Citizens face danger rebuilding Iraq

Army News Service ^ | May 3, 2004 | Sgt. 1st Class Marcia Triggs

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Citizens face danger rebuilding Iraq

By Sgt. 1st Class Marcia Triggs

May 3, 2004

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, May 3, 2004) – The kidnapping and murdering of civilian contractors in Iraq has not deterred thousands of workers from providing aid to American troops and assisting with the build-up of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Restoring fuel, water and power lines. Providing humanitarian aid. Maintaining military vehicles. There are umpteen jobs being performed by civilians in Iraq, and for most of the workers their actions will go unknown.

“I have been part of several large incidents within Iraq where many people have lost their lives or been brutally hurt due to coward acts of terrorism,” said William Hodge, a firefighter with Kellogg, Brown and Root.

Hodge, of Sumter, S.C., is part of an education program that is training 125 people on the local fire department, and bringing the country up to 21st century firefighting.

“Seeing smiles on little kid’s faces as we pass by in fire trucks is remarkable,” Hodge said.

Kellogg, Brown and Root, a subsidiary of Halliburton, has more than 24,000 employees and subcontractors in Iraq and Kuwait. The company has lost 34 personnel, including the recent confirmed death of Tony Johnson, 47, of Riverside, Calif., who was involved in a convoy ambush April 9.

Part of that same convoy was Thomas Hamill, a truck driver with Halliburton, who escaped from his Iraqi captives May 2. Hamill, from Macon, Miss., suffered a gunshot wound, and will soon be reunited with his wife, Kellie, at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany.

A firefighter with KBR said that he will remain in the dangerous environment in order to support the overall cause – freedom.

“Without contractors, the military would have to fill positions that may be of less importance in nature, rather than being on the battle field enhancing our military force,” said Evan Bolles, a firefighter in Baghdad “I know that by volunteering it gives relief to our Soldiers who have been in the area for a long time.”

The U.S. military has always used contractors in times of war. However, until the charred bodies of civilians hanging from a bridge in Iraq were aired on the news, most Americans didn’t realize how close contractors work with Soldiers in combat zones.

“Our employees followed Soldiers into Iraq within 72 hours after thy crossed the border and began providing logistical support," said Patrice Mingo, a Halliburton public affairs specialist. “They [Halliburton employees] live in the same camps that come under mortar fire, and travel in the same convoys that come under attack.”

Contractors augment the military by providing non-combat services. There are more than 100 job descriptions that KBR are recruiting for, to include food service, laundry, water purification, and fuel distribution, Mingo said.

MPRI, a smaller company headquartered in Alexandria, Va., has about 500 contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan providing convoy security, instruction to ministries of defense and also training to the new Iraqi army.

Even though some countries have urged their civilians to leave Iraq and American corporations, such as General Electric have suspended operations, MPRI has not had any withdrawals, said Rick Kiernan, vice president of Strategic Communications for MPRI.

“We are prudent in our daily movement to and from our place of duty. We also have the benefit of working and living on secure compounds,” said Kiernan, who is a retired Army lieutenant colonel.

Former military personnel make up the majority of MPRI’s contractors overseas, performing similar duties based on their military training and expertise, Kiernan said. Minus the uniform and an M-16, a number of KBR workers are also doing the same job they once did in the military.

A common quote from veterans is, “I see how much KBR improves Soldiers’ quality of life, and I want to help provide these brave men and women with support and comforts that I didn’t have during my service.”

What motivates citizens, who aren’t enlisted in the armed forces, to leave their families behind to build a democratic nation elsewhere in the world?

“If the troops can do it, so can we,” said Terry Johnston, a firefighter from La Porte, Texas. “Just because we are civilians doesn’t make us any better than the military. I want to do my part as an American to help support the troops in any way possible.”

Contractors working overseas can earn up to a six-figure salary, which can be an incentive for some to volunteer for dangerous duty. There are three reoccurring reasons people volunteer to work overseas – patriotism, money, and opportunity for change, Mingo said. But once they arrive in country and begin working with Soldiers, their desire to serve becomes paramount, she added.

“What I’m doing in Iraq doesn’t compare to what the Soldiers are doing for the locals,” said Tyler Libby, a firefighter with KBR. “Soldiers don’t have a choice but to be here. God bless them all, and I hope them a safe return home.”

Unlike Soldiers, employees for KBR sign a one-year contract, Mingo said. However, if conditions change and they make the decision to leave, KBR will fly them back to their home of record, she added.

“Our employees and subcontractors understand the danger in Iraq and – with very few exceptions – they are steadfast in their dedication to complete the job in Iraq,” Mingo said.” KBR also provides 10 days rest and relaxation for employees every four months.”

