Category: Uncategorized

Mercenaries are individuals that are hired to take part in a war or armed conflict who are not a citizen or otherwise a resident of the nations at war. They are traditionally motivated to fight for financial or other private gain by one side in the conflict. The compensation paid to mercenaries typically exceeds that paid to national armies due to the specialized skills the mercenary possesses as well as the increased personal risk the soldier entails by fighting under this status. Despite the potential pitfalls, mercenary work is attractive to many young men for the travel, adventure, and high pay. As a result, seeking out available mercenary training is necessary for many to help bridge the gap between their military and/or police experience and obtaining high paying mercenary jobs.

Why Do Mercenaries Incur More Risk than Traditional Soldiers?

Mercenaries have garnered a bad name over history since they are seen as “hired thugs” by the nations or populaces that have had to face them on the field of battle. As a result, Article 47 of the Geneva Convention was passed which does not provide the rights of prisoners of war to mercenaries. More recently, the U.N. passed the Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing, and Training of Mercenaries in 1989 banning the practice; however, the United States and United Kingdom notably did not ratify the convention. Some “mercenary” units such as the French Foreign Legion are not considered mercenaries since they make use of “foreign volunteers,” although that enters a gray area in the definition of a mercenary. Many private military companies such as Academi make the argument that their security personnel are hired to provide support work and are not front-line troops and thus should not be considered mercenaries by the U.N. definition. Regardless, those taking work in the mercenary field need to know what could be in store for them in the event they end up on the wrong side of a conflict.

What are the Commonly Sought out Mercenary Skills?

At the start of the age of organized warfare, being a mercenary could simply mean that one was a trained foot soldier with his own gear. This grew

to organized groups or units from countries hiring out their services and was accompanied by the equivalent knowledge of the soldiers in gunnery, explosives, and as warfare increased in complexity, mortars and explosives. Today, the modern mercenary can be an expert in these and other skill sets to include aviation, UAVs, and general intelligence services. Many of the jobs in the mercenary field typically seek out skillsets found in the Special Forces, infantry, and security services of the various armed forces of both the United States and other modern militaries and police forces.

How to Prepare for Mercenary Work

Just because a young man is a good street fighter or even proper boxer, doesn’t mean that he will make a good mercenary. The majority of private military companies who provide mercenary-like work rarely hirer personnel who have zero military or police experience. Despite some rumors and propaganda to the contrary, the best starting part to develop the baseline experience required to be a mercenary is to join the armed forces or national police in your country. If able to obtain a posting to a Special Forces or infantry unit, go that route since the land warfare skillsets typically translate better to the mercenary job skills you will be seeking out. If those occupational specialties are not available to you, then seek out one in a security related field such as military police. You will likely find that you need to have between three and five years of experience before you can make use of your military training, so make sure you don’t sign up for too short or too long of a time period based on your personal goals in the mercenary job field!

Step 1 – If you are still active duty, start increasing your physical training to meet the special forces testing standard approximately one year before you are due to leave the military. Note that the army minimum of 229 on the test should probably be ignored. You will want to be able to perform at or above the 275 level to be taken seriously if attempting to obtain a high paying mercenary job coming out of the regular infantry or other security related fields that are not SF.

Step 2 – While you are preparing physically, start to pick-up language proficiency in a language other than English if time permits. Language skills in the countries of potential employers will potentially make you more attractive to hirer, and in some cases can result in higher pay! Some of the “At Home” programs that you can use are the Rosetta Stone and Rocket Languages.

Step 3 – If you are still active duty, ensure your security clearance will remain valid for at least a year after you leave the armed forces. This will give you a significant advantage going head-to-head against an equally (or sometimes better) qualified candidate without one for obtaining private military company work servicing government contracts.

Step 4 – Ensure you obtain a copy of all certificates of training for security-related training you have received in the military prior to leaving the service. Most private military or security companies will ask you to upload copies of this training as part of the resume submission process. If you do not have the certificates, you may still be able to obtain credit for the training; however, there are no guarantees that this will occur in the timeframe that you need it for the job application.

Step 5 – If you do not have a passport, or it will expire within the next year, get one or apply for a new one. Sometimes it can take up to 60 days to obtain a passport, so ensure you plan accordingly since most mercenary work will be outside of the country that you currently reside!

Step 6 – If your driver’s license will expire in the next year, renew it. The majority of private security / military companies will require that you have a valid license in order to obtain work. Some companies may also want you to have an international license in hand as well which typically take 10-15 dollars to obtain through AAA or your car insurance company.

Step 7 – Ensure you have a hard and soft copy of your DD-214 if you have previously served in the military as well as your birth certificate.

Commercially Available Mercenary Skill Training

There are a large number of commercially available, legitimate mercenary skill training courses available in the United States and other western nations. These include courses in varying levels of difficulty in shooting (pistol, shotgun, and rifle), armorer courses, defensive driving (on and off road), various law enforcement skills, sniper courses, and a range of high value individual protection classes to include home defense, executive protection, individual personnel protection, and high risk security details. The courses will range in cost from $500 to several thousand dollars U.S. depending on the company you take the class from. If you decide to take a course from a potential employer, ensure 1 – You are on your “A” game while taking the class, and 2 – You use the opportunity to network with your future employer during the course. If all goes well, you could very well find insights to job possibilities that may or may not be listed online.

