/biz/ - Business & Finance

hopefully it dies out with war

>>1558162
Shouldn't war create more jobs for them?

And wouldn't they be a more effective response for humanitarian aid missions when compared to the UN's blue helmets?

>>1558166
>a more effective response for humanitarian aid missions when compared to the UN's blue helmets?

Are you drunk?

>>1558177
Even I would be better at humanitarian aid than the UN
Even you anon

>>1558181
Kek. They are not incompetent soldiers bruh they just have very constrainling ROE's.

>>1558185
Yes which I assume private contractors are not obliged to or can at least ignore to some degree(why else would they even exist?).
I'm sure the individual soldiers are all great but in the end of the day if they are not allowed to actually be soldiers they are less effective.

>>1558188
True that.
Except that no ones takes ex-blackwater seriously because of their muh cowboy image.

>>1558190
Sounds like the market is open for new businesses
>>1558155
Hope this answered your question OP

>>1558191
Yeaaaah. People working on this field say that opportunities aren't as good as they used to be tho. I guess pajeet isn't only doing code anymore kek

>>1558197
Holy shit
An army of hundreds of cheap pajeets sounds amazing. I wonder why the UN did not think of this yet

>>1558202
The UN isn't fond of exploiting brown people for things other than political gain

>>1558213
Financial gain IS political gain, that's precisely why I am surprised

>>1558214
>"Financial gain is political gain"
The only reason the UN gets funding is to help out brown people in parts of the world, which it can't even do. If it were to actually help these brown people by, potentially giving them meaningful employment, then Western governments would stop bankrolling them.

>>1558190
Aren't they the best firm out there? Erik Prince seems to know his shit. I assume the State Department doesn't just hand out contracts to anyone with a pulse.

In a word: booming.

You can break the industry down to three sections: on-the-ground soldiering (think Blackwater contractors), advisory/training, and logistics. Demand for all of them is expected to stay high, though the on-the-ground services are now more regulated OR operate more covertly, usually be reforming companies on an ad hoc basis.

Blackwater IS (or was, rather, since they've changed the culture and the company name twice now) widely regarded as the badly behaved, gungho assholes of the industry that gave everyone a bad name. So >>1558190 is basically right.

Highly recommend reading P.W. Singer's "Corporate Warriors: The Rise of Privatized Military Industry" since it's still the definitive book on the subject.

>>1558217
HA! AS IF!

No, Academi (formerly Xe, formerly Blackwater) is just the most infamous. These days, I think Triple Canopy is the most relied upon. I'd have to check.

As for Prince, the guy is great at conceptualizing moneymaking ideas, but cannot implement for shit and often promises far more than he can deliver.

Most recently, he tried to (illegally) develop and sell private armored/armed propeller planes that could be used in combat in Africa. And he tried doing so behind the backs of the company he was with.

You read THAT particular story here:
>https://theintercept.com/2016/04/11/blackwater-founder-erik-prince-drive-to-build-private-air-force/

He needs to learn when to stop.

>>1558338
How does one effectively get into this business as a civilian?
Just curious because you seem to know your stuff.

>>1558359
In what capacity? As a soldier, consultant/advisor, representative, logistics handler, what?

>>1558388
Either logistics or consultant/advisor, but out of curiosity I am also interested to know what the usual req are for a soldier.

>>1558338
That sounds fucking awesome. Fucking cucks in the US gov't being such faggots.

>>1558338
Memes and autism aside, is that book really factual? Or is it just another saga in the Noam Chomsky/Ralph Nader genre of trashing "american imperialism," whatever the fuck that means

>>1558388
Look, for this entire industry, requirements tend to be job-specific. And, in general, they want people with military experience and/or a clearance. You may not like it, but the military is where most of the training comes from. There are exceptions, but again, specialized.

Logistics can be anything relating to helping a military operation function: procurement, shipping and transportation, inventory management, warehousing, and life support (read: food supply), construction, etc.

Advisory/Consulting again depends on the specifics. It can be providing training for local security forces, it can be providing strategic guidance at the command level, engineering maintenance for weapons systems, intelligence analysis, foreign language interpretation/translation, medical support, etc.

As for being a soldier in general, again depends on the specific job. An armed guard at a base, you can probably do that with one year of armed civilian or military security guard or police experience, plus a clean record, ability to pass a fitness test, and can get clearance. Consider that the basic baseline.


