87-474: Academi , formerly known as Blackwater and Blackwater Worldwide , is an American private military contractor founded on December 26, 1997, by former Navy SEAL officer Erik Prince . It was renamed Xe Services in 2009, and was again renamed to Academi in 2011, after it was acquired by a group of private investors. In 2014, Academi merged with Triple Canopy to form Constellis Holdings . Constellis and its predecessors provide contract security services to
174-677: A Boeing 767 . Several of the MD-530 helicopters used by Blackwater Security Consulting in Iraq are also operated through AWS. A CASA 212 aircraft, tail number N960BW, operated by Presidential Airways crashed on November 27, 2004 , in Afghanistan ; it had been a contract flight for the United States Air Force en route from Bagram to Farah . All aboard, three soldiers and three civilian crew members, were killed. Several of their surviving kin filed
261-600: A Maule Air MT-7-235 STOL aircraft, an Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano counterinsurgency aircraft, and a Mooney M20 E fixed wing aircraft. Private military contractor A private military company ( PMC ) or private military and security company ( PMSC ) is a private company providing armed combat or security services for financial gain. PMCs refer to their personnel as " security contractors " or " private military contractors ". The services and expertise offered by PMCs are typically similar to those of governmental security , military , or police but most often on
348-503: A "shoot house" system and patented the BEAR multi-target training system that was designed and developed by the company. Blackwater Target Systems company was managed by Jim Dehart and the company was largely responsible for keeping Blackwater Training Center financially solvent until the creation of Blackwater Security Company by Smith. Force Protection Inc in early 2005 provided the first Cougar Security Vehicle (SV) to Blackwater USA for use as
435-734: A $ 21 million contract for a personal security detachment and two helicopters for Paul Bremer , head of the U.S. occupation in Iraq. In July 2004, Blackwater was hired by the U.S. Department of State under the Bureau of Diplomatic Security 's Worldwide Personal Protective Services (WPPS) umbrella contract, along with DynCorp International and Triple Canopy, Inc. for the purpose of providing protective services in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia , and Israel. The contract applied for two years and expired on June 6, 2006. It authorized 482 personnel, and Blackwater received $ 488m for its work. On September 1, 2005, following Hurricane Katrina, Blackwater dispatched
522-507: A coherent and standardized framework from which to oversee such organizations and activities. Over the last decade there have been a number of initiatives to regulate the private security industry. These include the ISO/PAS 28007:2012 Guidelines for Private Maritime Security Companies and the ANSI / ASIS PSC.1 and PSC.4 standards. Founded in 1955, American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS)
609-546: A collaboration with the World Wide Fund for Nature to forcibly reduce the illegal poaching and smuggling of elephant tusks in various countries of Southern Africa . Other groups formed by ex-SAS servicemen were established in the 1970s and '80s, including Control Risks Group and Defence Systems, providing military consultation and training. In 1989, the United Nations Mercenary Convention banning
696-429: A company-wide restructuring plan, intended to re-focus the company on its logistics, aviation and training aspects, rather than its security operations. Prince announced his resignation as CEO on March 2, 2009. He remained as chairman of the board but was no longer involved in day-to-day operations. Joseph Yorio was named as the new president and CEO, replacing Gary Jackson as president and Prince as CEO. Danielle Esposito
783-461: A driving track in Camden and Currituck counties. The company says it is the largest training facility in the country. The concept was not a financial success but was kept solvent by sales from sister company Blackwater Target Systems. Jeremy Scahill has claimed that Blackwater Security Company (BSC) was the brainchild of Jamie Smith, a former CIA officer who became vice president of Blackwater USA and
870-701: A gathering of the Saudi forces at Al Anad Air Base in Lahij province according to Houthi and Iranian sources. In September 2016, Constellis was bought by Apollo . Constellis moved their global headquarters to Herndon , Virginia in February 2020. Academi has a variety of services and product offerings. United States Training Center (USTC, formerly Blackwater Training Center) offers tactics and weapons training to military, government, and law enforcement agencies. USTC also offers several open-enrollment courses periodically throughout
957-710: A larger part of it through activities on board trading ships, this could be a low estimate. PMC presence in Somalia is an example of two violent non-state actors at sea engaged in combat with each other. On April 5, 2005, Jamie Smith, CEO of SCG International Risk announced the expansion of services from the traditional roles of PMCs of protection and intelligence to military aviation support. SCG International Air would provide air support, medevac (medical evacuation), rotary and fixed-wing transportation, heavy-lift cargo , armed escort, and executive air travel to "any location on earth." That marked an expansion of services to rival
