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A mercenary is typically thought of as a soldier-for-hire by entities other than his or her own country’s military. When seeking out a mercenary-like job, a common question asked on job applications is what type of guns the individual is either familiar with or qualified to shoot. Although most private security companies will provide proficiency and advanced weapons handling training, there is an expectation of a basic-level of firearms familiarity with common mercenary guns by the job applicant. These include various 9mm or equivalent handguns such as the Glock 9mm, rifles such as the M-4, M-16, and AK-47, and various other large caliber weapons.

Mercenary Handguns

When seeking employment as a private security contractor, proficiency in one or more handgun types is a must for the majority of companies. The reasons vary depending on the nature of the job the person will be filling; however, when taking a job where one can be part of a personal protective detail the use of a concealed handgun is a requirement for most armed security details.

Glock 17 (9mm)

Despite early reliability concerns when Glock pistolswere first manufactured due to their composite construction, they have become one of the

most popular handguns on the public and military market. The company has more than 65 percent of the market share for U.S. law enforcement agencies and supplies a number of NATO and non-NATO armed forces and security agencies.

The Glock 17 (9 x 19), 9mm pistol is used by the majority of law enforcement agencies who employ pistols across the world. The pistol is rated at above-average reliability and has a full magazine capacity of 17 rounds. The Glock 17 has a low overall weight (just over 22 ounces) and the Glock “Safe Action” trigger system designed for use in high-pressure situations in the field. If you are looking for Glock 17’s for sale in the United States to work on your shooting before applying for a private security or military job, they will typically retail for around $500 USD depending on the merchant and options you choose for the weapon.

Glock Production history

Designer          Gaston Glock

Designed         1979–1982

Manufacturer  Glock Ges.m.b.H.

Produced         1982–present

Number built   2,500,000

Glock 17 Specifications

Cartridge: 9×19mm Parabellum

Action: A short recoil, tilting barrel, and locked breech.

Muzzle velocity: 375 m/sec (1,230 feet/second)

Effective range: 50 m/55 yards

Feed system: Box magazine

Sights: Options of fixed, adjustable, and Tritium-illuminated handgun night sights

Glock 26 “Baby Glock”

The Glock 26 Gen 4 is also known as the “Baby Glock” in industry. Rated at 9 x 19 mm, it has taken over from the 5-round snub-nosed revolver as one of the weapons of choice for concealed carry. The magazine has a capacity of 10 rounds and the weapon is rated as being very accurate. The Baby Glock sells new at around $500 give or take $50 USD depending on the state you are buying the pistol and can commonly be found in good or better condition used for around $400 USD.

 

Heckler & Koch HK45

The Heckler & Koch HK45 is a 45 caliber German manufactured pistol. It was first made as an improvement over the USP45 and was released in 1995. The HK 45 improvements include changeable grip panels, better ergonomics, more ambidextrous controls, and a Picatinny MIL-STD-1913 accessory rail. The pistol (along with the popular HK45 Compact) was produced as a potential candidate for use by the U.S. military as a successor to the 9MM M9; however, the programs looking at a successor to the M9 were suspended before a replacement was selected.

The HK45 makes use of a proprietary O-ring barrel to ensure a very precise barrel-to-slide lookup and maximizes the accuracy of the weapon. The HK45 models are able to be fitted with a threaded barrel to use with sound suppressors and are capable of firing a .45 ACP ball through +P ammo. Designed for personal defense, the HK45 is able to be converted to use a variety of trigger firing modes to include double action only (DA) or double action/single action (DA/SA).

Well-suited for personal defense use, the HK45 is available in, or can be converted to, a wide variety of variants that use different trigger firing modes, including double action/single action (DA/SA) and DAO (double action only).

Heckler & Koch HK45 Specifications

Weight            785 g (27.7 oz)

717 g (25 oz) (HK45 Compact version)

Length 191 mm (7.5 inches)

183 mm (7.2 in) (HK45 Compact version)

Barrel length   115 mm (4.5 inches)

99 mm (3.9 in) (HK45 Compact version)

Width  36 mm (1.4 inches)

29 mm (1.1 in) (HK45 Compact version)

Height 148 mm (5.8 in)

128.5 mm (5.1 inches) (HK45 Compact)

Caliber .45 ACP

Action: Browning-type tilting barrel, short recoil operated, and locked breech.

Feed system: Detachable box magazine (10 round capacity). HK45C has an eight round capacity.

Sights: Drift adjustable 3-dot or Super-LumiNova night system.

Mercenary Assault Rifles

AK-47

The AK-47has been around since World War 2 and seems to be used in every austere region in the world. The rifle is a gas-operated; 7.62 x 39 mm

assault rifle first made in the USSR and is also known as the Kalashnikov. Due to the rifle’s low cost, ease of use, and durability, it continues to be one of the most used assault rifles by mercenaries, rebels, and militaries around the world. Today, the AK sees production in a number of countries and is almost considered a must for merc-like work to be able to operate the weapon.

AK 47 Specifications

Weight            4.78 kg (10.5 lb) with a loaded magazine,

– AKM weight with unloaded magazine 3.1 Kg.

Length 880 mm (35 in) fixed wooden stock

645 mm (25.4 in) stock folded

875 mm (34.4 in) folding stock extended

Cartridge         7.62×39mm M43/M67

Barrel length   415 mm (16.3 in)

Action: Gas operated, rotating bolt

Rate of fire:     Cyclic rate of fire is 600 rounds/minute

Semi-auto rate of fire: 40 rounds/minute

Full-auto burst rate of fire: 100 rounds/min

Muzzle velocity           715 m/s (2,350 ft/s)

Effective range           350 meters (380 yd)

Feed system: Standard magazine with a 30 round capacity. The rifle also has: 10, 20, 40, 75, or 100-round detachable box and drum style magazines available for use.

