History Main / FormerRegimePersonnel

* ''Series/GameOfThrones'': Much like House Stark, many of Dany's allies and clients come from individuals who held offices in rival and enemy regimes. Ser Jorah Mormont, her oldest ally and retainer, fought alongside King Robert Baratheon and Lord Eddard Stark ''against'' House Targaryen during the Rebellion. Ser Barristan was loyal to House Targaryen and fought alongside Rhaegar at the Battle of Trident but he was also Kingsguard to King Robert, and briefly, King Joffrey, Tyrion Lannister is the son of Lord Tywin, who was responsible for the Sack of King's Landing and Varys the Spider was a spy who has undermined many regimes, as are Theon and Yara Greyjoy.

* During the 1980s and 1990s, UsefulNotes/{{China}} underwent [[UsefulNotes/ToGetRichIsGlorious a significant period of modernization and economic reform]] after UsefulNotes/MaoZedong died. A major aspect of this process involved the Chinese Communist Party's civilian government working to downsize the Chinese military and [[https://www.idsa-india.org/an-may9-4.html break up]] [[https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB9017387737678000 the PLA's]] [[http://congressionalresearch.com/98-197/document.php nationwide business empire]][[note]]A process that [[http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=403591 still continues]] [[https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/xi-jinping-orders-chinas-military-to-shut-kindergartens-businesses-1893604 well into the 21st century]][[/note]], which it was using to finance itself and operate as a state within a state. A lot of PLA soldiers found themselves discharged and being unable to reintegrate into civilian life, a large number of them turned to crime, especially in [[https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1993-03-19-9303190011-story.html Hong Kong]]. For an [[https://www.walterdehavilland.com/crime-in-hong-kong.html almost 15 year period]] until the mainland regained sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997, many ex-PLA soldiers were involved in violent robberies and shootings under the direction of Triad gangs and other organized crime syndicates, helped by their access to fully automatic firearms and explosives. Many of the wild shootouts in Creator/JohnWoo's early HeroicBloodshed movies were inspired by the crime wave sweeping Hong Kong at the time of filming.

* During the 1980s and 1990s, UsefulNotes/{{China}} underwent [[UsefulNotes/ToGetRichIsGlorious a significant period of modernization and economic reform]] after UsefulNotes/MaoZedong died. A major aspect of this process involved the Chinese Communist Party's civilian government working to downsize the Chinese military and [[https://www.idsa-india.org/an-may9-4.html break up the PLA's]] [[http://congressionalresearch.com/98-197/document.php nationwide business empire]][[note]]A process that is [[https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/xi-jinping-orders-chinas-military-to-shut-kindergartens-businesses-1893604 still ongoing to this day]][[/note]], which it was using to finance itself and operate as a state within a state. A lot of PLA soldiers found themselves discharged and being unable to reintegrate into civilian life, a large number of them turned to crime, especially in [[https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1993-03-19-9303190011-story.html Hong Kong]]. For an [[https://www.walterdehavilland.com/crime-in-hong-kong.html almost 15 year period]] until the mainland regained sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997, many ex-PLA soldiers were involved in violent robberies and shootings under the direction of Triad gangs and other organized crime syndicates, helped by their access to fully automatic firearms and explosives. Many of the wild shootouts in Creator/JohnWoo's early HeroicBloodshed movies were inspired by the crime wave sweeping Hong Kong at the time of filming.

* During the 1980s and 1990s, UsefulNotes/{{China}} underwent [[UsefulNotes/ToGetRichIsGlorious a significant period of modernization and economic reform]] after UsefulNotes/MaoZedong died. A major aspect of this process involved the Chinese Communist Party's civilian government working to downsize the Chinese military and [[https://www.idsa-india.org/an-may9-4.html break up the PLA's]] [[http://congressionalresearch.com/98-197/document.php nationwide business empire]], which it was using to finance itself and operate as a state within a state. A lot of PLA soldiers found themselves discharged and being unable to reintegrate into civilian life, a large number of them turned to crime, especially in [[https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1993-03-19-9303190011-story.html Hong Kong]]. For an [[https://www.walterdehavilland.com/crime-in-hong-kong.html almost 15 year period]] until the mainland regained sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997, many ex-PLA soldiers were involved in violent robberies and shootings under the direction of Triad gangs and other organized crime syndicates, helped by their access to fully automatic firearms and explosives. Many of the wild shootouts in Creator/JohnWoo's early HeroicBloodshed movies were inspired by the crime wave sweeping Hong Kong at the time of filming.

