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* ''WesternAnimation/TheBoondocks'' has Ed Wuncler III and Gin Rummy, both of whom served in the US Army during [[TheWarOnTerror the Iraq War]]. After returning home to Woodcrest, they decided to become [[WhiteGangBangers gangsters]] who commit crimes such as armed robbery and kidnapping, despite [[UpperClassTwit both of them being from wealthy families]]. Although Ed and Rummy often use military gear in their schemes, they prove to be [[StupidCrooks incompetent and unprofessional]] most of the time (for some reason, [[ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy they can't even shoot straight]]).
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* ''WesternAnimation/TheBoondocks'' has Ed Wuncler III and Gin Rummy, both of whom served in the US Army during [[TheWarOnTerror the Iraq War]]. Rummy even claims the two [[ElitesAreMoreGlamorous were in Special Forces]]. After returning home to Woodcrest, they decided to become [[WhiteGangBangers gangsters]] who commit crimes such as armed robbery and kidnapping, despite [[UpperClassTwit both of them being from wealthy families]]. Although Ed and Rummy often use military gear in their schemes, they prove to be [[StupidCrooks incompetent and unprofessional]] most of the time (for some reason, [[ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy they can't even shoot straight]]).
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* ''Anime/BlackLagoon'': Hotel Moscow is a {{Mafiya}} group composed of ex-Spetnatz. Their military skills and personal loyalty to their old commanding officer Balalaika make them probably the single most feared of the many criminal organizations in [[WretchedHive Roanapur]].
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* ''Anime/BlackLagoon'': Hotel Moscow is a {{Mafiya}} group composed of ex-Spetnatz. Their military skills and personal loyalty to their old commanding officer Balalaika [[IronLady Balalaika]] make them probably the single most feared of the many criminal organizations in [[WretchedHive Roanapur]].
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** ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' squadmate Jacob Taylor was formerly an Alliance Marine assigned to an elite black ops unit called the Corsairs. He later joined the human-supremacist terrorist organization and NGOSuperpower Cerberus.
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** ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' squadmate Jacob Taylor was formerly an Alliance Marine assigned to an elite black ops unit called the Corsairs. He later joined the human-supremacist terrorist organization and NGOSuperpower Cerberus. Zaeed Massani is mentioned to be an ex-Alliance soldier before he became a mercenary.
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** Vito Scaletta from the previous game,''VideoGame/MafiaII'', was also ex-military. He served in World War 2, and almost immediately upon arriving home his friend, Joe, convinces him to resort to a life of crime.
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** Vito Scaletta from the previous game,''VideoGame/MafiaII'', game, ''VideoGame/MafiaII'', was also ex-military. He served in World War 2, and almost immediately upon arriving home his friend, Joe, convinces him to resort to a life of crime. When he meets Lincoln in III, he asks him about his experiences in Vietnam.
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As a result of this, many fictional criminals who come from a military background tend to be much more effective, dangerous, and capable than everyday thugs. It's also common to show them as being capable of being more ruthless and coldblooded than more pedestrian criminals.
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As a result of this, many fictional criminals who come from a military background tend to be much more effective, dangerous, and capable than everyday thugs. It's also common to show them as being capable of being more ruthless and coldblooded cold-blooded than more pedestrian criminals.
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* During Prohibition, there were numerous bootleggers who cut their teeth in [[UsefulNotes/WorldWarI the trenches of Europe]].
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** Really, most of the Overwatch cast is this, with special mentions to Gabriel Reyes, aka Reaper, Morrison's right hand man who CameBackWrong; and [=McCree=], who was actually [[TradingBarsForStripes a criminal before joining Overwatch]], was reformed, and then forced back into hiding.
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* ''ComicBook/LobsterRandom'' is a former SuperSoldier who turned to a life of crime after being discharged from the military after a war ended. He specialises as a TortureTechnician and his inability to feel pain leaves him no empathy for his victims.
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* Soldier: 76 of ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}'', aka Jack Morrison. Once a commander of the titular organization, he believes the events leading up to its disbandment to have been a conspiracy and became a vigilante to try and uncover it.
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* Herman Lamm was a former Prussian soldier who immigrated to the United States, where he developed the techniques of modern bank robbery.
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* Herman Lamm was a former Prussian soldier who immigrated to the United States, where he developed States. He is regarded as the techniques 'father of modern bank robbery.robbery' because he used military planning and precision in the execution of his robberies. The 'Lamm Technique' was copied by John Dillinger and other criminals up to the present day.
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* Herman Lamm was a former Prussian soldier who immigrated to the United States, where he developed the techniques of modern bank robbery.
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* Music/IceT joined the U.S. Army after high school, and after serving for four years, returned to his old neighborhood and eventually joined his school friends in crime. His military experience gave him the tools to plan and perform bloodless jewelry store robberies and the like.
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* ''VideoGame/WatchDogs'': Iraq is a dishonorably-discharged war veteran who applied his advanced military training to organized crime. To the public, he and his crew just look like another wannabe gang, but behind the scenes he's hacking government files and laundering military-grade arms.
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* In ''Series/TheNightManager'', BigBad Richard Roper employs a mercenary force that seems to be mostly or entirely composed of former soldiers who like the military life and who are unburdened by excessive morality. His big mistake is thinking that his new employee, Jonathan Pine, is a high-end version of the same type, when in fact, [[spoiler:Pine has [[TheInfiltration a very different agenda]]]].
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* In many adaptations of ''Franchise/SherlockHolmes'', Holmes' EvilCounterpart Moriarty has [[TheDragon a dragon]] named Sebastian Moran who is an ex-Army officer and ColdSniper.
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* In many adaptations of ''Franchise/SherlockHolmes'', Holmes' EvilCounterpart Moriarty has [[TheDragon a dragon]] named Sebastian Moran who is an ex-Army officer and ColdSniper. This actually comes from the original stories, although there, Moran only appears (in just one story) after Moriarty is dead.
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** Niko Bellic from ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIV'' served as an infantryman and helicopter pilot in the Serbian Army during UsefulNotes/TheYugoslavWars. The game picks up after he arrives in Liberty City and finds new work as a [[ProfessionalKiller gun-for-hire]].
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* After the collapse of the Soviet Union, many now-unemployed members of the former Red Army found new work in the [[TheMafiya Russian mafia]]. And they often took their army toys with them.
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Dangerously Genre Savvy is being merged with Genre Savvy. Misuse and zero context examples will be cut.
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** Recurring character Brennan was once Military Intelligence, now he's a DangerouslyGenreSavvy ArmsDealer.
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** Recurring character Brennan was once Military Intelligence, now he's a DangerouslyGenreSavvy an ArmsDealer.
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** Vito Scaletta from the previous game,''VideoGame/MafiaII'', was also ex-military. He served in World War 2, and almost immediately upon arriving home his friend, Joe, convinces him to resort to a life of crime.
