Friday, October 2, 2009
Afghanistan: General McChrystal on 60 Minutes
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Industry Talk: AGNA Awarded $8m for Bahrain and UAE Security Guard Services
More AGNA news. I am not the recruiter for this contract(s) and please do not send me a resume in reference to this story.
I hope AGNA realizes, along with their owners, that we are all watching and we are all demanding excellence out of your management. Your performance in Afghanistan was dismal and because you did not care about what was going on with that contract, all of us paid a price. And whomever is the COR on this contract, please do your job and make sure this contract is carried out properly. That means getting out from behind your desk, actually checking on operations, and getting some shared reality about what is happening. Then you can actually make an assessment as to how things are going. Most of all, be a man (or woman) and have the courage to do things right when it comes to evaluating the performance of this company. It’s not hard and all it takes is self-discipline and attention to detail to be effective.
Or you guys can be ‘marshmallow eaters‘, and take the easy way out on managing these contracts. Thanks to Bill over at Dangerzonejobs for getting this one out there. –Matt
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United States DoD contracts for September 29, 2009
Armor Group North America Inc., McLean, Va., is being awarded an $8,073,841 modification under a previously awarded firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N33191-07-D-1357) to exercise option 2 for provision of security guard services at Naval Support Activity Bahrain.
Industry Talk: Were ArmorGroup Allegations Quashed?
Attkisson asked Krongard about the conflict of interest:
Attkisson: Did you know your own brother was on ArmorGroup’s board of directors?
Krongard: No , I did not.
Attkisson: Why didn’t you know?
Krongard: Dunno. I guess No. 1 I’m not sure why I should’ve known, but No. 2 he never told me.
*****
Come on!…… You have to be kidding me, right? Howard had no idea that his own flesh and blood was a member of AGNA’s board of directors? Pfffft.
This just keeps getting better and better. All of this, because a few leaders did not have the courage to do what is right. –Matt
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Were ArmorGroup Allegations Quashed?
State Department Inspector Gen.’s Office “Lost” Complaint against Troubled Security Co.
By Sharyl Attkisson
09/30/2009
Howard Krongar’s job was to investigate alleged misconduct at the U.S. embassy in Kabul. Sharyl Attkisson reports on how one of his personal relationships may have prevented him from doing so.
A hearing has been held over the recently-leaked photos which reveal allegedly lewd behavior by employees hired to provide security for the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. Sharyl Attkisson reports.
John Gorman, a former manager with ArmorGroup, the private company hired to provide security at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul details what he knew and what happened when he tried to stop it.
Krongard is accused of improperly burying legitimate allegations against security contractors Blackwater and ArmorGroup while, and perhaps because, his brother sat on the boards of directors of those compines while he was charged with investigating them.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Industry Talk: In Building Afghan Army, It’s Back to Basics
It looks to me that Walter just opened up the synopsis on FBO about this contract, and pointed out the key elements. Which is great, but this is nothing new. Contractors have been taking on extremely complex and tough tasks for awhile now. Although I do want to thank him for bringing attention to what we do out there. –Matt
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In Building Afghan Army, It’s Back to Basics
By Walter PincusTuesday, September 29, 2009
Building up Afghanistan’s army, which has become a top priority in the Obama administration’s strategy, will not be simple, no matter how many more U.S. troops are going to be provided Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal.
Army building, like nation building, is a challenge in a country in which corruption is rife and illiteracy is high. Nine out of 10 new Afghan army recruits cannot read or write, according to recent news reports.
One way to gauge how the U.S. military sees this job is to look at the tasks that have been drawn up for the 175 contractors to be hired to help mentor and train personnel at the Afghan Ministry of Defense.
The U.S. Army Materiel Command has provided bidders for this two-year contract with a 96-page statement of work. It details the tasks to be performed by teams assigned to each of the 18 functional areas within the ministry.
Many of the tasks reflect Pentagon practices transferred to Afghanistan. For example, the contractor is to “develop and deliver an education program on ethical practices for key leaders” in the offices of Defense Minister Rahim Wardak and his top deputies. They are also to develop an ethical code of conduct for leaders, as well as “a tracking system for allegations of corruption.”
Monday, September 28, 2009
Logistics: MRE Dairy Shake Recall
I want to thank Matt for sending me this info. Many contractors out there are eating MRE’s on the various FOB’s and outposts, and I don’t know if the word is getting out about this. Not to mention civilians that are eating these things back home, or even some military units that have old batches mixed up in their supply chain. Get the word out, and if you want more info, follow the link below. –Matt
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MRE Dairy Shake Recall
The U.S. Military has issued a “Do Not Consume” order/recall for Dairy Shake powder found in MREs (Meals, Ready to Eat), UGR-E (Unitized Group Rations – Express), and TOTMs (Tailored Operational Training Meals). This recall was issued after FDA inspectors determined the Plainview Milk Products Cooperative in Minnesota may have shipped nonfat dry milk, fruit stabilizers, whey protein, and gum products potentially adulterated with Salmonella to their commercial customers between June 2007 and June 2009. Plainview sells its products to distributors and manufacturers who may then use them in their own products, and not to the general public.