Sights  Adjustable iron sights with a 378 mm (14.9 in) sight radius. The AK-47 has adjustments available between 100-800 meters. The AKM has 100-1,000 meter adjustments available.

M-4 Carbine

The M-4 carbine is the current weapon of choice in the U.S. armed forces and refers to a family of related firearms based on the M-16 and AR-15 rifles. The M-4 is lighter and shorter than the M-16A2 rifle and has approximately an 80% parts commonality with the rifle. The M-4 is magazine fed, gas-operated, and shoulder fired with a telescopic stock. The M-4’s barrel is 14.5 inches (370 mm) in length which makes it easier to use in urban or close quarters combat than the M-16. The selective fire options for the rifle include three round burst, semi-automatic, fully auto, and are capable of mounting the M203 and M320 grenade launchers.

Due to the widespread use of the M-4 by the United States Armed Forces, it is one of the common rifles that private military companies expect their employees to be able to effectively use.

M-4 Carbine Specifications

Manufacturer: Colt Defense, U.S. Ordnance, Remington Arms Company

Produced         1994–present

Variants           M4A1, CQBR (Mk. 18 Mod 0)

Weight:           6.36 lb (2.88 kg) unloaded

6.9 lb (3.1 kg) with 30 rounds

Length: 33 inches (840 mm) (with extended stock)

29.75 inches (756 mm) (with stock retracted)

Barrel length:  14.5 inches (370 mm)

Cartridge: 5.56×45mm NATO standard ammunition

Action: Gas operated, rotating belt.

Rate of fire: 700–950 rounds/minute cyclic

Muzzle velocity: 2970 ft/sec (884 m/sec)

Effective range: 500 m for a point target and 600 m for area targets.

Feed system: 30 round box magazine and other approved STANAG magazines.

Sights: Iron or various optics packages.

Heckler & Koch HK-416

The H&K 416 is a popular assault rifle manufactured by Heckler & Koch. The rifle makes use of the AR-15 platform and was originally designed as a major improvement to Colt’s M-4 carbine. The 416 makes use of a gas-piston system derived from the H&K G36. The rifle uses standard NATO ammunition, 5.56 x 44mm and is used by a number of armed forces throughout the world to include the U.S. Special Forces and some use by the U.S. Marine Corps.

Heckler & Koch HK-416 Specifications

Weight            HK416C: 2.950 kg (6.50 lb))

Length HK416C: 690 mm (27.2 inches) stock extended / 560 mm (22.0 inches) stock collapsed

Barrel length   HK416C: 228 mm (9.0 inches)

Width  78 mm (3.1 inches)

Height HK416C: 236 mm (9.3 inches)

Cartridge: 5.56×45mm NATO

Action: Short stroke piston, rotating bolt

Rate of fire: 700 – 900 rounds/min (cyclic)

Muzzle velocity: Depends on the type of round and barrel.

Feed system: Capable of using either a 20, 30-round STANAG magazine or a 100-round Beta C-Mag

Sights: A rear rotary diopter sight with front post, Picatinny rail

RPK (Kalashnikov hand-held machine gun)

The RPK, also known as the Kalashnikov hand-held machine gun, is a 7.62x39mm light machine gun originally designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov for

the Soviets in the 1950s. The gun was produced in parallel with the AKM assault rifle and was first created to replace the 7.62x39mm RPD light machine gun. Despite its age, the RPK continues to be used by a number of African, Asian, and former Soviet Union countries today. The rifle was also manufactured in Poland, Bulgaria, and Romania and functions identically to the AK-47 using the same ammunition. The rifle has had modifications to help increase its accuracy, effective range, and sustained fire capability.

Other features of the RPK include having a longer and heavier barrel than the AKM allowing it to conduct sustained fire for longer periods of time than the AK-47. The barrel of the rifle is permanently fixed to the weapon’s receiver and is not designed for field replacement. Other features of the RPK include a front sight base, under-barrel cleaning rod guide, folding bipod mounted near the muzzle, and a front sight base with lug. The muzzle of the gun is threaded which allows it to be used with compensators, blank firing adapters, and flash hiders.

RPK/RPKS/RPK-74 Specifications

Weight            RPK: 4.8 kg (10.6 lb)

RPK-74: 4.7 kg (10 lb)

RPKS-74: 4.85 kg (10.7 lb)

RPKS: 5.1 kg (11 lb)

Length RPK, RPKS: 1,040 mm (40.9 inches)

RPKS: 820 mm (32.3 inches) rifle stock folded

RPK-74, RPKS-74: 1,060 mm (41.7 inches)

RPKS-74: 845 mm (33.3 inches) rifle stock folded

Barrel length:590 mm (23.2 inches)

Cartridge: RPK, RPKS: 7.62×39mm M43

RPK-74, RPKS-74: 5.45×39mm M74

Action: Gas operated, rotating and closed bolt.