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#17330847630151044-685: A mercenary. Also the use of him in an armed conflict or hostilities shall be punished. Eeben Barlow apparently brought the idea of PMCs to Russia in 2010; there he gave an invited talk to the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum , as well as presented the PMC concept to representatives of the General Staff of the AFRF . At the time he proposed forming PMCs from retired military personnel and contractors. The existence of Russian PMCs seems to go as far back as 2011, when
1131-679: A pivotal moment for private military companies at sea and directly led to the first contract between Blackwater and the US military. Blackwater, and private military contractors in general, became notorious in the 21st century after their usage by the United States government in the American occupation of Iraq . Since the late 2000s, PMCs have become increasingly involved in anti-piracy measures in Somalia and other regions. PMCs remain active in this region, mainly providing security for private shipping through
1218-599: A potential for wildfire increases, the proposed facility's proximity to the Cleveland National Forest , noise pollution, and opposition to the actions of Blackwater in Iraq. In response, Brian Bonfiglio, project manager for Blackwater West, said: "There will be no explosives training and no tracer ammunition . Lead bullets don't start fires." In October 2007, when wildfires swept through the area , Blackwater made at least three deliveries of food, water, personal hygiene products and generator fuel to 300 residents near
1305-497: A rescue team and helicopter to support relief operations. Blackwater moved about 200 personnel into the area impacted by Hurricane Katrina, most of whom (164 employees) were working under a contract with the Federal Protective Service to protect government facilities, but the company held contracts with private clients as well. Blackwater's presence after Katrina cost the federal government $ 240,000 per day. In May 2006,
1392-406: A smaller scale. PMCs often provide services to train or supplement official armed forces in service of governments, but they can also be employed by private companies to provide bodyguards for key staff or protection of company premises, especially in hostile territories. However, contractors that use armed force in a war zone may be considered unlawful combatants in reference to a concept that
1479-525: A transport vehicle for U.S. Provisional Coalition Authority officials in Baghdad. Academi operates and markets its own armored personnel carrier , the Grizzly APC . Aviation Worldwide Services (AWS) was founded by Richard Pere and Tim Childrey, and was based at Melbourne, Florida , U.S. It owned and operated three subsidiaries: STI Aviation, Inc. Air Quest, Inc. and Presidential Airways, Inc . In April 2003 it
1566-1190: A wrongful death lawsuit against Presidential in October 2005. In late September 2007, Presidential Airways received a $ 92m contract from the Department of Defense for air transportation in Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan. STI Aviation focuses on aircraft maintenance, and is a FAA/ Joint Aviation Authorities 145 repair station. They specialize in Short 360 , EMB 120 , Saab 340 , and CASA 212 maintenance. As of January 2008, STI Aviation appears to have been folded into AWS, along with Air Quest. Many of Blackwater's tactical and training aircraft are registered to Blackwater affiliate EP Aviation LLC , named for Blackwater's owner, Erik Prince. These aircraft include fourteen Bell 412 helicopters, three Hughes/MD 369 "Little Bird" helicopters, four Bell 214ST medium-lift helicopters, three Fairchild Swearingen Merlin IIIC turboprop airliners, nine Aérospatiale Puma utility helicopters,
1653-609: Is a society of individual security professionals dedicated to increasing the effectiveness and productivity of security professionals by developing educational programs and materials. ASIS is an ANSI -accredited Standards Developing Organization, and within ASIS, the ASIS Commission on Standards and Guidelines works with national and international standards-setting organizations and industry representatives to develop voluntary standards and guidelines for security professionals. With funding from
1740-526: Is outlined in the Geneva Conventions and explicitly stated by the 2006 American Military Commissions Act . Private military companies carry out many missions and jobs. Some examples have included military aviation repair in East Africa, close protection for Afghan President Hamid Karzai and piloting reconnaissance airplanes and helicopters as a part of Plan Colombia . According to a 2003 study,
1827-582: Is the largest training facility in the country. In November 2006, Blackwater USA announced it acquired an 80-acre (32 ha) facility 150 mi (240 km) west of Chicago, in Mount Carroll, Illinois, to be called Blackwater North. That facility has been operational since April 2007 and serves law enforcement agencies throughout the Midwest. The training facility has since been renamed Impact Training Center and then again renamed Hollow Training Center. In 2011,
