Does anyone know why there is a need for Blackwater-ahem Xe-ahem, Academi needs to change their name three times ??

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 Oct 2013 04:46:38 -0400

They are apparently contract security for the US State Dept and have been doing some other things in the Law Enforcement AOR. They got kicked out of Iraq by the gov't by the same name and apparently are on their way back. Check em out....first CEO former US Navy SEAL Erik Prince who needs no introduction. Don't get me wrong, I have a special place in my heart for special operators, but WTF is going on with them?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2013 10:47 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 22:47:15 -0400

here is the latest interesting news which im sure will earn me many "friends"http://academi.com/press_releases?page=1http://http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2013/1017/Blackwater-shootings-New-charges-filed-against-Blackwater-contractorsonly read if u can take the heat....http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/03/14/exclusive-erik-prince-on-blackwater-s-secret-cia-past.html<div class="pta-link-card"><div class="pta-link-card-picture"><img src="http://www.csmonitor.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/content/2013/1017-blackwater-shooting/17235961-1-eng-US/1017-blackwater-shooting.jpg"></div><div class="pta-link-card-content"><div class="pta-link-card-title"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2013/1017/Blackwater-shootings-New-charges-filed-against-Blackwater-contractors">Blackwater shootings: New charges filed against Blackwater contractors</a></div><div class="pta-link-card-description">Blackwater shootings: Four Blackwater contractors, all ex-military, are each charged with over a dozen counts of voluntary manslaughter and attempted manslaughter.</div></div><div style="clear:both"></div><div class="pta-box-hide"><i class="icon-remove"></i></div></div><div class="pta-link-card"><div class="pta-link-card-content"><div class="pta-link-card-title"><a target="_blank" href="http://academi.com/press_releases?page=1">
Academi - Press Releases
</a></div><div class="pta-link-card-description">Default description</div></div><div style="clear:both"></div><div class="pta-box-hide"><i class="icon-remove"></i></div></div>

Response by SFC James Baber made Dec 22 at 2013 5:26 PM

SFC James Baber — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 17:26:17 -0500

<p>They are taking advantage of the ability to bypass all the regular rules and regulations that apply to normal military or contactor companies. The security arena is given more lax control procedures as they have to deal more with the potential threat aspect than the regular contractor, so they are given more leniency and rope to stretch it out on the bending of rules.</p><p><br></p><p>It is all about politics and who is getting a kickback along the way within the federal agencies, nothing new has been going on with every major conflict that has had government contracts awarded.</p>

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2014 5:31 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 05:31:07 -0400

I have been watching this company a bit and see they are hiring technical guys. So I'm sure their business is alive and well. I recently watched a show on cable about military contractors and it showed a snapshot of Erik Prince in court. Nice touch.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 5 at 2014 7:09 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 May 2014 07:09:28 -0400

I was hoping this topic would get some more face time.

Response by 1SG Mike Case made May 5 at 2014 2:00 PM

1SG Mike Case — Mon, 05 May 2014 14:00:10 -0400

They have changed their name to try and seperate themselves from the "black marks' the company has received in the past. Erik Prince sold his stake in the company and it is under completely new management. The book "Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mecenary Army" and "Civilian Warriors" give you two good sources about how they rose to power and what really happened to them.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made May 5 at 2014 2:11 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 May 2014 14:11:08 -0400

SGT Barnhart,

Corporations often change their names to hide from bad reputations.

This is business as usual. Sometimes people change their names too.

Warmest Regards, Sandy

http://www.neatorama.com/2009/09/10/companies-renamed-to-hide-from-bad-reputations

Blackwater to Xe
Philip Morris to Altria
ValuJet to AirTran
WorldCom to MCI
Andersen Consulting to Accenture

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 19 at 2014 6:26 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 19 Jul 2014 18:26:23 -0400

Erik Prince owns the rights to the name Blackwater and has chose to not release the name after selling Blackwater Worldwide in 2010 to a group of investors. Prince currently heads the private equity firm Frontier Resource Group and lives in both Virginia and the United Arab Emirates. That is one of the reasons for the name change.