Rate of fire: 600 rounds/minute (RPK), 650 rounds/minute (RPK-74)

Muzzle velocity: RPK, RPKS: 745 m/second (2,444 ft/second)

RPK-74, RPKS-74: 960 m/s (3,149.6 ft/second)

Effective range: 100–1,000 m sight adjustments

Feed system: RPK, RPKS: 20, 30, or 40-round curved magazine or a 75-round drum magazine

RPK-74, RPKS-74: 30 or 45-round box magazine, 100-round plastic drum magazine, belt ammunition (with side mounted belt feed device)

Sights: Front: semi-shrouded front post, rear: sliding tangent with adjustable notch

Sight radius: 555 mm (21.9 in)

PK/PKM Machine Gun

The 7.62 mm PK/PKM machine gun is another Soviet-era assault rifle that is still produced to this day in Russia. The PK was originally manufactured to replace the RPD and SGM machine guns in use by the Soviet army. Today it remains a vehicle-mounted and infantry weapon in the Russian armed forces and has been exported extensively by the Russians. The PKM is the modernized version of the PK and first saw service in 1969 and is also in use today.

PK/PKM Machine Gun Specifications

Weight            PK: 9 kg (19.84 lb) (gun + integral bipod) + 7.7 kg (16.98 lb) (tripod).

PKM: 7.5 kg (16.53 lb) (gun + integral bipod) + 4.5 kg (9.92 lb) (tripod).

PKT (tank): 10.5 kg (23.15 lb)

Length PK: 1,203 mm (47.4 inches)

PKM: 1,192 mm (46.9 inches)

PKT: 1,098 mm (43.2 inches)

Barrel length   PK: 658 mm (25.9 inches)

PKT: 772 mm (30.4 inches)

PKM: 645 mm (25.4 inches)

Cartridge         7.62×54mmR

Action: Gas operated, open bolt

Rate of fire:     PK, PKM: 650–750 round/min.

PKT: 800 rounds/minute

Muzzle velocity: PK, PKM: 825 m/s

Effective range: 1,640 yards (100–1,500 m sight adjustments)

Feed system: Belts in 100/200/250 round boxes

Sights: Tangent iron sights

Other Popular Mercenary Guns

It would literally be impossible to list every single weapon an individual may encounter or be expected to use while accomplishing mercenary work. Other than the highly popular weapons already highlighted in this article, other guns you may expect to run into in the field or home office while doing merc work are: 1911, FNFAL, HK-91 (or any HK weapon), MP-5, M-249, and the Sten SMG. Becoming proficient in one or more types of weapon in each category (pistol, rifle, etc.) will help you quickly learn to shoot new variants of guns as they become available during your future work.

 

The DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) is a law enforcement agency that falls under the United States Department of Justice. The DEA is charged with being the primary organization in the U.S. to fight drug smuggling and usage within the U.S. In addition to being the primary or lead agency for domestic U.S. enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act (sharing jurisdiction with the FBI and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), it also has the primary responsibility for pursing drug investigations abroad for the U.S. Although not commonly thought of for post-military or police employment, DEA jobs can be a good fit for those seeking out exciting career opportunities similar to those experienced while in the service.

DEA History

The DEA was first established by President Richard Nixonon July 1, 1973 under the Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1973. The plan created a signal

U.S. Federal Agency tasked to enforce Federal drug laws and to consolidate all of the government’s drug control activities under a single organization. As part of the DEA formation, the Office of Drug Abuse Law enforcement (ODALE), the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (BNDD), and several other federal offices were merged into the DEA.

The DEA’s headquarters has been located in Washington, D.C. since the creation of the organization in order to be in close proximity to the Attorney General. Needing to expand in 1989, the HQ was moved to Army-Navy Drive located in Arlington, Virginia near the D.C. Metro where it remains today.

In mid-April, 1995 (April 19^th), Timothy McVeigh was responsible for attacking the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in order to target the ATF, FBI, and DEA. McVeigh conducted the attack because he felt as though these organizations were responsible for conducting raids that were unjustified intrusions of the rights of the people targeted. As a result of the attack, two DEA employees lost their life in addition to two contractors, and one task force member. The DEA would go on to establish a Digital Evidence Lab in the Office of Forensic Sciences in February of 2003.

What Does the DEA Do?

The DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) is the only single-mission federal agency in the United States who has the primary goal of drug law enforcement. The organization leverages their operational expertise and intelligence capabilities to ID, investigate, disrupt, and ultimately dismantle major drug trafficking organizations as those who help them. The organization also helps remove violent criminals from society, drugs, and fight all manners of illicit drugs. The mission statement of the agency is:

1. Enforce the controlled substances laws and regulations of the United States;

2. Bring to the criminal and civil justice system of the United States, or any other competent

jurisdiction, those involved in the illegal growing, manufacture, or distribution of controlled

substances that are part of or destined for illicit drug markets in the United States; and,

3. Recommend and support non-enforcement programs aimed at reducing the availability of

illicit controlled substances on domestic and international markets.

What Types of Jobs Are Available at the DEA?

Due to the operational nature of the DEA, there are jobs available across a variety of disciplines in the agency. If you have a combat-arms background and otherwise meet the other prerequisites at the DEA, you may find the opportunity to become a DEA special agent attractive. Other job specialties commonly available in addition to special agents include: intelligence research specialist, diversion investigator, forensic sciences, professional and administrative, and student/entry level positions.

How to Apply for a DEA Job

Since the DEA is a federal agency under the Department of Justice, its job application process has changed in recent years. It has moved to the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) USA Staffing and recruiting system. The USA Staffing application is designed by the federal government to meet the unique human resources requirements of each agency in the USG.

Step 1 – Navigate to the USAJOBs website and create an account. In order to successfully create an account you will have to fill out the required basic profile information (first/last name, home/cell phone numbers, address, and secret question answers).

Step 2 – Click the “Build New Resume” or “Upload New Resume” menu buttons located on the left-hand side of the webpage.

