WHY WORKING AS A SECURITY CONTRACTOR OVERSEAS IS THE PERFECT JOB FOR A NOMAD, ADVENTURER, AND WORLD TRAVELER

Some might wonder why a website focused on guerrilla nomadism, adventure travel, and vanlife would include so many guides on international security contracting.

At first glance, the two subjects seem unrelated, right?

Not really. In fact, working as a private security contractor for a Private Military Company (PMC) is one of the best ways to fund a world-traveling, nomadic lifestyle. They go hand in hand.

How?

Because security contracting is one of the only career paths where someone with just a GED and no prior industry experience can, in under two years, land an at-will, tax-free overseas job with long-term stability.

I spent nearly two decades working for PMCs as a security contractor (and in a few adjacent roles) for exactly that reason—traveling to dozens of countries, going on adventures, and living a nomadic lifestyle both on contract and in between. The money, experiences, and connections I gained, along with the flexibility of security contracting, eventually allowed me to transition into freelancing and writing as I got older and my back couldn’t take it anymore.

HOW DOES A SECURITY CONTRACTING JOB ALLOW YOU TO DO THIS?

HERE’S WHY EVEN AN ENTRY-LEVEL SECURITY CONTRACTING JOB IS IDEAL FOR LIVING A FULL-TIME INTERNATIONAL LIFESTYLE:

1. YOU CAN GO FROM NO EXPERIENCE TO OVERSEAS WORK IN JUST TWO YEARS

• No college degree required—just two years of relevant U.S.-based experience.

• Many entry-level PMC roles only require two years of relevant experience.

• You can obtain the necessary training and certifications on your own.

• A U.S. security clearance can be obtained stateside while gaining your first two years of relevant experience.

• Once you secure your first overseas contract, you’re set for life in this industry.

2. YOU START AT $40K TO $50K A YEAR—TAX-FREE¹

• Entry-level force protection and cleared escort positions start at this pay range.

• Thanks to tax advantages like the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE), you keep more of what you earn.

• Within a few years, this jumps to $90K to $100K+ tax-free.

3. HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, AND FLIGHTS ARE COVERED

• Your employer pays for housing and all work-related transportation.

• Flights to and from your deployment location are also covered.

• Contracts include per diem, housing, free or discounted food while on shift, and opportunities for overtime.

• Minimal living expenses allow you to save significant amounts of money.

4. 30 TO 60 DAYS OFF A YEAR—WITH PAID FLIGHTS

• Extended vacation periods (30 days straight).

• The company covers flights home or to any destination of your choice.

• Built-in time for travel, adventure, and exploration.

5. YOU CONTROL YOUR WORK SCHEDULE—TAKE A YEAR OFF OR WORK BACK-TO-BACK

• Contracts are typically 12 months long.

• At the end of a contract, you can:

• Sign up for another year immediately.

• Take a break for a month, a year, or several years.

• Reapply whenever you're ready to work again.

• No need to ask for permission to take extended time off between contracts.

6. IN JUST TWO TO THREE YEARS, YOU CAN QUALIFY FOR HIGHER-PAYING ROLES

• Experience is king—after 2–3 contracts, you qualify for:

• $90K to $100K+ tax-free positions.

• Higher-paying roles beyond entry-level.

• Starting in a lower-tier role opens doors to better opportunities.

• Higher-level jobs like PSD (Personal Security Detail) or static security leadership require prior overseas contracting experience.

7. IT’S A LIFELONG ‘WORK-WHEN-YOU-WANT’ JOB

Once you have a few contracts on your resume, you’ll always be in demand.

• The industry continues to grow and constantly seeks experienced personnel.

• Unlike other fields where education determines entry, security contracting values experience above all else.

• Even after taking a break, you can jump back in anytime.

• PMCs consistently need personnel for base security, critical infrastructure protection, and defense logistics.

• As long as the U.S. and its allies have overseas interests, security contractors will remain in demand.

8. DOZENS OF PMCS COMPETE TO HIRE YOU

• If one company isn’t hiring, at least 5 others are at any given time.

• The more experience you gain, the more valuable your resume becomes to recruiters.

• This flexibility makes security contracting one of the most stable careers for world-traveling

9. THE ULTIMATE JOB FOR NOMADS, ADVENTURERS, AND WORLD TRAVELERS

• No other job funds a world-traveling lifestyle this easily.

• Working overseas provides valuable cross-cultural experiences unique to military-adjacent positions.

• Extended time off between contracts lets you live and travel on your own terms.

• You live overseas while on contract and travel the world in between.

• If you want to explore the world while stacking tax-free money, this is one of the best ways to do it.

• Contractors often work in unique global locations, experiencing new cultures while getting paid.

• The high pay and low cost of living overseas allow contractors to save money and fund long-term travel.

• Being stationed in different countries exposes contractors to new cultures, languages, and international connections.

• Many contractors transition into full-time nomadic lifestyles, using their savings to travel indefinitely or start remote businesses.

10. IT’S FRIGGIN’ COOL

• Being a hired gun—or mercenary—is the world’s second-oldest profession, dating back to ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt.

• When people ask what you do, you get to say "International Security Contractor" instead of "Teaching English in nowhere, South Korea."

• The job itself isn’t always exciting, but the pictures you post from Brazil while on leave sure are.

• Photos of yourself kitted up in exotic locations will impress your “guests” back home (if you know what I mean, wink wink).

• You’ll have plenty of great stories to tell.

• As tough as these jobs can be, they’re also a blast—especially when you move up in the industry. It’s truly a wild experience.

• (yes I know the force-pro jobs are not high-speed, my point here is it at least looks cool)

BONUS: THE JOB WILL NEVER BE REPLACED BY AI²

• Security contracting is a blue-collar, warm-body job.

• AI and robotics will replace most careers long before they can replace human security contractors.

• Even when the cost of Human Labor vs. AI-Powered Robots becomes a wash, no one is risking their career by deploying armed Tesla androids on U.S. military bases—especially when one inevitably shoots a falafel vendor for pushing his cart too close to the front gate.

• This job is safe for at least another 15–25 years.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I did this for nearly two decades, and it allowed me to:

• Live and work overseas while saving a stack of tax-free money.

• Travel the world during and between 12-month contracts.

• Prepare for a post-security contracting nomad lifestyle with the mental clarity secure employment gives you.

• Transition smoothly into a new career while continuing to live and travel on adventures around the world.

FINAL WRAP-UP

If you want to become a world-traveling professional adventurer, living a nomadic lifestyle on your own terms, international security contracting is one of the best paths available. It offers the flexibility to work when you want, the financial freedom to explore the world without constantly worrying about money, and the opportunity to build an exciting, unconventional life funded by high-paying overseas contracts.

Whether you’re a veteran looking for your next step, someone who refuses to be tied down to a traditional job, or just an adventurer at heart searching for a career that lets you see the world—this job is a game-changer.

What do you fellas think? Have questions or personal experiences to share? Drop a comment below—I respond daily.

Footnotes

¹ $40K–$50K starting salary is tax-free if you qualify for the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE).

² AI won’t replace security contractors anytime soon. Yes, automation is coming, but human security is still the cheapest and safest option for the foreseeable future.

³ Higher-paying contracts ($100K+) are in riskier locations or positions. Some people won’t be comfortable taking them—and that’s okay.