Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Funny Stuff: But I Thought These Vehicles Were Flood-proof?
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Bahrain: The Fauji Foundation–Hundreds Of Pakistani Veterans Recruited To Serve In Bahrain’s National Guard
This just came up on my radar, and I had never heard of the Fauji Foundation before. I guess what you could call this group is a massive welfare company that was established years ago to take care of Pakistani veterans and their dependents. They do this by providing jobs for ex-servicemen.
Which brings us to the story below. I guess Bahrain has been using the Fauji Foundation’s Overseas Employment Service for awhile now to fill out the ranks of it’s security forces? This really comes into play with the current uprisings in Bahrain and I imagine the anti-riot forces were partially composed of Pakistains. So chalk up Bahrain and Libya as two countries that are using contracted forces for police/military duties. Or better yet, they are using private forces as a strategic tool to flex with whatever problem they come up against.(I am not supporting how they are using private industry–just pointing out an observation)
This first story below talks about a massive recruitment drive to plus up the National Guard in Bahrain. And this is not a new thing here. Supposedly Bahrain and Pakistan have had a long relationship when it came to using these contract forces. It is also interesting that ever since this story broke out, the OES job portal at the Fauji Foundation has taken down these job ads? Either they filled them all, or they wanted to minimize any attention by stripping the ad after the story came out about the connection between Pakistan and the anti-riot police in Bahrain. It sounds like they certainly had plenty of folks who applied for the job of doing Bahrain’s bidding–6,000 to 7,000! –Matt
Overseas Employment Services: Fauji Foundation headhunts for Bahrain’s security units
Ex-servicemen ‘export’ mercenaries to the Middle East
Fauji Security Services (Pvt) Limited.
Profile of a Welfare Organisation for Ex-Servicemen
Overseas Employment Services: Fauji Foundation headhunts for Bahrain’s security units
By Saba Imtiaz
March 11, 2011
The Overseas Employment Services (OES) of the Fauji Foundation is recruiting hundreds of ex-servicemen to serve in the Bahrain National Guard (BNG).
Advertisements in an Urdu language daily and on the OES website state that the BNG “immediately” requires people with experience and qualifications as anti-riot instructors and security guards.
While an official at the Fauji Foundation said there were 800 vacancies and 6,000-7,000 applications had been received, another at the OES said there were 200 to 300 vacancies and a number of people had been selected.
The advertisement states that a BNG delegation is visiting Pakistan from March 7 to March 14 to recruit people from the following categories: officers (majors), Pakistan Military Academy drill instructors, anti-riot instructors, security guards, and military police as well as cooks and mess waiters. Civilians were required as security guards, while the rest of the categories required experience in the military or security forces. The requirement for anti-riot instructors was NCOs (non-commissioned officers) from the Sindh Rangers or officers of an equivalent rank from the Elite Police Force.
The official at the OES also said that Bahrain’s army had recently recruited ex-servicemen from Pakistan. In December, the OES advertised positions for retired Pakistan Army doctors to serve in the King’s Guard.
The Fauji Foundation was set up in 1954 and serves as a trust for ex-servicemen and their families. It is believed to be among the largest industrial conglomerates in the country.
Bahrain tensions
Pakistanis serving in Bahrain’s security forces were reportedly involved in a crackdown on protestors in Manama in February in which seven people were killed and hundreds injured. Some injured protestors told the media that the police who beat them up spoke Urdu.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Military News: 1,200 National Guard Troops To Be Deployed To Arizona Border
Wow, this is great news. Arizona has been pushing hard for National Guard troops and the White House has finally agreed to allow it. It’s about time is all I have to say.
I am not sure what will be purchased with the 500 million dollars, and I am sure that money will mostly go to this NG deployment. Although we might see an emphasis again on building a substantial wall or fence on the border. If that is the case, I am sure a contractor or two will be tasked with building that thing. If they do start building the fence, I am sure they will also build a couple of camps out in the remote areas so they can support that effort. –Matt
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1,200 National Guard troops to be deployed to border
5/25/2010
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords Tuesday announced the White House has agreed to her requests to deploy National Guard troops to the U.S. border with Mexico.Giffords called for the Guard’s deployment immediately after the March 27, 2010, murder of Cochise County rancher Rob Krentz.
