The Path from Warrior to Criminal

Tattooed former Soviet prisoner

What do the Russian mafia, the yakuza, the pirates of the Caribbean, Los Zetas, western outlaws like Jesse James and many outlaw motorcycle gangs like the Hells Angels have in common?

These groups and organizations were founded in large part by men who had either served in a military, intelligence or law enforcement capacity. These were men who did the dirty work of the state who found themselves out of work or found crime a better use of their skills.

In fiction, criminals with military, law enforcement or intelligence training are often depicted as much more dangerous than regular criminals.

In reality, this is often true but not for the reasons Hollywood depicts. Instead of turning people into individual one-man armies, the type of training people receive in these lines of work enables them to be better organized, have better discipline, work together more efficiently, be more thorough when it comes to planning and be better skilled at violence.

Like many things with organized crime, the fact so many of these men (and occasionally women) end up as problems is a symptom of another issue. In this case, how do you reintegrate into civil society people whose jobs fundamentally involved dealing out violence in a systematic manner?

From Camouflage to Criminal

Across time and place, the pattern of how former regime personnel of any type end up as gangsters of any type is fairly constant.

Typically, the government in question is at war or otherwise has a use for these people with a fairly specific set of skills, most likely to uphold an authoritarian regime like the Soviet Union or apartheid-era South Africa.

However, the war ends or the government falls. Suddenly, these men whose skills revolve around violence have no source of income.

Other reasons these people may break bad is because crime just pays better compared to working as a G-Man.

Keep in mind these individuals are used to operating in dangerous situations because of their training and experience.

Managing Demobilization

What do you do with people once a war is over? How do you help them reintegrate into civil society after spending years at war living a militarized life? Heal from the horrors they witnessed, were subjected to or carried out? Manage their emotions in nondestructive ways? Teach them to be productive members of society again?

The best managed demobilization I can think of was the American GI Bill after World War II. This bill helped millions of veterans get the skills they would need to build lives of peace.

Black veterans were excluded from the GI Bill, however, so this was far from perfect or even good.

But if done badly, masses of demobilized military and law enforcement personnel can be a major problem.

For example, crime waves happened right after wars in the UK during the 1700s because the soldiers were set loose with no support. In fact, the golden age of piracy happened in large part because the privateers used by the English government were let go with no ways to support themselves and were asked to take a major downgrade in wages and payment.

So Captain Jack Sparrow in reality should have extensive experience as a privateer for the Royal Navy.

The same question exists when disbanding a law enforcement or intelligence organization.

Again, I would argue that active programs to help get specialized training, college education, loans to start businesses and other support as required are essential.

After all, the men and women of the United States Armed Forces don’t lose their skills, determination, courage and discipline when they take off their uniforms—not to mention we owe these people an enormous debt for their service.

However, managing demobilization is easy compared to when a regime falls.

Former Regime Personnel

What do you do with the personnel of a totalitarian or authoritarian regime, especially when they are the people who committed acts of violence on the regime’s behalf?

Think former members of the SS or NKVD under Stalin.

This is a tough question without any good answers, particularly if managing the territory this regime governed is required for peace.

I can’t think of any successful ways for this to be done. It’s really about picking the least bad option.

If I were made to do this, I would imprison for life anyone who was part of a security force that engaged in mass murder or other crimes against humanity. I would also work to cripple the support base of the former regime by taking away all of their wealth and influence, elevating someone else in the process. Anyone part of the inner circle I would have sentenced to life imprisonment.

If this seems exceedingly harsh, keep in mind that if the Union had done this to the former Confederates, I suspect reconstruction would have succeeded and we would be in a much better place as a country.

Also, crippling your enemy is Realpolitik 101.

However, if done incompletely, this can backfire massively.

For example, after the Treaty of Versailles punished Germany severely for World War I, the Allies waffled on carrying out the treaty while leaving the German people with enough pain to thirst for retribution. In part, Hitler and the Nazis were able to play on this anguish to carry out their horrors.

In addition, the uncontrolled fall of an authoritarian regime can empower crime syndicates in significant ways.

Case in point, the fall of the Soviet Union gave a massive boost to the Russian mafia in large part because numerous security professionals were suddenly out of a job—security professionals used to few, if any, rules of engagement or codes of conduct.

Perfect for organized crime.

Conclusion

If future regimes like the Islamic Republic or Ortega’s dictatorship in Nicaragua fall, this question will become quite urgent. Either fully crush them or integrate them. Don’t leave them out to dry.

It is vital that we support returning veterans and help them prepare for civilian life. Not only is it the right thing to do, it is the smart thing to do.

Stay frosty.

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