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 …