Private Military Contractors in Afghanistan part II

An in depth look at what a PMC is, what they do and how they work. I get asked a lot "Whats it like?", this should give you a sample of it.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Merc
• Mercenaries
• Private
• Military
• Contractors
• PMC
• Afghanistan

[DeeManSony]

I'd be very sceptical about meeting a firearms officer who rides with a sidearm in condition 1 and a finger on a trigger!

[MrVonKruger]

@DeeManSony Your scepticism would turn into religious convert after your first convoy run. I honestly couldn't win a bet if you asked me exactly how many I droped when I saw a weapon being raised at us over the years. Do accidents happen? Not as many as you'd think, and they're a hell of a lot better then writting "The Letter" and sending a friend home in a bag.

[DeeManSony]

@MrVonKruger I would have thought muscle memory over the time it takes to raise the barrel would prevail, its just good practice especially being a preacher.

[MrVonKruger]

@DeeManSony You have to remember we're not military, we're asset protection. Be it a person or a bunch of trucks loaded with water, we depend on a hail of lead to keep the bad guys off us while we get away. We're not there to fight or kick down doors, we're trying to get from point A to point B, and thats it.

After a while the wogs find out that pulling a AK out of his dashiki to pop a few rounds at us is the same as sticking the barrle in his mouth and pulling the trigger.

[samsiteone]

Contractors are not mercenaries...

Mercenaries work for the highest bitter (good guys or bad guys)...

Contractors work for their countries under contract.

[MrVonKruger]

@samsiteone Bingo. I could count on one hand how many people understand that, your one.

[MrVonKruger]

@CivicWeapon Absolutly for real. As in, did you know we lost more civilian contractors then ALL the reported soldiers KIA in Iraq and the 'Stan? We arn't military so "we don't count" is the rule.

Although we work very close with the militaries where were at, we don't have arty on call, or air or a Navy with Harpoons just off shore ready to scratch our back at a minutes notice. Support for us can take 10-20 minutes, or even a hour in some cases (been there done that, got the scares to prove it)

[CivicWeapon]

@MrVonKruger for real? Man I just miss the army life so much, ive been a civi now for a few months and i feel like im going crazy, I only did 3 years in the army but it changes your mind set....

[MrVonKruger]

@CivicWeapon Don't. It's a shit life with excellent chances of ending up burried in an un-marked grave some where a long ways from home. Trust me on this, I've had to do exactly that to very good mates I'd known for years. There's no glory, no parades, nothing to come back too, and yeah, if I had it to do over again I'd have even worked at McDonalds.

[CivicWeapon]

It seems to be a hard line of work to break into, I have only a limited number of years military exp, and from what ive found out its alot about who you know......ill kepp trying

[MrVonKruger]

@HTC2971 You lack perspective then. A CEO or even a executive of a corperation has about 7-8 years of schooling behind them and anywhere from 10-15 years experience. They ~start~ at over 150K.

I have 6 years higher edducation, another 4 in military schooling (Strategy & Tactics, weapons of all kinds from handguns to FOX APCs, hand to hand, knife fighting, demolitions, ect.) and over 20 years combat experience in 14 different countries.

I earn what I make.

[HTC2971]

I heard these guys are making upwards of 100k. That's ridiculous