thedrifter
05-05-05, 05:59 AM
05.04.2005
Uncounted Casualties: Civilian Contractors
By Chad Miles
The number of U.S. casualties in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq currently stands at 1,588, but the figure is actually much higher. Although exact numbers are difficult to find, using various sources such as news reports and insurance benefit claims, it has been estimated that over 200 American contractors have been killed supporting the Global War on Terrorism and perhaps three times as many injured.
The actual numbers are difficult to determine since the Pentagon's disclosure regulations are not as strict when dealing with civilian contractors as they are with military casualties, thus making them easier to obscure. With nearly 60,000 U.S. contractors working in Iraq, they often become soft targets that terrorists exploit.
Many of the fatalities have come from the construction and service industry. Halliburton, an oil service company assisting in rebuilding the refinery infrastructure of Iraq, and Titan Corporation, a company that provides many Arabic translators, are two service-related companies that have been hit the hardest.
Contractors such as these are working to rebuild the infrastructure of Iraq that had been neglected for several decades under the regime of Saddam Hussein and was further damaged during Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. In the process of assisting in the reconstruction, civilian contractors have literally been pulled from their trucks and beheaded for the mere fact that they are assisting the Unites States and the newly formed Iraqi government. In addition, they are facing the same threats from roadside bombs, ambushes and shootings in Iraq and Afghanistan that the troops must contend with.
Some contractor deaths, however, have occurred under much different circumstances and remain a far deeper mystery.
While some civilians are working on construction sites and on oil fields, others are carrying weapons and directly engaging insurgents in firefights almost daily. Blackwater Security Consulting, one of several security contractors operating in Iraq and Afghanistan, has been involved in several high-profile incidents in Iraq and has seen more than its fair share of casualties.
Propelled into the news media spotlight after four of its employees were killed and hung from a bridge in Fallujah, BSC employees have been involved in firefights, worked as bodyguards and fought side by side with U.S. troops since the beginning of both conflicts.
Its personnel, despite being heavily armed and comprising mostly former Special Forces, SEALs and Army Rangers, these individuals have sustained far more fatalities than the service-oriented contractors have. Again, the exact number of casualties is unknown since these contractors operate with as much operational security and secrecy as possible, but it is estimated that it could be in the thousands. That would make the casualty figures coming out of Iraq and Afghanistan drastically higher than the daily DoD reports suggest.
Some contractors operate between the construction and mercenary roles. ManTech, a firm that deals with sophisticated communication and technology equipment, provides an extremely important support role for the U.S. soldiers on the ground and in the air. Its employees work shoulder to shoulder with the troops and although carrying no weapons, they are often directly embedded with the units that they support. Notably, ManTech provided support and implementation of the digital equipment that was used by the 4th Infantry Division and Task Force 121 to capture Saddam Hussein in late 2003.
What drives these people to do this for a living? While the work at times is extremely difficult, the lure of money apparently draws many of them to the Middle East and other hostile regions. With some contractors making over $1,000 per day, it is easy to see how they can overlook the danger when making the decision to work in these hazardous areas.
However, it's not always the love of money that motivates them to risk their lives in remote areas of the world. When working long hours in difficult conditions, the distinction between soldier and civilian contractor begins to blur. Often, they are former soldiers themselves and still have a deep sense of duty and service that keeps them involved in the military and intelligence communities after their service obligations have ended.
And they both work and die in relative obscurity. Even though they are working in a combat zone and quite often along with the U.S. military, they receive no Purple Hearts for wounds, no Silver Stars for valor and often go unacknowledged when they are killed trying to make the world a safer place.
After the U.S. military went through significant force reductions during the 1990s, civilian firms like ManTech, Titan and Blackwater Security filled the demand for service and support that the troops themselves previously carried out.
In doing so, they have become both the secret soldiers and the hidden casualties of the Global War on Terrorism.
Contributing Editor Chad Miles is a U.S. Army veteran who served with the 82nd Airborne Division and the 5th Special Forces Group during the 1990s. He founded the website WhoServed.com, which tracks the military service of previous and current U.S. government leaders, and is currently pursuing a degree in political science from the University of Michigan - Dearborn. He can be reached at chad@whoserved.com. Send Feedback responses to dwfeedback@yahoo.com.