Should You Consider Attending an Executive Protection Courses?

It really depends on your background from the military or police force. Academi offers both a basic and advanced corporate course focused on the basic principles of executive protection. The training days are long (12 hours or more some days), and it will cost you more than a car payment to attend. The benefits of attending the basic and/or advanced course either from Academi or other private security contractors can be significant. During the course of instruction, the mentors/facilitators will start the students off on the basic principles of executive protection, threat and risk assessment analysis, residential and travel security, and how to properly plan advances, surveys, and preparations for trips.

In addition to training you how to play for executive protection during travel, the cours(es) will also provide instruction on open-hand defensive tactics, protection formations, radio communications, and motorcade procedures. Building on the classroom work, the Academi course will take the students through an in-town practical exercise where students will put the classroom work into practice. Other topics include the proper dress and etiquette to provide VIP security, command post procedures, and how to provide protection during restaurant or banquet functions. Most basic courses do not have significant pre-requisites other than basic small arms familiarity and sometimes qualifications, so ensure you verify these requirements before potentially wasting your money on signing up for a course that you  may or may not be able to complete!

Do You Need to Have Small Arms Qualifications to Be a Mercenary?

It really depends on the company and / or job that you are applying for. At the bare minimum, you should have your military gun qualifications to provide as part of the job application process. The greater the number of weapons that you have documented proficiency in can be a game changer when applying for highly sought-after private security or military gigs in the current employment environment. Some companies will want you to have the proper license to carry a handgun for the state that they company HQ or primary training facility is located (or a license in a state that their state recognizes). Others may want to see course completion certificates for basic through advanced classes offered by either their or competing companies. Best to do your homework and ensure you have well above the minimum  required skill level before applying for private military gigs that are located in potentially austere locations!

ACADEMI is the current name of the privately-held training and security solutions provider previously branded as Blackwater, Blackwater Worldwide, and Xe. The company was originally founded in 1997 and serves both commercial and government interests world-wide. Originally founded to provide a training facility for local and regional law enforcement personnel, the organization has expanded to now provide risk assessment, security, and training solutions in both stable and very austere locations across the globe. Areas of specialty range from self-defense, to urban assault, and VIP protection. A common question that arises amongst current and former active duty military members is figuring out how to apply for ACADEMI security jobs.

History of Academi

As mentioned, ACADEMI was previously branded as Xe Services, LLC, Blackwater USA, and Blackwater Worldwide. It has been a private military

company throughout the life of the company since its founding in 1997 by Al Clark and Erik Prince. At the time of this writing, ACADEMI continues to be the largest of the United States State Department private security contactors seeing significant growth during the latest Iraq War. As the company expanded operations, ACADEMI opened a research and development wing/division which has been responsible for the development of the Grizzly APC and other military technologies.

On March 2^nd, 2009, Erik Prince resigned as CEO of the company but remained as chairman of the board (no longer involved in day-day operations). Joseph Yorio was then named as president and CEO. In 2009 Prince relinquished his involvement in the day-day business and some of his ownership rights. Later in 2010 he would move to Abu Dhabi, UA and startup another security service company called Reflex Responses.

Boby Ray Inman, former head of the NSA and CIA executive, was appointed has the head of the company’s board of directors. In May of that year, Ted Wright was named CEO and would go on to hire a new governance chief for oversight of ethical and legal compliance within the company. In December of 2011, the company would change its name from Xe to ACADEMI to reflect a more boring image (it refers to Plato’s Academy).

What Type of Work Does ACADEMI Do?

ACADEMI performs operations across the security spectrum to include assessments, training, and protection. The company provides career opportunities in a large variety of professional areas hiring technical experts from the private sector in addition to former U.S. law enforcement and military personnel. Unlike other private military companies, ACADEMI performs extensive background checks into work history and proof of adherence to accountability and professionalism standards expected within the industry. Approximately 95% of the current employees of the company are veterans of the military and law enforcement today.

What Types of Services Does ACADEMI Offer?

ACADEMI continues to focus on providing contract services in their core fields of assessment, training, and protection.

ACADEMI United States Training Center

Formerly known as the United States Training Center (previously branded the Blackwater Training Center), the complex provides weapons and tactics training to law enforcement agencies, government, and the military. There are a number of open-enrollment courses available throughout the year to include precision rifle marksmanship, hand-to-hand combat, and both tactical and off-road driving. The training facility is located in northeastern North Carolina on more than 7,000 acres. The facility includes a number of ranges, urban reproductions, a man-made lake, and a driving track. To augment the facility in North Carolina, the company acquired an 80 acre facility approximately 150 miles west of Chicago originally call Blackwater North, then the Impact Training Center, and now the Hollow Training Center.