* During the 1980s and 1990s, UsefulNotes/{{China}} underwent [[UsefulNotes/ToGetRichIsGlorious a significant period of modernization and economic reform]] after UsefulNotes/MaoZedong died. A major aspect of this process involved the Chinese Communist Party's civilian government working to downsize the Chinese military [[https://www.idsa-india.org/an-may9-4.html breaking up the PLA's]] [[http://congressionalresearch.com/98-197/document.php nationwide business empire]], which it was using to finance itself and operate as a state within a state. A lot of PLA soldiers found themselves discharged and being unable to reintegrate into civilian life, a large number of them turned to crime, especially in [[https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1993-03-19-9303190011-story.html Hong Kong]]. For an [[https://www.walterdehavilland.com/crime-in-hong-kong.html almost 15 year period]] until the mainland regained sovereignty over HK in 1997, many ex-PLA soldiers were involved in violent robberies and shootings under the direction of Triad gangs and other organized crime syndicates, helped by their access to fully automatic firearms and explosives.

* The ''Franchise/MetalGear'' series features many examples, as the emotional motivations of soldiers is one of the series' main motifs, with many of the series' villains categorizing soldiers as people who need war, basically deducing that were there to be World Peace, people like them would create conflict just to have a purpose. Sergei Gurlukovich and Revolver Ocelot are both ex-Spetznaz, and Big Boss himself temporarily becomes a mercenary for hire after leaving the United States in Peace Walker. One heroic example, however, is Boris Popov in ''VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance'', the head of Maverick Security and a former solder during the UsefulNotes/SovietInvasionOfAfghanistan.

* [[spoiler:Simon and Chief Chef of Russian Sushi]] in ''VisualNovel/{{Durarara}}'' were both part of the KGB before the Soviet Union fell, after which they joined TheMafiya together. As of now, they're both hiding from the organization in Japan and one of them has become a major [[TheAtoner Atoner]].

* Many characters in ''Manga/RurouniKenshin'' are former members of the Imperial or Shogunate forces, including Kenshin himself. Many of them have become criminals or swords-for-hire.

* Popov from ''Literature/RainbowSix'' is Ex-KGB now renting his services to stage terrorist incidents (originally just as security consultant).

* A plot point in ''VideoGame/StarTrekOnline''. After the militaristic Cardassian government fell, a huge number of the former spies were now unemployed and out of power, which they weren't too happy with. Gul Madred, a recurring character from the TV series, hires many of them into the mining league, which helps to restart the planet's economy. The mining league is a cover for the "True Way" terrorist group, which wants to re-institute the fascist, authoritarian powers of the past. A number of pre-Season 11 missions dealt with fighting back this group, and eventually capturing Gul Madred. [[DummiedOut Season 11 removed the bulk of this story]] and the True Way are now little more than a footnote in a conglomeration of ''Series/DeepSpaceNine'' {{call back}}s.
* The mercenary companies available for hire in ''VideoGame/StarcraftIIWingsOfLiberty'' include several elite forces from the defeated Terran Confederacy, one from the defeated United Earth Directorate invasion force, and one that went rogue from the ''current'' (but threatened) iron-fisted dictatorship, the Dominion. The rest are typical thugs, pirates and adventure capitalists.