Step 3 – Begin your job search for DEA job vacancies by selecting the “Search Jobs” menu option of the USA Jobs webpage. In this section of the site, you can user keywords, locations, or manually seek out posted DEA job vacancies.

Step 4 – Add or remove filters on the left-hand side of the screen to further refine your job search.

Step 5 – Open a job announcement under the DEA that interests you.

Step 6 – Once you locate a DEA job you are interested in applying for, open the announcement and select the “Apply Online” menu button. Each job listing will have a “How to Apply” section listed under the listing

Step 7 – The website will now prompt you to select a resume and any required supporting documents for the job application. These will be linked to the application.

Step 8 – Certify that the information you are submitting is accurate and ensure you review the resume to make sure it is the right version to include with the DEA job application. If updating previously submitting applications, the resume and supporting documents must be resubmitted.
Step 9 – Select the “Apply for this position now” menu option. USAJOBS will redirect you to the “Application Manager.”

Step 10 – Enter your full name and social security number when prompted by the Application Manager (first time use). If you do not enter the correct social security number, it will negatively impact your ability to apply for a DEA job.

Step 11 – Verify the biographic data that is populated from your USAJOBS entries and continue to the Assessment Questionnaire.

Step 12 – Complete the required sections of the Assessment Questionnaire. These will be specific for the DEA job you are applying to fill.

Step 13 – Select the “Submit My Answers” menu button to complete the job application once you finish inputting all required information. If you skip any of the required sections of the job application, you will receive a warning at this point to go back and provide the missing information. If you skip a question within a section; however, the system will not provide a warning to you and it is recommended you review all responses before selecting the “Submit My Answers” menu option.

Step 14 – After submitting the application, you will receive an on-line confirmation message. Depending on the job, there may be additional requirements found under the “How to Apply” section of the job vacancy to complete before the application is considered complete.

Step 15 – Log out of the system at this point. USAJOBS will serve as the primary source of information regarding the status of your DEA job application from this point forward. If you are selected to move to the “Conditional” status of a DEA employee, you will be contacted by a human resources representative of the agency.

What Do DEA Special Agents Do?

Once an application to be a DEA Special Agent is received, the agency will make a conditional offer of employment to qualified applicants. Once this offer is made, the recruit will undergo 19 weeks of training that include firearms proficiency and basic marksmanship, tactical shooting, weapons safety, and deadly force decision training. To graduate recruit training, an average of 80 percent or above has to be maintained on all of the paper tests in the course, pass rigorous physical task tests, pass the firearms qual test, and demonstrate sound decision-making capability during practical scenarios. You will also undergo a polygraph test for many of the job positions at the DEA where you will be asked questions regarding any past drug use which can result in removal from consideration as a Special Agent.

Once hired, a DEA Special Agent is expected to be fairly flexible in his or her day-to-day job duties. These can range from going undercover to gain the confidence of suspected drug dealers, to analyzing evidence to help strengthen the Department of Justice’s case against an alleged offender. Special Agent duties also include interviewing people of interest who are likely to possess knowledge regarding suspects in drug related crimes and arresting individuals in drug trafficking or sales cases. Special Agents are also regularly asked to testify in court cases related to investigations they have worked.

Being able to follow strict protocols and guidelines in these cases is a key aspect of a DEA Special Agents job, as criminals can be found not guilty if evidence was improperly obtained or cataloged.  As a result, the agency commonly seeks out new agents with a past history in law enforcement type of duties to become Special Agents. If you want to see if you possess the minimum requirements to be a DEA Special Agent, you can take their anonymous DEA Special Agent eligibility quiz before proceeding with your job application for the DEA.

The CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) was formed in 1947 when President Harry Truman signed the National Security Act. At the same time, the Director of Central Intelligence, or DCI, position was created to serve as the primary advisor to the U.S. President regarding all matters related to national security. The responsibilities of the DCI position were modified with the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 which places some of the roles formerly filled by the DCI under the Director of National Intelligence. Since the Agency’s inception, earning a job at the CIA has been popular amongst both military veterans and graduate students who have desirable skillsets for Agency work.

CIA History

Intelligence activities have been carried out since the Revolutionary War for the United States. It has only been since World War 2; however, that they have coordinated on a national-basis. President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed William J. Donovan as the Coordinator of Information and later the head of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) in 1942. The organization would become what we know as the CIA today with the mandate to collect and analyze strategic information until it was disbanded after the war.

It only took two years for President Harry Truman to realize that the country had a need for a centralized intelligence organization after the war. In order to create a fully functional intelligence organization, he signed the National Security Act of 1947 which formally created the CIA and tasking it with the coordination of all of the nation’s intelligence activities. These responsibilities include evaluating, correlating, and disseminating intelligence which impacts national security.

At the end of 2004 (on December 17^th), President George W. Bush signed the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act. This act restructured the Intel community by getting rid of the Director and Deputy Director of Central Intelligence and creating the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency position (D/CIA). The Director of National Intelligence (DNI) was also created in order to better oversee both the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) and the Intelligence community.

What Does the CIA Do?

The Central Intelligence Agency is responsible for collecting, correlating, and evaluating all available sources of intelligence related to the national security of the United States. The Agency is also responsible for dissemination of the intelligence developed; however, is not permitted to have police, law enforcement, or internal security functions within the United States. By functioning as a separated U.S. Government agency, the CIA is charted to be an independent source of intelligence analysis on topics of concern for the country. It is also charged with coordinating efforts with other Intelligence Community organizations to help ensure that policy makers and warfighters get the best intelligence available when required.

