Some Contractor Tips from Iraq

Dub13

Info from Iraq

From Someone who is Doing the Run and Gun
Ben Thomas


Yesterday a friend of mine who runs a small security company here in Iraq emailed me. He is standing up a protection detail and wanted my opinion on tactics and equipment running the roads of Iraq; Tactics, SOP's, hard car or soft? I have been giving it some thought and here is where I am at.

I am willing to speculate I’m as well traveled in Iraq as anyone I’ve met. I’ve been just about everywhere between Kuwait and Iran, all points in between. And I’ve traveled every way possible.

I’ve gone in military convoy up armored hummers at 40MPH. I’ve run the Fallujah Baghdad gauntlet in a 15 truck convoy, thin skinned white F350's. I’ve rolled all over in blacked out Pajeros in local dress. Diplomatic convoys with armored suburbans and helo cover.

I’ve done the whole hide the guns and smile a lot all the way to showing just about everyone the front sight post. I’ve done 140KMH up MSR Tampa and weaved through Sadr city at a near standstill.

I, like nearly everyone have made mistakes and been lucky to be here writing this.

I think the most important and neglected aspect of survival in theatre is training. Every freaking day your crew should practice "actions on" - At least do it on a dry erase board. Actions upon anything and everything. What usually happens is we start going through the "what ifs" and all the sudden every guy in the crew has a different idea of what should happen. After all we come from many different backgrounds. After about 30 minutes of that we all end up scratching our head debating which idea is best and say "let’s get chow". Decide on some fundamental concepts. And stick to them, but of course always remembering that the plan is just something to deviate from anyway. As long as we all know the end goal and work towards it. i.e. If the vehicle is stalled in the ambush, driver flicks it in neutral so the rear car can ram us out and we prepare to un-ass the vehicle on the opposite side of the contact.

More Here

komsomol

Apologies for going slightly off topic and running the risk of sounding a bit nieve. But how did you come about to get such job oppertunities in a security company in Iraq?

What sort of experience are they looking for in contractors?

For example as a young lad of 20 years of age, if it was my ambition to get involved in the security area as a career contracting, what stepping stones or ladders could you suggest that i could start off at and work towards.

As i know for a fact they're not gonna hire some young lad with very limitied experience. Goes without saying.

Hagar

I believe Dub13 is detailing the everyday life and tactics employed by contractors in these situations so we can see the difficulties they face and how they overcome them.

There are easier, less perilous ways to earn a living. Try FAS if you need a job.

komsomol

I've no problem getting a normal safe job here in ireland Hagar, plenty of experience and safe references.

But i have a passion for security affairs and the military. So im inevitably looking towards that area for a career.

I just dont know whether to take the plunge and join the military full on or whether to try the private sector. But more than likely you'd need military experience first for the private sector. Hence my questions above really.

cushtac

You don't need a lot of military or police experience, but it does help a lot. What you do need is a decent close protection course under your belt, one of those will cost a few grand.

Hagar

Many years ago I worked as a contractor in Libya in the Oilfields. I was there in 84 when Tripoli was bombed by the Americans. It's not nearly as romantic or glamarous as it sounds. Think long and hard about it. You may not have time to reflect later on the decision.

coyote6

I'm not sure they put courses on in Ireland but if you can get a ticket to the states there are some good training resources out there. One of the best going now is Triple Canopy (started by a Delta guy) another one is HSS International. I've taken courses form both and they're top rate. They both have websites with training schedules.

Hagar

I Just realised that my previous post may give the impression that I was a "security" contractor, I wasn't, I was an IT contractor. The term is used for everybody who is not a direct company employee. The security people use the term to help blend into the background.

Dub13

Its true that you don't need a lot of military or police experience,but any company thats doing things right will only take ex military guys.The training you will get in the military you just could not get on a private course,if I was running a security company working in 'hot spots' the minimum requirement I would look for when hiring is at least a couple of years served as a Infantry soldier.


Again this is the minimum requirement I would recommend,most of the lads that work in this sector are ex Special Forces and rightly so its a dangerous business to be in.I think I remember been told that the Brits were massively increasing the salary the SAS lads get as so many of them were head hunted by these company's.

cushtac

That's not necessarily the case Dub13. There's plenty of ex-policemen doing CP work, I know of many ex-RUC who are out in Iraq & Afghanistan at the moment. Just because someone's been in the military, doesn't mean they've the required skills. Many militaries don't engage in the same sort of ATCP work as Irish or UK forces would have done in the past, so an ex-infantry man of European origin might have spent his entire career preparing for the Russian hordes. There's been several cases of ex-military men in Iraq making mistakes & getting killed or injured as a result.

I wouldn't say most of the people working in this field are ex-SF either, the vast majority of the ones I know of were 'ordinary' soldiers or policemen.

