That parents are neglecting their duty to parent their own children by insisting both parents work, thus creating the demand for nannies is destroying the family and we see the results in Sandy Hook, Chicago, Detroit. Look at what type of president we now have who was neglected by both of his parents and raised by a string of communists.

This Tactical Nanny nonsense is not the answer.

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- glassaudioguy
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 8:48pm
  Not only both parents working, but making executive level salaries to pay that kind of dough!
  
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Krutch
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 12:23pm
Send the armed nannies to DC so we can stop the politicians from making new stupid laws that kill the Constitution. And yes, send them armed to the teeth!

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ChiefGeorge
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 11:32am
Of course this fits…right?

Fits as in this is the new America and the new American fighting force. Its an extension of the infantile society we have raised. God help us! No wonder so many vets are shooting themselves….20 a day?

On the outside they look tough, but on the inside its cartoon land filled with shattered rainbows and lollypops…a world they thought would be but isn’t and they cannot deal with it. Prepping for this sort of thing starts from the ground up. Its called being able to fight your own battles as they come…elementary on up.

We’ve short circuited that ability for sure. The partner and crime of infantilism is victimhood status which is very easily obtained these days and even encouraged….this makes one a slave to the system and not one who can stand on their own two feet.

Pattons slap may have been well intentioned but on the wrong person. Can you imagine WW2 warriors going into battle with a TeddyBear? Or how about Korean or Vietnam War soldiers? Its unthinkable! Why? You’d be laughed out of the unit and straight over to the Shrink!

America’s self esteem movement cannot seem to conquer this inner weakness….its needs to be tempered by everyday life, one fighting their own battles instead of this nanny state crap. We’ve allowed it, its here and many have fallen for it….not everyone has PTSD and those contemplating treatment for this may want to consider pulling themselves up by the bootstrap and saying ENOUG

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- DogTags
  Posted on February 5, 2013 at 1:22pm
  “Can you imagine WW2 warriors going into battle with a TeddyBear?”
  
  Copy that! I also made the point that women are natural nurturers and should not be in combat roles. Military life turns these natural nurturers into drill sergeants in the home, creating an unnaturally aggressive mother. I weep for the future.
  
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loveliberty83
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 11:26am
my goodness please leave Americans live their own lives this is not dam Russia or Cuba, we do not need military protecting every part of our lives

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- Dachande
  Posted on February 5, 2013 at 12:28pm
  Loveliberty83,
  
  It’s a service being offered by a private company to private citizens who are chosing to live their lives the way they want. It is a niche for marketing purposes and also helps veterans find employment.
  
  Take you own advise, I like the idea primarily because just about everyone in the military has been receiving more trauma care training, AKA, Combat Life Saver.
  
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GhostOfJefferson
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 11:02am
Well, when mommy is empowered and doesn’t have time to raise those “burdens”, as our CIC likes to call them, and daddy is either too busy working or is removed from the family via divorce courts, what better place to turn than militant nannies!

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DougHuffman
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 10:54am
Thank GoODness our distaff service folk are immune to PTSD so far, they are aren’t they? What about after their new front line combat adventure?

If Chris Kyle was thought unwise, even by some in the pro-gun wing, for helping a wounded veteran, is Mr. Gilliam not? “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” What better friend than a wounded veteran that has already given a large measure of himself. MOLON LABE

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txannie
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 10:41am
Not a problem. We all wear guns here. One of my daughters and a daughter -in-law military training. We don’t worry much about some yahoo moron coming around and messing with us. But…I do have to say, we did our childcare with family only. Never hired a nanny or babysitter. We participated in all activities with babies and toddlers and teens and adults all together. If we needed some time off a family member took the kids. When mom and dad had to go to work, gramma kept the kids. Never had a problem telling the little darlins’ we couldn’t afford that toy right now, save your money and when you have the cash we’ll go get it. Most of the time the toy was forgotten before wasting money on it. A lot of Americans have forgotten our children are more important than having a new car or wearing designer clothes.

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- saved4ever
  Posted on February 5, 2013 at 12:53pm
  Well said, TxAnnie! Well said!
  
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SamIamTwo
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 10:31am
Sorry but it’s a family affair. All positions are filled by family members. Some of which did time in Iraq, VM.

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- Spyderco
  Posted on February 5, 2013 at 5:42pm
  Same here. Grandma has it covered and I dare someone to mess with that old winch!
  
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Gonzo
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 10:26am
“They’ll even come armed if that’s what their client wants.” And all the liberal, anti gun mommies will want them armed to the teeth.

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- RANGER1965
  Posted on February 5, 2013 at 11:00am
  You nailed it Gonzo.
  
  A bunch of people complaining about life boats, while sitting in one.
  
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