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* The protagonist of ''Film/Scarface1983'' is Tony Montana, a former Cuban Army soldier who becomes a fearsome Miami [[TheCartel cocaine kingpin]].
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* The protagonist of ''Film/Scarface1983'' is Tony Montana, a former Cuban Army soldier who gradually becomes a fearsome Miami [[TheCartel cocaine kingpin]].kingpin]], known for his {{badass}}ery and ruthlessness. Tony's military training could explain his deadly skills with firearms, such as an [[MoreDakka assault rifle]] and {{grenade launcher}} that he uses to [[OneManArmy kill dozens of enemy gangsters]] with in the ending.
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* ''WesternAnimation/TheBoondocks'' has Ed Wuncler III and Gin Rummy, a duo of [[UpperClassTwit rich white guys]] who served in the US Army during the [[WarOnTerror Iraq War]]. Despite their wealthy backgrounds, they decided to become [[WhiteGangBangers career criminals]] who [[PrettyFlyForAWhiteGuy act like black gangsters]], committing crimes such as armed robbery and kidnapping. They also sometimes do dirty work for Ed III's [[CorruptCorporateExecutive evil billionaire]] grandfather, Ed Wuncler I.
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* ''WesternAnimation/TheBoondocks'' has Ed Wuncler III and Gin Rummy, a duo both of [[UpperClassTwit rich white guys]] who whom served in the US Army during [[TheWarOnTerror the [[WarOnTerror Iraq War]]. Despite their wealthy backgrounds, After returning home to Woodcrest, they decided to become [[WhiteGangBangers career criminals]] gangsters]] who [[PrettyFlyForAWhiteGuy act like black gangsters]], committing commit crimes such as armed robbery and kidnapping. They also sometimes do dirty work for kidnapping, despite [[UpperClassTwit both of them being from wealthy families]]. Although Ed III's [[CorruptCorporateExecutive evil billionaire]] grandfather, Ed Wuncler I.and Rummy often use military gear in their schemes, they prove to be [[StupidCrooks incompetent and unprofessional]] most of the time (for some reason, [[ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy they can't even shoot straight]]).
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* Jacket and the Fans, from ''VideoGame/HotlineMiami,'' are all ex-military turned violent homicidal maniacs.
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* The protagonist of ''Film/Scarface1983'' is Tony Montana, a former Cuban Army soldier who becomes a fearsome Miami [[TheCartel cocaine kingpin]].
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[[folder:Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/TheBoondocks'' has Ed Wuncler III and Gin Rummy, a duo of [[UpperClassTwit rich white guys]] who served in the US Army during the [[WarOnTerror Iraq War]]. Despite their wealthy backgrounds, they decided to become [[WhiteGangBangers career criminals]] who [[PrettyFlyForAWhiteGuy act like black gangsters]], committing crimes such as armed robbery and kidnapping. They also sometimes do dirty work for Ed III's [[CorruptCorporateExecutive evil billionaire]] grandfather, Ed Wuncler I.
[[/folder]]
* ''WesternAnimation/TheBoondocks'' has Ed Wuncler III and Gin Rummy, a duo of [[UpperClassTwit rich white guys]] who served in the US Army during the [[WarOnTerror Iraq War]]. Despite their wealthy backgrounds, they decided to become [[WhiteGangBangers career criminals]] who [[PrettyFlyForAWhiteGuy act like black gangsters]], committing crimes such as armed robbery and kidnapping. They also sometimes do dirty work for Ed III's [[CorruptCorporateExecutive evil billionaire]] grandfather, Ed Wuncler I.
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* In ''ComicBook/LuckyLuke'', Joss Jamon's gang turned to crime after the end of UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar.
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Deathstroke is Slade W Ilson. Wade Wilson is Deadpool.
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* ComicBook/{{Deathstroke}} aka Wade Wilson. He joined the army at a young age, lying about his age and was part of a SuperSoldier program. After being set up by one of his commanding officer, he became a notorious mercenary for hire.
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* ComicBook/{{Deathstroke}} aka Wade Slade Wilson. He joined the army at a young age, lying about his age and was part of a SuperSoldier program. After being set up by one of his commanding officer, he became a notorious mercenary for hire.
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[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* The classic game ''TabletopGame/{{Champions}}'' featured a number of supervillains who had military backgrounds.
** Lazer (Emil Nelson) was drafted into the U.S. Army and sent to Vietnam, where he learned about corruption and villainy. When he returned he used his illegal contacts and GI benefits to become an illegal ArmsDealer.
** Death Commando (Henry Wadsworth) was [[SociopathicSoldier a highly aggressive soldier in Vietnam]], which earned him fast promotions and good pay. After the war ended he became a super criminal and joined The Destroyers. He supplies the group with tactical planning and other military skills.
** Bullet (Randolph Bullet) fought in the Vietnam War for years. After he got out he created an organization of superpowered mercenaries and hires them out to whoever pays the most, which often leads them into criminal acts.
[[/folder]]
* The classic game ''TabletopGame/{{Champions}}'' featured a number of supervillains who had military backgrounds.
** Lazer (Emil Nelson) was drafted into the U.S. Army and sent to Vietnam, where he learned about corruption and villainy. When he returned he used his illegal contacts and GI benefits to become an illegal ArmsDealer.
** Death Commando (Henry Wadsworth) was [[SociopathicSoldier a highly aggressive soldier in Vietnam]], which earned him fast promotions and good pay. After the war ended he became a super criminal and joined The Destroyers. He supplies the group with tactical planning and other military skills.
** Bullet (Randolph Bullet) fought in the Vietnam War for years. After he got out he created an organization of superpowered mercenaries and hires them out to whoever pays the most, which often leads them into criminal acts.
[[/folder]]
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* After the end of UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar, quite a few ex-soldiers (especially from the Confederate side) turned outlaw, the most famous such group being the [[BanditClan James-Younger Gang]] led by Frank and UsefulNotes/JesseJames. Many others went into [[UsefulNotes/KuKluxKlan a campaign of terrorism and guerrilla warfare]] against anything perceived as Northern, and ''especially'' against freed slaves.
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* After the end of UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar, quite a few ex-soldiers (especially from the Confederate side) turned outlaw, the most famous such group being the [[BanditClan James-Younger Gang]] led by Frank and UsefulNotes/JesseJames. Many others went into [[UsefulNotes/KuKluxKlan a campaign of terrorism and guerrilla warfare]] warfare by forming groups such as the UsefulNotes/KuKluxKlan and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_League the White League]] and striking against anything perceived as Northern, Republican, and ''especially'' against attacking freed slaves.
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* The infamous 1986 Miami FBI shootout [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1986_FBI_Miami_shootout]] was between FBI agents and two Army and Marine Corps veterans who had gone on to become serial bank robbers.
