Hey folks, get the word out on this. If you are having problems getting your vehicles credentialed for work in Iraq, then tell your company that traveling outside the wire is a no go. The reason for that is if you are pulled over by the Iraqis and you do not have that stuff, you could get in some trouble. The kind of trouble that could get you arrested or heavily fined by the Iraqis. This is especially important now that Iraq is kind of in limbo with the government crap right now, and the police and military might not feel like playing nice with contractors.
Hopefully in the case of DynCorp, they will get this squared away before they force their teams to travel without those credentials. If any other contractors are running into the same issues with their company, or have any input, I am all ears. Bravo to this contractor who contacted Marc Ambinder and got the word out about this. As the war winds down, and the military pulls out, these types of things will be more common and very important to hash out. Definitely demand that your company does the right thing out there.
This also goes to the US government and their relationship with Iraq. This is some basic diplomatic stuff here. I realize that we are trying to get the Iraqis to take charge of their country and get responsible, but we also have a responsibility to our contractor force. To do all we can to protect them from these Iraqi growing pains is in our best interest. After all, contractors are putting their lives on the line in defense of government property and personnel–I would think that would count for something?-Matt
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Contractors Pressured to Perform in Iraq Without Valid Credentials
August 4, 2010
By Marc Ambinder
The United States is rapidly drawing down troops in Iraq, and contractors are picking up the slack. DynCorp International, in particular, employs hundreds of ex-soldiers and cops to act as bodyguards and shepherds for State Department personnel across the country. The company also trains Iraqi police forces.
DynCorp is under intense pressure to perform without blemish. Private security companies and their employees are under scrutiny from both the U.S. and Iraqi governments more than ever before because of a string of incidents. Within the military, soldiers who quit to join these companies are derided as “mercs.” The culture among DynCorp’s ranks is similar to that of elite military units — what happens out there stays out there. It’s dangerous. Contractors get killed and injured with regularity. The pay is OK — it starts at $90,000 a year — and the working conditions — living in tents, eating MREs — are harsh. State Department officials have told me that the U.S. is generally pleased with DynCorp’s performance so far … but DynCorp is pretty much the only company that can do what State needs it to do.
But one member of an elite unit, a former Army Ranger who asked not to be identified, is concerned that DynCorp and the U.S. government are cutting corners unnecessarily.