Many local residents in places like Japan and Kuwait view U.S. service members as little more than a foreign occupying army. What impact does this attitude have on contractors? The American military presence in Okinawa, which has long been a sore spot for many, is a good example. In June 2016, according to police and witnesses, an intoxicated off-duty American …

As more and more Iraq and Afghanistan veterans return with post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries, an innovative therapeutic technique is helping many of them regain at least part of the lifestyle they lost. Former Marine Tony Austin has a rather typical story with an unexpected ending. Chronic PTSD made it almost impossible for Austin to reintegrate into …

From defoliants used in the Vietnam War to the still-mysterious “Gulf War Syndrome” to the burn pits of Iraq and Afghanistan, contractors and service members are exposed to a wide variety of non-combat hazards. During the American Civil War, commanders would place their troops in hazardous situations without a second thought. In fact, some Southern commanders often inflated casualty figures …

A recent DoD survey indicates that although most officials in Afghanistan who have experience with private security contractors believe they make a positive contribution to the United States’ mission in this war-torn country, this view is not universal and some misconceptions and unfair perceptions persist. For more than ten years, advocates have argued that contractors give the U.S. military an …

Most likely in the hope that the move would breathe life into the stalled Senate version of the same bill, U.S. Representative David Price (D-NC) introduced House Resolution 5339, a proposal that could have a significant impact for contractors serving in Afghanistan and elsewhere. The measure expands federal criminal jurisdiction to acts that occur outside the United States, and more …

With the Taliban as entrenched today as it was prior to the U.S. invasion in 2001, planned troop withdrawals may not follow the plan that politicians have envisioned, particularly now that there is a new sheriff in town. After ninety days in-country as the top Army commander, U.S. Army Gen. John W. Nicholson, who has three years in the theater …

Even as the number of servicemembers in the war-torn country has dwindled to under 9,000, there are still over 29,000 contractors in-country, according to the Congressional Research Service. Curiously, only about 10% of these contractors perform security services. Since fiscal 2007, the DoD has spent over $220 billion for contractors in the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters. Both the numbers are …

Some former contractors recently opened up to share their experiences about what went on in Iraq, and while their stories differed, some common themes emerged. While admitting that their motive to become contractors was at least partially financial, they all resisted the “mercenary” label, pointing out that mercenaries have no philosophical connection to the fighting and would take up arms …

The rich get richer, and contractor consolidation continues, as KBR announced that it will absorb Wyle’s 3,800 employees – or at least the ones the new company chooses to retain – into the new KBRWyle. In recent years, Wyle has been essentially forced out of the highly competitive overseas contractor industry and therefore focused more on domestic government service contracts. …

Officials recently gathered in the capital of Mbabane to christen a new facility which, given the rising unrest in the Sub-Saharan monarchy, will definitely need additional security. The sprawling $141 million campus is nestled in the picturesque Ezulwini Valley, which is directly south of the capital and the most popular tourist destination in Swaziland. This project is one of more …

While troop levels have increased only slightly, the number of military contractors in Iraq has multiplied eightfold in only the last few months. 70% of the new contractors in the wartorn country are American nationals. These figures include only Pentagon contractors; hundreds or thousands more are serving the State Department and other government agencies. The buildup began just about a …

Average Weekly Wage Update Insurance companies are at it again! Over the past few months the insurance companies have been raising a novel argument on the calculation of the average weekly wage. This new argument can present some hurdles, and may impact how Longshore and Defense Base Act claims are prosecuted. As we reviewed in an earlier Newsletter, the average …