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* The infamous 1986 Miami FBI shootout [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1986_FBI_Miami_shootout]] org/wiki/1986_FBI_Miami_shootout 1986 Miami FBI shootout]] was between FBI agents and two Army and Marine Corps veterans who had gone on to become serial bank robbers.
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* The disbanding of the Iraqi Army after the 2003 invasion of Iraq saw a lot of former Iraqi soldiers turn to either crime or the insurgency, a factor which made the subsequent occupation that much more difficult.
* The infamous 1986 Miami FBI shootout [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1986_FBI_Miami_shootout]] was between FBI agents and two Army and Marine Corps veterans who had gone on to become serial bank robbers.
* The infamous 1986 Miami FBI shootout [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1986_FBI_Miami_shootout]] was between FBI agents and two Army and Marine Corps veterans who had gone on to become serial bank robbers.
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* Several ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'' books (including ''Literature/TheThrawnTrilogy'' and ''Literature/TheHanSoloTrilogy'') established that Han Solo had once undergone officer training in the Imperial Navy, but left the service not long after and turned to being a pilot for hire and smuggler. ''The Thrawn Trilogy'' is pretty vague about the details of how/when/why Han left the navy, ''The Han Solo Trilogy'' shows the events in full detail.
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* Several ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'' books (including ''Literature/TheThrawnTrilogy'' and ''Literature/TheHanSoloTrilogy'') established that Han Solo had once undergone officer training in the Imperial Navy, but left the service not long after and turned to being a pilot for hire and smuggler. ''The Thrawn Trilogy'' is pretty vague about the details of how/when/why Han left the navy, ''The Han Solo Trilogy'' shows the events in full detail.detail: he was dishonorably discharged for attacking a superior officer to protect the Wookiee slaves he was abusing.
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[[AC: Anime and Manga]]
* WellIntentionedExtremist[=/=]AntiVillain terrorist Kuze from ''Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex'' was once a member of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Forces, before becoming extremely disillusioned.
* WellIntentionedExtremist[=/=]AntiVillain terrorist Kuze from ''Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex'' was once a member of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Forces, before becoming extremely disillusioned.
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[[folder: Anime and Manga]]
* ''Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex'':
** WellIntentionedExtremist[=/=]AntiVillain
** The episode "JUNGLE CRUISE" has Marco Amoretti, a former [[DividedStatesOfAmerica American Imperial Navy]] special warfare operator-turned-SerialKiller after being driven insane by atrocities he was ordered to commit in [[WorldWarWhatever World War IV]] as terror tactics. Batou came across some of Amoretti's handiwork in the war and is determined to stop him.
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* ''Film/TheLastOutlaw'' is about a unit of Confederate ex-soldiers let by their bitter colonel who turn outlaw after the end of UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar.
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* ''Film/TheLastOutlaw'' is about a unit of Confederate ex-soldiers let led by their bitter colonel who turn outlaw after the end of UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar.
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[[folder: Live Action TV]]
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* Jeremiah Bello from ''Series/{{Graceland}}'' was a soldier in his home in Nigeria, and after being on the wrong side of a coup, came to Los Angeles and set himself up as a drug kingpin. Mike infiltrates his organization by pretending to be an active duty Marine who Bello hires to give his gangsters proper training in guns and marksmanship. Later on he gets fellow FBIAgent "Johnny" Tuturro to go undercover in a similar role, aided by Johnny's past as a sailor in the Navy and [[UsefulNotes/NavySeals Navy SEAL]] trainee.
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* Jeremiah Bello from ''Series/{{Graceland}}'' was a soldier in his home in Nigeria, and after being on the wrong side of a coup, came to Los Angeles and set himself up as a drug kingpin. Mike infiltrates his organization by pretending to be an active duty a Marine who turning to criminal ventures on the side, and Bello hires him to give his gangsters proper training in guns and marksmanship. Later on he Mike gets fellow FBIAgent "Johnny" Tuturro to go undercover in a similar role, aided by Johnny's past as a sailor in the Navy and [[UsefulNotes/NavySeals Navy SEAL]] trainee.
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* ''Series/{{Firefly}}'''s Malcolm Reynolds and Zoe Washburne were respectively a sergeant and a corporal in the Independent Faction army during the Unification War, and are now captain and first mate of a SpacePirate[=/=]smuggling crew. Mal likes to insist that "the war's long done; we're all just folk now," but he's still bitter that the Independents lost and will sometimes do things he normally wouldn't (like sheltering River and Simon), just so he can flip the bird to the [[NicknamingTheEnemy purple-bellies]].
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* ''Series/{{Firefly}}'''s Malcolm Reynolds and Zoe Washburne from ''Series/{{Firefly}}'' were respectively a sergeant and a corporal in the Independent Faction army during the Unification War, and are now captain and first mate of a SpacePirate[=/=]smuggling crew. Mal likes to insist that "the war's long done; we're all just folk now," but he's still bitter that the Independents lost and will sometimes do things he normally wouldn't (like sheltering River and Simon), just so he can flip the bird to the [[NicknamingTheEnemy purple-bellies]].
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** Season 4 episode "Unrequited" focuses on a disgruntled Vietnam vet who can effectively turn invisible by exploiting people's ocular blind-spots and intends to use it to assassinate a major military official (noticing a pattern here?)
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** Season 4 episode "Unrequited" focuses on a disgruntled Vietnam vet who can effectively turn invisible by exploiting people's ocular blind-spots and intends to use it to assassinate a major military official (noticing official. (Noticing a pattern here?)
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** Bo Crowder and Arlo Givens served in Vietnam together where they met Drew Thompson, a military pilot. After the war Bo and Arlo returned to Harlan County and made a living stealing mining equipment while Drew flew drug shipments for the Detroit Mob. When Drew run afoul of Theo Tonin, he stole 2 million worth of drugs from the mob and faked his own death. He was forced to seek help from Bo and Arlo who used the drugs to turn themselves into the crime kingpins of Harlan County. In contrast Drew [[spoiler: became an honest policeman]].
** Bo Crowder's son, Boyd, served in the Iraq war and when he returned home he became a notorious criminal. He later recruited Colton Rhodes, a war buddy of his and a former military policeman to be his second in command. While Boyd came out of the war mostly OK, Colton turned out to be a mess and suffered from PTSD and heroin abuse which made him a highly unstable criminal.
** In season 6, Avery Markham brings in Tigerhawk Securities as his main muscle in his bid to control the soon-to-be-legal marijuana trade in Harlan County. The security company is composed of three veterans who served together in the Iraq War . They still maintain the old chain of command and sometimes even address each other by their old ranks.
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* Los Zetas, one of the most feared [[TheCartel Mexican drug cartels]], was founded by deserters from Mexico's Special Forces.
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[[folder:Real Life]]
* Los Zetas, one of the most feared and ruthless [[TheCartel Mexican drug cartels]], was founded by deserters from Mexico's Special Forces.