ACADEMI Maritime Security Service

ACADEMI has provided maritime security training to the United States Navy since the attack on the USS Cole (DDG 67) occurred in Aden, Yemen in the late 1990s. Since that time, the company has provided tactical training for maritime force protection to a number of other organizations to include Greek Security forces in preparation for the 2004 Olympics, the Afghanistan Ministry of Interior, and Azerbaijan Naval Sea Commandos. The ACADEMI training facilities include a man-made lake that includes a number of stacked containers used to simulate the deck and hull of a merchant ship for use in maritime assault training.

To provide an operational capability, ACADEMI purchased the ex-NOAA vessel, McArthur (183 ft/56m). The ship features full GMDSS communications, SEATEL broadband, helicopter decks, hospital and multiple vessel support capabilities, and dedicated command and control bays. The ship was originally built in 1966 by the Norfolk Shipbuilding and Drydock Company and was decommissioned by NOAA in 2003. ACADEMI home ports the ship in Norfolk, Virginia and has it outfitted for use in disaster assistance situations.

ACADEMI Security Consulting

ACADEMI security consulting has its origins from 9/11. It was one of the primary private security firms employed by the U.S. government during the Iraq War to guard installations, officials, provide Coalition Force support, and to train the new Iraqi police and armed forces. This expansion built on the successes the company experience from providing SEAL combat training and support services prior to 9/11. After the CIA requested additional contract security forces be hired to augment existing force structure, ACADEMI (Blackwater at the time) was one of the few companies in a position to expand and provide the services required by the U.S. government.

After the war in Iraq commenced, the demand from the State Department for additional security staff to handle high-risk protection details significantly expanded. As a result, Blackwater obtained a significant amount of work to fill this critical need for DoS and has seen an exemplary record in the field for keeping principals from being killed. Today, the primary public contract for the company is from the United States State Department under the Bureau of Diplomatic Security’s Worldwide Personal Protective Services (WPPS) and WPPS II umbrella contracts. ACADEMI along with Triple Canopy, Inc. and DynCorp International fill the requirements from the State Department under this contract in the countries of Afghanistan, Bosnia, Iraq, and Israel.

How to Apply for a Job at ACADEMI

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 ACADEMI holds or attends. Although you can send your resume and supporting documentation via the U.S. mail, the company does not highlight this as a preferred option on their website at the time of this writing.

Step 1 – View the currently posted job openings that ACADEMI lists on the careers sub-portal of their website to see if you are qualified for any of the open positions. Just because you don’t see a specific job position posted doesn’t mean there won’t be an opening available; however, it could be some time before a more suitable job becomes available.

Step 2 – Tailor your resume to match the job position you are applying for with the company (similar to how you would do so for any job application). Ensure you highlight your relevant military or police experience, combat experience, education, and training in the resume. If you have the resources to do so, have a human resources professional review the resume prior to using for your ACADEMI application.

Step 3 – Collect your military and/or police qualifications and references. Ensure you have a minimum of one supervisor or commanding officer in your listing of references. The company will likely ask you for such if not included to start with. The company will ask that you upload all training certificates at the time of your job application so ensure you take the time to scan the documents into PDF prior to starting the application process.

Step 4 – Scan a copy of your DD-214 (if you were active duty), college degree/transcripts (if you have one), driver’s license (must be valid for more than one year after the contract or deployment expiration), and tourist passport.

Step 5 – Upload your resume, supporting documentation, and answer all relevant questions on the ACADEMI job application form. The company will ask if you have worked for other security contractors as well as any high-threat job experience. Ensure you do not take the civilian tact of “doubling” your real-world experience, as the company will quickly sniff out those who lie about combat experience once hired!

Step 6 – If you do not hear anything back from the company in the short-term, ensure you follow-up in person or via phone as soon as practicable.

Step 7 – If the company determines you may be suitable to fill the job you are applying for, be prepared to undergo a full medical evaluation and pass a physical fitness test before solidifying the new job. Even the savviest of security contractors can fall out of shape when deployed to austere regions of the world for months at a time so make sure you are ready!

Step 8 – If you are a U.S. citizen and will be taking a contract or assignment overseas, ensure you ask the human resources department about the tax break U.S. citizens receive for working abroad. This can help make the money you will see from ACADEMI go even further when back home after finishing the initial contract or year of work for the company.

The French Foreign Legion was established in 1831 as a means for foreign nationals to serve in the French Armed Forces. Today, it is one of the most elite military units in the world with training focused on traditional military skills and focusing on strong unit spirit de corps. The men of the French Foreign Legion come from across the globe to serve initial service commitments of five years. Many of those who successfully obtain a posting with the Legion, extend on with subsequent enlistments. A common question asked individuals interested in joining the elite service is how to join the French Foreign Legion?

French Foreign Legion Origins

The French Foreign Legion was originally created by King Louis Philippe on March 10^th, 1831. The primary catalyst behind the King’s creation of

the Legion was to work around the restrictions of foreigners serving in the French Army after the 1830 July Revolution. The King’s primary purpose of the Foreign Legion was to remove the disruptive elements of society and to use them to fight the enemies of the state. In order to appease his political opponents, the Royal Ordinance for the establishment of the Foreign Legion specified that the foreign soldiers recruited to service could only server the King and the country outside of France. As a result, the Legion was transferred from Toulon to Algeria to provide reinforcements for the French expeditionary force that had occupied Algiers the previous year. Throughout the 19^th century, the French Foreign Legion saw service in protecting the French colonial empire as well as fighting in all major French Wars.