The CIA helps meet global demands through a number of inter and intra Agency efforts. These include the creation of multidisciplinary intelligence centers to address specific, high-priority threats to the nation’s security including: counter-terrorism, counterintelligence, nonproliferation, narcotics trafficking, arms control intelligence, and international organized crime. Additionally, the Agency takes an active role in the Intelligence Community analytical efforts and creates all-source analysis covering all topics related to national security. Employees of the CIA help fulfill the Agency’s goals by using all manners of intelligence gathering (imagery, national assets, human, and open sources), and can find employment in a large variety of fields.

What Types of Jobs Are Available at the CIA?

All jobs at the CIA help contribute to the Agency’s primary goal of protecting the national security of the United States. There are a large number of jobs available at the CIA that range from operations to computer engineering. Some of the primary job fields available for employment at the CIA include: analytical positions, business, IT and security positions, clandestine service positions, language positions, science, engineering, and technology Positions, and various student opportunities. The clandestine service positions are further broken down into: operations officers, collection management officer, staff operations officer, targeting officer, and paramilitary operations officer / specialized skills officer. The CIA’s paramilitary operations officer candidates will normally be trained in the CST (Clandestine Service Trainee) program. The Specialized Skills Officers will find employment in directly supporting CIA operations making use of their special skills (tech, aviation, maritime, etc).

It is important to note, that the CIA is pretty upfront about potential employees not telling more people than need to know about applying for a job with the Agency. Knowledge of the person’s employment by one or many people can result in a loss of flexibility on future employment by the potential new employee. The CIA recommends that applicants to the clandestine services actually protect the fact they are applying or thinking of applying for clandestine related work.

 

How to Apply for a CIA Job

Step 1– Ensure you can provide documentation proving U.S. citizenship. If you are not a U.S. citizen, the CIA will not hire you.

Step 2 – View the available job fields and opportunities available on the CIA website and do your research before submitting a job application.  You will want to review each of the career paths available at the CIA and find available positions the Agency is currently seeking to fill with a qualified applicant. Each of the career paths will have minimum requirements and notional salary ranges for your consideration.

Step 3 – Note up to four job positions that you are interested in filling across the various career paths at the CIA. You cannot apply for more than four positions on the initial job application; however, some would recommend you limit your options to two or three to avoid appearing to be schizophrenic.

Step 4 – Create an account on the CIA’s career application center website by clicking the “Create Account” menu button on the webpage. Once you have created an account, you will have only three days to complete and submit the job application. After the three day period has lapsed, the CIA will delete your account.

Step 5 – Search for the select up to four positions with the CIA. You can do this within the jobs portal by using the “Job” and “Category” menu options. This information will be very similar, if not the same, as that you viewed when searching the “All Career Opportunities” page on the CIA portal.

Step 6 – Select between one and four positions that you meet the minimum requirements for from the CIA jobs portal. You will want to make sure that you only have a serious interest in filling, or you could find your job application assessment delayed as you move through the process. A CIA recruiter will review the application and make an assessment of your job skills as compared to those required under the job posting.

Step 7 – After choosing the job positions you are interested in filling, you can begin filling in the CIA “Application Package.” Note that you need to budget some time to complete the application as there are three separate forms that request detailed information about yourself. If you decide to add job positions after starting the job application package, you will be returned to the “Expertise” section of the CIA job application to provide additional information.

Step 8 – Before starting the job application, you will want to ensure you have the required information collected. This includes but is not limited to: your work history and background, job expertise to include number of years, knowledge, skills, and abilities, and education completed to include work concentrations. Under your work history, you will need to be able to provide a comprehensive listing of employment with valid explanations for any “white space” of significant time. The Agency will also be interested in any past military experience, foreign area knowledge, languages and associated proficiency levels, and any certifications or licenses you possess that are relevant to the job(s) you are applying to fill.

Step 9 – Complete the Personnel Evaluation Form (PEF). In this form, you will be asked to provide information regarding: current or past security clearances, background investigations, polygraphs, Selective Service (if applicable to yourself), DD-214 and information regarding any military disciplinary proceedings. Other information required in the PEF includes any employment issues, drug use and activity, violations of the law, criminal convictions, any Peace Corps association or employment, and any delinquent federal debt. In order to be considered suitable for CIA employment, an applicant must have not used illegal drugs within the past year. If you have used drugs prior to the 12 month period, it will be carefully evaluated during the security and medical processing portion of the job application.

Step 10 – After you complete the entire CIA job application package, you will need to save and print your forms. You will likely find it necessary to use the forms throughout the job application process. After submitting the job application by clicking the “Submit” button, the job application account will be disabled.

Step11 – After clicking the “Submit” button, you will see a confirmation message displayed on the web page. This is the only acknowledgement that is sent to the individual. If you submit multiple job applications, it will slow the review of the application and ultimately delay a decision on the part of the CIA on whether or not to move to the next step with you for a job at the CIA.

Step 12 – If considered suitable for employment, be prepared to undergo a thorough background investigation by the CIA. They will take a hard look at your life history, character, reliability, trustworthiness, and soundness of judgment. The CIA closely looks at any potentially conflicting allegiances you may have, the potential for you to be coerced, and your willingness to follow regulations. During this stage of the hiring process, you will also undergo physical and mental evaluations that pertain to the essential job functions you will be expected to perform.

National Clandestine Service Jobs

If you are interested in more “mercenary-like” or operations-based employment through the CIA, the National Clandestine Service offers two entry-level programs: the Professional Trainee (PT) and the Clandestine Service (CST) program. The PT program is tailored to job applications that have a bachelor’s degree but do not have significant work experience. PT applicants are typically between 21-25 years in age, and are normally assigned to a series of HQ-based jobs to expose them to the core aspects of the National Clandestine Service. After successfully completing the PT program, employees can proceed to the CST if they have received favorable reviews during the PT.