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* After the end of UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar, quite a few ex-soldiers, especially from the Confederate side, turned outlaw, the most famous such group being the [[BanditClan James-Younger Gang]] led by Frank and UsefulNotes/JesseJames. Many others went into [[UsefulNotes/KuKluxKlan a campaign of terrorism and guerrilla warfare]] against anything perceived as Northern, and especially against freed slaves.
* During the colonial era, many {{privateer}}s (naval mercenaries) went on to become outlaw {{pirate}}s.
* During the colonial era, many {{privateer}}s (naval mercenaries) went on to become outlaw {{pirate}}s.
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* After the end of UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar, quite a few ex-soldiers, especially ex-soldiers (especially from the Confederate side, side) turned outlaw, the most famous such group being the [[BanditClan James-Younger Gang]] led by Frank and UsefulNotes/JesseJames. Many others went into [[UsefulNotes/KuKluxKlan a campaign of terrorism and guerrilla warfare]] against anything perceived as Northern, and especially ''especially'' against freed slaves.
* During the colonial era, many {{privateer}}s (naval mercenaries) went on to become outlaw{{pirate}}s.{{pirate}}s.
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* During the colonial era, many {{privateer}}s (naval mercenaries) went on to become outlaw
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->''"There's a group of guys down here, ''way'' out on the hairy edge. They did covert stuff, and then... they went rogue. Went renegade, dropped off the face of the Earth, disappeared into drug land. And with their 'special skills', they cut one hell of a swath through their competition."''
-->-- '''Colonel Styles''', ''Film/{{Basic}}''
Being in the military can teach you some skills, but the skill that people most commonly associate with the military, (i.e. how to hurt or kill people) doesn't exactly translate well to civilian life. However, there is a way around that for more morally... ''flexible''... people; put those skills to work in crime, especially organized crime, and start picking [[{{Gangbangers}} the local street toughs]] who are your main competition apart.
As a result of this, many fictional criminals who come from a military background tend to be much more effective, dangerous, and capable than everyday thugs. It's also common to show them as being capable of being more ruthless and coldblooded than more pedestrian criminals.
This trope is particularly common if the character in question is a ShellShockedVeteran who has been broken by their experiences, a SociopathicSoldier who was clearly a bad apple while in the service, and the ReturningWarVet who finds YouCantGoHomeAgain may be likely to fall into this. Because ElitesAreMoreGlamorous, expect a character doing this to be from a section of the military either known for being unusually badass, or flat out special forces/covert ops.
A companion trope to LawmanGoneBad. Compare and contrast the {{Privateer}}, who was essentially paid by his nation to become a pirate against another nation's shipping, the RogueAgent, and the BoxedCrook. The inversions are TradingBarsForStripes, where a character facing prison time or in prison is given the choice of serving in the military instead, and RecruitingTheCriminal.
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!!Examples:
[[AC: Anime and Manga]]
* WellIntentionedExtremist[=/=]AntiVillain terrorist Kuze from ''Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex'' was once a member of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Forces, before becoming extremely disillusioned.
* In ''Manga/OnePiece'', Hody Jones was once part of the Fishman Island's Neptune's Royal Army before he became the captain of the New Fishman Pirates. Likewise, one of the Super Rookie pirates X. Drake was once a Rear Admiral in the Marines.
* ''Anime/BlackLagoon'': Hotel Moscow is a {{Mafiya}} group composed of ex-Spetnatz. Their military skills and personal loyalty to their old commanding officer Balalaika make them probably the single most feared of the many criminal organizations in [[WretchedHive Roanapur]].
* ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'' has an arc dealing with a group of ex-soldiers who have formed their own group of marauders, led by a Colonel with ESP.
[[AC:Comic Books]]
* Frank Castle, aka ''ComicBook/ThePunisher'', in all his various incarnations, is a veteran turned VigilanteMan after his family is killed by criminals, and he goes far, far outside the law to act as JudgeJuryAndExecutioner on any criminal he meets. He's also faced off with other veterans of various wars who have turned to crime.
[[AC:Film]]
* Michael Corleone from ''Film/TheGodfather'' was a [[SemperFi Marine Captain]] in WWII, and while he has taken pains to avoid becoming entangled in the "family business" in the past, once he does get involved with it he proves shockingly effective and ruthless in ways his other criminal rivals are completely unprepared for.
* While no attention is drawn to it, Porter from ''Film/{{Payback}}'' has a [[SemperFi USMC]] tattoo and is a dangerously effective and utterly ruthless criminal who is more than capable of taking down drug dealers, {{Dirty Cop}}s, [[TheTriadsAndTheTongs Triads]], or even TheSyndicate if any of them stand in the way of getting back the money his ex-partner stole from him.
* ''Film/{{Basic}}'' takes place in Panama before the US base closed up there. The film has a rumor going around on base that a group of high level covert ops guys and elite Army Rangers turned to crime and set themselves up as a criminal empire. And since some members of the group were trained by the much feared and hated [[DrillSergeantNasty Sergeant West]], who is infamous for making his trainees want to kill him, and West has just gone missing along with a number of his current trainees, it's speculated that they may be behind it. The ending shows that this rumor is false, but [[spoiler:the course of the movie shows that the base's commander, Colonel Styles, and several others, including members of the medical staff, were involved in smuggling drugs back to the US ''and'' distributing stimulants to soldiers on the base.]]
* The bad guys of the first ''Film/LethalWeapon'' movie are former members of a Vietnam era covert ops unit who have since turned into a major heroin syndicate.
* Creator/AlPacino's character in ''Film/DogDayAfternoon'' tries to keep the police from storming the bank by saying that he and his cohort were in the Army in Vietnam and have no problem getting violent with the hostages. While at the time it seems like a desperate bluff, later on he is seen showing some of the hostages how he learned to march and handle a gun during training. His relationship with the hostages makes it pretty clear he doesn't intend to hurt them, however.
* The bad guys from ''Film/DieHard2'' are a rogue military unit, [[spoiler:or two]] who violently oppose a changing US foreign policy and decide to go rogue and save TheGeneralissimo who was a former US ally in the Cold War and is now been arrested and put on trial. Their ruthlessness and competence is shown more than once, especially in how they slaughter the police SWAT team.
* Neil [=McCauley=] from ''Film/{{Heat}}'' is a retired Marine who has since turned to specializing in armed robberies, leading an extremely skilled crew who draw special attention from the police.
* In ''Film/RocknRolla'', TheDragon of Russian gangster Yuri is former Spetznaz, as are two old war buddies of his who he calls in at one point. Those two show themselves to be much tougher than the petty gangsters they tangle with and almost [[TheDeterminator superhumanly determined]].
* ''Film/TheManFromUNCLE'': Napoleon was in the Army helping track down art stolen by the Nazis, and took to thieving himself. He was eventually caught, but the CIA decided his skill-set was too useful to be locked up and made an agreement with him to work for them.