To get a more solid idea of what all of these are like, I suggest you check the "current career opportunities" section at various PMCs. Try Triple Canopy, Academi, DynCorp, G4S, KBR, Booz Allen Hamilton, etc.

Derp. >>1558457 was meant for >>1558417

>>1558451
Factual, of course. I don't read trash. The book itself is primarily academic and was named best policy book of the year by the American Political Science Association some time ago.

The author, P.W. Singer, can be considered one of the leading security intellectuals of our time. You can read his full bio here:
>http://www.pwsinger.com/biography.html
Met him once in 2012. He's a bit of an inspiration/hero to me.

One of his latest books, the one on cyberwarfare, is now considered required reading in military academies, I believe. I just bought a copy like two weeks ago, but haven't gotten to it because of work.

If you're interested in books concerning security and the like, I'm loaded with recommendations, if you want.

>>1558481
So is it just unbiased analysis, or does it provide an opinion on the matter?

>>1558505
Unbiased analysis.

>>1558457
>engineering maintenance for weapons systems
>intelligence analysis
Bingo, that's stuff I can see myself enjoying a lot.
I will look for jobs at the companies that you have listed but if you don't mind I have a specific question in case you know - how does one become an Intel analyst?
literally dream job

>>1558512
I find there's way too much opinionated content in the whole private military company. Too many hippies bitching about capitalism in the armed forces, while simultaneously protesting the draft (despite the fact the only reason our military is sustainable without a draft is because of the companies).

>>1558513
Intel is nearly what I did, and still thinking about it, but that was before I got a sort of once-in-a-lifetime offer to work privately under a former diplomat. So now I'm in Eastern Europe editing/advising on his stuff while doing book research on the side.

In any case, it's usually like this:
Step 1: Try to go to one of the feeder universities, particularly in the Washington DC area (American Univeristy, John Hopkins, George Washington, Georgetown) since they're popular recruitment grounds withs specialized schools focusing on international affairs/relations and a strong alumni base in the community. (Not required, but advantageous). ALTERNATIVELY, you can go into the military and try to enter intelligence from there.
2. Focus on developing: analytical skills (writing analytical pieces on foreign affairs, political developments, changes in economic/security trends, etc), languages (the harder, the better. Strong demand for Russian these days I hear), specialized knowledge (on a particular country, region, technological aspect, etc).
3. Take up internships that buff up your skills and can help provide references/contacts. Popular choices: CIA and/or Department of State, think tanks, specialized contractors (Booz Allen Hamilton, Kroll).
4. Apply to one of the agencies OR the aforementioned specialized contractors. Keep in mind what you want to specialize in, and consider carefully where you can go from there. Example: the Office of Naval Intelligence is a great place to start, because there is a constant need for experts on naval warfare and not enough supply. It's got good upward mobility. Downside though is that you're basically joining the navy. Oh, and keep in mind to apply at least a year before you want to start the job, so they can do the background check and all that. Pass the polygraph, NEVER FUCKING LIE TO THEM (about anything. Ever). Background check may take more time if you have plenty of foreign contacts.

>>1558519
It ~IS~ a profit-driven industry the sole purpose of which is to profit from war. So yes, it's common to expect there to be opinionated views.

Still, you can find good stuff if you look carefully.

>>1558556
In the same way that the medical industry profits off of sick people, the fast food and tobacco industries profit off of destroying people's health, and the oil industry profits off of pollution. But that's just my two cents.

Any other good sources beyond that? Is there a PDF out there or is this one I'm gonna have to go to Barnes & Nobles for?

>>1558549
Your new job sounds 100% comfiness
Ok, first of all I know Russian and several other languages so there's that. Additionally I am planning on going to a very prestigious technological uni in my country where I know the govt are recruiting.
Will working for a private contractor somehow prevent me from going into govt intel in the future? Should I even aim there?
do you know if I can get anywhere in American intel as a non natural born citizen?
also thank you for all the interesting information.
>>1558560
I'm pretty sure hippies whine about those industries too.

>>1558560
For focused subjects, academic papers is usually where most of the good stuff usually is. That and advanced academic books, particularly from the specialized types in top universities (Cornell Studies in Security Affairs, Cambridge Studies in Comparative Politics, etc). These are a pain in the ass to write, as I am finding out these days.