Contractors are regulated by the Logistics Civil Augmentation Program under the Army Material Command. LOGCAP was established with the publication of Army Regulation 700-137 in December 1985.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

The kidnapping and murdering of civilian contractors in Iraq has not deterred thousands of workers from providing aid to American troops and assisting with the build-up of Iraq and Afghanistan.

 

The U.S. military has always used contractors in times of war. However, until the charred bodies of civilians hanging from a bridge in Iraq were aired on the news, most Americans didn’t realize how close contractors work with Soldiers in combat zones.

Restoring fuel, water and power lines. Providing humanitarian aid. Maintaining military vehicles. There are umpteen jobs being performed by civilians in Iraq, and for most of the workers their actions will go unknown.

 

         ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         

 

 

                                      

               

 

 

 ~* Thank You!  *~ 

~Y~

 

 

[Dick Grayson]

The U.S. military has always used contractors in times of war. However, until the charred bodies of civilians hanging from a bridge in Iraq were aired on the news, most Americans didn’t realize how close contractors work with Soldiers in combat zones.

Right, you know, in accordance with the Geneva Convention! Not even combatants. I guess the Geneva convention doesn't apply to civilian contractors on peace missions.

Here's an idea, either establish a place in a safe area for training and bring those attempting to learn into the training area instead of what is presumably going out into other areas. If that doesn't work, train them here in the States or take over a few hundred acres in France to conduct the training. A team of boy scouts should be able to secure a few hundred acres in France for training.

[McGavin999]

I get so tired of hearing people call these people mercenaries. A mercenary is a soldier who works in the pay of another country. These people are heroes.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Bump!

Back tomorrow to bump that again! Shame on anyone running down our brave civilian support staff in Iraq, or their companies.

These guys stayed when the UN turned tail and ran, and many are combat Veterans, there to help the younger troops.

God bless them!

[tiamat]

Amen!

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[Eagle Eye]

Your kind words nothwithstanding, I'd beg to differ. Although some of our guys have perfromed heroic acts, I don't know of any who would do anything more than scoff at the idea that they are heros. We are all here out of choice, even if the choices some faced were narrower than others.

Now I won't say that it's just a job either. It is extremely challenging at times and usually dangerous. Although our camps are separated from the troops, we eat and go the the px and attend services with them. We live with the troops on base and interact with them daily.

Sometimes bad things happen to those you know. It hurts.

After nearly a year and a half in theater I've seen a lot of troops get short and go home. I really enjoy the looks on their faces as they begin the home deployment phase. This especially true for the Guardsmen and Reservists who I've met over here. Great people, and their communities are blessed to have such people amongst them.

But it's rewarding too, to be able to contribute in some small way to the efforts here. And the pay is not bad, either.

[Flyer]

“I see how much KBR improves Soldiers’ quality of life"

Ping!

[Allegra]

Your kind words nothwithstanding, I'd beg to differ. Although some of our guys have perfromed heroic acts, I don't know of any who would do anything more than scoff at the idea that they are heros. We are all here out of choice, even if the choices some faced were narrower than others.

I agree. We're not heroes. The heroes are the guys we support...the guys who go out on the mean streets every day.

Us? We're just nuts. :-)

All kidding aside, it is certainly an interesting experience and one that I am enjoying for the most part. There are sad times and there are frustrations, but I accepted this position late last year and have never looked back once.

[Allegra]

Wow...and no snide references as to that guy used to run the company....

[Eagle Eye]

If I show up tomorrow I hope you can break free for lunch. But if I don't show, that will probably be even better news. That means I'm probably headed to home base and not laying over. Definately a "can't get there from here" scenario.

[blackie]

We are winning ~ the bad guys are losing ~ trolls, terrorists, democrats and the mainstream media are sad ~ very sad!

~~ Bush/Cheney 2004 ~~

[Allegra]

If I show up tomorrow I hope you can break free for lunch. But if I don't show, that will probably be even better news. That means I'm probably headed to home base and not laying over. Definately a "can't get there from here" scenario.

Crossing my fingers that you can return to home base safely.

If not, and you end up at the BIAP area, we'll "do lunch."

[windchime]

Bump!

[speekinout]

In all wars, we have depended on the private sector to support the military. Most often, the private sector has supplied skills that we really don't want to keep in a permanent military. We could never predict which skills we need in any specific war - rebuilding oil fields? Running commissaries? Whatever.
It's cheaper to hire these skills as needed, even if the pay rates are high and even if some people stay long enough to get super tax breaks. These people earn every penny.

The private sector workers are every bit as important as the military. I reserve the word "hero" for the ones who earned it somehow, but I don't reserve the thanks for all who have contributed.

[Eagle Eye]

Very well said. Thank you.