Where Does the French Foreign Legion Operate Today?

Today, there are just less than 7,700 French legionnaires and NCO’s that come from 136 countries (including France). Of the 7699 men, there are 413 officers and 1,741 NCO’s at the time of this writing who are further divided into 11 regiments of the Legion. Legionnaires see service abroad as part of NATO and security operations in locations such as Afghanistan, French Guyana, Kosovo, Chad, the Ivory Coast, New Caledonia, Mayotte, la Reunion, and the French West Indies. Previously, the Legion saw action in the 1990-1991 Gulf War, Kampuchea, Somalia (1992-1993), Rwanda (1994), Bosnia, Macedonia (1993-2003), World War 1, World War 2, the Central African Repulic (1996), and numerous other regional and world conflicts.

Where Can You Enlist in the French Foreign Legion?

The only location that an individual may enlist in the French Foreign Legion is on mainland France. It is up to the candidate to get to one of the 11 locations that take applicants as well as to obtain the proper visa to be physically present in France at the time of application (IE you can’t just stow away on a freighter and show up with no passport/visa/etc.). The 11 cities in France that accept applications to the Foreign Legion include:

Paris

Lille

Nantes

Strasbourg

Aubagne

Bordeaux

Lyon

Marseille

Nice

Perpignan

Toulouse

How Much Do French Foreign Legion Soldiers Get Paid?

The notional first year pay for a legionnaire is 1043 € a month. Through the rank of corporal (first 2-4 years in the Legion), the service also provides uniforms, meals, and lodging at no additional charge to the member. Each soldier also accrues 45 days of leave during a calendar year. The following is an example of the net pay for legionnaires that takes into account average deductions but not the social security deduction. You can expect your pay to vary slightly based on location of service, etc.

RANK                                          SERVICE       1°RE   2°REP *          3°REI **         13°DBLE ***

Legionnaire                             10 months       1205 € 1460 €             1433 €             3567 €

Corporal                                    03 years           1226 € 1480 €             1452 €             3626 €

Senior corporal                      10 years           1303 € 1607 €             1600 €             3939 €

Sergeant                                     7 years             1351 € 1648 €             1650 €             3929 €

Staff sergeant                           10 years           1779 € 2095 €             1945 €             4186 €

Adjudant                                    17 years           2007 € 2140 €             2180 €             4748 €

Regimental sergeant major 21 years           2078 € 2427 €             2477 €             4818 €

 

Net pay (after various deductions, excluding social security deduction)

* Parachute bonus

** Overseas allowance (French territories)

*** Overseas allowance (abroad)

Steps to Apply to the French Foreign Legion

Step 1 – Determine which of the 11 French Foreign Legion offices that is most convenient for you to visit in person to start your application. The offices are located in: Paris, Lille, Nantes, Strasbourg, Aubagne, Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseilles, Nice, Perpignan and Toulouse. The legion provides directions / map to each of the offices on their recruitment website. Before paying a significant amount of money traveling to a recruitment office, it is advisable to undertake a physical training regime in order to ensure you can pass the Foreign Legion sports/fitness test that is taken after getting through the pre-selection process.

Step 2 – After presenting yourself at the information office, you will be expected to provide an identity card issued by your country of residence and within the first year a enlisting a copy of your birth certificate. The Legion no longer accepts convicted felons and runs background checks through Interpol on candidates so be warned before showing up to a recruitment office. Since September 20^th, 2010, candidates are no longer required to join the Legion under a declared identity and may use their own name if desired. If you make it through pre-selection, the Foreign Legion will provide room, board, and clothing to get the candidate to the next phase of application (the Selection Process).

Step 3 – The Foreign Legion will then have the candidate proceed to Aubagne for a medical check-up, finalize paperwork for the initial five-year contract, and take part in a series of physical, psyche-technical, and personality tests. No matter what the candidate’s marital status is on application to the Foreign Legion, he will be enlisted as a single man for the first five year enlistment contract.

Step 4 – If you pass the testing in Aubagne, an unconditional five-year contract will be signed, and the candidate will attend 15 weeks of instruction in topics ranging from Foreign Legion traditions to extensive mountain training for the infantry. French is the only language spoken in the Foreign Legion. Although not a prerequisite for service, basic fluency in the language is known to help recruits proceed through the initial training in the Legion in a bit of an easier fashion while not trying to learn the language simultaneously.

Step 5 – Report to duty to the assigned regiment provided by the French Foreign Legion after training is complete. Six of the regiments are based in France, two in Africa, one in Corsica, and one in South America. The regiments can and will be further deployed from their assigned garrison after receiving the post to the regiment.

How Does a Declared Identity Work?

Prior to 2010, all Legionnaires were required to give up their civilian identity when enlisting in the force. The new recruit was then forced to use a declared identity (or new name) for the first year of service. After the first year, the new Legionnaire could attempt to reclaim their old name through the “military regularization of the situation” process. During this process, new identity papers are obtained from the home country of the solider. Many soldiers choose to serve out their entire five-year career under the declared identity.  The declared identity helps provide a consistent point of entry for new Legionnaires in their new service for France. At the time of this writing the Foreign Legion continued to not accept women into their ranks.

