Feral Jundi

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.

     The other reason we need an explanation and public statement, is that AG has the audacity to hire new folks and pretend like nothing happened.  Boy, if I was a new contractor signing up for this contract, I would be extremely wary of the type of environment I would be coming into.  Would things be fixed, or would I be coming into a contract that is under total turmoil? I am pretty sure there has been some effort to fix things, you would think, but I have to tell you that any fix that happens now needs to be a fix that has some longevity. If it is a knee jerk fix, and things go back to ‘chaos incorporated’ a year from now, then that is crap.

    I would also be embarrassed to call myself an Armor Group Embassy Guard because of the recent fiasco, and I think the company should do everything in their power to put at ease the contractor, the client, and the industry, and show with some action that ‘things have been fixed’.  Hell, even a public promise of what they plan on doing differently would be really cool, because then that is something the industry and future contractors could hold them too.

     Now some would say that AG’s stuff is personal and internal, and we should keep out of it.  I say the hell it is.  AG’s lack of leadership has given this industry a black eye, and the least they could do is issue an apology and outline a promise as to how they will right the wrongs.  I would have liked to of heard that from Blackwater as well, but instead we got silence.(and you can see how well that is working for Xe..) It takes courage for a CEO of a company to do something like that, and that kind of leadership and humility seems to be in short supply these days.

     For those of you willing to step into that mess and try to make something out of that contract, I wish you all the luck in the world.  If I were you guys that get on board with this job, I would demand an explanation of what AG is going to do differently?  This is your career you are putting on the line, and this company could definitely tarnish your career with a poorly managed contract.  Just ask the 14 contractors and managers fired after this incident what they think of their experience there?

     So how do you protect yourself on a contract like this?  Well for one, contact POGO and any of  the war related Inspector General departments, if you are confronted with some shady and unethical stuff. That’s only if the chain of command and internal reporting procedures have broken down and are not responsive. Apply the concepts of Jundism to your contract, and use some common sense. Be the guy that does it right, when no one is looking.  Have the courage to do what is right, and don’t let a poor manager or fellow contractor destroy your career, tarnish the company and client’s reputation, and further blacken the eye of this industry and the country. Most of all, do not let money or peer pressure force you to look the other way and ignore problems.  The industry needs leaders, so be that leader and do us all proud.

    Also, be careful on how you navigate problems on a contract. If you go about rectifying problems in a non-tactful manner, or choose not to use the chain of command and company policies to deal with problems, then you are setting yourself up for heartache.  There is a right way and a wrong way to do deal with this stuff on contracts, and you need to figure that out when you get on that contract.  Your goal should be to fix things, and not get fired during that process.  If you must leave because it so bad, then so be it.  But really, if you have the gumption, then stay on that contract, because fixing the problems is the best course of action. Your wallet will thank you, your wife and family will thank you, and your team will thank you because of that improvement you were responsible for.

     When solving problems, think outside of the box, build that snowmobile, and do whatever it is you can to find a solution to make things better.  Get the team to unify around that solution and bring it up through the chain of command.  If it is that bad, and there is no further course of action, then put in a notice (2 week or thirty day, etc.) and leave. If there is criminal action, then do what is right, and contact the appropriate folks. If you leave, stick with the process you started and do what you can from outside looking in.

   I also realize that sometimes stuff happens that is out of your control, and the management and company dealt with you irrationally and unfairly.  Understand that you must be able to look yourself in the mirror and say ‘I am the righteous one in this’ and be able to sleep at nights because of your actions. So put together your strategy for dealing with this situation, stay on the legal and righteous side of things, and be careful. As for that management that wronged you, or crossed the line–karma is a funny thing in this industry, and what goes around comes around.

     The industry needs leaders, and we need guys to stay and fix what is broken. But if you must, then get out of there and move on to better pastures.  Just do it properly, and do not sabotage your career. –Matt