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#17330847630151914-520: The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine . In total, they have activities in 34 different countries. Russian PMCs are involved in oil and mining operations in 19 countries in Africa. By the end of 2012, the number of contractors who had died in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait had reached 3,000. Scholars have studied whether contractor deaths have an effect on the public's "casualty sensitivity" when substituted for military fatalities. Casualty sensitivity refers to
2001-725: The British Special Air Service , the US Special Operations Forces and the Canadian Joint Task Force 2 . The Center for Public Integrity reported that since 1994, the Defense Department entered into 3,601 contracts worth $ 300 billion with twelve US-based PMCs, specifically during the initial response after Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans . Domestic operations are generally under
2088-584: The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative in widespread international operations, there has also been a move within the PSC and contingency contracting industries to call for accountability and to implement a code of ethics for the retention of services and operations of such service providers. Existing credible accountability initiatives form a skeleton for governing the conduct of contractors, but much remains to be fleshed out to form
2175-501: The Gulf States and involved weapons supply and training. The company was also linked with a failed attempt to overthrow Colonel Muammar Gaddafi from power in Libya in 1971. Woodhouse resigned as Director of Operations after a series of disagreements and Stirling himself ceased to take an active part in 1972. Stirling also founded KAS International (aka KAS Enterprises) and was involved in
2262-605: The Gulf of Aden and at times contracting to aid UN efforts . PMCs were hired to deter pirates from attacking vessels and taking the shipping crew and their transport hostage. While a large variety of international naval missions with the same goals such as the EU's Atalanta , NATO's Ocean Shield , and Combined Task Force 150 are and were active in this region, it is still necessary for the shipping companies to have security personnel on deck. Due to their decentralized nature, it can be difficult for
2349-583: The Iraq War "; founder Erik Prince sold the company and departed soon thereafter. The Russian Wagner Group have been deployed in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine , fighting alongside the Russian Armed Forces since early 2022. In February 2023 it was reported that Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed a decree which allowed Gazprom to launch "a mercenary army". Several other mercenary groups have been in evidence, such as "Redut" and
2436-563: The Montreux Document on Private Military and Security Companies , detailing international legal obligations and specific recommendations related to PSC services procurement practices and operational oversight, as well as clarifying the obligations of states pertaining to the hiring of such entities during armed conflicts. As of December 2018, fifty-four states had signed the Montreux Document. As revealed in 2009 by Stoddard et al. ,
2523-680: The Myre Seadiver was arrested in October 2012 while in Nigeria. Oleg Krinitsyn heads the RSB-Group , reportedly in 2013 Russia's largest PMC. The Moscovite MSG was the focus of attention in 2013 for its failed and bloody Syrian involvement. It contracted employees through the Slavonic Corps shell company owned by Vadim Gusev and based in Hong Kong to work for the régime of Bashar al-Assad , but
2610-728: The Persian Gulf , from operating mess halls to providing security. They supplied armed guards at a US Army base in Qatar , and they used live ammunition to train soldiers at Camp Doha in Kuwait . They maintained an array of weapons systems vital to the invasion of Iraq. They also provided bodyguards for VIPs, guard installations, and escort supply convoys from Kuwait. All these resources were called upon constantly. In 2010, several Blackwater PMC employees "were indicted on unlawful killing charges in connection with their work as US government contractors during
2697-536: The Persian Gulf War , just over a decade earlier. The prevalence of PMCs led to the foundation of trade group the Private Security Company Association of Iraq . In Iraq, the issue of accountability , especially in the case of contractors carrying weapons, was a sensitive one. Iraqi laws do not hold over contractors. On 5 December 2005, US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld justified
Blackwater (company) - Misplaced Pages Continue
2784-478: The Syrian Civil War kicked off and violent unrest was felt in Libya before Muammar Gaddafi was eliminated in October. Russians had big investments in both of these countries. State-owned enterprise Rostec and its subsidiaries Rosboronexport and Technopromexport , as well as privately owned StroyTransGaz (STG) and Tatneft have billions of dollars invested in international affairs and like to hire from