Takeshi_Kovacs

Yeah the minimum requirements for being hired as a 'contractor', (if i was hiring..), would have to be ex-military, (preferably special forces) and with some combat experience. Although, there is a huge demand for contractors, as Iraq has opened so much demand for security, and lots of small town cops are mixing it up with ex military guys. I am reading a book at the moment called 'Licensed To Kill' by Robert Young Pelton, and it is a very good read into the world of security contractors.

Dub13

cushtac wrote:

That's not necessarily the case Dub13. There's plenty of ex-policemen doing CP work, I know of many ex-RUC who are out in Iraq & Afghanistan at the moment. Just because someone's been in the military, doesn't mean they've the required skills. Many militaries don't engage in the same sort of ATCP work as Irish or UK forces would have done in the past, so an ex-infantry man of European origin might have spent his entire career preparing for the Russian hordes. There's been several cases of ex-military men in Iraq making mistakes & getting killed or injured as a result..

I wouldn't say most of the people working in this field are ex-SF either, the vast majority of the ones I know of were 'ordinary' soldiers or policemen.[/QUOTE]


I am well aware that there are a lot of ex-policemen (and some who have not left there day jobs,lads on extended 'leave' etc etc) doing this kind of work and IMO its better than just getting some random chap with no military background,but at the end of the day Police training and Military training are completely different beasts.If the so called **** ever hit the fan I know I would rather a ex military guy to have my back,but this is just my opinion don't get me wrong their certainly is a role that can be filled by ex-bobby's.

cushtac wrote:

I wouldn't say most of the people working in this field are ex-SF either, the vast majority of the ones I know of were 'ordinary' soldiers or policemen.

Iraq has changed this industry big time,before Iraq kicked of this was a small industry with not many jobs or stints as they like to be called.IMO pre 9/11 private contractor jobs were mainly taken up by ex-SF lads.It made sense not to many jobs on offer so offer them to the best first.So yes at the moment there are lots of non military lads take up theses jobs but IMO when things die down a bit the old Status Quo will return.

cushtac

There's loads of 'ex-military' types in the private security sector now who barely fired their rifles annualy while in uniform, or who did a year's national service when they were 18. Ex-military does not mean they're used to the job, an ex-police officer from a bad part of the US or South Africa would have more experience of being shot at than a lot of the ex-soldiers out there now.

Takeshi_Kovacs

Yeah you're right there cushtac.. before Iraq when PMC wasn't as big an industry as it is now, it was battle hardened soldiers and SF that were hired... now, any ol soldier can join up, even some engineering companies in Iraq are training their employees and arming them...

the_syco

From something I read some time ago, many of the drivers, etc, are ex-military, or ex-police (from a high danger zone). These are taken on, as they know how to act "cool", and not be trigger happy, in "hot" situations.

They want people who can avoid conflict, and not someone who wakes up each morning hoping for some combat, as they are a danger to themselves, and the other people in the convoy.

I think that at the start, most of the security contrating firms were started by high ranking soldiers, and not just random Joe Soaps that decided to earn money.

Ronan Raver77

Initially all the operaters were top tier ex special forces.Since Iraq kicked off demand HIGH ex special forces LOW so normal soldiers,eod,swat,police have been hired to do psd/pmc work.
Anyone hear of the 4 South Africans taken in Iraq last week???????????
So little on the press,they were part of a convoy and were ambushed...
http://www.24.com/news/?p=tsa&i=358756

Ronan Raver77

Saw this on the web and decided to throw it on here instead of starting a new thread...
As for tips for being a contractor....
My one would be "never be taken alive"..
Four Americans and an Austrian abducted in November in southern Iraq spoke briefly and appeared uninjured in a video believed to have been recorded nearly two weeks ago.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16455755/

Manic Moran

I'm afraid I'd not go as a PMC, even at twice my princely officer's salary. There are several reasons for this.

Firstly, survival chances: If I'm chugging along in a military convoy and get attacked, I have at least an encrypted military radio that speaks straight to a military operations centre. (FBCB2 is even better) I can be rest assured that the Army will send whatever they have, as fast as they can to help out their brothers. I would be less confident about my ability to call for help, or the speed of that help's arrival as a private contractor not under military escort.

Secondly, benefits. If I am wounded, the military takes good care of me. For life, if required, all free through the Veteran's Administration Hospital System (Which is actually quite well-regarded these days), not to mention other state benefits to Purple Heart recipients. PMCs, on the other hand, will have minimal health insurance if any at all, so all that extra money I earned would promptly vanish into the medical structure, and it probably wouldn't cover it anyway. Remember, ultimately a PMC is out to make a profit, and thus would try to keep expenses down.

NTM

Ronan Raver77

I think it depends on the local General and if the PMC's are on good terms with the local US patrols and heli units...Couple of cases of cola and packages etc..and try get them onside, thats what i gather from the all the info i have seen anyway.