Are Legionnaires Required to Join Under an Assumed Identity?

Since September 20, 2010, Legion recruits have been permitted to sign their contract with their real identity. New members can still choose to ask to sign-up under a declared identity through the commission of selection. French citizens may also join the Legion today which has not always been the case. If a new recruit signs up under an assumed name, he can apply through the military regularization of situation process after serving for a year to obtain his old name again. The Legion will permit soldiers to serve an entire career under an assumed name if they so choose.

Restrictions Placed on Legionnaires

Unlike other armed forces, legionnaires with less than five years of service are expected to always wear a uniform. NCOS and senior are allowed to wear civilian clothes while off duty.  Additionally, a legionnaire is not permitted to purchase a motor vehicle of any type until he has more than five years of service and if not done, undergo the military regularization of situation process. This process is required for all Foreign Legion NCOs and senior as well. In order to get married (or have a previous marriage recognized), the legionnaire must have underwent the military regularization of situation process which is also required to have a civilian bank account.

Are Legionnaires Allowed to Go Abroad on Leave?

In order to take leave abroad, the legionnaire must have undergone the military regularization of situation process and have a valid passport or identity document. If the soldier intends to visit their home country on leave, they must have fulfilled all mandatory service for the country and not be wanted by the police of their homeland. If not, the Legion will not allow the soldier to visit since that increases the odds of the member inadvertently being declared AWOL from the Foreign Legion. There are some restrictions for leave destinations for Foreign Legion soldiers to include Afghanistan and Iraq as two examples.

French Foreign Legion Code of Honor

All French Foreign Legion trainees are required to memorize the seven articles of the Legionnaire’s Code of Honour. For those interested in getting a “leg up” on others, the French and English translations are provided below. Be warned, that simply memorizing the code will not be enough, the new legionnaires are also required to get the vocal synchronization correct as well.

Code of Honour

Article 1 – Légionnaire, tu es un volontaire, servant la France avec honneur et fidélité.

Article 2 – Chaque Légionnaire est ton frère d’armes, quelle que soit sa nationalité, sa race ou sa religion. Tu lui manifestes toujours la solidarité étroite qui doit unir les membres d’une même famille.

Article 3 – Respectueux des traditions, attaché à tes chefs, la discipline et la camaraderie sont ta force, le courage et la loyauté tes vertus.

Article 4 – Fier de ton état de Légionnaire, tu le montres dans ta tenue toujours élégante, ton comportement toujours digne mais modeste, ton casernement toujours net.

Article 5 – Soldat d’élite, tu t’entraînes avec rigueur, tu entretiens ton arme comme ton bien le plus précieux, tu as le souci constant de ta forme physique.

Article 6 – La mission est sacrée, tu l’exécutes jusqu’au bout et si besoin, en opérations, au péril de ta vie.

Article 7 – Au combat, tu agis sans passion et sans haine, tu respectes les ennemis vaincus, tu n’abandonnes jamais ni tes morts, ni tes blessés, ni tes armes.

English Translation

Article 1 – Légionnaire, you are a volunteer serving France with honour and fidelity.

Article 2 – Each legionnaire is your brother in arms whatever his nationality, his race or his religion might be. You show him the same close solidarity that links the members of the same family.

Article 3 – Respectful of traditions, devoted to your leaders, discipline and comradeship are your strengths, courage and loyalty your virtues.

Article 4 – Proud of your status as Legionnaire, you display this in your always impeccable uniform, your always dignified but modest behaviour, and your clean living quarters.

Article 5 – An elite soldier, you train rigorously, you maintain your weapon as your most precious possession, and you take constant care of your physical form.

Article 6 – The mission is sacred, you carry it out until the end and, if necessary in the field, at the risk of your life.

Article 7 – In combat, you act without passion and without hate, you respect defeated enemies, and you never abandon your dead, your wounded, or your arms.

Private military companies (PMCs), are also known as private security companies (PSCs) and specialize in providing armed security and/or military related services across the globe. The employees of PMCs are commonly referred to as mercenaries although PMCs take great pains to point out the fact their employees are not hired to be front-line troops and should not be considered mercs. Despite being a play on words to some, the designation of employees as mercenaries is a big deal in international law since the practice is prohibited under the U.N Mercenary Convention (the U.S. and U.K. have not signed). Regardless, since the Iraq War, PMCs have seen a significant growth in business worldwide and have become a popular post-active duty option for ex-soldiers seeking high-paying work around the world.

What Services Are Offered by PMCs?

Private military companies offer services similar to police or military security forces on a smaller scale. These can range from training armed forces of developing nations to providing armed security in support of government agencies or private entities. As the PMC sector has expanded over the past decade, the larger companies have expanded service offerings to include intelligence and logistics support, research and development into emerging military-related technologies, and other functional support areas that national governments and/or the United Nations are unable to accomplish.

Where are Private Military Services Employed?

