There are numerous opportunities that experienced military personnel or veterans can obtain to further their careers. Military contractors can offer their expertise in a wide range of areas, including security, supply chain, or the repair and maintenance of specialized equipment, such as tactical gear used in operations in Europe and the world.
In this post, we will give you guidance on how to become a private military contractor (PMC), define what private military contractors are, review the job responsibilities and provide additional information about skills, salary expectations and the job outlook for military contractors.
If you want to work in a private military company in Europe, you can become a PMC. As a private military contractor, you provide security and armed services, but usually on a smaller scale than government or police units.
What is a private military contractor (PMC)?
A defense contractor or military contractor is a military professional who uses their experience operating in the military to provide a wide range of services to private institutions and government agencies. This can include organizing armed escorts and coordinating the movement of supplies to armed forces in war zone areas. It can also include performing security detail roles for government officers or embassies.
PMCs are used around the world and will have varying duties depending on where they are hired – in active combat zones or not. Many of them are ex-military personnel – they essentially fill in the organisation’s gaps, whether that is playing defence or offence.
PMCs are often called “mercenaries”, a name that has a more negative reputation due to some events in the past, although in general they rarely engage in any kind of armed combat; this makes the nickname “mercenary” somewhat misleading.
What does a private military contractor / PMC do?
Private military contractors have many jobs. Their responsibilities and tasks depend on a variety of other factors and location. Most often, private military contractors serve as an armed guard in areas where terrorists or criminals are expected to strike. A few examples of what PMCs do are:
- Protect employees on oil rigs, fields, ships and other points of interest
- Working as an armed guard when transporting important military goods
- Operating with a team of security experts to map out safe transportation routes
- Prepare defensive procedures for potential terrorism situations
- Providing armed escort for government officials, diplomats, and other high-risk people
- Cooperating with special forces to carry out surveillance activities
- Training security or military personnel on site
- Organizing a team of professionals to assist them on assignments
How much money do private military contractors make?
The salary of a private military contractor really depends on whether you have a military background or not and the company you apply to work for. For those that do have military background, they can expect to earn at least $275,000 per year ($750+ per day) when deployed to a hazardous duty country. For the people without military background – they will probably start at around $180,000 ($490+ per day).
As in every other profession the salary really depends on the job specifics, location, and qualification. Private military companies do not disclose all the relevant particulars regarding the payroll and names of their clients.
It’s also important to factor in the fact that your engagement can be for 6 months at a given salary, but after that you are on your own for the next 6 months so the calculation of a yearly salary becomes trickier.
How to become a private military contractor?
The process varies from person to person, but in general it is good if you:
- Get a high school degree
Get a high school degree in criminal justice, police science, public safety, or military science to have an edge over other applicants. If you are in college pursuing a degree, it helps to take foreign language courses, such as French, Spanish, and Arabic. These are the common languages spoken in war zones, so it will surely give you an advantage. - Gain security experience on the field (or from a course)
The best way to do this is by serving in a police department, governmental law-enforcement agency (Ie. CIS, FBI, CIA / alternatives in your country), or the military. The experience should include the fundamentals of gun use and control, self-defense tactics, and security services, all of which will be useful when you turn in the bid to become a contractor. If you do not have these types of experience, then you should enroll in courses to pick up skills. There are a few licensed and trusted providers in such courses, and Alfa-Metal is one of them. You can check our courses here. In detail, you will need to know how to handle guns and firearms. Familiarize yourself with the typical weapons used by military personnel and security organizations, such as AR rifles, Mossberg shotguns, Glocks 9mms and other weapons. - Create an impressive CV
This step is not easy, requiring a lot of effort and time, but it is essential in today’s competitive world. The better your resume is, the higher chance you have of getting hired as PMC. The CV should be up to date and accompanied by an application or cover letter as well and its best if you get help from someone already employed in the area. - Become a paramedic
You can become a gun-carrying security contractor without prior military or security knowledge because of your medical qualifications. Of course you will not be hired primarily as a shooter, but you will be armed which can act as a trampoline for your career. Paramedics work alongside soldiers in battlefields. Being a qualified nurse/paramedic/doctor will make you a valuable asset to the needs of most security companies and most of the time they will do anything necessary to get you a contract.
Also, you CV definitely should answer the following questions perfectly:
– Is your physical fitness good
– How you do under pressure
– Are you a good leader
– How you approach risk management
– How you act in critical situations
We at Alfa-Metal offer a course for Private Military Contractors, but it is required to have at least intermediate gun experience prior enrolling.
Summary
A private military contractor is a military professional who uses their experience operating in the military to provide a wide range of services to private institutions and government agencies. It is of vast importance for the PMC to continuously sharpen their skills with all the latest technologies, weapons and strategies to be prepared for any situation. As with every skill, you need to work on it over time to become really valuable on the market and in this case more safe as well.
The daily salary of a PMC can be expected to start from $400, but it varies highly. If you want to become a private military contractor you should have a degree in the security space, have relevant work experience and know how to handle guns.
If you want to work in the security space, but you do not have past experience, it is important that you build a foundation for your new career – you can enroll in our courses where professional instructors coming from the military sector (active or retired) will teach you everything you need to start or advance your security career. After that or if you already have intermediate experience, you may enroll in our Private Military Contractor (PMC) Course and get your skills ready for the job.
