Feral Jundi

Friday, April 15, 2011

Job Tips: USTC Offering $5,000 Bonus To Attract Former WPS Contractors

Filed under: Afghanistan,Industry Talk,Iraq,Job Tips — Matt @ 10:39 AM

Interesting. Boy, the WPS market is really heating up.  Over the course of the year, I have been watching this whole thing develop through all the back and forth in the news and on the forums, and it has been very active.

At this point in the game, we are at the point where all of these companies are in a competition with one another to get the best and most qualified folks they can get to meet the requirements of the contract.  And as you can see with USTC, they are offering bonuses to attract former WPS folks. I have had a chance to talk with quite a few former WPS guys, and they tell me that they are all getting bombarded with offers by the companies–and especially if they were team leaders/management in WPS.  I guess it’s nice to be wanted? lol

I also think that WPS will continue to be a huge source of employment for contractors for awhile. As troops draw down in Iraq or Afghanistan due to budgetary or political reasons, the diplomatic missions and their protection will be even more of a concern.  And of course enemy combatants will want to take advantage of this transition period and ‘perceived’ security vacuum. If anything, you will see militants test the security apparatus as they watch the military leave, and that is when contractors will be earning their pay.

The size of this program is also stunning. We are talking about thousands of security contractors being used by DoS to perform this mission. So guys will be cycling in and out of this contract for years to come.  So here is the tip of the decade–get WPS certified and get vetted for this program, and you should have some job security for a long time.

Finally, I wanted to highlight the instability in the Middle East and Africa and talk about security at those consulates or embassies located there.  WPS could easily be expanded to meet the security needs of DoS, where ever security is needed. An extremely flexible and capable security pool is needed to meet the demands world wide, and that is what WPS is turning into. And that is the cool thing about private industry supplying this kind of service–they are flexible and capable, and can certainly jump up to meet the needs of DoS. I just hope that DoS is willing to meet private industry half way by creating a ‘learning organization and continuous improvement’ culture/mindset towards managing these contracts. Jundism all the way!! *Disclosure: USTC is not paying me to promote this, nor do I get a head hunters fee. Just putting the word out for them. –Matt

A Signing bonus is being offered to candidates applying for the USTC WPPS program who have worked on any WPPS contract. The signing bonus plan is as follows:
The Signing Bonus is applicable for all IC’s with prior WPPS experience that sign an IC Agreement and one (1) year 270 day (Schedule A) from between March 2, 2011 and May 2, 2011. This offer expires on Midnight, Eastern Standard Time, May 2, 2011. IC must submit his/her bio, and the bio must be approved, within the time frame set forth herein.
The signing bonus is applicable for all IC’s who are currently not working for USTC on a WPPS contract, but have worked on a WPPS contract before.
The signing bonus consist of a one (1) time payment of $5,000.00 as a result of signing an Independent Contractor Service Agreement and a one (1) year (Schedule A) during the timeline outlined above. The $5,000.00 bonus is payable with the first payroll upon initial deployment.
** Any interested personnel currently working for another contractor must finish any current commitment and hereby represents that he/she is not in breach of any other agreement by signing this policy and the IC Agreement and Schedule A.
Link to ad here.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Funny Stuff: Taliban Promise Never To Use Ambulances Again For Suicide Bombings…..Liars!!!!

Filed under: Afghanistan,Al Qaeda,Funny Stuff,Music — Tags: , , , , — Matt @ 12:50 PM

This has to be the funniest thing I have read in a week.  The Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid promised IRIN that this will ‘not happen again’.  Now that is funny.  The Taliban are liars, and of course they will use ambulances for assaults or for transporting drugs and weapons again. They also burned ten Qurans and have yet to be punished for that. Either way, I think this song below spells out exactly what kind of folks the Taliban and Al Qaeda are……Enjoy. –Matt

 

AFGHANISTAN: Taliban rue ambulance attack
12 April 2011 (IRIN) – The use of an ambulance by Taliban suicide attackers in a raid on a police training centre in the southern province of Kandahar on 7 April has been acknowledged as a violation of war laws and the insurgents have promised investigations.
“This will not happen again,” Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, told IRIN.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) strongly condemned the use of a clearly-marked ambulance by the attackers.
“Using an ambulance for the purpose of deceiving the adversary in carrying out an attack constitutes perfidy. This is strictly prohibited by international humanitarian law and is totally unacceptable,” said Jacques de Maio, the ICRC’s head of operations for South Asia, in a 7 April press statement.
Several people, almost all of them security forces, were killed and wounded in the attack, according to provincial officials. (more…)

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Letter Of Marque: Thomas Jefferson On Privateering, July 4, 1812

Filed under: History,Letter Of Marque,Quotes — Tags: , , , , , , — Matt @ 3:43 PM

Today is the birthday of Thomas Jefferson, and I thought it would be cool to post his original paper on the concept of privateering, and why it should be used during the War of 1812.  I plan to link to this page often in the future, when ever I talk about the history of the concept and how important it was to the US strategy back then.

The other thing I wanted to point out is the article written in 1882 about the paper that Thomas Jefferson wrote, and the statistics the author presented. I have not seen these statistics before, and they are pretty interesting.  Of course the author of the article was certainly impressed with the concept of privateering and it’s effects on an enemy. The author made this point in the article, that really stuck out for me. That the British were certainly concerned about American privateers:

One at least of the London journals, the Statesman, foresaw the danger from privateers in 1812. When war was threatened, it said: “America cannot certainly pretend to wage a maritime war with us.  She has no navy to do it with.  But America has nearly a hundred thousand as good seamen as any in the world, all of whom would be actively employed against our trade on every part of the ocean, in their fast-sailing ships of war, many of which will be able to cope with our small cruisers; and they will be found to be sweeping the West India seas, and even carrying desolation into the chops of the Channel.”
All this, and more, the two hundred and fifty privateers accomplished.  They cruised in every sea, and wrought such havoc with British commerce as had never been known before.  Coggeshall’s history of the service enumerates about fifteen hundred prizes taken by them in the two and a half years of war, and these were not all of the captures by privateers alone; while the government war-vessels, in their cruises, added considerably to the number.  The fortunes of the privateers were of the most varied kind.  Some of them made long cruises without falling in with a single British merchantman of which they could make a prize.  Others took enough to enrich every man of the crew.