* ''Film/DeadPresidents'', follows a group of black soldiers through Vietnam, their alienation upon returning home, and their eventual decision to commit armed robbery.
* In ''Film/TheLeagueOfGentlemen'', the eponymous league is a gang of cashiered British army officers brought together to use their various military specialties (demolitions, communications, etc.) to stage a bank robbery.
* ''Film/TheLastOutlaw'' is about a unit of Confederate ex-soldiers let by their bitter colonel who turn outlaw after the end of UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar.
* In ''Film/IronMan3'', the Mandarin's elite mooks are all war veterans who suffered career-ending injuries on the battlefield. They were recruited with the promise of having their injuries undone with Extremis.
[[AC:Literature]]
* ''Literature/HammersSlammers'': In ''The Sharp End'' former Slammer Angel Tijuca returns to his homeworld after his enlistment term is over and ends up working for one of the drug cartels fighting over it. He spends his time trying (and failing) to train their thugs and just getting stoned most of the time.
[[AC: Live Action TV]]
* ''Series/BurnNotice'' features these quite often:
** Main character Michael went from being a tough street kid to Army Special Forces to CIA legend to someone who works outside the law to manipulate and destroy criminal organizations on a weekly basis while seldom, if ever, being in real danger from the criminals he takes down. His team member Sam Axe is a Navy SEAL who was forced into retirement (circumstances explored in the spinoff ''Film/BurnNoticeTheFallOfSamAxe'').
** Michael's EvilMentor Larry was once involved in covert ops, and now he's a FauxAffablyEvil (and ''completely'' psycho) [[PsychoForHire assassin for hire]] whose solution to every problem is "just start killing people and it'll sort itself out."
** Recurring character Brennan was once Military Intelligence, now he's a DangerouslyGenreSavvy ArmsDealer.
** Gilroy went from being involved in black ops for the British government to a RogueAgent who will do any job, for anyone, anywhere in the world if the pay is right and it amuses him enough. These jobs range from assassination to terrorism for hire to selling nuclear secrets on the black market.
** Occasionally the VillainOfTheWeek will be some flavor of ex-military, and they generally present a much greater danger and more difficult challenge to Team Westen than the crooks and con men they usually deal with.
* Both Jimmy Darmody and Richard Harrow from ''Series/BoardwalkEmpire'' were WWI soldiers who were hardened by their experiences and alienated from their past friends, family, and society in general. [[HitmanWithAHeart While decent enough in many ways]], they fall into bootlegging and being hardcore gangsters with few, if any moral qualms, and often prove themselves much more competent and deadly than most of the thugs they encounter.
* A theory among some fans of ''Series/TheWire'' is that TheDragon for the Stanfield gang, Chris Partlow, has some sort of military experience based on the way he trains new recruits to the gang. This is commented on InUniverse as well, when Cheese sees the rigid discipline and militant attitude of the Stanfield gang and quips "Y'all some SemperFi motherfuckas, ain't you? Where [[ThirdPersonPerson Cheese]] go to enlist?"
* Jeremiah Bello from ''Series/{{Graceland}}'' was a soldier in his home in Nigeria, and after being on the wrong side of a coup, came to Los Angeles and set himself up as a drug kingpin. Mike infiltrates his organization by pretending to be an active duty Marine who Bello hires to give his gangsters proper training in guns and marksmanship. Later on he gets fellow FBIAgent "Johnny" Tuturro to go undercover in a similar role, aided by Johnny's past as a sailor in the Navy and [[UsefulNotes/NavySeals Navy SEAL]] trainee.
* The Blacksmith from ''Series/{{Daredevil|2015}}'' Season 2 is actually [[spoiler:Colonel Ray Shoonover, Frank Castle's former officer. He and some of his most [[AFatherToHisMen loyal men]] became drug dealers after the war and he is partially responsible for the massacre of the Castle family]].
* ''Series/PeakyBlinders'' is about the rise to power of the eponymous gang in Birmingham after WWI. The gang boss is Tommy Shelby, a former sergeant-major and the majority of the gang members are disaffected veterans. Their military organisation makes them extremely dangerous.
* One episode of ''Series/BlueBloods'' features a SympatheticCriminal variant when a group of USMC Iraq War vets robs a bank [[spoiler:to pay for medical procedures for the leader's husband, a squadmate, when the VA won't]]. They run headlong into fellow Iraq vet Danny Reagan, who became an NYPD detective instead (following family tradition).
* ''Series/{{Firefly}}'''s Malcolm Reynolds and Zoe Washburne were respectively a sergeant and a corporal in the Independent Faction army during the Unification War, and are now captain and first mate of a SpacePirate[=/=]smuggling crew. Mal likes to insist that "the war's long done; we're all just folk now," but he's still bitter that the Independents lost and will sometimes do things he normally wouldn't (like sheltering River and Simon), just so he can flip the bird to the [[NicknamingTheEnemy purple-bellies]].
* ''Series/{{Leverage}}'': In one episode Eliot, Parker and Hardison foil an attempted assassination by a sniper. Eliot realizes the shooter used to be in the Navy [=SEALs=] based on a specific type of watch he was wearing. Eliot also used to be in Spec Ops before he went beyond the bounds of lawful.
* Played several different ways on ''Series/{{Rome}}''.
** Zigzagged in the case of Vorenus, who almost does this by ''accident'' in the first season. When Vorenus needs to get a FallenOnHardTimesJob, he thinks he's taking a job to be a bodyguard for Erastes Fulmen, a man he mistakenly assumes to be a respected local merchant, but is actually a mobster who wants Vorenus to be an enforcer for him. Vorenus doesn't realize the truth until Fulmen starts trying to beat money out of a "business partner" of his, and Vorenus almost immediately walks out on the job. In the second season, however, Vorenus does become part of the Roman underworld for real, and he lives up to the ruthless stereotype in the description and then some, as the entire Roman underworld come to both fear and loathe him.
** [[BoisterousBruiser Titus]] [[DumbMuscle Pullo]] falls into being a thug/killer for hire in the first season, and becomes Vorenus' right hand man in the second when Vorenus becomes a prominent underworld figure. They also have at least one (and maybe more) fellow legionaries in the mob they lead.
* ''Series/TheXFiles''
** Season 2 episode ''Sleepless'' focuses on a disgruntled Vietnam vet who was has no need to sleep and the ability to alter other people's perception and plans to use his abilities to murder everyone involved in the experiment that gave him his powers
** Season 3 episode ''The Walk'' focuses on a disgruntled Gulf War vet who can astral project annd plans to use his ability to murder his superior officer's family
** Season 4 episode "Unrequited" focuses on a disgruntled Vietnam vet who can effectively turn invisible by exploiting people's ocular blind-spots and intends to use it to assassinate a major military official (noticing a pattern here?)