2871-920: The United Arab Emirates to fight the Houthi insurgency . In 2016, Ali al-Houthi , former President of the Revolutionary Committee , a body formed by Houthi militants, reported that a Tochka missile hit on a Saudi-led command center in Ma'rib resulting in the death of over 120 mercenaries, including 55 Saudi (9 officers), 11 UAE and 11 foreign commanders of Blackwater on January 17 as well as other material losses. Also in 2016, two hundred Sudanese mercenaries from Blackwater and their commander U.S. Colonel Nicolas Petras were killed in Yemen in an attack by Yemeni forces on January 31 with another Tochka missile that impacted
2958-740: The personal security of an individual or group. PSDs can be made up of multiple federal and state government organisations, military personnel, law enforcement agents and/or private security contractors or private military contractors. In the U.S. Marine Corps , an individual's security team is called a "personal security detachment" and is assigned to the Personal Security Company. PSD teams are often made up of private security personnel. Organizations such as Constellis , DynCorp and Triple Canopy, Inc. and their internal and external security departments offer armed security teams to clients traveling to war zones and areas deemed dangerous by
3045-521: The "cross hair" reticle theme, simplifying it slightly. On July 21, 2008, Blackwater Worldwide stated that it would shift resources away from security contracting because of the extensive risks in that sector. Said company founder and CEO Erik Prince, "The experience we've had would certainly be a disincentive to any other companies that want to step in and put their entire business at risk." In February 2009, Blackwater announced that it would be once again renamed, this time to "Xe Services LLC", as part of
3132-558: The American mission to the UN office in Geneva (UNOG) said that "Accusations that US government-contracted security guards, of whatever nationality, are mercenaries is inaccurate." An observer noted that the difficulty in separating private from public troops means that legal proceedings against these violent non-state actors can be complicated, and stated that contracted combatants carry the legitimacy of
3219-484: The CIA realized that a large number of civilian contractors would be needed overseas to accomplish its broad goals. The federal government turned to Blackwater for assistance. Jamie Smith and his deputy David Phillips recruited, vetted and hired a 21-man team. This team was then trained and deployed on a Top Secret project to provide protection for CIA personnel and facilities in Afghanistan. Jamie Smith and Erik Prince deployed with
3306-566: The Iraqi government still had no authority over private security firms contracted by the US government. In 2007, the Uniform Code of Military Justice was amended to allow for prosecution of military contractors who are deployed in a " declared war or a contingency operation." After the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq , the US State Department is reportedly planning to more than double
3393-465: The Midwest. Blackwater tried to open an 824-acre (3.33 km) training facility three miles north of Potrero , a small town in rural east San Diego County , California, located 45 miles (72 km) east of San Diego, for military and law enforcement training. The opening had faced heavy opposition from local residents, residents of nearby San Diego, local Congressmember Bob Filner , and environmentalist and anti-war organizations. Opposition focused on
3480-638: The North Carolina–Virginia border that is now mostly a national wildlife refuge . "We needed 3,000 acres to make it safe," Prince told reporter Robert Young Pelton . There he created his private training facility and his contracting company, Blackwater, which he named for the peat -colored water of the swamp. The Blackwater Lodge and Training Center officially opened on May 15, 1998, with a 6,000-acre (2,400 ha), $ 6.5 million facility headed by Robert Anderson. It comprises several ranges: indoor, outdoor, urban reproductions; an artificial lake; and
3567-490: The Pentagon contracted USTC to provide "intelligence analyst support and material procurement" for NATO in the ongoing Afghan drug war. Academi offers tactical training for maritime force protection units. In the past, it has trained Greek security forces for the 2004 Olympics , Azerbaijan Naval Sea Commandos, and Afghanistan's Ministry of Interior. Academi's facilities include a man-made lake, with stacked containers simulating
Blackwater (company) - Misplaced Pages Continue
3654-791: The Russian PMC sector. In 2012, Vladimir Putin suggested to the State Duma to consider the legalization of PMCs, although owners of Russian PMCs have claimed that because Russia inherited its legal system from the Byzantine Empire , anything that is not explicitly prohibited is allowed. The Syrian gains of ISIS in 2012 caused the Russian contingent to hire PMCs from the Moran Security Group (MSG) headed by Alexey Badikov , Slavonic Corps , Patriot PMC and Vega PMC . The MSG crew aboard
3741-682: The Slavonic Corps fiasco, the Wagner Group PMC made its appearance on the scene. Near the end of 2014, Wagner was given the instructional role of local Basharite militias. Prior to September 2015, the PMCs were Russia's only pseudo-military presence in Syria. Wagner and Moran both contributed in 2014 to the Russian War in Donbass ; Wagner is known to have fought in Syria since late 2015. One manner of payment to