Is there clear protocols to go to the rescue of Pmc's air evac etc????
Any experienced guys shed some light...

Takeshi_Kovacs

Yeah the lack of medical cover that you get as a pmc is a major downer, unlike the US army, which has some of the best rehab and recovery facilities for wounded soldiers (there was a very good article in last months National Geographic about this last month). I guess that is just the risk you take as a contractor, you gotta weigh up how much your life is worth to you.

The additional firepower you get as a soldier chugging along in a military convoy can be handy in a tight spot, but you are presenting yourself as a bigger target for the insurgents to engage, whereas if you were traveling low key in a soft skin car, then you are less likely to be targeted. I think this is part of the policy that HART, which uses a lot of ex SAS guys and uses their ability for 'assimilation' to blend in. Although the major PMC like Blackwater, prefer the all American gung-ho show of brute force and overwhelming firepower to get themselves out of a tight spot..

Ronan Raver77

Takeshi_Kovacs wrote:

Yeah the lack of medical cover that you get as a pmc is a major downer, unlike the US army, which has some of the best rehab and recovery facilities for wounded soldiers (there was a very good article in last months National Geographic about this last month). I guess that is just the risk you take as a contractor, you gotta weigh up how much your life is worth to you.

The additional firepower you get as a soldier chugging along in a military convoy can be handy in a tight spot, but you are presenting yourself as a bigger target for the insurgents to engage, whereas if you were traveling low key in a soft skin car, then you are less likely to be targeted. I think this is part of the policy that HART, which uses a lot of ex SAS guys and uses their ability for 'assimilation' to blend in. Although the major PMC like Blackwater, prefer the all American gung-ho show of brute force and overwhelming firepower to get themselves out of a tight spot..

Wasnt an Irish guy from Cork involved in a major contact in Iraq whilst working for Harte???? Ex legionaire made the head lines think it was in 2005

Dub83

I've just returned from working in Iraq with the Car Sales Company that has all of us Irish working for them and spent the majority of my time in the Green Zone...I made alot of friends in the private security area because they have the money to spend unlike the poor grunts who are out there on orders!!! All of Blackwater are ex-US military with alot of combat experience, unless you are a medic & only heard 1 instance of them hiring a guy from civilian background (he was a firefighter)...As for Triple Canopy, the only time I encountered them was when I was going to a secure checkpoints in and around the Embassy and were predominantly South American (extremely low paid)....Then there is AEGIS,who do have ex-RUC but the majority of Irish with them are ex RIR (most having carried out 2-3 tours of duty in N/Ireland)...There is also MVM, the majority of their personnel are Lebanese, all ex-militia having fought in Lebanon in the 80's (these were the best group of people I met out there)....As for an engineering company giving side-arms to employees, highly unlikely, as this would lead to them having to obtain weapons clearance CAC cards(ID's) for their staff, which would lead to every employee of every civilian company wanting to arm themselves, not going to happen!!!
And from what I learned, Big Army does not back-up the private security company's, have heard many an instance of company's running counter-flow with the principle in convoy and rolling up on Big Army and a 3/4 hour stand off insuing!!!
If you wanna have a look at what companys are operating out in Iraq, have a look at dangerzonejobs.com...lists all PSD,Engineering & Logistiscal jobs...

Just remember, if you work as a DOD contractor, no gargle, no porn!!!

iceage

Ronan Devitt wrote: »

Wasnt an Irish guy from Cork involved in a major contact in Iraq whilst working for Harte???? Ex legionaire made the head lines think it was in 2005

Padraig O' Keeffe. Lucky guy.

Conor108

iceage wrote: »

Padraig O' Keeffe. Lucky guy.

Anyone read the book? Really good:)

Leadership

IMO to be a contractor you need real military experience or be a very good actor. I work in this area from time to time when I need to earn a boost of cash or when I do my charity work, I work in EOD BTW. The main part of staying alive or out of trouble is to look the part and not show any weakness what so ever. The minute you look weak you are marked, by weak I do not mean a 8 stone stick but you need to look alert constantly and look like you are ready to strike back at any moment. Whether you can fire a gun or not is almost irrelevant as escape is much more important.

Tenger

Conor108 wrote: »

Anyone read the book? Really good:)

Enjoyed that book. Another one to look out for is "Making a Killing" by James Ashcroft.

Manic Moran

Dub83 wrote: »

I've just returned from working in Iraq with the Car Sales Company that has all of us Irish working for them

Welcome back. I ran into a bunch of you during my time in country, you all seemed to be having a great auld time earning cash with a captive sales market (Hey, who else are we going to buy Fords from over there?) and with the occasional jaunt to Qatar for a pint.

At the time, when they were responding to the adverts in the Irish Times etc the adverts were not very specific as to what exactly the job entailed. ("Sales position with very large firm, travel, good pay"), are they still doing that or are they being a bit more open about it now?

NTM