Anyways, in terms of PMCs and the like, Singer's book is still the definitive. There are two others though that I would call unbiased that I know of. You'll have to get them print or pirated PDF) yourself.

>"The Modern Mercenary: Private Armies and What They Mean for World Order"

>"Corporate Soldiers and International Security: The Rise of Private Military Companies (Contemporary Security Studies)"

>"Private Military and Security Companies: Ethics, Policies and Civil-Military Relationships"

If you want academic papers though, then I'd have to go looking, which I don't have time for. I'd suggest checking the Sources and/or Notes sections in these books, or Google around. Don't be surprised if you find a bunch of things written about the 90s; that's when events in Africa had everyone's attention on the subject.

>>1558644
Tell you what: let me get home, since the office is closing up for the day, then I'll get back to you.

>>1558651
Sure thing, have a nice ride home.
I might go out by then because I got some things to take care of, but I'll come back to ITT as it'll most probably still be up when I'm back

>>1558651
Was able to find the first one, nothing on the second, and the third one was just the abstract. I'll take a look at them later, thanks for the resources.

>>1558718
>nothing on the second
In case you could not find the book at all it by Christopher Kinsey, and you can buy a used copy on amazon for 15 bucks
Alternatively please tell if you find a download of the PDF as I could not.

>>1558738
That's what I meant, I couldn't find the PDF

>>1558749
Let's hope OP has it saved on his home PC

Right, got home.

Regarding the books: I usually buy print. Reading books on PDF is a pain, and I like to take notes. So, no, don't have the PDF of any of these.
And the third isn't just an abstract; it's a rather large edited book composed of articles by multiple authors. So you probably won't find it floating around in PDF format.
>https://www.routledge.com/Private-Military-and-Security-Companies-Ethics-Policies-and-Civil-Military/Alexandra-Baker-Caparini/p/book/9780415432757

There probably are more books out there (to say nothing about papers), but I haven't read them.

>>1558684
>>1558644
Work can be demanding at times, including working from 9 to 9 during the week, or on weekends, depending on the situation. Still, decent pay (by local standards) and all the articles I can print for research. So yeah, comfy I suppose.

In any case, your situation. It seems I assumed that you were American; my mistake.

I can't pretend to know how the process is in your country, and a few things are likely different, but I can't imagine it is totally incomparable. Focus on developing analytical skills, try doing internships in places that specialize in analysis/research, network with people who have worked/work in the places you want to go into, etc.

As for working for US intelligence as a non-natural American; after naturalizing (a must), it depends on a case-by-case basis. Take a look at security clearance approvals and denials in 2012 to have an idea:
>http://www.dod.mil/dodgc/doha/industrial/2012.html

And no, working for a private contractor shouldn't be an issue if you want to go to government work later. At least, in theory. It depends on the company, the position, and the government in question. Example: you can't expect to go work for, say, Russians, if you worked for an American company whose contracts are 80% from the US government. Again, case-by-case basis.

>>1558481
>If you're interested in books concerning security and the like, I'm loaded with recommendations, if you want.

Drop a list, I'll check it out. Also I have a couple of connections from ex-military whishing to develope an own security enterprise, which would be the best way to start. I can grant capital and entrepreneurial experience, they have the know how.

>>1558963
Just to clarify: when I say security, I mean national security/military/political science in general. This ranges from looking at terrorist groups in the middle east, to Chinese strategy, to energy security.

So you're looking for anything more specific, you have to tell me, else I just unload a lot.

>>1558951
Oh, I should clarify: working for one of the agencies as a non-natural American is impossible (dual citizen, possible). But getting security clearance to work in government or the private security ~IS~ possible.

The lines are blurred a lot these days though, so sometimes its hard to know definitively where the intelligence community proper begins and where it ends. A former co-worker at an internship was Taiwanese, but she was translating modern PRC military texts, and helping my former boss brief JSOC people about events in Donbass/Luhansk.

It's a mad world these days.

Hillary wins: these companies will have a lot of work

Trump wins: he is non-interventionist and he would utilize the actual military

If Hillary wins, invest, if Trump wins don't do anything.

>>1558951
>>1559029
Thank you anon!