Feral Jundi

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Industry Talk: Afghanistan’s Karzai Extends Private Security Closure Deadline

Filed under: Afghanistan,Industry Talk — Tags: , , , — Matt @ 9:23 AM

Boy, isn’t this a crack up? This was such big news within the industry when it first came out. But it looks like reality has hit and it is just not feasible for them to put together this ‘replacement force’ in time. Well….. I guess we will revisit this deadline in September of 2013. –Matt

 

Afghanistan’s Karzai extends private security closure deadline
11 Dec 2011
By Mirwais Harooni
Afghan President Hamid Karzai scrapped on Sunday a March 2012 deadline he had set for the closure of private security firms, giving them until September 2013 to operate in the country.
Karzai, a frequent critic of private security companies, has previously set dates for the cessation of their work in Afghanistan, but each time the deadline has been extended.
He did not say why he was giving the firms an extra 18 months, but the second half of this year has seen some of the bloodiest attacks on civilians and soldiers in the past decade.
“We give permission for them (to carry on working) for one and a half years more, and one and a half years later (in September 2013) our minister … will close them all,” Karzai said.
Karzai, speaking at an anti-corruption event in the capital Kabul, said the prevalence of security contractors weakened the state by providing many of the services that the public sector otherwise would.
“Another reason why the Afghan government is not able to tackle corruption is a parallel administration to the Afghan government,” he said.

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Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Industry Talk: Former SOCOM Commander Admiral Eric Olson Joins MEP And Iridium Communications

Filed under: Industry Talk — Tags: , , , , — Matt @ 7:32 PM

This is cool. Retired Admiral Eric Olson and former SOCOM commander has gone ‘full contractor’, and has joined up with MEP and Iridium Communications. It must be nice to feel ‘wanted’? lol

Also congrats to MEP. They have definitely collected some heavy hitters for their Board of Advisors. Last year I posted that MEP picked up Dr. David Kilcullen to their Board of Advisors, and that was a very impressive addition to the team. Now with Olson joining, we will see what they do with all of this talent? –Matt

 

 

Mission Essential Personnel Adds Former SOCOM Commander Admiral Eric Olson To Board of Advisors
10/24/2011
Chantilly, VA – Mission Essential Personnel, LLC (MEP) today announced that Adm. Eric T. Olson, who recently retired as Commander, US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), has joined its Board of Advisors. Olson was the first SEAL to command USSOCOM and will share his unique global perspective with MEP leadership as the company continues to expand its current services and create new offerings to government, commercial, and multi-national customers.
“I am honored that Adm. Olson has joined our Board of Advisors,” said MEP CEO Chris Taylor. “He has dedicated his life to the security of the United States, ensuring that all people have the opportunity to live freer, safer, and more prosperous lives. His incomparable knowledge of global affairs will help MEP better understand the interdependencies of a complex world and drive our growth strategy toward creating shared value and solving seemingly intractable problems.”
“I have developed a deep appreciation for Chris Taylor’s vision and approach.  The services that MEP provides are important to our government, our forces, and our international partners,” said Olson.  “I look forward to helping Chris and his great MEP team expand and enhance their strategic contributions.”
Olson graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1973 and qualified as a SEAL officer in 1974.  He was both the first three-star and the first four-star SEAL.  Until his recent retirement, he was the “Bull Frog”: the longest-serving SEAL on active duty.  In addition to USSOCOM, he commanded Naval Special Warfare Development Group and Naval Special Warfare Command.  His overseas assignments include service as a United Nations military observer in Israel and Egypt, and as Navy Programs officer in Tunisia. He served on the Navy staff as assistant deputy chief of Naval Operations (Plans, Policy, and Operations) and as Chief of Staff at the Joint Special Operations Command.   Olson was awarded the Silver Star for his actions in the battle of Mogadishu in 1993. He earned a master’s degree in National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School and studied at the Defense Language Institute.
Press release here.
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Iridium Communications Appoints Admiral (Ret.) Eric T. Olson to Board of Directors
December 6, 2011
Iridium Communications Inc. today announced that it has expanded its board of directors from ten members to eleven members and appointed Admiral (Ret.) Eric T. Olson as a new director. Admiral Olson brings nearly forty years of broad leadership, management and military operations experience to Iridium.
Most recently, he was the commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command (“USSOCOM”), responsible for the readiness of joint special operations missions worldwide. Prior to that, he led operational units within every component of the Naval Special Warfare community and served in senior positions within USSOCOM and the U.S.

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Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Technology: Miniature Aerostats-The MAKO Affordable Stationary Aerial Platform

Filed under: PMC 2.0,Technology — Tags: , , , , , , — Matt @ 5:17 PM

Sofcoast is developing a revolutionary new product category called “Affordable Stationary Aerial Platforms” (ASAP). This product category is designed to be a coverage capability that represents a dramatic departure from the typical aerostat lifting systems on the market today and a product category that we believe can and will bring lightweight, affordable, rapid and mobile “on-demand” data, voice and imagery aerial coverage systems to the masses.