* One episode of ''Series/PersonOfInterest'' revolves around a gang of veterans getting revenge on the government that abandoned them by robbing banks with military precision and stolen military tech, which regularly recruits new vets to replace the ones who acquired enough loot to retire in luxury. Turns out [[spoiler:the "retired" members were actually murdered in secret by the ringleader so he could take their cut]].
[[AC:Multiple Media]]
* In many adaptations of ''Franchise/SherlockHolmes'', Holmes' EvilCounterpart Moriarty has [[TheDragon a dragon]] named Sebastian Moran who is an ex-Army officer and ColdSniper.
[[AC:Music]]
* The Music/SteveEarle song "Copperhead Road" is the story of John Lee Pettimore, who follows in his grandfather's (a moonshiner) and father's (a bootlegger) footsteps after serving two tours in 'Nam by starting up a illegal drugs plantation on the titular road.
[[AC:Video Games]]
* In ''VideoGame/LANoire'', the central conflict is around a shipment of military supplies (including weapons and medical grade opiates) stolen by embittered soldiers. [[spoiler: Specifically by members of the protagonist's former unit in Okinawa during World War II (partially because they resented him becoming a decorated cop after they [[UnfriendlyFire fragged him]] when he [[DarkAndTroubledPast ordered them to torch a cave that turned out to be full of civilians]]).]]
* In ''VideoGame/MafiaIII'', PlayerCharacter Lincoln Clay is a Vietnam veteran who joins the black mob in New Orleans upon mustering out.
* Victor Vance from ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoViceCityStories'' is a heroic example. Early on in the game, he's set up for a number of infractions by his CO and discharged. This being a ''Series/GrandTheftAuto'' game, he turns to crime afterwards and ends up running a major drug operation with his brother.
* Rolento from ''VideoGame/FinalFight'' is a former member of a fictional Special Forces unit who is in charge of the weapons plant that supplies the Mad Gear gang. ([[FridgeLogic Although strangely for a gang that has its own weapons factory, they generally attack you with knives and lead pipes instead of guns]].) After crossing over to the ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' universe, in some of his endings he starts his own criminal organization, looking to recruit other militant characters, and in others he has a [[Franchise/MetalGear Big Boss-esque]] dream of creating an ideal nation for soldiers.
* The Shadow Platoon from ''VideoGame/UrbanReign'' is made up of former military men who have been discharged for various reasons.
* ''Franchise/MassEffect'':
** Every turian criminal ever, given their species is a ProudSoldierRace with universal {{conscription}} and a meritocratic military dictatorship.
** ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' squadmate Jacob Taylor was formerly an Alliance Marine assigned to an elite black ops unit called the Corsairs. He later joined the human-supremacist terrorist organization and NGOSuperpower Cerberus.
* ''VideoGame/StarTrekOnline'': The Cardassian-supremacist True Way terrorist organization draws much of its membership from unemployed former Cardassian Guard personnel (following the Cardassian Union's treaty-imposed military reductions). In [[DummiedOut missions that were deleted in Season 11]], the group devolves to little more than a GenericEthnicCrimeGang after its leader Gul Madred is captured.
[[AC:Web Comics]]
* Viktor from ''Webcomic/{{Lackadaisy}}'' was a WWI veteran who is now muscle for a bootlegging gang.
[[AC: Real Life]]
* Los Zetas, one of the most feared [[TheCartel Mexican drug cartels]], was founded by deserters from Mexico's Special Forces.
* A number of gangs in the US used to require members to enlist in the Army, go through at least basic training before leaving so they'd learn how to shoot straight.
* Several members of the early {{Yakuza}} were {{Ronin}}. It's unclear whether the organizations were founded by Ronin who started running protection rackets or by semi-legit vending and gambling guilds who hired ronin as muscle, but regardless they frequently claim to be heirs to the samurai.
* After the end of UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar, quite a few ex-soldiers, especially from the Confederate side, turned outlaw, the most famous such group being the [[BanditClan James-Younger Gang]] led by Frank and UsefulNotes/JesseJames. Many others went into [[UsefulNotes/KuKluxKlan a campaign of terrorism and guerrilla warfare]] against anything perceived as Northern, and especially against freed slaves.
* During the colonial era, many {{privateer}}s (naval mercenaries) went on to become outlaw {{pirate}}s.
-->-- '''Colonel Styles''', ''Film/{{Basic}}''
Being in the military can teach you some skills, but the skill that people most commonly associate with the military, (i.e. how to hurt or kill people) doesn't exactly translate well to civilian life. However, there is a way around that for more morally... ''flexible''... people; put those skills to work in crime, especially organized crime, and start picking [[{{Gangbangers}} the local street toughs]] who are your main competition apart.
As a result of this, many fictional criminals who come from a military background tend to be much more effective, dangerous, and capable than everyday thugs. It's also common to show them as being capable of being more ruthless and coldblooded than more pedestrian criminals.
This trope is particularly common if the character in question is a ShellShockedVeteran who has been broken by their experiences, a SociopathicSoldier who was clearly a bad apple while in the service, and the ReturningWarVet who finds YouCantGoHomeAgain may be likely to fall into this. Because ElitesAreMoreGlamorous, expect a character doing this to be from a section of the military either known for being unusually badass, or flat out special forces/covert ops.
A companion trope to LawmanGoneBad. Compare and contrast the {{Privateer}}, who was essentially paid by his nation to become a pirate against another nation's shipping, the RogueAgent, and the BoxedCrook. The inversions are TradingBarsForStripes, where a character facing prison time or in prison is given the choice of serving in the military instead, and RecruitingTheCriminal.
----
!!Examples:
[[AC: Anime and Manga]]
* WellIntentionedExtremist[=/=]AntiVillain terrorist Kuze from ''Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex'' was once a member of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Forces, before becoming extremely disillusioned.
* In ''Manga/OnePiece'', Hody Jones was once part of the Fishman Island's Neptune's Royal Army before he became the captain of the New Fishman Pirates. Likewise, one of the Super Rookie pirates X. Drake was once a Rear Admiral in the Marines.
* ''Anime/BlackLagoon'': Hotel Moscow is a {{Mafiya}} group composed of ex-Spetnatz. Their military skills and personal loyalty to their old commanding officer Balalaika make them probably the single most feared of the many criminal organizations in [[WretchedHive Roanapur]].
* ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'' has an arc dealing with a group of ex-soldiers who have formed their own group of marauders, led by a Colonel with ESP.
[[AC:Comic Books]]
* Frank Castle, aka ''ComicBook/ThePunisher'', in all his various incarnations, is a veteran turned VigilanteMan after his family is killed by criminals, and he goes far, far outside the law to act as JudgeJuryAndExecutioner on any criminal he meets. He's also faced off with other veterans of various wars who have turned to crime.
[[AC:Film]]
* Michael Corleone from ''Film/TheGodfather'' was a [[SemperFi Marine Captain]] in WWII, and while he has taken pains to avoid becoming entangled in the "family business" in the past, once he does get involved with it he proves shockingly effective and ruthless in ways his other criminal rivals are completely unprepared for.
