Top 7 Most Elite Private Armies
We've talked about the military before - the vast array of specialized task forces, weaponry
and technological advancements have long made the varied armed forces of the world an intimidating
and marvelous subject.
However, with a huge amount of cutbacks - including budgetary and personnel cuts - private security
and task firms have become something of a booming underdog force.
These groups of privatized mercenaries range from the deadly to straight up ballsy - but
they all share the same quality: they're flat out intimidating.
Today, let's take a look at seven of the most dangerous private armies in the world - you
won't believe the places some of these 'mercs will go.
Number seven - Unity Resources Group.
The Australian owned Unity Resources Group has steadily grown its Iraqi presence as sovereign
armies continue to withdraw - with a staff of over 1,200 worldwide.
Comprised of Australian, American and British war veterans, its management is overseen by
seasoned professionals.
Best known for its successful guarding of the Australian embassy in Baghdad, Unity staff
have also been the subject of two controversial car shootings in Iraq - one that resulted
in the death of an Australian professor and another that left two civilian women dead.
Operating throughout the Americas, Europe, Central Asia and Africa - their security assistance
is formidable and altogether intimidating.
Number six - Defion Internacional
By sourcing and training their privatized military personnel from Latin America, Defion
Internacional has also recruited a bevy of fighters (something to the tune of thousands
and thousands) from developing countries all over the world.
With a headquarters station in Peru and offices located in Iraq, Dubai, Sri Lanka and the
Philippines - their sometimes horrifically underpaid agents are contracted drivers, static
guards, bodyguards and logistic specialists.
Drawing controversy over the financial treatment of its members, it's been estimated that up
to 1,000 Latin Americans were employed as guns-for-hire in the Middle East.
Although official numbers have not been disclosed, it's safe to say - they're up there.
Number five - Triple Canopy.
As one of eight contractors brought in to replace the withdrawn US forces in Iraq, this
approximate 1,800 deep private army is primarily made up of Ugandan and Peruvian soldiers - oftentimes
on contracts upward of $1.5 BILLION dollars.
Triple Canopy is summarized as a "well-trained, professional work force with significant prior
experience", their private military has employed another 3,000 soldiers in many places around
the world - including contracts initiated in Haiti to guard the US Embassy and to Israel,
to provide personal protection services for the US State Department.
Triple Canopy have often recruited from the ranks of the previously mentioned Defion Internacional.
Number four - DynCorp.
The Virginia-based DynCorp is also one of the eight contractors brought in to replace
the withdrawn US forces in Iraq - however, their intimidating presence can be found worldwide
in the likes of Eastern Europe, Africa and Latin America - amassing over $3.4 billion
dollars in revenue each and every year.
With an enormous staff that has been reported to be in excess of over 10,000 mercenaries,
the firm has controversially racked up a bad reputation as being a "trigger happy" institution
- further exacerbated by their treatment of rebel groups in Colombia in the early 2000s.
Aside from their main specialties, DynCorp have also been sent to disarm fighters in
Liberia, southern Sudan and Somalia.
Number three - Erinys International.
As another one of the contractors to follow the US State Department's contracts in Iraq,
this massive institution recently brought over 16,000 of its membered guards to 282
different locations all around the dangerous landscape - becoming a threatening force that
protected energy assets and key oil pipelines scattered about.
Apart from their looming presence in Iraq, the group holds a steady rule in Africa where
they have focused the majority of their traditional operations in.
Their impressively effective initiatives have awarded them high-ticket contracts in the
Republic of Congo - for security at major iron ore and other gas, oil and energy-based
projects.
Number two - G4S.
Boasting a roster of over 625,000 employees - this staggeringly large security firm giant
is the second largest private employer in the entire world - coming in just behind the
merchandising monster Walmart.
Although a fair share of G4S' business has its roots in security (mainly, routine reinforcement
to banks, prisons and airports) - they play an integral role to crisis-zones around the
world.
After absorbing Armorgroup (another organization of 9000 guards providing protection to non-military
supply convoys in Iraq) in 2008, G4S has spread its looming presence to over 125 countries
- including some of the most terrifying areas of Latin America and Africa.
Number one - Academi.
As the owner and operator of one of THE most advanced training facilities in the world
- Academi's 7,000 acre facility is one of the largest and singularly complex private
military training grounds on the globe.
Formerly named both Blackwater and Xe Services - slightly outdated numbers in 2007 purported
they had produced an army comprised of 20,000 troops, 20 aircraft, trained war dogs and
an entire fleet of armored vehicles - with most of it being shipped to Iraq and Afghanistan
under contract from the US Government.
After scaling their Iraqi presence back after some controversial moments, Academi was also
recruited to help protect the ravaged streets of New Orleans after the Hurricane Katrina
disaster and to protect Japan's missile defense systems - among others across the world.-
with their fiery presence routinely being named as one of - if not THE - boldest private
mercenary group of all time.
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