3828-458: The U.S. State Department awarded WPPS II, the successor to its previous diplomatic security contract. Under this contract, the State Department awarded Blackwater, along with Triple Canopy and DynCorp, a contract for diplomatic security in Iraq. Under this contract, Blackwater was authorized to have 1,020 staff in Iraq. Blackwater's responsibilities included the United States embassy in Iraq. At
3915-420: The UN or other international organizations to provide effective oversight over what happens on the seas. Whereas the UN showed that, between 2010 and 2015, there were over fifty encounters between the national sovereign navies that participated in the missions, resulting in over 1,200 detained pirates, only one PMC published information over this period. Since the PMCs are so much more active in this area, covering
4002-457: The US Department of Defense, the ASIS Commission on Standards is currently promulgating four sets of standards for private security companies. Personal security detachment A security detail , often known as a PSD ( protective services detail , personal security detachment , personal security detail ) or PPD ( personal protection detail ), is a protective team assigned to protect
4089-561: The US, so they tend to look for private contractors who will have a fiduciary obligation to them. In 2012, were published the ISO/PAS 28007:2012 Guidelines for Private Maritime Security Companies . In December 2006, there were estimated to be at least 100,000 contractors working directly for the United States Department of Defense in Iraq which was a tenfold increase in the use of private contractors for military operations since
4176-597: The United States federal government. Since 2003, it has provided services to the Central Intelligence Agency . In 2007, Blackwater received widespread notoriety for the Nisour Square massacre in Baghdad , when a group of its employees killed 17 Iraqi civilians and injured 20. Four employees were convicted in the United States and later pardoned on December 22, 2020, by President Donald Trump . Blackwater USA
4263-410: The ability of NGOs to claim neutrality, leading to increased risk. Moreover, outsourcing may not necessarily lead to lower costs, and the cost of middlemen may result in more poorly paid and poorly trained personnel, who turn over frequently and cannot adequately perform the job. Finally, NGOs have obligations beyond strictly legal liability that include political, ethical and reputational implications: If
4350-645: The auspice of state or federal agencies such as the Department of Energy or the Department of Homeland Security rather than the Department of Defense. Driven by increasing fears of domestic terror attacks and civil unrest and disruption in the wake of disasters, more conventional security companies are moving into operations arenas that would fall within the definition of a PMC. The United States State Department also employs several companies to provide support in danger zones that would be difficult for conventional US forces. The October 2000 USS Cole bombing proved
4437-484: The board. Quinn and Ashcroft were independent directors, without other affiliations to Academi. In May 2011, Academi named Ted Wright as CEO. Wright hired Suzanne Rich Folsom as Academi's chief regulatory and compliance officer and deputy general counsel. The Academi Regulatory and Compliance team won National Law Journal' s 2012 Corporate Compliance Office of the Year Award. In 2012, retired Brigadier General Craig Nixon
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#17330847630154524-660: The capabilities of some countries' armies and air forces. In 2007, the American Uniform Code of Military Justice was amended to allow for prosecution of military contractors deployed in a " declared war or a contingency operation ." In 2008, the International Committee of the Red Cross , the Swiss government , and contributors from private security companies and the civil society/ NGO sector developed and proposed
4611-421: The challenges of deteriorating security environments; and administrative costs of managing security in-house and potential to outsource the liability. However, it has been argued that outsourcing security leaves NGOs reliant on contractors and unable to develop their own security thinking and make their own decisions. Perceived association of PSPs with state security, police or military services in turn compromises
4698-629: The defence ministry would coordinate and that participation in armed conflicts would only be with their permission." In February 2023, it was reported that Gazprom would form a PMC of its own called Fakel . The law "On the Security of Fuel and Energy Facilities" appears now to state that companies in this field "may be granted the right to establish a private security organisation". The organisation Molfar has investigated 37 private military companies in Russia, and found that all of them are or have been connected to Kremlin. Most of them are also funded by Kremlin. More than half of them are participating in
