You Might Be A Metro-Tactical...

Dhow makes it's way up Dubai Creek at sunset

Sitting in the VIP lounge of Dubai’s airport the other day I spotted the metro-tactical poster boy. This guy had it all, right down to the shaved head, goatee, American flag baseball hat, and Velcro splashed all over his khaki shirt. If you’re unsure what I’m talking about; that’s probably a good thing. If you’re “tracking”, than press on:

If you're back in the "civilized world", you might be a metro-tactical if:

• You believe that khaki is the new black.

• You're currently wearing more than one article of clothing made by 5.11 or Oakley
  

• You have a single dog-tag embedded in the laces of your boots.

• Your blood type is inked onto any piece of clothing. Extra credit if it’s tattooed.

• You're wearing a “riggers belt”
  

• You're wearing an ID card holder around your neck in the mall.

• You’re wearing an earth tone baseball hat with a subdued American flag on it. Extra points if you’ve sewn on “ranger eyes”

• You’re sporting Velcro

• Your keyring is made of 550 cord.

• Your backpack has a tag in the back that states “Insert Your Name Tag Here”.

• You can’t have a conversation without using the words “roger” or “copy”

• You're carrying your MNFI card prominently displayed in your wallet.

• If all of your t-shirts are black.

• You’ve contemplated the individual merits of black, OD green and khaki.

• You’re wearing dogtags.

• You know how much protein your last meal had. Extra credit if it came out of a blender.

Honor and Commitment In The Security Industry

Showing the neighborhood kids the magic of digital cameras

I don’t write much on the security industry as a whole, but I had a discussion with a fellow contractor the other day and thought that I would put a few words down for those that were not aware of how things worked.

My beef with many operators working in the industry is their propensity to “jump contracts”, in other words coming over to Iraq or Afghanistan on one contract and immediately start looking around for something better. Once they find a job that might be marginally better in terms of pay, living conditions, or mission, they immediate leave the original position and move to the later. Once there, the process starts all over again. At what point to they give their full measure to the task at hand? For lack of a better term, it’s very mercenary in nature, and it doesn’t bode well for the contractor’s sense of loyalty and commitment. If the individual operator cannot be loyal to his or her commitments what makes anyone believe that they will display any loyalty to their fellow teammates or the client?

To be fair, contracting security companies are often guilty of something similar, knows as “resume gathering”, sort of a form of bait and switch. In order for a security company to bid on a contract it will have to show that it can produce the required number of qualified personnel. As a result, companies make false representations to high-end contractors in order to secure their resumes. Once the contract is in-hand the company hires lower-skilled contractors instead in order to save money or increase its profit margin. Again, if a company shows no loyalty and respect to perspective operators why would anyone think that it will honor its commitments to the client?

Security contracting is a very competitive business. Margins have shrunk considerably over the past years and therefore some of the practices have become less than desirable. You live and die in this industry based on your reputation. If you treat your employer, the client, or your teammates with something other than complete up-right honesty and respect you will not be long in the security world.

PSDs Behaving Badly

My disdain for many of the Western Personal Security Detachments (PSDs) is well-documented in this blog. While I understand their job is difficult and infinitely dangerous I believe that their ranks, the guys behind the automatic weapons, are swollen with Walter Middy types, e.g., way under-qualified, under-trained, scared to death, pretending to be someone that they're not, and praying that they don't get killed in the process.

As I stated above, PSD work is dangerous, but in all honesty they bring most of that danger on themselves by the way they drive and comport themselves. The above now-infamous video is from one PSD company, and will give a viewer a good sense as to what I'm talking about. The footage is shot from the rear vehicles of the convoys, who's job it is to protect the leading vehicles from a rearward attack or at least to provide early warning.

In almost every example it's obvious that the roads are crowded as is the norm on most Iraqi highways. The approaching vehicles are hundreds of meters away from the rear of the convoy and pose no overt threat but are engaged nonetheless by the rear gunner. While I can't say for certain, I'm fairly sure that people died or were severely injured as a result of these actions. The people responsible for this should be in an Iraqi jail right now. There's absolutely no excuse for this; it's murder plain and simple.

My Day At The Foreign Ministry

Another shot from the Baghdad ballet school.

I spent the day at the Iraqi Foreign Ministry (U.S. Department of State equivalent) attending a joint press conference with the French Foreign Minister. I’ll start this off by stating that the Iraqi Foreign Ministry is probably the least secure government building I’ve ever been into. It’s harder getting into any U.S. Post Office than it was the Foreign Ministry. I was completely shocked and awed by the fact that I was standing only feet from both ministers, with a concealed weapon, and no one ever bothered to check to see who I was or what I was doing.

Having said that, the building was also full of personal security details, all trying to out-cool each other. Standing on the sidelines it was humorous watching these very serious guys strutting through the dark interior with their sunglasses on, and every manner of gadget strapped to their bodies. It was an earpiece, Oakley, and tactical vest fest to say the least. Again, no one even bothered to ask about me, they were too concerned about looking cool and couldn’t be bothered.

Doing What It Takes

Cameraman working hard to get "the shot", I think :)

I had a conversation with a friend of mine who is still working as a contractor on a PSD. He was recently involved in a major contact that killed one of his team and wounded several others. As the medic on the scene, he worked on the causalities for 90 minutes until a MEDEVAC finally arrived. In the end, he wondered what more he could have done. During the course of the discussion my friend lamented to me that many in this industry are under-trained, over-egoed, and far more concerned about looking like a miniaturized action figure than actually doing what it takes to become one.