Ellie
Uncounted Casualties: Civilian Contractors
By Chad Miles
The number of U.S. casualties in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq currently stands at 1,588, but the figure is actually much higher. Although exact numbers are difficult to find, using various sources such as news reports and insurance benefit claims, it has been estimated that over 200 American contractors have been killed supporting the Global War on Terrorism and perhaps three times as many injured.
The actual numbers are difficult to determine since the Pentagon's disclosure regulations are not as strict when dealing with civilian contractors as they are with military casualties, thus making them easier to obscure. With nearly 60,000 U.S. contractors working in Iraq, they often become soft targets that terrorists exploit.
Many of the fatalities have come from the construction and service industry. Halliburton, an oil service company assisting in rebuilding the refinery infrastructure of Iraq, and Titan Corporation, a company that provides many Arabic translators, are two service-related companies that have been hit the hardest.
Contractors such as these are working to rebuild the infrastructure of Iraq that had been neglected for several decades under the regime of Saddam Hussein and was further damaged during Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. In the process of assisting in the reconstruction, civilian contractors have literally been pulled from their trucks and beheaded for the mere fact that they are assisting the Unites States and the newly formed Iraqi government. In addition, they are facing the same threats from roadside bombs, ambushes and shootings in Iraq and Afghanistan that the troops must contend with.
Some contractor deaths, however, have occurred under much different circumstances and remain a far deeper mystery.
While some civilians are working on construction sites and on oil fields, others are carrying weapons and directly engaging insurgents in firefights almost daily. Blackwater Security Consulting, one of several security contractors operating in Iraq and Afghanistan, has been involved in several high-profile incidents in Iraq and has seen more than its fair share of casualties.
Propelled into the news media spotlight after four of its employees were killed and hung from a bridge in Fallujah, BSC employees have been involved in firefights, worked as bodyguards and fought side by side with U.S. troops since the beginning of both conflicts.
Its personnel, despite being heavily armed and comprising mostly former Special Forces, SEALs and Army Rangers, these individuals have sustained far more fatalities than the service-oriented contractors have. Again, the exact number of casualties is unknown since these contractors operate with as much operational security and secrecy as possible, but it is estimated that it could be in the thousands. That would make the casualty figures coming out of Iraq and Afghanistan drastically higher than the daily DoD reports suggest.
Some contractors operate between the construction and mercenary roles. ManTech, a firm that deals with sophisticated communication and technology equipment, provides an extremely important support role for the U.S. soldiers on the ground and in the air. Its employees work shoulder to shoulder with the troops and although carrying no weapons, they are often directly embedded with the units that they support. Notably, ManTech provided support and implementation of the digital equipment that was used by the 4th Infantry Division and Task Force 121 to capture Saddam Hussein in late 2003.
What drives these people to do this for a living? While the work at times is extremely difficult, the lure of money apparently draws many of them to the Middle East and other hostile regions. With some contractors making over $1,000 per day, it is easy to see how they can overlook the danger when making the decision to work in these hazardous areas.
However, it's not always the love of money that motivates them to risk their lives in remote areas of the world. When working long hours in difficult conditions, the distinction between soldier and civilian contractor begins to blur. Often, they are former soldiers themselves and still have a deep sense of duty and service that keeps them involved in the military and intelligence communities after their service obligations have ended.
And they both work and die in relative obscurity. Even though they are working in a combat zone and quite often along with the U.S. military, they receive no Purple Hearts for wounds, no Silver Stars for valor and often go unacknowledged when they are killed trying to make the world a safer place.
After the U.S. military went through significant force reductions during the 1990s, civilian firms like ManTech, Titan and Blackwater Security filled the demand for service and support that the troops themselves previously carried out.
In doing so, they have become both the secret soldiers and the hidden casualties of the Global War on Terrorism.
Contributing Editor Chad Miles is a U.S. Army veteran who served with the 82nd Airborne Division and the 5th Special Forces Group during the 1990s. He founded the website WhoServed.com, which tracks the military service of previous and current U.S. government leaders, and is currently pursuing a degree in political science from the University of Michigan - Dearborn. He can be reached at chad@whoserved.com. Send Feedback responses to dwfeedback@yahoo.com.
Ellie