4785-404: The forcible changing of the basis of the constitutional order and at violating the integrity of the Russian Federation, at undermining its security, at creating armed units, and at instigating social, racial, national and religious strife shall be prohibited." In addition, it has been illegal since at least the 1996 edition under Article 359 of the Russian criminal code to recruit, train or finance
4872-411: The founder of the SAS, David Stirling and John Woodhouse , founded WatchGuard International (formerly with offices in Sloane Street before moving to South Audley Street in Mayfair ) as a private company that could be contracted out for security and military purposes. The company's first assignment was to go to Yemen to report on the state of the royalist forces when a ceasefire was declared. At
4959-453: The founding director of Blackwater Security Company, holding both positions simultaneously. However, this claim is denied by Prince and Blackwater executive Gary Jackson, who describe firing Smith from his position as a low-level administrator for "non-performance" after a thirty-day contract. Smith has been accused of further embellishing his military and contracting record to defraud investors at SCG International Risk . BSC's first assignment
5046-407: The group is from 25% of the proceeds from captured and secured oil and gas infrastructure in Syria. In January 2018, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said of PMC employees that legislation was needed to "protect these people", while Duma member Mikhail Yemelyanov authored a bill to do just that "because private military companies are legal in many countries"; continuing: "We wrote in the bill that
5133-564: The hull and deck of a ship for maritime assaults. Blackwater received a contract to train United States Navy sailors, which was managed by Jamie Smith, following the attack on the USS Cole . It also purchased a 183-foot (56 m) vessel, McArthur , which has been outfitted for disaster response and training. According to Blackwater USA, it features "state of the art navigation systems, full GMDSS communications, SEATEL Broadband, dedicated command and control bays, helicopter decks, hospital and multiple support vessel capabilities". McArthur
5220-405: The industry was then earning over $ 100 billion a year. According to a 2008 study by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence , private contractors make up 29% of the workforce in the United States Intelligence Community and cost the equivalent of 49% of their personnel budgets. Modern PMCs trace their origins back to a group of ex- SAS veterans in 1965 who, under the leadership of
5307-424: The inverse relationship between military deaths and public support for a sustained military engagement. Contractor deaths may account for nearly 30% of total US battlefield losses since the beginning of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In October 2007, the United Nations released a two-year study that reported that, although hired as "security guards", private contractors performed military duties. A spokesman for
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#17330847630155394-449: The larger corporations included Vinnell and Military Professional Resources Inc. in the United States ; G4S and Keeni-Meeny Services in the United Kingdom ; and Lordan-Levdan in Israel and Executive Outcomes in South Africa . Some commentators have argued that there was an exodus from many special operations forces across the globe towards these private military corporations. Units that were allegedly severely affected included
5481-626: The latter failed "to fulfill their financial obligations, which caused problems with the housing and feeding of the fighters from Slavonic Corps." Meanwhile, 100 of the 267 men hired in spring 2013 by Slavonic Corps perished in October 2013 in a firefight with ISIS . Out of the ashes of the Slavonic Corps was born the Wagner Group . Two recruiters for the Slavonic Corps were ultimately jailed in October 2014 for their violation of Article 359. They faced up to eight years imprisonment but were convicted for three. Regular squad members were reportedly unpaid and faced no prosecution in Russia. Not long after
5568-521: The ministerial-affiliated "Patriot" group. According to one Dutch study, it was estimated that no more than approximately 35,000 operators of private military and security companies ever participated in combat in the Russo-Ukrainian War as of 2024. The Constitution of the Russian Federation was adopted by national referendum on 12 December 1993, and entered into force on 25 December 1993. Article 13.5 reads: "The establishment and activities of public associations whose goals and activities are aimed at
5655-464: The number of its private security guards, up to as many as 7,000. Defending five fortified compounds across the country, the security contractors would operate radars to warn of enemy rocket attacks, search for roadside bombs, fly reconnaissance drones and even staff quick reaction forces to aid civilians in distress. Its helicopter fleet, which will be piloted by contractors, will grow from 17 to 29. PMCs supplied support to US military bases throughout