The CST program is designed for individuals in the 26-35 year age bracket who have at least a bachelor’s degree and substantive work or military experience. Other minimum requirements for the program include a preference for a 3.0 GPA or higher as well as a strong interest in international affairs. The ability to write clearly and accurately as well as foreign travel and area knowledge are also desired. The ability to speak a critical foreign language such as: Arabic, Chinese, Dari, Indonesian, Korean, Pashton, Persian, Russian, Somali, Turkish, Kurdish, or Urdu will provide an advantage to the job applicant. Some of the college degrees of interest for the CST program include: economics, physical or nuclear science, international business, finance or international relations, and biological or chemical engineering. For both the PT and CST programs, applicants will be expected to complete the requirements annotated above for other CIA jobs as well as completing two personal interviews.

G4S is a security solutions group that supports operations in more than 125 countries across the world. The company boasts more than 657,000 employees and specializes in providing outsourced facilities and business processes in regions where safety and security risks pose potential threats to client business. G4S partners with a wide range of customers that include non-profit organizations, businesses, and governments in order to provided tailored and integrated solutions to the current and future security threats. In addition to employment in traditional trades, there are a number of operational G4S security jobs available on any given week for those interested to apply.

G4S Company History

G4S was formerly known as Group 4 Securicor, and is currently a British multinational company specializing in security services. The company’s HQ is located in Crawley, UK and when measured by overall revenues currently boats that it is the largest security company in the world at the time of this writing. The company was founded in 2004 during the merger of Securicor and Denmark-based Group 4 Falck and is the third largest private sector employee in the world behind WalMart and Foxconn. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange as well as being a member of the FTSE 100. There is also a secondary listing for the company on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange.

The company’s origins date to 1901 in Copenhagen when it was founded as Kjøbenhavn Frederiksberg Nattevagt (loosely translates to: Copenhagen and Frederiksberg Night Watch) and later renamed to Falck by Marius Hogrefe providing security services. In 2000, the company merged with Group 4 and was known as Group 4 Falck. Just two years later, the company would go on to acquire the The Wackenhut Corporation in based in the United States. The next year,  Group 4 Falck would sign a Detention Services Contract with the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs in Australia. Under this contract, the company took over direct control of the Australian refugee and detention centers. In 2004, Group 4 Falck would merge with Securicor (originally founded in 1935) to form G4S.

In early 2008, G4S took over the Scottish Rock Steady Group and became the primary stewards for major music and sporting events in the UK. Just one month later, the company acquired RONCO Consulting Corporation, which added additional humanitarian and mine action capabilities to the company’s portfolio. This acquisition would be followed in 2009 by the acquisition of : Secura Monde International Limited and Shiremoor International Engineering Limited. One of the most recent acquisitions of G4S was completed earlier in 2012, with the purchase of Touchcom, Inc. for $23 million USD.

Other company acquisitions have included the 2011 purchase of Guidance Monitoring which was a manufacturer and designer of electronic monitoring technologies and Chubb Emergency Response.

G4S has not solely purchased or acquired other related companies; however, as in August 2012 they announced the Pakistan Division, Wackenhut Pakistan Limited, would be sold to the chairman of the company, Ikram Sehgal, for approximately $10 million USD.

What Type of Work Does G4S Do?

The primary focus of G4S is to provide all ranges of security services to the company’s clients. These range from manned security services,

management and transportation of cash and valuables, justice and care services, and all related outsourced business processes to security and safety. Government contracts were about 27% of the company’s business in 2011 and include operations such as operating prisons and custody facilities on behalf of law enforcement agencies. G4S also provides airport guard services at major locations to include: Brussels Airport, Heathrow Airport, Gatwick Airport, Oslo Airport, Schiphol Airport and OR Tambo Airport. For the person who is more of a tactical operator, G4S also provides consultancy, risk-management, and support in infrastructure limited areas of the world. These services include training, land-mine clearance, and ordnance management.

In order to provide the level of service expected by G4S clients, the company leverages its global resources in risk consultancy, project management, logistics, and technology to deliver enhanced services to their clients at competitive rates.

Veteran Employment at G4S

G4S has consistently been a strong supporter of military veterans. The company traditionally fills many of their operational and other security related job vacancies with U.S. and other military veterans. As a result of the company’s efforts to both recruit and retain veterans, G4S has been named a Top 50 Military-Friendly Employer multiple times by G.I. Jobs (2011) and to Training magazine’s Top 125 (2008-2012). Additionally, G4S has received a number of awards from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve and Most Valuable Military Employer in 2009, 2010, 2011 and most recently in 2012.

G4S is a sponsor for the U.S. Navy’s Master-at-Arms rating through the U.S. Military Apprenticeship Program (USMAP) and assisted the Navy in conducting a review for the basic MA training. Additional assistance provided to veterans by G4S includes the company’s partnering with the U.S Army’s Partnership for Youth Success (PaYS) program. This program helps give young people in the United States a chance to serve their country while preparing for their future education and employment.

Other avenues used to connect with military veterans by G4S include: participating in RecruitMilitary job fairs, finding veterans to connect and transition to civilian employment through Corporate Gray, and as serving as a member of the Hiring Our Heroes initiative of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Traditional Security Guard Employment at G4S

For those who don’t have military or police related experience, G4S has a number of traditional security guard jobs available throughout the United States and other international destinations. While military or other security-related experience will help land these or more high-paying jobs at G4S, individuals can successfully find entry-level employment through G4S.

