We are joined this week by former British colonel Tim Collins, who delivered one of the most famous speeches of the Iraq War. Collins — now involved with private military and security contracting firm New Century — shares his perspective on the operations gaps filled by contracting and how it’s shaping the modern battlefield.

There is a lot of money in the private military and security contracting worlds. While the U.S. remains ahead of the pack in defense spending, countries like Saudi Arabia spend a greater percent of their gross domestic product than the U.S.

Tim Lynch, retired Marine infantry officer turned contractor, joins us on this episode of Force for Hire to talk about his experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan — from the mundane to the extraordinary. His insights, thoughts and observations make this episode one of the most dynamic of the season. You won’t want to miss it.

This week on Force for Hire, we bring aboard a pair of experts to examine an aspect of military contracting that ties into issues of human rights abuses and modern-day slavery.

Former war zone trucker Cindy Waldron discusses her experiences in Iraq in a raw, unfiltered look back at a singularly unique career. She talks about it all, from happy family moments, to dealing with PTSD, to finding peace after coming home from war.

A trio of experts joins hosts Michelle Harven and Desmon Farris to help explain the intricacies of contractor health care, provide tips for those in the industry and clear up some of the murkier aspects of the current system.

Evan Hafer, CEO and founder of Black Rifle Coffee, joins us on this week’s podcast. Haffer began his career as a U.S. Army infantryman. Later, he joined the elite ranks of the Green Berets, served among them for more than a decade. Afterward, he become a military contractor working personal security for the U.S. State Department.

Many veterans have designs on using the skills they’ve picked up in the service after hanging up the uniform. Private security and military contracting remains a high-profile landing spot for veterans.So how, exactly, does one make the change from servicemember to military contractor?

In this episode we talk to Barbie Baker and Nicole Woodland, two women with firsthand knowledge of the lifestyle change that takes place after a spouse joins the world of private military contracting. Their story might sound familiar to former military spouses — loneliness, uncertainty and a search for new meaning — but some of what they say might surprise you.

It’s time to dive headfirst into the topic that has bubbled beneath the surface of nearly every conversation about private military contracting. Money.