5742-466: The organisation's responsibility to prevent and mitigate any possible negative outcomes is better achieved through in-house security, it is argued, this should be their choice. The result is that many NGOs are not open about their use of PSPs and researchers at the Overseas Development Institute have found that sometimes statements at NGOs central headquarters contradict those given by local staff. This prevents informative knowledge sharing and debate on
5829-603: The privately owned intelligence-gathering company Total Intelligence Solutions , Inc., as well as vice-chairman of Blackwater. Robert Richer was vice president of intelligence until January 2007, when he formed Total Intelligence Solutions. He was formerly the head of the CIA's Near East Division. In November 2006, Blackwater USA announced that it had acquired an 80-acre (32 ha) facility 120 miles (190 km) west of Chicago in Mount Carroll, Illinois , called Impact Training Center. This facility has been operational since April 2007 and serves law enforcement agencies throughout
5916-419: The proposed training site, many of whom had been trapped for days without supplies. They also set up a " tent city " for evacuees. On March 7, 2008, Blackwater withdrew its application to set up a facility in San Diego County. In October 2007, the month after the Nisour Square massacre , Blackwater USA began the process of changing its name to Blackwater Worldwide and unveiled a new logo. The change deemphasized
6003-428: The same time, Stirling was cultivating his contacts in the Iranian government and exploring the chances of obtaining work in Africa . The company eventually operated in Zambia and in Sierra Leone , providing training teams and advising on security matters. Stirling also organised deals to sell weapons and military personnel to other countries for various privatised foreign policy operations. Contracts were mainly with
6090-616: The staff for high-risk protection details. Therefore, a different type of protection was needed, and Blackwater would provide the solution. Blackwater's founder, Erik Prince, says that "not one State Department employee was killed while we were protecting them". Academi's primary public contract is from the U.S. State Department under the Bureau of Diplomatic Security's Worldwide Personal Protective Services (WPPS) and WPPS II umbrella contracts, along with DynCorp International and Triple Canopy, Inc. , for protective services in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, and Israel. Academi provides and maintains
6177-425: The state that hires them. Demands for specific PSC services have grown to record levels in recent decades, and private firms' capabilities now include an array of services that are vital to the success of on-the-ground war fighting as well as other more traditional stability operations and contingency contracting. While past calls for corporate responsibility have heralded successes such as the Kimberley Process and
6264-571: The subject needed to improve NGO decisions regarding this issue, though there have been some notable exceptions; namely, the Afghanistan NGO Security Office and the NGO Coordination Committee in Iraq. The private security contractor fulfills many different needs in the private and public sectors. While some nations rely heavily on the input of governments of such nations as the United States, other countries do not trust
6351-603: The team to Afghanistan. The two then deployed to the Pakistani border as a two-man element providing security assistance in one of the most dangerous places in the country at the time. Prince stayed there for one week and was in Afghanistan for a total of two weeks, leaving Smith and the remainder of the team to continue to carry out the mission. By 2003, the ground war in Iraq changed into a diplomatic mission, demanding hundreds of diplomats and State Department employees. The government traditionally handles its own security, but it lacked
6438-587: The time it was a privately held company and published limited information about internal affairs. Cofer Black , the company's vice-chairman from 2006 through 2008, was director of the CIA's Counterterrorist Center (CTC) at the time of the September 11 attacks in 2001. He was the United States Department of State coordinator for counterterrorism with the rank of Ambassador-at-Large from December 2002 to November 2004. After leaving public service, Black became chairman of
6525-459: The use of mercenaries was initiated and entered into force on 20 October 2001. As of August 2021, the convention had been ratified by 37 states, and signed but not ratified by 9 states. Dramatic growth in the number and size of PMCs occurred at the end of the Cold War . The exodus of over 6 million military personnel from Western militaries in the 1990s expanded the recruiting pool for PMCs. Some of
6612-562: The use of PMCs in Iraq on the basis that they were cost effective and useful on the ground. He also affirmed that they were not subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice . Two days before he left Iraq, L. Paul Bremer signed " Order 17 " giving all Americans associated with the CPA and the American government immunity from Iraqi law. A July 2007 report from the American Congressional Research Service indicates that