* While no attention is drawn to it, Porter from ''Film/{{Payback}}'' has a [[SemperFi USMC]] tattoo and is a dangerously effective and utterly ruthless criminal who is more than capable of taking down drug dealers, {{Dirty Cop}}s, [[TheTriadsAndTheTongs Triads]], or even TheSyndicate if any of them stand in the way of getting back the money his ex-partner stole from him.
* ''Film/{{Basic}}'' takes place in Panama before the US base closed up there. The film has a rumor going around on base that a group of high level covert ops guys and elite Army Rangers turned to crime and set themselves up as a criminal empire. And since some members of the group were trained by the much feared and hated [[DrillSergeantNasty Sergeant West]], who is infamous for making his trainees want to kill him, and West has just gone missing along with a number of his current trainees, it's speculated that they may be behind it. The ending shows that this rumor is false, but [[spoiler:the course of the movie shows that the base's commander, Colonel Styles, and several others, including members of the medical staff, were involved in smuggling drugs back to the US ''and'' distributing stimulants to soldiers on the base.]]
* The bad guys of the first ''Film/LethalWeapon'' movie are former members of a Vietnam era covert ops unit who have since turned into a major heroin syndicate.
* Creator/AlPacino's character in ''Film/DogDayAfternoon'' tries to keep the police from storming the bank by saying that he and his cohort were in the Army in Vietnam and have no problem getting violent with the hostages. While at the time it seems like a desperate bluff, later on he is seen showing some of the hostages how he learned to march and handle a gun during training. His relationship with the hostages makes it pretty clear he doesn't intend to hurt them, however.
* The bad guys from ''Film/DieHard2'' are a rogue military unit, [[spoiler:or two]] who violently oppose a changing US foreign policy and decide to go rogue and save TheGeneralissimo who was a former US ally in the Cold War and is now been arrested and put on trial. Their ruthlessness and competence is shown more than once, especially in how they slaughter the police SWAT team.
* Neil [=McCauley=] from ''Film/{{Heat}}'' is a retired Marine who has since turned to specializing in armed robberies, leading an extremely skilled crew who draw special attention from the police.
* In ''Film/RocknRolla'', TheDragon of Russian gangster Yuri is former Spetznaz, as are two old war buddies of his who he calls in at one point. Those two show themselves to be much tougher than the petty gangsters they tangle with and almost [[TheDeterminator superhumanly determined]].
* ''Film/TheManFromUNCLE'': Napoleon was in the Army helping track down art stolen by the Nazis, and took to thieving himself. He was eventually caught, but the CIA decided his skill-set was too useful to be locked up and made an agreement with him to work for them.
* ''Film/DeadPresidents'', follows a group of black soldiers through Vietnam, their alienation upon returning home, and their eventual decision to commit armed robbery.
* In ''Film/TheLeagueOfGentlemen'', the eponymous league is a gang of cashiered British army officers brought together to use their various military specialties (demolitions, communications, etc.) to stage a bank robbery.
* ''Film/TheLastOutlaw'' is about a unit of Confederate ex-soldiers let by their bitter colonel who turn outlaw after the end of UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar.
* In ''Film/IronMan3'', the Mandarin's elite mooks are all war veterans who suffered career-ending injuries on the battlefield. They were recruited with the promise of having their injuries undone with Extremis.
[[AC:Literature]]
* ''Literature/HammersSlammers'': In ''The Sharp End'' former Slammer Angel Tijuca returns to his homeworld after his enlistment term is over and ends up working for one of the drug cartels fighting over it. He spends his time trying (and failing) to train their thugs and just getting stoned most of the time.
[[AC: Live Action TV]]
* ''Series/BurnNotice'' features these quite often:
** Main character Michael went from being a tough street kid to Army Special Forces to CIA legend to someone who works outside the law to manipulate and destroy criminal organizations on a weekly basis while seldom, if ever, being in real danger from the criminals he takes down. His team member Sam Axe is a Navy SEAL who was forced into retirement (circumstances explored in the spinoff ''Film/BurnNoticeTheFallOfSamAxe'').
** Michael's EvilMentor Larry was once involved in covert ops, and now he's a FauxAffablyEvil (and ''completely'' psycho) [[PsychoForHire assassin for hire]] whose solution to every problem is "just start killing people and it'll sort itself out."
** Recurring character Brennan was once Military Intelligence, now he's a DangerouslyGenreSavvy ArmsDealer.
** Gilroy went from being involved in black ops for the British government to a RogueAgent who will do any job, for anyone, anywhere in the world if the pay is right and it amuses him enough. These jobs range from assassination to terrorism for hire to selling nuclear secrets on the black market.
** Occasionally the VillainOfTheWeek will be some flavor of ex-military, and they generally present a much greater danger and more difficult challenge to Team Westen than the crooks and con men they usually deal with.
* Both Jimmy Darmody and Richard Harrow from ''Series/BoardwalkEmpire'' were WWI soldiers who were hardened by their experiences and alienated from their past friends, family, and society in general. [[HitmanWithAHeart While decent enough in many ways]], they fall into bootlegging and being hardcore gangsters with few, if any moral qualms, and often prove themselves much more competent and deadly than most of the thugs they encounter.
* A theory among some fans of ''Series/TheWire'' is that TheDragon for the Stanfield gang, Chris Partlow, has some sort of military experience based on the way he trains new recruits to the gang. This is commented on InUniverse as well, when Cheese sees the rigid discipline and militant attitude of the Stanfield gang and quips "Y'all some SemperFi motherfuckas, ain't you? Where [[ThirdPersonPerson Cheese]] go to enlist?"
* Jeremiah Bello from ''Series/{{Graceland}}'' was a soldier in his home in Nigeria, and after being on the wrong side of a coup, came to Los Angeles and set himself up as a drug kingpin. Mike infiltrates his organization by pretending to be an active duty Marine who Bello hires to give his gangsters proper training in guns and marksmanship. Later on he gets fellow FBIAgent "Johnny" Tuturro to go undercover in a similar role, aided by Johnny's past as a sailor in the Navy and [[UsefulNotes/NavySeals Navy SEAL]] trainee.
* The Blacksmith from ''Series/{{Daredevil|2015}}'' Season 2 is actually [[spoiler:Colonel Ray Shoonover, Frank Castle's former officer. He and some of his most [[AFatherToHisMen loyal men]] became drug dealers after the war and he is partially responsible for the massacre of the Castle family]].
* ''Series/PeakyBlinders'' is about the rise to power of the eponymous gang in Birmingham after WWI. The gang boss is Tommy Shelby, a former sergeant-major and the majority of the gang members are disaffected veterans. Their military organisation makes them extremely dangerous.
