Would you join a PMC given the opportunity?

DeCoR18

Ok the extent of my knowledge of PMCs is Metal Gear Solid 4, Blackwater and a few articles here and there lol.

So say you're out of the army or whatever you're not enjoying civilian life and you're given this opportunity?

I don't know I'm kind of in between. We all know the bad reputation of some of them, yet you can make really really good money, especially if you have a family to support.

Any moral reservations? Wars should be fought between nations etc?

Is their bad reputation exagerated?

Thoughts?

Manic Moran

I would not.

The Army actually pays me fairly well, I get issued far better (and more survivable) equipment, and most importantly, should anything happen (a) I have the entire resources of the US military at the other end of the radio to help me out, and (b) the medical plan is far, far better. (If one exists for the PMC at all)

NTM

Local-womanizer

Some PMCs have bad reputations, other better ones. Many are involved in the restructering of countries, jobs which include transporting infrastructure goods around. I see this as a positive input, it frees up the military to sort out the bad guys.

But Manic has many good points. But if I was making enough money in the military to support my family and live comfortably on top of that then I would stay put. No point being greedy,but that is just me I suppose.

In my opinion

To answer the question No.

To expand on a concern I have. There are Reservists employed by PMCs in an armed capacity with photographs on Cyberspace of them with AKs in front of vehicles with clear indications of the African and Middle Eastern countries they are in. My problem is if something happens to one of these people and it comes out that they are members and have been trained by this state it is going to destroy the reserve and maybe the df too.

Imagine the coverage. It was sadly my first thought when the lad from Tipperary was killed in South America. All I wanted to hear is that he was not an FCA man.

Might be slightly off topic.

Praetorian Saighdiuir

I have considered this path on a number of occasions. I was offered a job in Haiti a number of years back. It was from a guy I trained with and served with in the DF. He had left after a number of years after training and took over his fathers PMC.

He is still there and I have an open invitation to any area he covers in the future.

Manic raises some very good and sensible points. The pros and cons would need to be weighed up. To be honest, I wouldnt leave the DF to go and do this, but if for some reason my services in the DF were no longer required, then I might seriously consider it.

It would be handy money, plus I would opt for an admin/logistics role more so than an "active" role.

BigDuffman

A background in the military is not strictly the entry requirements...which is another reason I would stay away from it. From what I have heard, tis a realm where walter mitty types can live out there fantasies as entry into one of the shadier firms is not strictly regulated. Ie. Tick box for Mil service with very limited background checks. " I was in the SAS etc." turns out the morons training came from an airsoft arena.

Obviously the bigger firms like the former blackwater group would insist on a checkable and proven history.

The good baron of castle-short and his co-horts are a fine example of this. A few fanchiful tales and your talking the talk like John Rambo and walking the walk like Graham Norton.

Morals are only held by the person questioning them. So its up to your own beliefs.

twinytwo

no...

If the **** hits the fan when your in the army at least for the most part have the full force of the military and related government to back you up.. there are again for the most part rules to combat etc..

OS119

i would happily join a PMC - well, one that i knew the management of...

while Manic has a excellent point about the back-up available, and it shouldn't be discounted, PMC's can offer reasonably well-paid 'trade' employment to ex-servicemen with mortgages to pay: and given that most professional soldiers leave the army in their 30's thats not something to be ignored.

many PMC's offer contracts in a wide variety of countries and roles with a wide range of skill-set requirements, danger, and pay. there are PMC's doing the 'public face' work of security/protection in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the low-key, but all-encompassing, 'facilitation' of development work in maybe 50 countries around the world. an awful lot of the aid that the west spends in the third world simply wouldn't happen if it weren't for PMC's providing the security, operating infrastructure, and protection for the agencies/companies doing the work.

a former RE sqn commander i know is working for a PMC in sub-Sarahan Africa - he manages the logistic support, securty, operational infrastructure for a water treatment and supply project. the project has perhaps 15'internationals', 200 'locals' and his componant is a further 100 or so drivers, cooks and bottle washers and perhaps 20 'international' and a further 40 or so 'local' security bods.

he facilitates the provision of clean water - and not a little medical care - to 30,000 people who, without that PMC, would be drinking filth and not getting medical support. he also earns about 4 times what he did in the Army. tax free...

ArdMhacha

I would consider it, but only after at least 10 years in the Army and only with a company who carried out extensive background checks. I see it as an opportunity for former service men to use their military training while getting paid much more than if they where still serving. Plus, not all contracts or roles taken on by PMC's involve getting shot at

diverdriver

I would, not least because lack of money and prospects colour your world view. In fact I did take a serious look at it and had a contact in one PMC. However I would be careful about who I would want to work for.

In any case, I doubt that I would be snapped up by a delighted PMC, given my age and not so recent military experience. However I could easily see myself in a role not dissimilar to that mentioned by OS119, more background staff than clutching an assault rifle and hanging out of the roof hatch of an armoured SUV. Fun though that may be. Perhaps something with an aviation connection given my background.

So yes I would, no qualms about it.

iceage

WTF! yeah sure I would, but my missus would probably divorce my ass and as an old and decrepid moaning git who's good at telling others what to do and when to do it, I'd be perfect for the job:rolleyes:.

The last time I handled or fired a weapon in anger was way back in the 80's but I reckon my years of experience at the pointy end of the Retail trade have kept my drills slick as sh1t, and sure my time airsofting will put me in good stead with any of the top notch PMC crowds out there today. I reckon I'd last at least four days before I either shot myself or got someone else very dead.

Next thing you know they'll be the obvious posts asking are there any good training courses available teaching cool PMC stuff (think we had one way back that was really dodgey) like which is better 5:11's or Blackhawk? and where can I get me some of those gucci Oakley shades like the ones in BHD.

5:11's by the way are the bollix!

LD 50

Speaking of which, where can I get a pair of those cool Oakleys?
;)

BuckJamesRogers

only if the company was a properly established PMC, one of the shadier (and thats being shady in the PMC world :rolleyes: ) ones, no.