Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Funny Stuff: U.S. Navy Shellback Ceremony Or Vodka Fueled Armor Group Party?
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Jobs: Disaster Response Team Member, Texas
Work is work guys, and AGNA is putting together some stuff. Who knows, this contract might be incredibly ‘well managed’, and I would hope after the Kabul fiasco, they would have their stuff squared away by now.
Or not. Just be prepared to run away if they crack open a bottle of Vodka at any company parties. (I had to say it-hee hee) –Matt
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Disaster Response Team Member
Job ID: 2009-1966
Location: US- Texas
Category: Security Services – Fixed Site
Type: Temporary (TMP)
More information about this job:
Overview:
ArmorGroup North America is seeking qualified security professionals to assist with a number of commercial contracts we hold throughout the Gulf Coast region. The candidate must be able to travel on short notice and able to work in austere conditions for up to 30 days at a time.
Responsibilities:
Entry/Exit access control
Asset protection
General security duties related to disaster response
Qualifications:
Must be a U.S. Citizen or legally eligible to work in the United States.
Proficiency in English (Written or Spoken)
Current or prior security experience, 3 years, this includes police and military
Pass Urine Drug Screening and show proof of negative results
State and local law enforcement officers must provide training certificate and proof of current employment
Experience with Entry/Exit Access
Comfortable with Roving Patrol up to 12 hours per day across long distances.
Familiarity with securing facilities and/or vehicles at a fixed location.
Physically capable of standing a 12-hour post
TEXAS:
Must hold a current Level III or Level IV Security Officer Commission* issued by Texas Depart of Public Safety.
*”Security officer commission” means an authorization issued by the commission that entitles a security officer to carry a firearm.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Industry Talk: State’s Inspector General Says Failed Oversight on Armor Group ‘Will Be Made Public’
Great! State has a lot of answering to do in regards to managing this thing, and I am glad to hear that the IG will be going to town on these clowns that exhibited such poor leadership and oversight. I also hope that the State Department will have the guts to do what is right, and fire some folks as well. Although I see that as a little bit tougher, because it is damn near impossible to fire anyone in government. –Matt
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State’s Inspector General Says Failed Oversight on ArmorGroup ‘Will Be Made Public’
By Spencer Ackerman
9/9/09
At a House Oversight subcommittee hearing on Afghanistan, the State Department’s inspector general, Howard Geisel, made his first public comments about ArmorGroup, the State Department security contractor accused of physical and sexual harassment. Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) asked Geisel, whose office has opened an investigation into the oversight of ArmorGroup’s contract to protect the U.S. embassy in Kabul, “who bears responsibility” for the company’s abuses.
Industry Talk: Armor Group Seeks More Guards, But What Have They Done to Fix Things?
Armor Group Seeks More Guards, But What Have They Done to Fix Things?
09/10/2009
I got an email from Black Ice Security telling me that Armor Group was looking for Embassy Guards, and I also noticed that Secure Aspects was flying the same AG Embassy Guard Force job. At first I chuckled, and then I thought wow, someone is going to jump into that mess and risk their reputation with this gig-I better discuss this with the readers. The question I have, which I am sure is on the minds of potential contractors signing up for this job, is what has AG done to insure that another fiasco like this doesn’t happen again?
The reason why I think they should make a public statement on such a thing, is because AG will further damage this industry if they have not done the necessary things to fix their organization and management. If they were in a bubble, I could care less, but the reality of it all is that what AG does, impacts everyone in this industry. Like I have said in prior posts, I am tired of being hated, because of the acts of others.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Quotes: DoS Department Spokesman on Contract Oversight
This just says it all. I mean everyone has seen the pictures and heard all the crap with Armor Group at the Embassy, but to me, this was the most relevant bit of information about the whole deal. It is also the funniest quote ever. Jake put it up on PMH too. Enjoy. –Matt
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DoS Department Spokesman
Daily Press BriefingWashington, DC
September 1, 2009
AFGHANISTAN
QUESTION: But if you could just describe that and what is DS’s role.
MR. KELLY: Sure. I mean, DS’s role, I think, is mainly to over -the oversight of the guard program. But that’s a good question, and we’ll get you the info on it.
QUESTION: And what is the oversight of this particularcontractor? Does DS have an oversight of that contractor? Becausein the whole Blackwater situation there was a lot of complaintsthat DS didn’t have enough oversight over the contractors. So who specifically –
MR. KELLY: Well, I do have a specific answer to that question.
QUESTION: Okay.
MR. KELLY: The contracting officer is assigned here inWashington, D.C., and that person has overall responsibility for oversight of the contract and participates in weekly meetings between the program office and AGNA, or the Armour Group. And this person is also the one who has interactions on a more frequent basis –
QUESTION: From here?
MR. KELLY: From here in Washington.
QUESTION: So there’s no adult supervision of this contractor on the ground?
MR. KELLY: I’m getting to that.
QUESTION: Okay.
MR. KELLY: In Kabul, there are two assistant Regional Security Officers designated as the contracting officer’s representative and assistant contracting officer representative, respectively. There is also always a duty RSO who deals with the routine guard force matters such as access requests and on-compound events. So that’s – I guess that goes some way to answer your question. Right? It does appear that they do have the guard force responsibility.
QUESTION: Meaning the Armour Guard force?
MR. KELLY: Well, I mean, it’s an embassy guard force, and Armour has the contract for it. Can we –
QUESTION: To guard the perimeter of the embassy? Is that what they do?
MR. KELLY: Well, let’s find out exactly.
QUESTION: Okay.