Military outsourcing

[Driftwood]

Been a lurker for awhile, great community you have here. :icon_smil As such I've developed a question that I don't think has been addressed, but if it has, my apologies...

There's been increasing usage/reliance on private contractors for security on bases and convoys, cooking in the camp, and as I believe Mayday and Wink mentioned, even training within the aviation community. Does this growing utilization of noncom resources present a problem in the future, or merely a bandaid solution for the current situation? I guess what I'm asking is what are your guyseses thoughts on the private contracting in the military and iraq?

 

[feddoc]

I see it more as a problem and as a part of a growing move to privatize the US military. There is a certain type of pride that AD folks keep in doing their jobs. And there is a lack of control over much of what the civilian workers can and can't be asked to do. Many times that lack of control and lack of pride have led to issues which have cost me $$ out of my budget.

In general, I am against non AD folks in traditional AD roles. I think there is a far greater degree of control and increased efficiency when AD folks are used.

 

[Brett327]

I see it more as a problem and as a part of a growing move to privatize the US military. There is a certain type of pride that AD folks keep in doing their jobs. And there is a lack of control over much of what the civilian workers can and can't be asked to do. Many times that lack of control and lack of pride have led to issues which have cost me $$ out of my budget.

In general, I am against non AD folks in traditional AD roles. I think there is a far greater degree of control and increased efficiency when AD folks are used.

Another perspective is, if the NAS (insert name here) Galley or BEQ can be staffed by civilians so that I don't have to send 10 folks from my squadron there TAD, I can put them to better use by training them to do the jobs that they will have to do while deployed in operational conditions. Contractors aren't necessarily bad and should be used when it makes good sense.

Brett

 

[feddoc]

Another perspective is, if the NAS (insert name here) Galley or BEQ can be staffed by civilians so that I don't have to send 10 folks from my squadron there TAD, I can put them to better use by training them to do the jobs that they will have to do while deployed in operational conditions. Contractors aren't necessarily bad and should be used when it makes good sense.

Brett

True enough.

I was thinking more of totally eliminating a military billet and filling it with a civilian.

 

[Driftwood]

Thanks for the input, there's a special on frontline tonight about the role of civilians in Iraq so it will be interesting to see what slant they put on it. :magnify_1

 

[skidkid]

This is a bad thing as a concept. What is a contractor? Is he a cmbatant? a non-combatant? A legitimate target or not? According to laws of war he in effect doesnt exist though the services he provides are legitimate targets. Does this matter withe the current barbarians we find ourselves fighting, not really but it is a difficult grey area.
Th other downside is when the proverbial sh!t hits the fan a commanders last reserve is the clerks and jerks to either plug holes or exploit an attack. IF they are all contractors he loses this capability. This has happened again and again the most notable the battle of the bulge where they sent cooks and clerks to fill the gaps in the infantry, guess we cant do that any more.
War for profit is bad morally, legally and tactically.

 

[Ryoukai]

^ What if it isn't used for war? In the ridiculous thread that was once about Adversary Squadrons, it was mentioned that the military uses a private organization for at least part of dissimilar training. How do you guys feel about things like that, where it doesn't present the pitfalls of civillians in what are traditionally military roles? I've seen a couple things which touched on other private organizations being used to train SEALs and various other specops clubs.

Also, it appears as if somebody is trying to put in a bid for the AW smiley king. A-4's, thoughts?