Private military companies employ contractors across the world to include every continent with the exception of Antarctica. Over the past decade, employees from the sector have seen employment that ranges from guarding oil refineries in Iraq, to providing contract services in developing nations, to bodyguard services for diplomats in Afghanistan and other austere international locations. In Columbia, private security contractors have been paid to fly helicopters and reconnaissance airplanes by the U.S. State Department and have also seen service training armed forces in Taiwan, Bulgaria, Nigeria, and Equatorial Guinea.

NGO Use of Private Military Companies

National governments are not the only entities that have made use of private military companies, as some non-governmental organizations have employed various firms to provide security in highly dangerous regions. These areas include providing security in the countries of Somalia, Sudan, and Afghanistan over the past ten years. When NGOs do hire contract security, it is typically due to the lack of suitable national resources or time to help meet the demands of a deteriorating security environment and the cost of managing in-house security for the group. Due to liability concerns, most NGOs will hesitate to contract out armed security; instead, relying on unarmed contractors to provide an initial layer of defense for buildings or facilities.

Problems with Private Military Companies

The use of private military companies does not come without controversy. Some of the common problems as seen from the NGO or IGO (International Governmental Organization) perspective include: outsourcing security makes the respective NGO or IGO too reliant on security contractors and makes it harder for the group to make their own decisions, a perception of the NGO being associated with the local police or military which may or may not be corrupt resulting in increased risk to the NGO’s personnel, higher personnel costs for the contract security, and a frequent turnover in private military company employees in the country of service. Due to the number of perceived negatives in hiring PMCs at the NGO level, many organizations will not make their use of these security details public knowledge.

Listing of Private Military Companies

The following is a listing of many of the well-known private military companies at the time of this writing. If you have any to add to the list, or modifications to those listed below, please leave the information in the comments section of the article and the material will be updated on validation of the new information.

Academi

Academi (formerly known as Blackwater and Xe) is one of the better known private military companies based in the United States. With roots developed in the Special Forces community, the company provides services in high-risk and complex operations world-wide. The company’s mission is to provide experienced intelligence, military, and law enforcement assistance in both foreign and domestic operations.

AEGIS

AEGIS is a privately owned, London-based, British risk management and security company. The organization has overseas offices in Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iraq, the United States, and the U.K. The company has significant experience working with EU, UN, and various national governments providing a wide array of security-related services.

AirScan Inc.

AirScan, Inc. is a private military company that was formed in 1984 by Walter Holloway and John Mansur. The company specializes in airborne surveillance, security operations, wildlife surveys, and training and is one of the few PMC’s that is able to operate UAVs.

AMA Associates Limited

AMA Associates Limited was originally founded in 1994 by Lt Col (Ret) Dr. Alastair MacKenzie, a former UK Special Forcers officer. The company has provided services to clients in the following areas since its creation: governments, major international corporations, manufacturers, and private/public sector organizations.

Beni Tal

Beni Tal is an Israeli private military company. The organization focuses on providing quick, yet professional responses in a number of security-related fields. There are three divisions based in Israel with a number of branches located abroad. Beni Tal has significant experience providing services in both the private and public sector.

Blue Hackle

Blue Hackle is a U.S.-based company that has its headquarters in Washington, D.C. The company specializes in risk management and risk mitigation services for major financial institutions, corporations, law firms, NGO’s, and governmental agencies. The company also provides consultation to organizations that have been targets of kidnapping for ransom situations.

Control Risks

Control Risks is a private, global risk consultant company. The organization specializes in organizing and managing integrity, security, and political risks in hostile and complex environments.

Engility

The world’s greatest corporate military expertise — capitalizing on the experience and skills of America’s best seasons professionals. Integrity, ethics, professionalism, quality, and cost competitiveness are our hallmarks — a claim borne out by past performance. One of the oldest private military companies in continuous existence and recently rebranded from MPRI.

G4S

G4S is a leading international security solutions group that has more than 50,000 total employees in Canada and the United States. The company offers a combination of project management, personnel, risk management, and technology solutions focused on providing safety and security of key government and business assets and personnel.

General Dynamics

General Dynamics is a large military services orientated company with job availability world-wide. Unlike other private military companies, General Dynamics has a large number of job opportunities in military support and R&D related fields that provide opportunities for those with military but not direct action related experience.

Hart Security

Hart Security provides a comprehensive marine risk management program. The offerings include the ability to deploy finance, insurance, security and industry expertise abroad to help coordinate responses to all security risks, with a focus on terrorism, political instability and criminal activity.

Halliburton

Halliburton is a private military company which specializes in energy and infrastructure. The company has more than 70,000 total employees that work in more than 80 countries. With much of the company’s work focused on development projects in austere locations, there is a large demand for employees with security-related expertise to obtain employment.

International Charter Incorporated of Oregon

International charter company that acts as a private military company providing aviation services in peacekeeping support and relief services. Past work includes Liberia, Haiti, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Sudan.

Risk Advisory

Risk Advisory is a global risk management consultancy. The company is committed to guiding clients through the complex international regulatory, compliance and security environment. The company’s clients include a number of the world’s leading corporate entities, financial institutions, and law firms, most of which operate globally including in the most challenging jurisdictions.