Very cool stuff and there is way more in this old, but extremely informative article. Check it out. –Matt


Thomas Jefferson On Privateering
July 4, 1812
“What is war?  It is simply a contest between nations of trying which can do the other the most harm.  Who carries on the war?  Armies are formed and navies manned by individuals.  How is a battle gained?  By the death of individuals.  What produces peace?  The distress of individuals.  What difference to the sufferer is it that his property is taken by a national or private armed vessel?  Did our merchants, who have lost nine hundred and seventeen vessels by British captures, feel any gratification that the most of them were taken by his Majesty’s men-of-war?  Were the spoils less rigidly exacted by a seventy-four-gun ship than by a privateer of four guns?  And were not all equally condemned? (more…)

Jobs: Multiple Positions With AdvanFort, OCONUS

Filed under: Job Tips,Jobs,Maritime Security — Tags: , , , , , — Matt @ 2:21 PM

Ok, here is the deal with this one folks. After that last article I posted that mentioned AdvanFort, I thought it would be cool to put up an ad from their career section.  The list of jobs do not mention armed security positions, but I am sure they either have a database they are drawing from for security contractor positions, or they are subcontracting with another company. Who knows, but I thought it would be cool to at least put it out there for folks to think about and throw a resume at.

With my last post, there was a crucial piece of information that gave me the idea to put up a job ad for this company. Here it is: “announced that for the month of March 2011, the company completed a record 108 security missions, covering 127,000 nautical miles—a 35% increase in monthly escort missions compared to February, and a new milestone for the Company.” With that kind of surge in business, this is a company to watch. Although I cannot endorse them, and definitely do your due diligence with this company before signing a contract. I am not the POC for these jobs, and follow the links or use the email below to explore any work options with this company. Good luck. –Matt

AdvanFort is committed to provide the best service for our customers. We offer exciting and challenging career opportunities for our various operations. We look for people with exceptional skills, integrity, and professionalism. We also look for motivated workers who are committed to work in our headquarters in Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia.
We provide a productive and organized work environment conducive for the professional and personal growth of our employees.
AdvanFort is an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, or any other protected status.
Current Openings: Boat Captain, Chief Mate, Chief Engineer, 2nd Engineer, Bosun, Filter, Able,  Seaman, Oiler, Wiper, Radio Operator, Chief Cook

Applicant may send their resume at info@advanfort.com
Career section of Advanfort here.

Maritime Security: Advanfort And ESCGS Providing Jobs For Estonians And Others

Filed under: Estonia,Maritime Security — Tags: , , , , , — Matt @ 1:32 PM

I love pointing out the agendas of reporters when they put together these articles.  If you notice the article below, their intent was to scare the audience into thinking that the evil PNC’s are poaching all of the navy folks.  Although they make no mention as to how many seamen the Estonian Navy has, and how a few of them leaving to go to work for these companies constitutes an ‘en masse’ crisis? lol It sounds scary though….

And even so, all I have to say to the Estonian Navy and leadership is that you should pay better than the companies, or treat your navy better, and then maybe they might stick around?  Just a thought. Or you can implement a draft and force these men to serve against their will?

Now for the sake of these Estonians seeking work with the companies, I certainly hope their government doesn’t play some kind of game with their careers.  These men will be making good money, and spending it in their country.  What we are talking about is jobs, and the rights of men to increase the quality of the lives by earning a decent salary.  And with a global economy highly dependent on shipping, these men are providing a service to the world by putting their lives on the line to protect that shipping. If shipping is attacked, the supply chain is impacted by the loss of those goods, and everyone, to include Estonians, suffer because of increased costs. So with that said, protecting shipping is within the best interest of a nation like this, as well as the world.

Of course their navy needs to be strong as well. But if you are not doing the things necessary to attract and hang on to good people, you will lose them. People, ideas, and hardware, and a nation must focus on the people part if they want to hang on to them.

I also posted a quick blurb about the companies mentioned in this article. Advanfort has been doing well. They have four hundred employees and “announced that for the month of March 2011, the company completed a record 108 security missions, covering 127,000 nautical miles—a 35% increase in monthly escort missions compared to February, and a new milestone for the Company.”  That indicates a dramatic increase in the maritime security market, and it goes along with the other increase of business that I have wrote about in the past.  A media group like the Economist, could definitely put together an article that shows this dramatic increase in business. Hell, I would put it on the cover, because this is news! -Matt

Navy Officers Quit En Masse to Join Private Companies
April 12, 2011
Enticed by the action and higher salaries offered by private security contractors, dozens of professional Navy officers are quitting the national force, leaving at least one ship unmanned.
“One of the main reasons that people leave is money,” said a Navy officer, who wished to remain anonymous, to ETV. “Maybe also the monotony of it. For example, people from the Scouts Batallion, who go on missions, come back and again begin learning how to pull a weapon apart and put it back together – that’s not suitable for them.”
The officer spent six years in the Defense Forces and was sent on two missions. Last month, he began looking for a job in the private industry, reported ETV. (more…)

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