Now this is some interesting kit. This company called SOF Coast has created a miniature aerostat or helium filled mini-blimp equipped with a wireless camera. What is neat with this thing is that it is man portable, yet gives a small outpost the ability to have it’s own aerostat surveillance capability for night and day, and a repeater for radios. Something that large FOBs enjoy, but not so much for the smaller sites, combat outposts, and patrol bases.

The other thing that I thought that was cool, is that it is smart phone capable. Meaning you could watch the feeds through a smart phone like an iPhone. So that would give everyone of that camp, that has a link to that feed, the ability to see what the aerostat sees. My hope and concern is that this feed can be encrypted so that no one else can see what the aerostat sees. Here is a run down on what it can do:

-Portability – It is man-packable while wearing standard combat equipment.
-A high resolution image and full motion video surveillance camera for day/night operations.
-Communications repeater to increase dismounted patrol range and increase situational awareness.

Also, I guess the Army is looking at these things and will be playing around with them. That’s great and they might find some utility with such a tool. It will definitely add to the ‘Observe’ portion of their OODA. –Matt

 

Monday, December 5, 2011

Israel: Security Companies Hold 40 Percent Of The Guns In Israel

Filed under: Industry Talk,Israel,Quotes — Tags: , , , , — Matt @ 11:43 PM

This is an interesting story. I had no idea that private security held 40 percent of the guns in Israel? But I also understand why so many folks have weapons. That country has been in a constant state of war or threat of war. They constantly face threats inside their borders and outside, so it is not uncommon to see soldiers carrying their weapons all over the place. Or even settlers armed with weapons to defend their families. But I had no idea that the ratio was that high for PSC gun ownership.

With that said, I do not think it is wise for guards to lock up their weapons there. 24 people being killed in the last decade by guns of off duty guards in the last decade is a sad loss, but there is not mention as to how many lives were saved by guards on their off duty who were armed?

Especially as things become even more dangerous and unstable around Israel because of the Arab Spring. So to me, it is very logical to have as many armed individuals both on duty and off duty, just to deal with any potential threats. –Matt

 

Israeli armed guard, Falamiya village, West Bank.

 

Knesset: Guards should leave weapons at work
By LAHAV HARKOV
06/12/2011
MK Gal-On says security companies current hold 130,000 weapons, about 40 percent of the guns in the country.
MK Tzipi Hotovely (Likud), chairwoman of the Knesset Committee on the Status of Women, demanded on Monday that security guards be required to leave their weapons at work, following a report that 24 people were killed in the last decade by guns belonging to off-duty security guards.
The report was issued by Woman to Woman, the Jerusalem Shelter for Battered Women.
“Security companies seem to have received an exemption from the law that forbids guards to remove their weapons from their place of work,” Hotovely said.
The Likud MK said she would ask Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch to enforce the law and instruct security companies to allocate a secure place for guards to check their weapons.

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Friday, December 2, 2011

Iraq: US Military Hands Camp Victory Over To Iraqis

Filed under: Iraq,Military News — Tags: , , — Matt @ 1:10 PM

Man, to see Camp Victory go is quite the thing. That FOB was such a huge and important base in the war, and everyone that ever worked or served in Iraq has probably cycled through that base at one point or another.

The thing I would be interested in is what are they going to do with the T-Wall art? On all of these bases over there, units cycled through year after year, and many of them painted some really cool unit logos on T-Walls (protective cement barriers, shaped like ‘T’s) That art would make for a great coffee table book, that’s for sure. lol

As to it’s future? Maybe the Iraqis will turn it into an amusement park, or maybe keep it as a base? Only time will tell.

So farewell Camp Victory. You will forever be a memory in the minds of thousands of veterans and contractors who lived there….-Matt

 

U.S. Military Hands Camp Victory Over to Iraqis
December 02, 2011
CAMP VICTORY, Iraq –  The U.S. military says it has handed over Camp Victory, a sprawling base at the edge of Baghdad that used to be the headquarters for the U.S. military, to the Iraqi government.
The handover of the sprawling complex of grandiose former palaces of Saddam Hussein, encircled by 27 miles of blast walls, comes as American troops prepare to pull out by the end of the month after nearly nine years.
“The Victory Base Complex was officially signed over to the receivership of the Iraqi government this morning [Friday]. The base is no longer under U.S. control and is now under the full authority of the government of Iraq,” Col. Barry Johnson, a spokesman for the U.S. forces in Iraq, was quoted as saying by AFP.
He added, “There was no ceremony, just a signing of paperwork akin to the closing of a home sale.”
U.S. vice president Joe Biden spoke Thursday at one of the palaces during a ceremony to mark the imminent U.S. withdrawal, which Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki has dubbed “the day of fulfilling the promise.”
The Iraqi claimants to the compound are numerous, and the ideas for its use are many, ranging from the somber — military barracks, Hussein museums and cultural centers — to the more business-minded, such as five-star hotels or an amusement park, The Wall Street Journal reported.

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