* One episode of ''Series/BlueBloods'' features a SympatheticCriminal variant when a group of USMC Iraq War vets robs a bank [[spoiler:to pay for medical procedures for the leader's husband, a squadmate, when the VA won't]]. They run headlong into fellow Iraq vet Danny Reagan, who became an NYPD detective instead (following family tradition).
* ''Series/{{Firefly}}'''s Malcolm Reynolds and Zoe Washburne were respectively a sergeant and a corporal in the Independent Faction army during the Unification War, and are now captain and first mate of a SpacePirate[=/=]smuggling crew. Mal likes to insist that "the war's long done; we're all just folk now," but he's still bitter that the Independents lost and will sometimes do things he normally wouldn't (like sheltering River and Simon), just so he can flip the bird to the [[NicknamingTheEnemy purple-bellies]].
* ''Series/{{Leverage}}'': In one episode Eliot, Parker and Hardison foil an attempted assassination by a sniper. Eliot realizes the shooter used to be in the Navy [=SEALs=] based on a specific type of watch he was wearing. Eliot also used to be in Spec Ops before he went beyond the bounds of lawful.
* Played several different ways on ''Series/{{Rome}}''.
** Zigzagged in the case of Vorenus, who almost does this by ''accident'' in the first season. When Vorenus needs to get a FallenOnHardTimesJob, he thinks he's taking a job to be a bodyguard for Erastes Fulmen, a man he mistakenly assumes to be a respected local merchant, but is actually a mobster who wants Vorenus to be an enforcer for him. Vorenus doesn't realize the truth until Fulmen starts trying to beat money out of a "business partner" of his, and Vorenus almost immediately walks out on the job. In the second season, however, Vorenus does become part of the Roman underworld for real, and he lives up to the ruthless stereotype in the description and then some, as the entire Roman underworld come to both fear and loathe him.
** [[BoisterousBruiser Titus]] [[DumbMuscle Pullo]] falls into being a thug/killer for hire in the first season, and becomes Vorenus' right hand man in the second when Vorenus becomes a prominent underworld figure. They also have at least one (and maybe more) fellow legionaries in the mob they lead.
* ''Series/TheXFiles''
** Season 2 episode ''Sleepless'' focuses on a disgruntled Vietnam vet who was has no need to sleep and the ability to alter other people's perception and plans to use his abilities to murder everyone involved in the experiment that gave him his powers
** Season 3 episode ''The Walk'' focuses on a disgruntled Gulf War vet who can astral project annd plans to use his ability to murder his superior officer's family
** Season 4 episode "Unrequited" focuses on a disgruntled Vietnam vet who can effectively turn invisible by exploiting people's ocular blind-spots and intends to use it to assassinate a major military official (noticing a pattern here?)
* One episode of ''Series/PersonOfInterest'' revolves around a gang of veterans getting revenge on the government that abandoned them by robbing banks with military precision and stolen military tech, which regularly recruits new vets to replace the ones who acquired enough loot to retire in luxury. Turns out [[spoiler:the "retired" members were actually murdered in secret by the ringleader so he could take their cut]].
[[AC:Multiple Media]]
* In many adaptations of ''Franchise/SherlockHolmes'', Holmes' EvilCounterpart Moriarty has [[TheDragon a dragon]] named Sebastian Moran who is an ex-Army officer and ColdSniper.
[[AC:Music]]
* The Music/SteveEarle song "Copperhead Road" is the story of John Lee Pettimore, who follows in his grandfather's (a moonshiner) and father's (a bootlegger) footsteps after serving two tours in 'Nam by starting up a illegal drugs plantation on the titular road.
[[AC:Video Games]]
* In ''VideoGame/LANoire'', the central conflict is around a shipment of military supplies (including weapons and medical grade opiates) stolen by embittered soldiers. [[spoiler: Specifically by members of the protagonist's former unit in Okinawa during World War II (partially because they resented him becoming a decorated cop after they [[UnfriendlyFire fragged him]] when he [[DarkAndTroubledPast ordered them to torch a cave that turned out to be full of civilians]]).]]
* In ''VideoGame/MafiaIII'', PlayerCharacter Lincoln Clay is a Vietnam veteran who joins the black mob in New Orleans upon mustering out.
* Victor Vance from ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoViceCityStories'' is a heroic example. Early on in the game, he's set up for a number of infractions by his CO and discharged. This being a ''Series/GrandTheftAuto'' game, he turns to crime afterwards and ends up running a major drug operation with his brother.
* Rolento from ''VideoGame/FinalFight'' is a former member of a fictional Special Forces unit who is in charge of the weapons plant that supplies the Mad Gear gang. ([[FridgeLogic Although strangely for a gang that has its own weapons factory, they generally attack you with knives and lead pipes instead of guns]].) After crossing over to the ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' universe, in some of his endings he starts his own criminal organization, looking to recruit other militant characters, and in others he has a [[Franchise/MetalGear Big Boss-esque]] dream of creating an ideal nation for soldiers.
* The Shadow Platoon from ''VideoGame/UrbanReign'' is made up of former military men who have been discharged for various reasons.
* ''Franchise/MassEffect'':
** Every turian criminal ever, given their species is a ProudSoldierRace with universal {{conscription}} and a meritocratic military dictatorship.
** ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' squadmate Jacob Taylor was formerly an Alliance Marine assigned to an elite black ops unit called the Corsairs. He later joined the human-supremacist terrorist organization and NGOSuperpower Cerberus.
* ''VideoGame/StarTrekOnline'': The Cardassian-supremacist True Way terrorist organization draws much of its membership from unemployed former Cardassian Guard personnel (following the Cardassian Union's treaty-imposed military reductions). In [[DummiedOut missions that were deleted in Season 11]], the group devolves to little more than a GenericEthnicCrimeGang after its leader Gul Madred is captured.
[[AC:Web Comics]]
* Viktor from ''Webcomic/{{Lackadaisy}}'' was a WWI veteran who is now muscle for a bootlegging gang.
[[AC: Real Life]]
* Los Zetas, one of the most feared [[TheCartel Mexican drug cartels]], was founded by deserters from Mexico's Special Forces.
* A number of gangs in the US used to require members to enlist in the Army, go through at least basic training before leaving so they'd learn how to shoot straight.
* Several members of the early {{Yakuza}} were {{Ronin}}. It's unclear whether the organizations were founded by Ronin who started running protection rackets or by semi-legit vending and gambling guilds who hired ronin as muscle, but regardless they frequently claim to be heirs to the samurai.
* After the end of UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar, quite a few ex-soldiers, especially from the Confederate side, turned outlaw, the most famous such group being the [[BanditClan James-Younger Gang]] led by Frank and UsefulNotes/JesseJames. Many others went into [[UsefulNotes/KuKluxKlan a campaign of terrorism and guerrilla warfare]] against anything perceived as Northern, and especially against freed slaves.
* During the colonial era, many {{privateer}}s (naval mercenaries) went on to become outlaw {{pirate}}s.