* A plot point in ''VideoGame/StarTrekOnline'' - After the militaristic Cardassian government fell, a huge number of the former spies were now unemployed and out of power, which they weren't too happy with. Gul Madred, a recurring character from the TV series, hires many of them into the mining league, which helps to restart the planet's economy. [[spoiler:Unfortunately, the mining league is a cover for the "True Way" terrorist group, which wants to re-institute the fascist, authoritarian powers of the past. A number of missions deal with fighting back this group, and eventually capturing Gul Madred.]]

[[folder:{{Anime}} and {{Manga}}]]

[[folder:Comics]]

[[folder:Film]]
* Leonardo [=DiCaprio=]'s character in ''Film/BloodDiamond'' is a former Rhodesian mercenary turned diamond smuggler.
** His character is an inversion in this instance as Archer was never depicted as a former soldier of the Rhodesian state. He pretty much went straight into mercenary work (albeit under the wing of Colonel Coetzee) after the Rhodesia fell.

[[folder:Live Action TV]]
* This becomes a problem in season 2 of ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD''. With the dissolution of [[spoiler: S.H.I.E.L.D.]] a large number of highly trained people are out of work and seeking new opportunities. Most went into the private sector or were hired by various US government agencies. Some went underground like [[spoiler: Team Coulson]] in order to continue with their mission. However, many took whatever intelligence and/or secret technology they had and sold it to the highest bidder. In the worst cases, some were recruited willingly or unwillingly by [[spoiler: HYDRA]].

* ''Anime/{{Monster}}'' takes place in post-unification Germany, and has some ex-members of secret [[EastGermany GDR]] organizations.

* A good deal of ex-KGB personnel turn up in ''Series/BurnNotice''. Sometimes these are employed by [[TheNewRussia Russian intelligence]], sometimes [[TheMafiya they]] [[PrivateMilitaryContractors are not]].

* After [[WarOnTerror Baghdad fell to the US Army]], the interim government fired all Baath Party-related military and civilian personnel and barred them from participating. Since being part of the party was the only real way of advancing through the ranks during the Saddam era, many people had joined up simply to survive, have a decent income or help their communities without necessarily supporting Saddam. The firing of the civilian personnel left Iraq without vital utilities (water and electricity) that wouldn't be restored to ''pre-Saddam levels'' until 2008 and the firing of the military/police personnel caused anarchy to break out within hours of the Coalition taking control. A lot of these people also took their expertise to the insurgency, thus bolstering its ranks with knowledge and equipment.

* ''Literature/Stasiland'' notes that the former East German secret police have adapted quite well to capitalism, as the skills needed to recruit informers are not that different from those needed to sell products.

%%* Yuri's uncle in ''Film/LordOfWar''

* After [[WarOnTerror Baghdad fell to the US Army]], the interim government fired all Baath Party-related military and civilian personnel and barred them from participating. Since being part of the party was the only real way of advancing through the ranks during the Saddam era, many people had joined up simply to survive, have a decent income or help their communities without necessarily supporting Saddam. The firing of the civilian personnel left Iraq without vital utilities (water and electricity) that wouldn't be restored to ''pre-Saddam levels'' until 2008 and the firing of the military/police personnel caused anarchy to break out within hours of the Coalition taking control. A lot of these people also took their expertise to the insurgency, thus bolstering its ranks with knowledge and equipment. [[NiceJobBreakingItHero Nice Job Breaking It]] [[TautologicalTemplar USA]].

May or may not wear a CommissarCap.

* After [[WarOnTerror Baghdad fell to the US Army]], the interim government fired all Baath Party-related military and civilian personnel and barred them from participating. Since being part of the party was the only real way of advancing through the ranks during the Saddam era, many people had joined up simply to survive, have a decent income or help their communities without necessarily supporting Saddam. The firing of the civilian personnel left Iraq without vital utilities (water and electricity) that wouldn't be restored to ''pre-Saddam levels'' until 2008 and the firing of the military/police personnel caused anarchy to break out within hours of the Coalition taking control. A lot of these people also took their expertise to the insurgency, thus bolstering its ranks with knowledge and equipment. [[NiceJobBreakingItHero Nice Job Breaking It USA]].