 

How to Apply for a Job at G4S?

The best way to apply for a job at G4S is to either start with the company’s new jobs portal or seek out a company representative at one of the many military jobs fairs that G4S attends.

Step 1 – If starting your job search online, visit the G4S jobs portal. Then, enter a location (zip code, region, city), distance from the desired, location, contract type (full or part time, or casual), job category, and any relevant key words to see available job openings matching your preferences. You can alternatively select the “Show all jobs” menu option to search all jobs on the portal.

Step 2 – Once you have found one or many jobs that you are interested in, tailor your resume to match the applicable job skills required in the job posting. Since G4S puts such a great emphasis on hiring veterans, ensure all relevant military training and experience is documented and included on the resume. Similar to other major security firms, the company will also be interested in any combat experience you have acquired during your time in the service.

Step 3 – Prior to submitting your resume on the G4S portal, consider having a Veterans Affairs human resources expert review the document. If you do not have access to a VA counselor, consider seeking out professional HR assistance to ensure you have the best chance possible to get a job from G4S.

Step 4 – Collect all of your military or police related qualifications, certificates, and references. G4S will likely want to have one or many or your past senior supervisors or commanding officers listed. Since the company is filled with veterans, be prepared to answer more technically orientated questions regarding your past military or police experience than you might find with other civilian companies.

Step 5 – Scan all of your training/qualification documentation to PDF format prior to starting you online application. This will help ensure you avoid wasting time starting and stopping the job application once you start the process.

Step 6 – Scan a copy of your DD-214 to PDF format if previously on active duty to include with your job application. All major security firms (including G4S) will want a copy of this document to show documentation that you were discharged from the service on favorable terms.

Step 7 – Make electronic copies of your driver’s license and passport to include with the job application. G4S and other major security firms will want to see at least one year or more of time remaining before each of these has to be renewed when applying for your job with the company.

Step 8 – Do not lie about any domestic violence or felony convictions on your public or military record when applying for a security-related job with G4S. The company will conduct a background check on all job applicants under consideration for employment. If you do not declare any past arrests, etc., the company will likely find out about them at some point in the job application process.

Step 9 – Upload all required documentation on the G4S jobs portal as you proceed through the job application steps. You will have to upload your resume and provide various personal information to proceed with the application.

Step 10 – Complete the job application submission and then wait a few days. G4S will contact you within a few days via phone or email if they are interested in retaining your services for the desired (or other) job. If you do not hear anything after 3-4 working days, you should reach out to the company to check the status of your job application.

Step 11 – If considered a “good fit” for the desired job with G4S, the company will contact you to proceed to the next step in the job application process. You can expect to undergo a medical exam at a minimum. If applying for an operation job, you may also be asked to take a physical fitness test before proceeding with the employment process.

Step 12 – If you are selected to fill a G4S position located outside of the United States, make sure you discuss the overseas tax break for U.S. citizens. Depending on the length of your employment abroad, you make be entitled to receive up to 94K USD tax free. If you are a citizen of another country, the applicable tax laws/treaties may vary from those found in the U.S., so you will want to verify all of the entitlements you can expect to receive before finding yourself overseas!

Triple Canopy, Inc. is a private military company specializing in risk management, mission support, and integrated security services. The company’s clients range from government, to corporate and non-profit clients. Originally founded by former U.S. Army Special Forces and Delta Force veterans, the current staff includes a number of former law enforcement officers, Rangers, SEALs, and Army SF personnel in the more than 5,00 total employees who work for the company. For prior military and police veterans, there are typically a fair number of Triple Canopy Security jobs available to apply for when looking for good paying military-related gigs outside of the armed forces.

Triple Canopy History

The Triple Canopy company was originally founded in 2003 by U.S. Army SF veterans Matt Mann and Tom Katis. The original motivation behind the founding of the company was to fill a void in the areas of combatting international terrorism as well as to apply their military experience to training government agencies in anti-terrorism techniques. The first contract awarded to Triple Canopy was in 2004 to help equip and guard Allied forces in the Iraq War Zone to include the Coalition Provisional Authority.

After successfully filling the initial contract, the company won a number of U.S. State Department contracts (one of a few companies) to provide embassy security around the world under the Worldwide Personal Protective Service contract. In 2010, Triple Canopy was hired to help assist in providing humanitarian relief efforts in Haiti following the catastrophic earthquake that struck the country. Later that year, Triple Canopy was one of approximately 60 private military companies who agreed to increased vetting and training of security personnel, increased reporting of violations of the law, and to cut back the use of force in war zones throughout the world.

Triple Canopy acquired Clayton Consultants, Inc in 2007. Clayton Consultants specialized in providing crisis management security consultations to include training, security consulting, and incident response. With the acquisition came the expansion of Triple Canopy’s work to include providing security on the U.S. and Mexico border as well as combatting piracy in the Gulf of Aden.

Backing up a bit, in the spring of 2009, Triple Canopy was awarded contracts that were previously under Blackwater USA in Iraq to provide security for Coalition Provisional Authority Headquarters throughout the country. Before this time, the company had primarily handled contracts outside of Baghdad. Other than providing security, the company has also seen press for sponsoring the Iraq Energy Expo and Conference that is designed to help continue rebuilding the country of Iraq after the war.

Today, Triple Canopy’s leadership includes former industry analysts, asset management experts, consultants, and former Delta Force officers. The current leadership of the company at the time of this writing includes:

Matt Mann, Co-Chairman

Tom Katis, Co-Chairman

Iggy Balderas, Director and CEO

Matt Luckett, Director

Tom Magnani, CFO

Jay Christy, COO

Juliet Protas, Senior VP and General Counsel

What Type of Work Does Triple Canopy Do?