SAIC

SAIC’s national security efforts reach across all branches of the military and support the full spectrum of military operations – from peace keeping and humanitarian missions to major conflicts. SAIC also assists the U.S. Department of Defense, the FBI, and other agencies combat terrorism, cybercrime, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. More recently, opportunities for security professionals have expanded at the company.

Secopex

Secopex is a French-based private military company. The organization specializes in providing services to public and private entities in North Africa, West Africa and Central Africa, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

The Steele Foundation

The Steele Foundation is a multinational corporation that provides a large range of risk management services. These are designed to help organizations control loss by developing innovative tactical and strategic level solutions. The company has been in business since 1989 and has partnered with a number of organizations in both the public and private sector.

Triple Canopy

Triple Canopy is dedicated to providing organizations with the capabilities and insight to reduce exposure to hostile threats. The company has offices in Virginia, Louisiana, Iraq, Kuwait, Uganda, Afghanistan, and Indonesia.

The majority of governments across the world now use mercenary services to accomplish missions or roles that in the past were primarily filled by the respective army or security forces of the country. The more politically correct term for the modern mercenary has evolved to be a private military contractor or private security contractor (PMC or PSC). Companies who specialize in providing security and/or military services will typically employ prior soldiers and policemen who desire to continue their individual careers in a paramilitary environment for better pay and benefits than realized while performing public service. As a result, a common question that arises amongst those with combat arms experience is how to become a mercenary.

What is a Mercenary?

A mercenary is the legacy term used to refer to overseas security consultants or contractors who perform military-like work for pay in the private sector. These individuals are typically trained soldiers (or trained in support of security personnel) that work for a private company or non-governmental agency. A mercenary will perform roles that range from training, advising, technical, maintenance, or direct security support for pay that is higher than typically realized by those serving in the armed forces of their home country due to the increased risk and austere locations of assignment.

Geneva Convention Definition of a Mercenary

The Geneva Convention explicitly defines what a mercenary is in Article 47. One of the primary differences that can be a surprise to former soldiers who are new to contract work as a merc is that they no longer have any POW rights if captured taking part in security activities which meat the definition of acting as a mercenary overseas.

Geneva Convention Article 47. Mercenaries

1. A mercenary shall not have the right to be a combatant or a prisoner of war.

2. A mercenary is any person who:

(a) is especially recruited locally or abroad in order to fight in an armed conflict;

(b) does, in fact, take a direct part in the hostilities;

(c) is motivated to take part in the hostilities essentially by the desire for private gain and, in fact, is promised, by or on behalf of a Party to the conflict, material compensation substantially in excess of that promised or paid to combatants of similar ranks and functions in the armed forces of that Party;

(d) is neither a national of a Party to the conflict nor a resident of territory controlled by a Party to the conflict;

(e) is not a member of the armed forces of a Party to the conflict; and

(f) has not been sent by a State which is not a Party to the conflict on official duty as a member of its armed forces.

Why Do People Want to Be a Mercenary?

Mercenaries are typically thought of as soldiers for hire. Most choose to pursue employment as a mercenary due to the higher pay than seen in the military and police forces in addition to a greater opportunity to travel across the world. Although the pay can be significantly higher than seen during an enlistment in the army or navy, mercenary work does not prove suitable for everyone. Many of the higher paying contract support work available will require the individual to be away from home for up to six months at a time before being able to take time off to visit family and friends. As a result, a number of ex-soldiers will turn to mercenary work for the short-term in order to pay off bills or save money for working a more “normal” day job after the mercenary contract is complete.

A Short History of Mercenary Work

Mercenary work is typically regarded as the second oldest profession in the world following prostitution. At one time or another, the majority of

armed forces in the modern world have found it necessary to use foreign mercenaries or volunteers to join or support the national army. Sometimes these individuals would be used to create a unit of similar nationality or ethnic background, while other times the foreign soldiers would be directly integrated into units of the nation’s armed forces. The practice of hiring and using mercenaries has a long history including Hannibal, Genghis Khan, Alexander the Great, and the Roman Empire where the conquering armies would typically retain the services of soldiers from foreign lands during both offensive and occupation duties.

Mercenary Employment during the American Revolution

During the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783), Great Britain faced a challenge of obtaining enough soldiers to combat the more than 50,000 Colonialists opposing them in North America. Due to ongoing garrison duty in Ireland, the British had approximately 15,000 Red Coats available for the war. As a result, King George found it a necessity to hire a mercenary army to augment his forces in the Colonies. Initially, he attempted to contract 20,000 men from Russia; however, Catherine the Great did not provide the promised forces. After failing to hire the Dutch ‘Scots Brigade,’ the King would ultimately retain the services of Hessian soldiers from Germany. The Hessians would arrive in North America in 1776 but would be defeated during the battles of Saratoga Springs and Trenton.