Giffords also says in a statement Tuesday that President Barack Obama will request $500 million in funding for border security.
In 2006, President George W. Bush sent thousands of troops to the border to perform support duties that tie up immigration agents. The troops wouldn’t perform significant law enforcement duties.
That program has since ended, and politicians in border states have called for troops to be sent there to curb human and drug smuggling and prevent Mexico’s drug violence from spilling over into the United States.
Story here.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Illinois: Crime In Chicago Increases, Lawmakers Call For The National Guard
Chicago is in a state of emergency. It has been reported that 113 people have been killed in Chicago this year. The same number of U.S. soldiers have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan during the same time period. –Huffington Post, Rev. Jesse Jackson
*****
Man, Chicago has always been bad, but when it gets to the point where folks are asking for some cavalry to come in and put a check on this stuff, I take notice. This is also a political move to bring more attention to the problem, and it seems to be the latest tactic with lawmakers and governors in a few other states in the US. But the numbers speak for themselves in this case, as the quote up top has clearly identified. –Matt
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Chicago Lawmakers: Call In the National Guard
April 26, 2010
Two lawmakers who believe violence has become so rampant in Chicago that the Illinois National Guard must be called in to help made a public plea to Gov. Pat Quinn to deploy troops.
CHICAGO — Two lawmakers who believe violence has become so rampant in Chicago that the Illinois National Guard must be called in to help made a public plea to Gov. Pat Quinn on Sunday to deploy troops.
A recent surge in violent crime, including a night last week that saw seven people killed and 18 wounded — mostly by gunfire — prompted the request from Chicago Democratic Reps. John Fritchey and LaShawn Ford. They were joined by Willie Williams, whose son was shot and killed in 2006.
Chicago has had 113 homicide victims so far this year, Fritchey said.
“As we speak, National Guard members are working side-by-side with our troops to fight a war halfway around the world,” he said during a news conference in downtown Chicago. “The unfortunate reality is that we have another war that is just as deadly that is taking place right in our backyard.”
Monday, January 25, 2010
Industry Talk: Northrop Grumman Wins Saudi Arabian National Guard Contract Worth $550 Million
I tell you, every time I hear about this contract, I am just blown away by it’s enormity–yet it gets absolutely zero coverage. The Saudis have some serious money, and they have been purchasing some very high quality equipment and training over the years. Although it takes competent soldiers, along with competent leaders to actually command these armies, and that is something Vinnell cannot provide.
We will see how well they do in future conflict, and especially along the borders with Yemen. I would love to see them decimate some of that Al Qaeda scum in those regions Insha’Allah.
Also, check out this article a friend sent me that came from Strategy Page. It sounds like the Saudis have had some issues with fighting the Houthis. (120 dead soldiers in 3 months) They are also doing the typical rich arab thing, and hiring Yemeni tribes to fight for them to help out. That isn’t really working out either. Could the Saudis one day hire a competent PMC to do their fighting for them? Who knows, but I am sure it has crossed their minds. –Matt
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Northrop Grumman Wins Saudi Arabian National Guard Contract With a Potential Value of $550 Million
Jan. 20, 2010
HERNDON, Va., (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The U.S. Army has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation a contract to continue the modernization and training of the Saudi Arabia National Guard (SANG). The contract has a potential value of $550 million.
The five-year, cost-plus-award-fee hybrid contract also contains fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price elements.
Under the terms of the contract, Northrop Grumman Technical Services subsidiary Vinnell Arabia LLC will provide U.S. Army-based doctrine and military training as well as logistics and support services that will further contribute to SANG fulfilling its national defense mission with self-sustained command, control and operational capabilities. Work will be performed throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“Our U.S. Army customer not only has selected a trusted partner who will continue to provide them with seamless continuity for the SANG program, but also a partner who values a culture of performance,” said Robert S. Coffey, program general manager for Vinnell Arabia LLC. “We look forward to continuing to raise our collective bar of excellence with the SANG program, which is an essential force in the long-term defense of the Kingdom.”