Any civilian contractor guys on the board?

[ScottT]

Looking for folks who are or have worked in Iraq or Afghanistan.

If so, give me a PM.

Thanks in advance,

Scott

[MTS]

I have my PM function disabled you can email me <mtswainAThotmail.com> if you like and I'll try to help.

[MRapp]

Glad to offer any assistance I can. Email me at bretw67@yahoo.com.

[gdw042]

PM Sent...

[sfgrng]

PM me if you want.

Stay Safe

[Cold War Scout]

Just FYI:

A friend of mine told me a little while back that although there are many civilian contractors in Iraq many of them work in places where they never leave the wire except to go on R and R or end of contract/mission/get terminated/resign.

Those who apparently work in the IZ (Green Zone) can often leave their particular work location, however, many never leave the IZ except to go to the Baghdad Airport for a flight out.

In locations outside the IZ, like the Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) and camps, it is not uncommon for civilian contractors there to ever leave the base. This appparently includes guys who supervise the security personnel from Uganda on a number of bases. He said they travel around the base wearing all the 5.11 gear you can imagine, but they never actually leave the base except to helo out on R and R. In fact he told he was at one base that had a "big name" PSD company with PSD vehicles, when he asked where do those guys go the Army movement team officer told him "hell if I know. I have never seen them go anywhere." In many of these FOBs it is apparently the case that only the military moves people outside the wire.

So based upon what he told me I guess there are high risk civilian contractors (the actual outside the wire PSD personnel) and there are civilian contractors (some who leave the wire now and then, and many who never do).

Of course, I guess, rockets or mortars can land anywhere when they do

[Mandalorian]

pm inbound

[MRapp]

CWS, You nailed-it. Especially accurate is the description of contractors going overboard on the 5.11 "shoot-me-first" clothing. I've witnessed static guys, and some of the PMC mobile PSD cadre, wearing so much in the way of gear their daily duties become a Crossfit work-out. And unless your tasking requires movement "PSD, CO, etc." most civilian contractors stay inside the Hesco villiage.

This is only my second post on WT. Although, I've been reading and learning for quite some time. It's a real pleasure to have a place where so many like-minded folks contribute their knowledge and experience. My thanks to Mr. Suarez for making this forum available.

[vlazlow]

CWS hit the nail on the head.

The security contract that I am the COR for is static and never leaves our compound much less the FOB.

[Cold War Scout]

CWS hit the nail on the head.

The security contract that I am the COR for is static and never leaves our compound much less the FOB.

Hmmm. I see you are still around. Guess that means I ain't getting your gear anytime soon.

[ScottT]

Thanks guys,

I'm not just looking for shooters. I'm looking for folks who worked on all kinds of contracts over there.

Thanks again for your input. It may be helping someone who really needs it.

Scott

[vlazlow]

Hmmm. I see you are still around. Guess that means I ain't getting your gear anytime soon.

No need to loose hope.

We had a rocket hit pretty damn close last night and I am still going to try to squeeze a jaunt over to J'bad b/f I rip back to CONUS in mid-May.

[Cold War Scout]

No need to loose hope.

We had a rocket hit pretty damn close last night and I am still going to try to squeeze a jaunt over to J'bad b/f I rip back to CONUS in mid-May.

30 days!!! Man anything can happen during 30 days!!!!

Hey send me your e-mail address again.

[MTS]

In locations outside the IZ, like the Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) and camps, it is not uncommon for civilian contractors there to ever leave the base. This appparently includes guys who supervise the security personnel from Uganda on a number of bases. He said they travel around the base wearing all the 5.11 gear you can imagine, but they never actually leave the base except to helo out on R and R. In fact he told he was at one base that had a "big name" PSD company with PSD vehicles, when he asked where do those guys go the Army movement team officer told him "hell if I know. I have never seen them go anywhere." In many of these FOBs it is apparently the case that only the military moves people outside the wire.

Speaking only from my experience on the FOB I was on civilian contractors were transported by their own companies PSD team.



So based upon what he told me I guess there are high risk civilian contractors (the actual outside the wire PSD personnel) and there are civilian contractors (some who leave the wire now and then, and many who never do).

In simple terms all PSD team members are civilian contractors but not all civilian contractors are PSD team members.

[Hired gun]

Mark,
I believe you have my e-mail address, so if ther is anything I can do to help, just ask me.
CWS information is correct. I have been in Afghanistan for almost a year now. Most civilian contractors never leave the "wire". I am proud to say that I am not a part of that group. The camp where I am posted has approximately 80+ US contractors (not counting the other foreign nationals). Out of this group only 12 of us do missions outside the wire. The missions basically consist of long convoys to an Afghan police station where we work. The teams do this 4 or 5 times a week.
Suicide bombers and VBIEDs have struck 3 times this week in my AO. The 2 VBIEDs targeted military convoys along routes we use all the time. Scouts track are convoy movements all the time via cell phone.
So yes it is true that most contractors do not leave the camps or FOBs, However this is also appliciable to the military. On the camps I have been on, about 10% of the military is actually out executing missions. The rest are "support" personnel. Being on a camp is not always safe. A few weeks ago an Afghan soldiers shot and killed some Navy personnel while they were running on the track, then the coward blew his brains out.
Some camps and FOBs are hit with rockets and mortars on a regular basis, almost like clock work. I have asked military officers why don't they deploy snipers teams to handle the problem. The officers will look at me like I am crazy and respond by saying we don't do that. I should mention that it is the European armies that are part of ISAF (Internation Security Assistance Force). We say that ISAF stand for "I Still Ain't Fighting".

[MTS]

Mark,
I believe you have my e-mail address, so if there is anything I can do to help, just ask me.

Thanks but it is ScottT that is looking for information.

[Miles]

30 days!!! Man anything can happen during 30 days!!!!

Hey send me your e-mail address again.

Hollyweird always shows the short timers getting it just before they ship out.:dope:

No offence vlazlow;). Watch your six.

[ScottT]

hired gun. I am currently stuck in the Denver airport but I would like to get in contact with you. My email address is stschirhart@carabinshaw.com

[Hired gun]

ScottT,
I sent you an e-mail.

[MTS]

hired gun. I am currently stuck in the Denver airport but I would like to get in contact with you. My email address is stschirhart@carabinshaw.com

ScottT,

I know Hired Gun and can vouch for him, he'll give you good info.

[ScottT]

Thanks guys. I am again stuck in the airport in Denver and working off a PDA so I am limited. Laptop went TU and it was time to replace it anyway.

I'll be back in the office in the morning. I'll return e-mail then. Mark, your endorsement is good enough for me. Thanks.


Wyoming was great except that I have a hurt client out there.

[Iraq Ninja]

Scott,

If you still need help or information, just PM me. I got five years in Iraq as a PSD contractor. Things are slowing down here in regards to work, and the future is in A Stan.

PSD work is still one of the premier gigs to get into. I would go crazy sitting in a FOB all day supervising a static guard force, but that is the kind of guy I am I guess.