While you may go home after completing your service, there will be a place for you to continue to devote your military experience in peacetime.
Become a military contractor! So, what is a military contractor? For your information, it’s simply someone with experience, loyalty, and legit permits/license of their work that the military hires to offer services.
Instead of wasting what you learned in the service to get another job, you can go further in your military career. Learn about military contractors right here before making a decision.
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What Does It Mean to Be a Contractor in the Military?
The Army must outsource just like private businesses do. That’s why the military contractors appeared.
A military contractor (also known as a defense contractor) is someone contracted with the military to carry out military-related services, construction, or work for governmental or non-governmental organizations.
A contractor for the military can be a private business or a group of trained civilians, many of whom are ex-military personnel. They boast military knowledge and experience and are willing to dedicate their expertise.
Private military contractors (PMCs) are employed all over the world. Depending on where they are hired (in war zones or not), they will take on a variety of duties.
What Are the Benefits of a Military Contractor?
Working with the military can be hazardous. But everything will have a worthwhile trade-off. Once becoming a military contractor, you can gain the exceptional benefits as follows:
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Great pay
Working as a US military contractor attracts people with a need for a desire to be well-paid for dangerous and demanding work.
The average annual military contract pay in the US is $66,286 per year (updated April 11, 2023) while the Army base salary starts at just $20,170 per year ( varies by rankings).
Notably, Blackwater military contractor offers a salary of around $9,000 to $22,500 monthly.
Apparently, a military contractor’s salary is much higher than that of military and civilian employees of the Army.
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Promotion and education opportunities
Typically, military contractors don’t need to start at entry-level. Understandably, they served in the military before or were well-trained.
At defense businesses, you can get opportunities for fast onboarding, promotions, higher education, and tuition reimbursement to best grow your career.
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Medical benefits & insurance
A private military company constantly aims to offer basic to best-guaranteed benefits.
Due to the nature of military contractor jobs, benefits always cover medical care and insurance for an eligible military contractor who suffers an injury or death.
What Does a Military Contractor Do?
Military contractors can be hired for a variety of specialized jobs. They offer security services and armed combat to the government. Some may be sent to war or conflict areas abroad. They are military contractors mercenaries.
Outside the war zones, military contractors also undertake many roles. Here are a few examples:
- Analyzing intelligence data
- Supporting operations and intelligence
- Providing security and an armed escort for political dignitaries
- Conducting police and security staff training
- Conducting anti-drug activities
- Building security plans for private organizations
- Supporting drone missions
- Transporting military supplies
A lot of military contractors work in a private military company (PMC). They are also known as private military contractors. There are PMCs all over the world, not just in the US.
How to Become a Military Contractor?
To join PMC, you will need the necessary qualifications, skills, experience, and personality traits. However, the requirements are different for private military companies.
So, how to get into military contracting?
In general, to apply for private military contractors, you will need to meet the following requirements.
1. Obtain your high school diploma or GED
Anyone who wants to join the PMC military must have a high school diploma or GED. This is the minimum requirement.
2. Have prior knowledge and expertise in the field.
You need to have a basic understanding of the use and control of guns, chemical weapons, self-defense skills, conflict, terrorism prevention, and more.
The best way to gain experience is to serve in the military service, police, or in a government agency.
Alternatively, you can also join a basic training course to learn these skills.
3. Create a CV
How to get a job as a military contractor? You need an outstanding CV first.
The better your CV is, the greater your chances of being employed as a private security contractor.
Your CV should showcase:
- You have good physical fitness
- You can work under pressure
- You can manage risks
- You gain necessary skills when working as a PMC such as leadership skills, and teamwork skills.
4. Submit your bid
If you’ve worked in the military for years, you can set a bid and send it to the Department of Defense (Dod).
The reviewing process can take a few months to complete.
If the department approves your bid, you will have to pass some tests to assess your physical health, expertise with a weapon, and self-defense abilities.
Have you prepared well for all things above? Let’s move on to the next part! We will introduce you to some contractor jobs for veterans.
Learn more detailed steps and important things to become a military contractor, check it out here!
Types of Military Contractors
Here are 8 common military contractor jobs:
- Firefighter: Responsible for battle and putting out fires in conflict and war zones. They may also help with emergency evacuations of citizens and deal with fire alarms.
- Roving security: Responsible for stopping attacks.
- Logistics coordinator: Responsible for managing procurement, distribution, and delivery as well as organizing and assessing a supply chain.
- Medic: Responsible for providing care and first aid for combat soldiers.
- PMC Security manager: Responsible for the security of a certain individual or location.
- Training instructor: Responsible for imparting their knowledge or a specific type of combat to recruits or veteran soldiers.
- IT technician: Responsible for identifying issues, setting up, maintaining, and testing IT networks and systems.
- Background investigator: Responsible for conducting and collecting personal and professional checks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are military contractors considered military?
No. Even though many contractors are veterans, they are not considered to be members of the armed forces.
Who is known as the first army contractor?
Morris introduced the first sealed tender system in 1781 for providing supply and service contracts to the military.
Can a civilian become a military contractor?
Yes. Civilians can work as private military contractors without completing military service. However, they will have to meet some specific requirements.
Who is the biggest military contractor?
Lockheed Martin Corporation. This is the world’s biggest defense contractor with a defense revenue of $58.2 billion.
Conclusion
Now you’ve got a clear answer “What is a military contractor?”. There are a lot of PMCs out there today. You will get many opportunities to develop your military experience and knowledge. And, you can be sure the salary is rewarding.
It’s always advisable to prepare all the necessary knowledge, experience, and background information to get the job you want.
John Cotton is Safecallnow’s copywriter. He is an authority on research and reviews. He is responsible for locating information and guidance on riot and disturbance control equipment, training equipment, correctional products, watch house products, tactical equipment, government regulation information, and more. His work guarantees a high level of proficiency and authority.