Monday, December 7, 2009
Congo: Conrad Thorpe Trains Anti-Poaching Units in the Virunga NP
Afghanistan: Contractor Hirings in Afghanistan to Emphasize Locals
Now if Walter was reading Feral Jundi, he would have picked up on this story earlier and really impressed his editor. I posted this story back on the 19th of last month. Walter could have also included the other FOB’s on that list of guard contracts. Either way, it is always cool to see some focus on this stuff from the MSM.
The one to watch with this, is the expat contracts that will come down the pipe to manage these LN guard forces. And with that point, I would also like to remind folks how important it will be to really watch these guys and work with your guard force. I also want to emphasize with the companies how important it will be to back up your guard force commanders and do some proper vetting to insure you have quality folks in charge of that stuff. Trust but verify, and apply Kaizen to every aspect of the contract, and the companies will be happy. The customer will be happy too, but you don’t get it for free. You have to work hard to get customer satisfaction, and actually care what is going on with the contract. –Matt
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Contractor hirings in Afghanistan to emphasize locals
At least half of guards working at bases now required to be Afghans
By Walter PincusWashington Post Staff WriterMonday, December 7, 2009
New contract solicitations by the U.S. military for private guards at forward operating bases in Afghanistan require that at least half of those hired be Afghans who come from nearby towns or villages.
“The contractor shall hire a minimum of 50% of its guard force from within a 50 kilometer [30-mile] radius of the location requiring security,” reads a solicitation that the Joint Contracting Command-Iraq/Afghanistan posted Nov. 30 at FBODaily.com.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Film: Cade Courtley, Contractor and Host of ‘Surviving Disaster’
First off, this show definitely gets a FJ thumbs up. Each episode is all about how to survive some really tough and realistic scenarios. The two shows I recommend especially are the mall shooting and the hijacked airplane episodes. Both of them are filled with excellent information on how to realistically survive and lead the efforts. This stuff falls in line with the ‘hero in waiting concept’ I keep talking about. That there is no one else that is going to save you and your fellow victims, so it is up to you all to stop the terrorists or criminal, and get out alive.
The second part of this, is that Cade Courtley is one of us. He is a security contractor (or was, now that he has this Hollywood gig), and this is something we can all be proud of. Cade is representing his SEAL community, and this industry well.
I also think that these shows will no doubt lead to the survival of folks. It reaches out to the kid, the mom, the grandmother, the wife, etc., and gets everyone involved in an entertaining and intriguing show. It is all about arming people with the knowledge necessary to defeat the Jokers, the Mumbai terrorists, the fires and floods, the 9/11 hijackers, and the Hasans. We cannot and should not depend on someone else to save us, and this show is just one more way of arming yourself with life saving and enemy defeating information. Be the ‘hero in waiting’ and win that fight. –Matt
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Cade Courtley, Host of Spike TV’s Surviving Disaster
What will you do when disaster strikes? Spike TV’s new original series Surviving Disaster, led by Navy SEAL Cade Courtley, vividly takes viewers through catastrophic scenarios and arms them with the knowledge needed to survive the unthinkable. Courtley tackles worst-case scenarios and equips viewers with the practical information needed to save their own lives and the lives of their loved ones. Whether the threat is natural or man-made or on a national or personal level, Courtley speaks directly to the viewers and guides them through a comprehensive, step-by-step process to not only survive the big picture disaster, but endure the many dangerous obstacles that may occur within each catastrophic event. While leading viewers out of danger, Courtley not only provides helpful tips and hands-on instruction, but swiftly points out common misconceptions and fatal mistakes. Unlike any other series, Surviving Disaster may actually save lives by providing actions that anyone can perform.
Job Tips: Pack a Voltage Tick Tester For Deployments
This is one that I recommend for guys working all over the world, both in security and disaster response. A quick way to know if your shower or bathroom is hot, is to test it with a voltage tick tester. Shoddy electrical work is not just a problem in Iraq or Afghanistan, this is a problem all over, and if you want to protect yourself, then having a way to test your bathroom safely is something to consider. Not to mention testing stuff in disaster zones to insure everything is safe.
The Greenlee was recommended to me by an electrician as one company that makes good testers, but there are others out there. The idea is you want something that is easy to use and doesn’t take up too much space. You could throw it in your hygiene kit and when ever you are using a shower and bathroom that you are new too, you could pull the tester out real quick and make sure you are not in a death trap.
Now if you do find out that your bathroom is hot, then definitely tell someone at the camp, and also send Ms Sparky a email about the thing. She is all over this stuff, and the basis for this post came from a discussion she had about an incident in Iraq with electrical work. There have been 18 electrical deaths so far, and Adam Hermanson of Triple Canopy was the last one. We can take matters into our own hands, and just use a twelve dollar device to protect ourselves and others when on contract. Something to think about for your deployment kit, and you too can be a ‘hero in waiting’ by preventing future electrical accidents with this simple device. –Matt
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The Greenlee GT-11 is a non-contact voltage detector that provides the electrician with AC voltage indicating capabilities up to 1000 volts. The GT-11 has the UL safety rating of category IV.
• Greenlee GT-11 Features:
• Bright LED and audible alarm if voltage is present
• On/Off switch for longer battery life
• Comfort grip
• Pen size fits into pocket or tool pouch
• Lifetime limited warranty
• Includes 2 AAA batteries
Price: $ 12.69
Buy it here.