Blackwater tiger-stripe uniform find at flea market

[Tonomachi]

I normally don't pick up these post war tiger-stripe uniforms I come across at the flea market but this one caught my eye as there is direct embroidery of the individuals name above the right pocket and BLACKWATER embroidered above the left pocket. It was made by Propper International in 1996. I am assuming this was worn by a member of the controversial American private military company Blackwater USA.

 

 

[automatic]

That's a cool piece! I'm interested to see what the others have to say.

[Ronny67]

Blackwater did a lot of training as well and marketed itself as a Military and LEO training asset. I think this is a stateside piece for training uniform.

[Tonomachi]

Blackwater did a lot of training as well and marketed itself as a Military and LEO training asset. I think this is a stateside piece for training uniform.

That makes sense and thanks for your input.

[mrrm]

Interesting find. Just because it is a commercially made piece by Propper doesn't take away from its uniqueness. Uniforms made by Tiger Stripe Products/Tru-Spec have been used by US personal during the GWOT/Iraqi Freedom etc... During the Vietnam War there was some camouflage hunting clothing purchased from the civilian sector being used by US personal.

[Nkomo]

I think you did well here, Tonomachi. I would have no problem having this jacket in my personal collection whatsoever.

 

While I have not seen this particular pattern of tiger stripe pattern in use in the GWOT, that doesn't mean it wasn't. I know of at least one Afghan paramilitary organization that wore green tigers and if I am not mistaken, Blackwater worked with and advised them.

 

Furthermore....Blackwater was also involved with providing security for the CIA and other Tier 1 units AND were sometimes part of the raids as well.

 

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/blackwater-teams-joined-cia-operations-report/article1396496/



Washington — Reuters and Associated Press
Published on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009 11:42PM EST

Last updated on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009 11:52PM EST


Private security guards from Blackwater Worldwide participated in some of the CIA's most sensitive operations, including raids on suspected militants in Iraq and Afghanistan, the New York Times reported on Thursday.

Blackwater's role in Afghanistan began in early 2002 when the CIA hired the private company to guard the perimeter around its station in Kabul's Ariana Hotel, the newspaper reported on its website.

Now known at Xe Services, Blackwater was also hired as security for the CIA station in Baghdad after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq a year later.

But the Times said Blackwater's role in both wars changed sharply when its guards began providing security for CIA operatives in the field, sometimes during offensive missions in conjunction with Delta Force or Navy Seals teams.

Raids on suspected insurgents in Iraq, known as “snatch and grab” operations, began happening almost nightly during the worst years of the war between 2004 and 2006.

The Times quoted several former Blackwater guards as saying operations to capture and kill militants in Iraq and Afghanistan became so routine that Blackwater personnel sometimes became partners in the missions rather than simply providing the security for the CIA officers.

The Times also reported that former Blackwater employees said they helped provide security on CIA flights that transported detainees.

Asked for comment on the report, CIA spokesman George Little did not confirm the role that the Times said Blackwater played but defended the use of contractors on intelligence missions.

“This agency, like many others, uses contractors in roles that complement and enhance the skills of our own workforce, just as American law permits,” Mr. Little said late Thursday. “Agency staff officers have the decision-making authority and bear responsibility for results.”

Messages seeking comment left with Xe representatives were not immediately returned late Thursday.

The Blackwater name burst into the headlines of the Iraq war after a September 2007 shooting in which its guards allegedly killed 14 unarmed Iraqi civilians while escorting a convoy of U.S. diplomats through Baghdad.

One guard pleaded guilty to manslaughter in connection with the shooting, which also wounded 20 people. Five others were charged.

The Times reported in August the CIA also hired Blackwater contractors for a secret program to track and assassinate senior al Qaeda figures. The program cost millions of dollars but never captured or killed any militants, the paper said.

 

 

Not saying that is what your jacket is, but it certainly isn't out of the realm of possibility.

[Nkomo]

Looks like my link is dead, but I copied the article from another forum where I posted about the subject in 2009.

[Ronny67]

Good info on Blackwater. The company still exists, but under a different name once the bad PR exposed a lot of unsavory aspects of the company. Now called "Acedemi". Sounds less scary I guess.

 

Fun fact: Besty Devos, the new Secretary of Education, is the sister of Erik Prince, who founded Blackwater.

 

Blackwater in many ways represents the conflicts of modern American culture; a military force that is taxpayer funded but not beholden to military law. It is interesting on many levels.

[firefighter]

Very cool. The child of Air America, CNAC, etc..

[Nkomo]

 

Blackwater in many ways represents the conflicts of modern American culture; a military force that is taxpayer funded but not beholden to military law. It is interesting on many levels.

I have been actively collecting contractor items( especially legit Blackwater pieces) for quite some time. Like I have always said, contractors have played a huge role in the GWOT and in order to tell that story accurately, they need to represented and spoken of too.

[Nkomo]

 

Blackwater in many ways represents the conflicts of modern American culture; a military force that is taxpayer funded but not beholden to military law. It is interesting on many levels.

I have been actively collecting contractor items( especially legit Blackwater pieces) for quite some time. Like I have always said, contractors have played a huge role in the GWOT and in order to tell that story accurately, they need to represented and spoken of too.

[Ronny67]

Anyone who puts themselves in the line of fire deserves my respect. Contractors do some tough work.

 

Interesting on many levels.

[Tonomachi]

Great information much of which I wasn't aware of. I do remember watching something on television regarding the proliferation of private contractors overseas which was due to the limits placed on our military regarding the number of personnel in country at any given time. This did not apply to private contractors so the military sort of got around these limits by hiring folks like Blackwater. I also read about private contractors not having to abide by the Geneva Convention and experimenting with some very effective life saving ammunition that our military was prevented from utilizing.

[aefcav]

I was with the first group that deployed into Baghdad in 2003, we were issued sterile tan ripstop BDU type uniforms. Most of us supplied some of our own accessory pieces. I never saw anyone in tiger stripes...

[frank2far]

I spent nearly 4 years with BWUSA in Iraq (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008) and I have never seen anyone wearing tiger-stripe camo and never openly wear anything with BW written on it. Just my 2 cents. Thanks

[Mercenary25]

If I recall correctly, contractors were discouraged to wear camouflage uniform to distinguish them separately from the military. Not saying they never worn camo.

 

So it is a mystery piece but I like it, it is neat.

[frank2far]

Correct, we never wore camouflage.

 

If I recall correctly, contractors were discouraged to wear camouflage uniform to distinguish them separately from the military. Not saying they never worn camo.

So it is a mystery piece but I like it, it is neat.