The Blackwater Massacre | SRS #011

Published on August 19, 2021
Duration: 349:11

This episode of the Shawn Ryan Show features firsthand accounts from former Blackwater contractors involved in the Raven 23 incident. The discussion details the rigorous vetting and training process, emphasizing the high attrition rates and the specialized skills required for private military contractors operating in high-threat environments like Iraq. The contractors highlight the professionalism and advanced nature of Blackwater's training, which went beyond standard military protocols.

Quick Summary

Blackwater's contractor vetting and training were exceptionally demanding, featuring rigorous physical tests, multi-platform weapons qualifications, advanced tactical driving, realistic medical simulations, and specialized Personal Security Detail (PSD) operations. The training aimed to prepare contractors for high-threat environments with a high attrition rate, often exceeding standard military protocols in realism and intensity.

Chapters

  1. 00:04:00Introduction: The Blackwater Massacre (Raven 23 Incident)
  2. 00:04:19Untold Side of the Iraq War's Most Controversial Gunfight
  3. 00:08:38Understanding Blackwater: The Beginning
  4. 00:09:28Paul Slock's Background and Entry into Blackwater
  5. 01:08:002007: The Most Violent Year of the Iraq War
  6. 01:34:00Firsthand Account of an Engagement
  7. 02:00:00Helicopter Landing Amidst Gunfire
  8. 02:38:00IED Attack and Injury
  9. 03:15:00Mention of Eddie Gallagher
  10. 04:36:00Nasir Square, Baghdad: The Incident Location
  11. 05:05:00Welcome to the Shawn Ryan Show: Raven 23
  12. 05:33:00How Shawn Ryan Connected with Raven 23
  13. 06:33:00The Importance of This Interview
  14. 07:12:00Research and Resources: Gina Keating, Bill Coffield
  15. 08:45:00What Was Blackwater?
  16. 08:51:00Introductions: Backgrounds and Blackwater Entry
  17. 09:28:00Paul Slock: Pre-Blackwater and Joining
  18. 11:04:00Paul Slock: 9/11 Experience
  19. 12:08:00Nick Slatten: 82nd Airborne, Sniper, SFAS Aspirations
  20. 13:53:00Nick Slatten: Combat Tours and Kurdistan Experience
  21. 15:54:00Evan Liberty: New Hampshire, Marine Corps Entry
  22. 17:14:00Evan Liberty: Security Forces and MP MOS Issues
  23. 20:10:00Evan Liberty: Marine Security Guard School
  24. 22:22:00Evan Liberty: Embassies in Cairo and Guatemala
  25. 23:04:00Evan Liberty: Desire to Serve in Combat Post-9/11
  26. 23:52:00Evan Liberty: Hearing About Blackwater and DynCorp
  27. 24:00:00Fallujah Incident (2004): Four Blackwater Contractors Ambushed
  28. 25:25:00Evan Liberty: Joining Blackwater
  29. 26:10:00The 2004 Fallujah Incident Details
  30. 28:07:00Dustin Hurt: Marine Corps Background
  31. 29:23:00Dustin Hurt: 9/11 and Initial Deployment
  32. 30:12:00Dustin Hurt: Rotation to Bahrain, Kuwait, and Iraq
  33. 31:58:00Dustin Hurt: Marriage and Deployment to Afghanistan
  34. 32:48:00Dustin Hurt: Transition to Blackwater
  35. 33:27:00Dustin Hurt: How He Heard About Blackwater
  36. 34:28:00Blackwater's Contracts and Divisions
  37. 34:34:00Recruiter Discussions: Contract Specifics
  38. 35:47:00Paul Slock: State Department Contract Focus
  39. 36:09:00Nick Slatten: OGA Contract Goal
  40. 37:29:00Shared Sentiments: Mission and Service
  41. 39:06:00Blackwater Training: The Vetting Process
  42. 39:34:00Training Pace and Attrition Rate
  43. 41:14:00Evan Liberty: Arrival at Moyock Facility
  44. 41:44:00Class Size and Demographics
  45. 43:24:00Dustin Hurt: Vetting and Personal Security Training
  46. 44:10:00DDM Course (Designated Marksman)
  47. 45:20:00Evan Liberty: Professionalism and 'Walking the Box'
  48. 46:44:00Explanation of 'Walking the Box'
  49. 47:28:00Addressing Blackwater's Bad Rap
  50. 48:32:00Day One at Blackwater Training
  51. 48:48:00Initial Training: PT Test and Pressure
  52. 50:23:00Evan Liberty: Airport Pickup Issues and Initial Embarrassment
  53. 51:14:00Physical Exam and Hernia Check
  54. 52:09:00Weapons Qualification Details
  55. 53:02:00Realistic Training Scenarios
  56. 53:35:00Paul Slock: Training as a Conveyor Belt
  57. 54:00:00Recall Training for M203 Grenade Launchers
  58. 55:07:00The Driving Course: Ramming and Pit Maneuvers
