Book SummaryZero Footprint, by Simon Chase and Ralph Pezullo

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Zero Footprint

Author's Background in Security Contracting

This section details the author's extensive military background and how his skills and experiences led him to a career in private military operations. The authors highlight how the author's early PMC work differed significantly from the more dangerous and complex missions he undertook post-9/11. They functioned with limited support.

Author's Military Background and Transition to PMC Work

This section focuses on Simon Chase's journey in the armed forces, starting with his fifteen years in service as a Royal Marine. We see how this experience shaped his skills and paved the way for his later career as a PMC. The authors also emphasize the stark difference between his initial relaxed PMC assignments and the post-9/11 world, where high-risk missions became the norm. This shift, they argue, demanded greater mental fortitude, cultivating trust, and a heightened awareness of darker realities.

15 Years in the UK Royal Marines, Elite Units, and the SBS

Chase started his military journey in the Royal Marines, where he served for a decade and a half. This period included stints in the SBS, the naval equivalent of the SAS. His training encompassed a broad array of skills, including infantry tactics, counterinsurgency, surveillance, diving, combat medicine, and small-group maneuvers. These skills, honed in demanding training programs and deployments, proved invaluable in his later PMC work. He recounts specific experiences, like his rigorous basic training routine, designed to push recruits to their limits and instill a sense of discipline and teamwork. Chase also describes his experiences in the SBS, undertaking clandestine missions like capturing war criminals in Bosnia and Serbia and training DEA agents in Colombia.

Practical Tips

• Create a personal debriefing ritual after completing tasks. Reflect on your performance, identify what went well and what could be improved, and set actionable steps for future improvement. This strategy is akin to military after-action reviews and can lead to continuous personal development and performance enhancement.
• Explore the mindset of elite forces by starting a physical and mental fitness challenge that mirrors aspects of their training. For example, you could create a 30-day program that includes daily workouts, endurance runs, and problem-solving tasks under stress to develop resilience and discipline.
• Develop basic combat medicine knowledge by taking a first aid course with a focus on trauma or wilderness medicine. These courses often cover how to handle emergencies and provide care in situations where immediate medical help isn't available, which can be a practical way to acquire some of the skills related to combat medicine for everyday emergencies.
• Volunteer for roles that require discipline and leadership, such as coaching a sports team or leading a community project. These positions can help cultivate the kind of responsibility, strategic planning, and people management skills that are valuable in fields like private military contracting, without needing a military background.
• Create a "Teamwork Challenge" with friends or family where you commit to a group project that requires collective effort and discipline. This could be anything from a DIY home improvement task to organizing a community clean-up. The key is to assign roles based on each person's strengths, set clear deadlines, and hold each other accountable. This real-world application helps you practice discipline in a team setting, similar to the training mentioned.

The Writer's Early PMC Assignments Were Simpler Than Post-9/11 Missions

The authors highlight how his early work as a PMC involved relatively simpler tasks like safeguarding dignitaries and securing high-value assets. He recounts his experiences protecting Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani in Qatar, focusing on the training of a local Qatari security team and on navigating the intricacies of travel protection and cultural nuances. He also describes amusing anecdotes, like playing pranks on cleaning staff in upscale hotels and handling the eccentricities of a frugal teammate. Similarly, his work protecting Paul Getty in England involved mainly shielding him from potential threats and managing the transport of his valuable art and book collection, including a copy of the Magna Carta. These early missions provided valuable insight into the organization's operations but lacked the intensity and danger of his later assignments.

Context

• The rise in PMC activities post-9/11 led to increased scrutiny and calls for regulation, as their roles expanded beyond traditional security tasks to include more militarized functions.
• These are items or properties of significant worth, either monetary or cultural, such as art collections, historical documents, or luxury goods. Securing them involves specialized knowledge in logistics, transportation security, and sometimes international law.
• He is a member of the Qatari royal family and served as the Prime Minister of Qatar from 1996 to 2007. His role would have made him a high-profile figure requiring security.
• The training would likely involve adapting international security protocols to fit the specific needs and context of Qatar, balancing global standards with local practices.
• Identifying and mitigating risks specific to the region, such as understanding local crime trends or political tensions, is essential for developing effective security strategies.
• Pranks can serve as a bonding activity among team members, helping to establish trust and ease tensions. They often reflect the informal side of professional relationships.
• Dealing with a frugal teammate can enhance problem-solving skills and adaptability, as it often requires finding creative solutions to meet security needs without overspending.
• Protecting high-profile individuals like Getty often involves...

Zero Footprint Summary PMC Industry's Nature and Role Post-9/11

This section underlines the remarkable expansion of the PMC sector following the United States' military operations in Iraq and the subsequent wars against terrorism. The authors emphasize how the influx of government funding led to PMCs assuming core military roles, including guarding installations, training foreign armies, and supporting reconstruction efforts. This shift, they argue, not only reflects the growing reliance on PMCs but also the changing nature of warfare in the 21st century.

Growth in the Mercenary Industry Post-Iraq War and Other Conflicts

This section explores the burgeoning growth of the private military company industry following the 9/11 attacks and the subsequent US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as other conflicts around the world. Chase and Pezullo delve into the factors contributing to this expansion, including the increased government funding for private military services, the reluctance of Western governments to commit troops to complex conflicts, and the collapse of state structures in fragile regions, leading to a surge in demand for private security and military services. The authors also highlight the shift from PMCs playing a...

Zero Footprint Summary Moral Dilemmas Faced by PMCs In Conflict Zones

This section delves into the ethical quandaries that often confront PMCs. The authors illustrate how the pursuit of profit can conflict with individual moral principles, forcing contractors to make difficult decisions in ambiguous situations. They highlight Chase's determination to adhere to his personal moral compass, even when pressured by clients or operating in collaboration with groups known for their brutality.

Reluctance to Join Missions Violating Moral Principles, Like Forced Indigenous Relocations

Chase and Pezullo provide a vivid example of the ethical challenges that PMCs encounter while working in a morally unclear environment. After completing his initial contract in Qatar, Chase and his friend Pete were offered a seemingly lucrative job by a mining company seeking to establish a gold mine in Malaysia. However, the job involved forcibly relocating an indigenous tribe that refused to vacate their ancestral land. The company was dismissive of ethical concerns and demanded that the tribe be displaced, regardless of the methods employed. Faced with this situation, Chase and his friend immediately recognized the moral implications and refused to participate. They...

Zero Footprint Summary Psychological Impact and Relationships in Private Military Companies

This section delves into the emotional burden of prolonged exposure to violence and loss and its impact on private lives and relationships. The authors candidly portray the author's struggles with PTSD, survivor's guilt, and the difficulties of forging meaningful connections outside the PMC community. They emphasize the importance of finding healthy coping mechanisms and seeking support from trusted individuals.

Emotional Toll of Trauma in Conflict Zones

The authors delve into the significant emotional toll that working in conflict zones takes on PMCs. They recount how the constant exposure to violence, death, and suffering leaves indelible scars, causing individuals to grapple with PTSD, survivor's guilt, as well as a deep sense of loss. Chase describes how the horrifying ordeal at Tora Bora, where he lost close friends, haunted him for years. He experienced nightmares, flashbacks, and panic attacks, reliving the trauma and struggling to cope with the grief. Similarly, the events in Benghazi, where his team reacted to the assault on the American consulate and witnessed Ambassador Stevens die, left him feeling deeply troubled and disillusioned. The authors emphasize that...