Life After Blackwater

Morgan Lerette didn't grow up dreaming about being a private military contractor. Like a lot of veterans, one thing led to another. He got pulled into Blackwater during the height of the Iraq War, rolling through Baghdad with no real rules of engagement, no clear mission beyond keeping people alive, and making more money than he ever thought possible.

In this episode, Morgan talks openly about what contracting was really like. Driving armored SUVs through war zones, making split-second decisions, and dealing with the consequences afterward. He explains how contractors operated alongside the military, why so many signed up, and how the people of Iraq saw it all from their side.

We also get into what happened after he left that world. Morgan shares what helped him figure out the next steps after war and contracting, how he finally built a steady life, and what advice he has for vets who are trying to do the same.

This is the kind of honest conversation you only get from someone who's actually been there.

Timestamps

• 00:02:00 - From Air National Guard to Blackwater by word of mouth
• 00:06:00 - Transitioning from contractor back to the Army
• 00:10:45 - Inside Blackwater culture and the "Guns, Girls, and Greed" mindset
• 00:19:00 - Why the government keeps using PMCs and the real costs
• 00:37:30 - Actionable advice for veterans finding their next step

Links & Resources

• Veteran Suicide & Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1
• Follow Morgan Lerette on Instagram: https://instagram.com/blackwaterDude1
• Follow Morgan Lerette on TikTok: https://tiktok.com/BlackwaterDude1
• Follow Morgan Lerette on Twitter/X: https://x.com/blackwaterdude1
• Follow Morgan Lerette on LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/morgan-lerette-73b01352

Transcript

View the transcript for this episode.