Triple Canopy specializes in managing complex programs to help mitigate risk, achieve organizational objectives, and help ensure business

continuity across the globe. The company offers program management solutions that include planning, training and security services, and mission support. In order to leverage other industry talent, Triple Canopy makes use of vetted partners to provide a rapid response capability to help their clients efficiently and safely meet the challenges found in many less-than-hospitable environments around the world.

The company focuses on three primary branches of support to clients to include: mission support, security solutions, and training programs. Within each specialization, Triple Canopy makes use of the Assess, Avert, and Achieve mantra to help clients meet their goals while following ethical and best practices found in the international security industry.

How Does Triple Canopy Assess Security Problems?

In order to help clients properly assess security situations they are facing, the company employs a team of highly experienced security specialists. This team will first conduct a comprehensive site analysis after sitting down with the client to confirm what the client knows about contract requirements at the start of the business relationship. The team will then conduct a comprehensive site analysis to assess the current and emerging threats to the client’s team, create and vet security plans, and then allocate appropriate security resources after confirmation with the client regarding supportability.

Averting Security Issues

After the assessment phase of a contract is complete, Triple Canopy’s team leverages an integrated approach to managing security program(s) for their clients. These actions include making use of both fixed-site and mobile security teams, ongoing security assessments, intelligence and analysis support, and community engagement plans (when required). As security contracts evolve, the team will also make recommendations in consultation with the home office on new or emerging technologies that can be leveraged to better protect the client’s interests.

Achieving Client Goals

By partnering with the client through the security planning and implementation process, Triple Canopy helps clients achieve their goals while maintaining business continuity. This is achieved through the integrated mission support and security process the company has used to good success since start-up. The ongoing assessment process leveraged by Triple Canopy helps ensure new threats are identified prior to the risk to the client surpassing the capability of the security plan(s) that have been put into place.

How to Apply for a Job at Triple Canopy

Triple Canopy is a veteran-friendly company founded by former U.S. Army SF personnel. More than 60 percent of the company’s work force includes former members of the military services. Unlike similarly designed companies, Triple Canopy retains a corporate staff to include contract and full-time operational employees. Job skills commonly sought out by the company include: military combat arms, military special operations, military police, security police or security force management, law enforcement (SWAT/SRT), business management/project management, and job positions with technical expertise in: emergency medicine, operations coordination

program management, administration, security assessments, logistics, accounting, human resources, marketing, and information technology/information systems.

The primary methods to apply for a job at Triple Canopy are via their website or in-person.

The two primary ways to apply for a job at ACADEMI are online or in person. In-person applications can typically be accomplished at one of the company locations or at a military job fair that Triple Canopy holds or attends.

Step 1 – Take a look at the job postings listed on the Triple Canopy website to see if you qualify for any of the open positions. Similar to other private security companies, just because a job opening you are interested in is not posted doesn’t mean that it won’t become available soon. You may have to wait to find the perfect opening, or take a lower-level job at the company to get your foot in the door.

Step 2 – Take your resume and tailor it to match the job skills that Triple Canopy is seeking out on the job postings section of their website. If you have applied for a job at a company or other corporate entity before, this will be similar to the editing you have accomplished previously. You will want to ensure that related military or police experience is highlighted on your resume. This should also include any related military training, combat experience, and educational milestones that are pertinent to the job you are seeking. It’s also never a bad idea to have a human resources expert edit your resume for you prior to submitting a job application to Triple Canopy to give you a better shot at getting hired!

Step 3 – Get copies of all of your military (or police) related qualifications and references. To put more weight behind your refs, ensure you have a past commanding officer and /or senior supervisor or two listed if you can. (Make sure they are ones who remember you in a positive light…). You will also need to be prepared to upload your training certificates at the time of application, so go ahead and take the time to scan them into PDF format before starting the job application process.

Step 3 – If you were previously on active duty, make sure you scan in a copy of your DD-214, your college transcripts/diploma (or high school if you did not attend college), your tourist passport, and driver’s license. The passport and license should be valid for a minimum of a year past the potential employment date if not longer.

Step 4 – Ensure that you do not have any felony or domestic violence convictions on your record. The company will check this, and it doesn’t do them or you any favors to waste their time applying for a job when you will be disqualified based on U.S. federal law.

Step 5 – Fill out the first page of the Triple Canopy job application page under the job opening on their website you are interested in filling. They will ask for your personal information as well as starting salary and how you were referred to the company.

Step 6 – Upload your resume and other requested documentation for the job opening. The company will ask for copies of your supporting documentation to include proof of your military or police experience, passport, and driver’s license. Expect to have the company perform a full background check on your history, and be willing to provide your social security number to assist in the process on demand. No willingness to permit a background check by the company will typically == no employment.

Step 7 – After you have submitted the job application wait a few days. If you have not received feedback via phone or email after a few days, follow-up directly with Triple Canopy to see where you stand.

Step 8 – If you are considered suitable for employment, the company will likely ask you to submit to a full medical exam and undergo a fitness test if you are applying for an operational job.

Step 9 – If hired to take a job located out of the country, ensure you ask the HR department about the overseas tax break for U.S. citizens. You will be entitled to take up to your first ~94K in income tax free as a U.S. citizen working outside of the United States. If you are a resident of another country, your tax laws / treaties may differ so you will want to find out prior to deploying what type of tax structure you will be under while working for Triple Canopy.