6699-503: The use of private security contractors by NGOs in dangerous regions is a highly sensitive subject. Quite often, the contractors hired are local companies and mostly are unarmed personnel guarding facilities; only rarely are international contractors or mobile armed security personnel used. Many NGOs have sought the services of private security contractors in dangerous areas of operation, such as Afghanistan , Somalia and Sudan , due to lack of knowledge, skills, and time to adequately meet
6786-468: The year, from hand to hand combat (executive course) to precision rifle marksmanship . They also offer courses in tactical and off-road driving. USTC's primary training facility, located on 7,000 acres (28 km) in northeastern North Carolina, comprises several ranges, indoor, outdoor, urban reproductions, a man-made lake, and a driving track in Camden and Currituck counties. Company literature says that it
6873-402: Was acquired by Blackwater USA. Presidential Airways (PAW) is a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Regulations Part 135 charter cargo and passenger airline based at Melbourne Orlando International Airport . It operates aircraft owned by AWS. Presidential Airways holds a Secret Facility Clearance from the U.S. Department of Defense . It operates several CASA 212 aircraft in addition to
6960-827: Was built in 1966 by the Norfolk Shipbuilding and Drydock Company and served as the survey ship USC&GS McArthur (MSS 22) for the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey from 1966 to 1970, and then as NOAAS McArthur (S 330) for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration from 1970 until her decommissioning in 2003. The ship is home-ported in Norfolk, Virginia . The company trains canines to work in patrol capacities as war dogs , explosives and drug detection , and various other roles for military and law enforcement duties. Blackwater Security Consulting (BSC)
7047-602: Was formed as a Delaware LLC in December 2001 and was the brainchild of Jamie Smith, a former CIA officer who was the Founding Director as well as acting Vice President of Blackwater USA. The company, based in Moyock, North Carolina , is one of the private security firms employed during the Iraq War to guard officials and installations, train Iraq 's new army and police , and provide other support for coalition forces. The company
7134-578: Was formed on December 26, 1996, by Al Clark and Erik Prince in North Carolina , to provide training support to military and law enforcement organizations. In explaining its purpose, Prince stated: "We are trying to do for the national security apparatus what FedEx did for the Postal Service." Prince purchased approximately 7,000 acres (28 km) of the Great Dismal Swamp , a vast swamp on
7221-458: Was hired during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to protect government facilities, as well as by private clients, including communications, petrochemical , and insurance companies. Overall, the company received over US$ 1 billion in U.S. government contracts. The company consisted of nine divisions and a subsidiary, Blackwater Vehicles. In August 2003, Blackwater received its first Iraq contract,
7308-797: Was named the new CEO of Academi. A merger between Triple Canopy and Academi, along with other companies that were part of the Constellis Group package, are now all gathered under the Constellis Holdings, Inc. umbrella. The transaction brings together an array of security companies including Triple Canopy, Constellis Ltd., Strategic Social, Tidewater Global Services, National Strategic Protective Services, ACADEMI Training Center and International Development Solutions. In 2015, six Colombian mercenaries reported by local media to be employed by Academi were killed in Yemen. The mercenaries were being led by an Australian commander believed to have been hired by
7395-596: Was named the new chief operating officer and executive vice president. In 2010, Xe was acquired by USTC Holdings, an investor consortium, who sought to further re-brand the company. The sale formally ended Erik Prince's operational and management role in the company. Xe was officially renamed "Academi" in 2011. Academi's Board of Directors included former Attorney General John Ashcroft , former White House Counsel and Vice Presidential Chief of Staff Jack Quinn , retired Admiral and former NSA Director Bobby Ray Inman , and Texas businessman Red McCombs , who served as chairman of
7482-628: Was started to help train SEALS for combat. However, in the aftermath of 9/11, civilian security teams were needed by the United States Military. Before 2001, tier-one contractors, or former members of elite, special forces units, were hired from a small pool of applicants. After the September 11 attacks, Cofer Black, the former head of counter terrorism at the CIA, requested that the federal government hire more contractors to operate overseas. Eventually,
7569-571: Was to provide twenty men with top-secret clearance to protect the CIA headquarters and another base that was responsible for hunting Osama bin Laden . Blackwater was one of several private security firms employed following the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan . BSC was originally formed as a Delaware LLC and was one of over sixty private security firms employed during the Iraq War to guard officials and installations, train Iraq's new army and police, and provide other support for coalition forces . Blackwater
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