Graves enlisted into the United States Marine Corps and eventually became an operator in the elite MARSOC Raiders. However, at some point, Graves began to feel disillusioned with the military, thinking that the uniform he once proudly wore limited and held back men like him. After leaving the military, in 2017, Graves set up his own private military company, which he named Shadow Company. The company specialized in troop, air, and maritime deployment anywhere in the world.