What do our vets think about the US hiring military contractors?

[CreepyOldDude]

I don't like them. I served for various reasons, none of which was money.

[nathanbforrest45]

I would think those who want to be mercenaries would be more willing to fight then those who were drafted and didn't want to be in there in the first place.

As a vet I have no opinion on the matter other than the above.

[CreepyOldDude]

I would think those who want to be mercenaries would be more willing to fight then those who were drafted and didn't want to be in there in the first place.

As a vet I have no opinion on the matter other than the above.

Well, since we haven't drafted anyone since 1973 or so, I doubt your answer is really germane.

[Peter1469]

Contractors do a lot of things. Some I would agree with, others I wouldn't. When I was a private we got put on Post Detail all the time. Cut the grass, etc. Contractors do that now.

In a combat zone, contractors have taken over a lot of the logistical stuff, like operating the mess halls. When I was enlisted, soldiers worked and managed the mess halls. A lot of that is caused by the force strength Congresses authorizes. So the Army will say, we are going to contract out these specialized non-combat jobs and use our boots for warfighting work.

[CreepyOldDude]

Contractors do a lot of things. Some I would agree with, others I wouldn't. When I was a private we got put on Post Detail all the time. Cut the grass, etc. Contractors do that now.

In a combat zone, contractors have taken over a lot of the logistical stuff, like operating the mess halls. When I was enlisted, soldiers worked and managed the mess halls. A lot of that is caused by the force strength Congresses authorizes. So the Army will say, we are going to contract out these specialized non-combat jobs and use our boots for warfighting work.

I don't have a problem with those instances. But they aren't really what I mean by military contractor. Those are contractors who happen to do work for the military. I'm talking about the companies providing security services. Like ArmourGroup. They did such a piss poor job at the US Embassy in Kabul, that the compound had to rated as in jeopardy. Guard posts were unmanned for hours at a time, a fair percentage of the guards didn't speak either English or Pashto, buying cheap, under-armored armored vehicles, etc.

While I think the Marines are glorified chuckleheads , there's not a chance in Hell the Marines would have done such a piss poor job.

[Peter1469]

If they are guarding an embassy they are working for the Department of State.

We used contractors to act as security on our larger posts in Iraq. But we had US quick reaction forces to take care of any problems. And aircraft.

I don't have a problem with those instances. But they aren't really what I mean by military contractor. Those are contractors who happen to do work for the military. I'm talking about the companies providing security services. Like ArmourGroup. They did such a piss poor job at the US Embassy in Kabul, that the compound had to rated as in jeopardy. Guard posts were unmanned for hours at a time, a fair percentage of the guards didn't speak either English or Pashto, buying cheap, under-armored armored vehicles, etc.

While I think the Marines are glorified chuckleheads , there's not a chance in Hell the Marines would have done such a piss poor job.

[CreepyOldDude]

If they are guarding an embassy they are working for the Department of State.

We used contractors to act as security on our larger posts in Iraq. But we had US quick reaction forces to take care of any problems. And aircraft.

The Department of State isn't part of the US?

Maybe it's because I'm older, and served a long time ago, but I saw a lot of security problems because of the use of non-military personnel on base. The Green Beanies never had the security problems we did, because they didn't let any non military into their camps.

I've mellowed a bit over the years, and I'm okay now with contractors taking care of the Mickey Mouse, but I really don't like them doing security that the military should be doing.

[Peter1469]

The title of the thread is about hiring military contractors.

State Department contractors don't fit the definition.

The DoD offered to provide security for the DoS. They refused.

[CreepyOldDude]

The title of the thread is about hiring military contractors.

State Department contractors don't fit the definition.

The DoD offered to provide security for the DoS. They refused.

Fine, call them Private Military Companies, then.

I did specify that they were being hired by the US, not the DoD specifically.

[Peter1469]

Fine, call them Private Military Companies, then.

I did specify that they were being hired by the US, not the DoD specifically.

My mistake. My response was based off the title of the thread.