Americans Serving as Mercenaries in World War 2

Prior to the United States entering World War 2, a number of U.S. aviators would go to China and take part in the war as part of the Flying Tigers. The Tigers were a sanctioned volunteer group, referred to as the 1^st American Volunteer Group (AVG) of the Chinese Air Force from 1941-1942 and were sanctioned by the U.S. president. All of the personnel were recruited from the US Navy, Marine Corps, and Army and included some civilians. The took part in combat operations against Japanese forces and received approximately three times more pay than while on active duty and were commonly referred to as mercenaries. The Flying Tigers would see service through July 1942 when they were replaced by the U.S. Army 23^rd Fighter Group.

Modern Day Private Military Companies (PMCs)

Today, the mercenary trade has evolved to primarily being headed by private military companies (PMCs). These companies specialize in providing soldiers, military training, logistics, and other services to governments, civil organizations, and international communities. They are legally established companies or enterprises that make money through providing services that rely on legal use of armed force, intelligence gathering, logistics support, or equipment procurement. The legal argument that the modern PMCs use to allow their contractors to operate in foreign countries is that since the employees are not “proactively” employed as front-line combatants, they are not mercenaries and thus legally permitted to work in austere locations. If a PMC’s employees are used in pro-active combat, they are quickly labeled as “mercs” or mercenaries, and can be open to additional lawsuits and sanctions depending on the nature of the work accomplished by their employees.

Although PMCs fill a critical security void throughout the world in a time of austere national budgets, the United Nations continues to officially disapprove of their use (ignoring the fact the UN has previously hired the company, Executive Outcomes for logistics work in Africa). The primary reason for this disapproval is the question of accountability for both the PMC and their employees/soldiers for actions in the war zone. The primary argument for using PMCs is that they help stabilize areas across the world where the UN or other coalitions are unable or not yet willing to intervene to save civilian lives. In 2007, the UN actually stated that they found the use of PMCs on the part of the U.S. and U.K. was in violation of the 1989 United Nations Mercenary Convention which banned the use of mercenaries world-wide. (Both countries have not signed the accord).

How to Prepare for Mercenary Employment

Step 1 – Obtain military or law enforcement related experience.

The majority of classic mercenary-like jobs on the market today typically require past military or law enforcement experience. Even better, is previous experience working in the special forces of the army, USMC, navy, or air force if seeking the higher paying security-related jobs available on the market. If you just can’t see yourself becoming a Navy Seal; however, there are still plenty of military specialties that can provide a significant experience base to leverage for a lucrative merc career. Most private security companies will be looking for a minimum of three to five years of relevant experience on one’s resume. For example, if you want to be a security consultant, then service as a MP in the U.S. Army would provide the proper experience where signing up to be chemical warfare specialist may not be applicable to many of the available jobs in the mercenary market.

Step 2 – Obtain proficiency in a foreign language.

If you only speak English, taking the time to develop a skill set in another commonly spoken language such as French, German, Arabic, Russian, or Spanish will help make you more attractive to future employers in merc or contract security related work. Better yet, if you know what area of the world that you want to obtain employment, start learning at least basic language skills for that region. A popular learning resource for mercenaries looking to pick up basic to intermediate language skills is the Rosetta Stone. Another popular option is Praxis Language which focuses on Italian, French, Spanish and Chinese. Of course, if you have the time and financial backing, attending language classes in person may also prove to be a worthwhile investment.

Step 3 – Get into great physical shape.

Mercenaries work in austere environments across the planet. Even if you are going to apply to be a support technician, many of the private security firms will require a physical fitness test be passed before making a new employee permanent. Depending on how long you have to get ready, taking a “Boot Camp” approach to getting into shape may be required depending on how long it has been since you were last active duty or working for the police forces.

Step 4 – Build your resume.

Focus on job skills, qualifications, and experience that directly relate to the mercenary job(s) that you are interested in filling. For those new to the job market, seeking professional human resources assistance with the resume can provide significant benefits. Long gone are the days where mercs can simply show up at the right bar or tavern and sign-on for overseas gigs. Today’s private security corporations are big business with similar hiring prerequisites and expectations found in corporate America. Before claiming you were a member of Seal Team 6 who took down Osama Bin Laden on your resume, be advised that the majority of reputable PSC’s will require you provide proof of documented combat experience.

Step 5 – Gather required documentation.

Just because one has the required skill set(s) for a mercenary job doesn’t mean that he or she will meet the minimum requirements for employment. Most American private security firms will require individuals to hold a valid U.S. driver’s license, tourist passport (typically good for at least a year or more from the time of application), the DD-214 provided on separation from the military service, and additional documentation for all security-related training and deployment service while serving in the armed forces. If you intend on submitting your initial application online, you will also want to take the time to scan the documentation to PDF or equivalent format to upload to the prospective employer’s website.

Where to Find Mercenary Jobs

The majority of the major mercenary related private security companies now have online applications. This doesn’t mean that you can obtain employment without an interview; however, it does help lessen the burden on both the company and the hopeful employee by providing a means to verify minimum requirements. Some of the major American security providers at the time of this writing include Academi (formerly Xe, formerly Blackwater), Global Dynamics, and Triple Canopy. Similar to seeking employment in other fields, one should conduct prudent research into industry standards for pay, benefits, and industry trends before starting to submit applications to private security companies for employment in mercenary-like fields.