  59. 55:27:00Simulated IEDs and Medical Response
  60. 55:52:00Weapons Qualification: Pass/Fail Standards
  61. 57:09:00Eliminating Weak Links: Safety and Performance
  62. 57:31:00Medical Training Simulation: Vehicle Ambush
  63. 59:37:00Duration of Vetting/Training: ~164 Hours
  64. 60:01:00Constant Evaluation and Scenario-Based Training
  65. 60:46:00CQB Training Block
  66. 61:16:00Standardizing CQB Tactics
  67. 61:46:00Safety Violations in CQB
  68. 62:26:00Teamwork and Standardized Movements in CQB
  69. 63:32:00Reactive Unit Training: Alamo Up Scenarios
  70. 64:16:00Raven 23: Tactical Support Team (TST)
  71. 65:02:00Practical, Usable Training
  72. 65:08:00TST: Tactical Support Team / QRF
  73. 65:25:00CQB Portion Duration and Complexity
  74. 66:12:00Driving Training: Fun and Practicality
  75. 66:48:00Reason for Ramming Vehicles
  76. 67:12:00Driving Portion Duration
  77. 67:30:00Medical and Psychological Evaluations
  78. 68:17:00Medical Training Depth (CLS)
  79. 69:08:00Evolution of Blackwater Training
  80. 69:48:00Continued Training In-Country
  81. 70:58:00PSD Training Depth
  82. 71:13:00PSD Training: Executive Protection in High Threat
  83. 71:40:00Evan Liberty: Lack of PSD Training in Marines
  84. 72:21:00Transitioning from Machine Gunner to PSD
  85. 73:52:00Advanced Team Training
  86. 74:26:00PSD Training: Not Pass/Fail Until Mistakes
  87. 75:39:00Constant Evaluation and Scenario Drills
  88. 76:15:00Graduation and Deployment
  89. 76:30:00Dustin Hurt: Arrival in Baghdad and Living Conditions
  90. 77:28:00Evan Liberty: Culture Shock and Initial Assignment
  91. 78:12:00Protecting Scientists at a Mass Grave Site
  92. 79:47:00Validation of Mission: Saddam's Trial
  93. 80:48:00Finding Another Mass Grave Site
  94. 81:19:00Paul Slock: DDM Course and Baghdad Deployment
  95. 81:37:00Raven 23 and the January 23rd Incident
  96. 81:44:00Helicopter Downed: Five Brothers Lost
  97. 82:13:00Ambush and Tire Change During Extraction
  98. 82:35:00Secondary Helicopter Shot Down
  99. 83:03:00Fighting Through Five Ambushes to Reach Crash Site
  100. 83:11:00Overwhelmed by Enemy Combatants, Army Intervention
  101. 83:30:00Herringbone Formation and Sniper Fire
  102. 84:34:00Apache Helicopter Intervention
  103. 85:00:00Recovery of Brother's Remains
  104. 85:41:00The Worst Day of My Life
  105. 86:31:00Graduation and Deployment to Kirkuk
  106. 87:06:00Kirkuk Embassy: Spartan Element
  107. 87:38:00Quiet Region, Welcoming Environment
  108. 87:58:00Car Bombs and IEDs

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the vetting process like for Blackwater contractors?

Blackwater's vetting was extremely rigorous, involving physical fitness tests, multiple weapons qualifications (pistol, rifle, machine gun, grenade launcher), medical and psychological evaluations, and CQB scenario testing. Candidates were expected to perform at a high level from day one, with a significant attrition rate.

What kind of training did Blackwater provide its contractors?

Training included Close Quarters Battle (CQB) in shoot houses, advanced tactical driving with ramming and evasive techniques, realistic medical scenarios (CLS), and specialized Personal Security Detail (PSD) operations focusing on executive protection in high-threat environments. The training aimed to be more realistic and advanced than standard military protocols.

How did Blackwater's training compare to military training?

Former contractors described Blackwater's training facilities and curriculum as state-of-the-art and often more advanced than what they experienced in military service, particularly in areas like tactical driving, PSD, and the realism of simulated combat scenarios.

What were the main challenges faced by Blackwater contractors during training?

The primary challenges were the high performance standards and the constant evaluation. Candidates faced immediate elimination for failing physical tests, weapons qualifications, or safety violations. The pressure to perform and adapt quickly in realistic, high-stakes scenarios was immense.

More Tactical & Gear Videos You Might Like

More from Shawn Ryan Show

View all →