Both the short film The Shadow Company and the Skype interview with Alan Bell, founder and CEO of private security firm Globe Risk International, were my first insight into the world of private security companies. Both sources discussed the drastic increase in the emergence of this industry in the post 9/11 years. Private security companies now operate in more than fifty-two countries and the industry makes about one hundred billion dollars revenue per year. What worries me about the existence of private security companies is the lack of regulation regarding the training that men and woman applying and working for this industry need to have, as well as the lack of transparency from the government.

The documentary and Alan Bell both admit that different private security companies have different standards for their hiring process as well as personnel assignments. Furthermore, there is not one government policy regulating what kind of experience that people working for private security companies need to have. The private security firms are a relatively new and booming private industry heavily used by governments. Therefore, it appears that governments have been hesitant to create too much legislation in regards to these companies. This is worrisome because how do we know that we are putting capable people in warzones or dangerous areas? Alan Bell was part of the United Kingdom’s Special Forces and only started his company Global Risk in 1995 after he retired from the Special Forces and gained business experience. Due to his background, he talked about the importance he places on hiring only men and women with the same type of experience as him. However, both Bell and speakers on the documentary discussed the fact that some people with no military background whatsoever, let alone experience in the Special Forces, often apply for jobs with Private Security Companies because they can earn about $1,000 a day. The money, therefore, is an important driving factor in recruitment for both ex-military and non-military people. In my opinion, only people with a lot of experience in Special Forces or the military should be hired by these companies. How can we trust someone who has not been properly trained or has not had years of experience to enter a warzone or dangerous area and not be at harm to his or herself psychologically as well as to other people. Bell mentioned that several companies within the United Sates hired such un-capable people. The result of this was that assignments in the Middle East went wrong for both local civilians and the firm, but that the owners of the firm did not mind since they made millions of dollars from several United States government contracts.

Another concern I have regarding Private Security firms is the lack of transparency from governments in using these firms. Governments use firms like Global Risk when they want military capability on ground but do not want the political discussion or backlash associated with putting one’s military on the ground. This intention by the government makes Private Security Firms un-transparent, or keeps them away from the public eye. This is an issue for both families of people working for these firms as well as for the people working for the firms. Alan Bell made clear that the number of deaths in this industry is not kept track off and that since the industry has grown following 9/11 it has become too difficult for him to track. He estimates that twice the amount of contracted workers for private security companies were killed in Afghanistan than military staff. Families and friends, however, are never notified of the cause of death because these missions are happening under the radar. The second issue is the danger that people working for private security firms can get themselves into for the government, yet when a mission goes wrong, they are no longer supported. An example of this was illustrated in the documentary with the failed mission in Equatorial New Guinea. This mission was supported by people within the British government and meant to overthrow the ruler of Equatorial New Guinea. However, as soon as the plane landed, the people working for the private security company were arrested and have been there since as those involved in planning the coup within the British government have done nothing to assist the contractors they hired. Even though I understand that when contractors take on these missions that they understand the full scope and its dangers, I think it is irresponsible that a government has the power to hire people for tasks that they do not want to involve their military in but leave those people completely without support if the mission goes wrong and the contractors are jailed.

I am not surprised about the scope of this industry and its heavy involvements across all major conflicts ongoing today. I am, however, surprised about how unregulated the private security industry is. There are no set policies within the United States and Canada, let alone a global policy, in regards to who is eligible for the types of work and positions offered by private security companies. Furthermore, the government’s lack of transparency and ownership in regards to its dealings with private security companies is irresponsible. When a contractor passes away or when a mission fails like in Equatorial New Guinea, the government should be keeping track of these deaths and help contractors in case of emergency if they requested the mission and are leading it behind the scenes.