Are you retired military personnel interested in putting your military skills to good use? Do you want to open a private military firm and become an army contractor?

Becoming a private security contractor will be a great idea.

Private military companies are mostly the offshoot of years of planning and strategizing towards launching a private security business.

How To Become A Private Military Contractor

Of course, private military companies offer armed military services for profit. They’re also regulated by the government and are engaged in many conflicts as paid mercenaries.

So, do you have a military background with an interest in starting a private military company?

This article will show you how to start a PMC.

Understanding the Implications of Your Decision

As a retired military officer, you probably have an idea of what’s involved. Unlike other related or similar positions like security or bodyguards, private military contractors are mostly engaged in conflict flashpoints.

You have to be well trained and prepared for warfare as the job might take you anywhere around the world.

This role isn’t anything out of the ordinary as you only need to brush up on previous skills and be fit for deployment. For a mercenary, your allegiances are quite dissimilar to when you served in the army.

For lack of a better word, your services are mostly driven by gain and not by patriotism.

However, the good thing is that mercenaries exist and operate independently from private military companies. The latter is a legal establishment that’s fully recognized and engaged by the government in some situations.

Private Military Companies Vs Mercenaries

A lot of times, confusion arises as to the similarities and differences between private military companies (PMCs) and mercenaries. Most people erroneously consider both to be the same.

However, the truth is; they aren’t. There are aspects of their operations that are similar while the concepts guiding their operations are different.

  • Private Military Companies

Private military companies are fully registered with the government and are recognized by it. The workforce of a private military company mostly consists of retired military officers or veterans.

When conscripted into the company, these personnel become private soldiers.

However, the reality here is that there’s a thin line between private soldiers and mercenaries. These soldiers can easily switch to become mercenaries.

Under such circumstances, they’re not bound by patriotism to any government. All actions taken are driven solely by gain.

  • Mercenaries

Unlike private soldiers, mercenaries have no allegiances or ties to a government or company. They act mainly on their own for their interests.

This is why they’re considered mostly illegal armed operators.

A Lot of Investments Are Necessary

The military-industrial complex is massive with billions of dollars in arms deals switching hands. As a military contractor, you’ll need to make huge investments in equipment and other military hard gear.

Consider the fact that you’re building an army.

This army will need to be strong enough (militarily) to go into battle.

Here, investments in planes, helicopters, light arms, transport, intelligence logistics, and security are paramount. So, how prepared are you for this undertaking?

Financial preparation is highly essential for a smooth take-off.

Apart from equipment purchase among other expenses, you’ll need to have sufficient running costs. Such running costs will include wages for your workforce among other expenses to be incurred.

Your running costs need to be sufficient enough to sustain your company through its teething period.

It needs to run as a Business

When starting a private military company, you need to look at such undertaking from the angle of a business. A business aims to make profits.

So, all financial plans and strategies must be in place to guide the business towards profitability.

For your private military company to be profitable, you’ll need to do a lot of business with the government. Asides from your home government, you’re able to do business with other governments.

The only exception will be if your home government restricts such cooperation.

Having a Wide Business Network is Crucial

The military-industrial complex is massive with lots of players within the industry.

To set up a successful private military company, you’ll need to have the wide reach necessary for a steady flow of security contracts.

This shouldn’t be a problem for a military contractor that has served in the military and made a lot of friends.

Of course, such a network must also extend within the government. Governments give a lot of security-related contracts. This is seen mostly around conflict-prone areas.

A lot of times, overseas contracts are included among those offered by the government.

The Business Plan

Without a properly structured business, the possibility of making consistent profits and growing the business is next to nothing. Your security business plan helps achieve that by providing systematic and measured strategies that guide your business towards profitability.

Obtaining the needed financing necessary for takeoff won’t be possible without a well-written plan. Your plan serves as the blueprint for the actualization of your goals.

More importantly, this document gives an idea about the viability of the business idea.

Does your private military business idea have a chance of growth and profitability? Remember; your investors are only interested in seeing the money trail.

How profitable is the idea? When will it start yielding profit?

Questions on sustainability and growth will also arise.

Recruiting your Workforce

As mentioned earlier, we said private military companies mostly engage retired military personnel and veterans for both administrative and active duty (on-field) work. This isn’t to say civilians won’t be hired.

Civilians are mostly hired for administrative roles or functions.

Prior Experience is Very Important

Apart from your military background which gives you an edge, starting a private military company won’t be as difficult for someone who has worked in similar settings in the past.

In other words, if you’ve held a role or two in another private military company before, you should have an appreciable level of experience on how to go about running one.

Private Military Company License

Regulation is a crucial oversight activity that seeks to ensure private military companies stick to best global practices. Certain requirements such as licensing among other things may be applicable when starting a PMC.

These are guidelines for starting a private military company.

You’ll find these highly informative and helpful in your bid to launch your own business.