The only thing that separates the real cool guys from the Wal-Mart ninjas of this world is.... training. There is nothing special about the SPECAT, "been-there-done-that", real-deal other than the fact that he's trained his ass off and continues to do so. It's like a professional athlete; those are the guys in the gym or on the field, all by themselves after the crowds have gone home and the lights have been extinguished, working over and over on basic skills. Do you think Tiger Woods got to where he is by putting on a Nike cap and and picking up the latest in carbon-fiber, high-tech clubs? Hell, Tiger could wipe the course with most people with just a Wal-Mart putter and a Putt-Putt golf ball. He's not on-line shopping for the latest cool sunglasses, or hanging out in the club house telling "there I was" stories, he's off by himself on the driving range hitting balls by the tens of thousands... boring stuff, but that's what it takes.

I'm sorry if I sound too critical of security contractors, but the fact is that the vast majority of them working around the world are criminally under-trained, if at all. They spend their efforts trying to look and speak the part, and hoping like hell that nothing happens to them. Clients, for the most part can't tell the difference. In the end, it's the clients that pay the price for ignorance, putting their faith and safety in the hands of some kid that looks like a Blackhawk poster boy, but has no idea of the vehicle dynamics of the multi-ton SUV that he's driving.

Counter-Flow!

A metal plate covers over an access hole in a blast wall

A good friend of mine is providing convoy security for one of the big, “high-profile” security contractors in Iraq. We talked on the phone the other day and were comparing notes on tactics and techniques. I asked him why personal security detachments (PSD)s will cross their convoys over the highway median and barrel down the road heading directly into unsuspecting, on-coming traffic.

Apparently that’s what the PSDs refer to as ‘counter-flow’, but no one can explain to me why heading directly into traffic at high speeds is any more safe than just continuing on through traffic that is already yielding the right of way to the convoy. I must have missed that class in my security education.

My compatriots and I all agree that the biggest threat to our safety and that of our clients' is the western PSDs doing stupid things like “counter-flow” on a busy Iraqi highway. Iraqis are bad enough drivers as it is and we don’t need to add speeding, grossly overweight SUVs to the mix. Sometimes I think many of the security details have lost sight of what they are really supposed to be doing. Testosterone and immaturity have won out over reason and professionalism. Someone needs to put an end to stupidly unnecessary practices like this before even more civilians, contractors, and clients die in motor vehicle accidents than already have.

CrossFit

I’ve been an competitive athlete since I was 9 years-old; scholarship collegiate basketball player, Special Forces soldier, and later an Ironman triathlete. I’ve never seen anything like the CrossFit strength and conditioning program. It has me completely sold on its brand of high intensity, natural, multi-joint movements that combine Olympic Powerlifting, gymnastics, running, rowing, swimming and other sports. CrossFit is the current rage with people that require elite all-around fitness, such as military special operations units, competitive athletes, police and fire units, etc… Couple CrossFit with a diet that is high in protein, vegetables, nuts and fruit, and cut out starches and sugar and you have an eerily effective, dramatically life-changing fitness program.

Ronin

I’m a huge fan of Toshiro Mifune and the whole samurai movie genre. My travel DVD collection is packed with a few dozen films depicting ancient Japan and battles between tragic sword-welding heroes and villains. Mifune seems to always plays an out-of-work samurai, or ronin, looking get by however he can. The movie plots go to great lengths to describe Japanese society at the time, depicting the vast numbers of unemployed warriors roaming the streets in search of honorable employment.

Laying on my bunk the other night I was watching a particular scene in Samurai Banners, that depicted an unemployed Mifune plotting as to how he was going to secure a job with one of the local lords. I was immediately struck with the parallels between that scene and the direction that the current security contract business is heading.

Before long the entire security contracting business will undergo a sea change and tens of thousands of gun-slinging contractors are going to find themselves without work, ronin if you will. I’ve often wondered what will happen to them, where will they go? If you look at Japanese society after the battle of Sekigahara in 1600 I think that you may find a lot of the answers to those questions. Some will always find work, others will turn to alternative professions and trades, and still others will use their skills for personal profit and crime as in Robert De Niro’s movie, Ronin. Interesting parallel I think.

Looking For A Few Good Men... Sort Of

Even though I work in the security industry I’ve never been a big fan of the PSDs (Personal Security Detachments) and how they go about their business. I understand their job and its requirements, but I’ve always held that many are way too aggressive simply because they believe they can be, and many of the contractors working on the roads have no place whatsoever being there.

There are very few requirements needed to become a security contractor. Granted many companies vet their people as best they can and have established a baseline of required training and experience. Given, however, the need to fill slots in order to remain contract compliant some firms are signing on people that have the barest of qualifications. In theory you can be a volunteer fireman with two years of Army National Guard experience playing in the band, working the gun counter at Wal-Mart, and the next week be manning an automatic weapon on a gun truck in downtown Baghdad.

Now, with the Blackwater incident, it is all coming to light here in Iraq and around the world. The media has turned its lens on the PSDs and is now scrutinizing every single incident. Where the media goes the U.S. Congress will soon follow, and there will be a dramatic change in how at least U.S. government contracts are let in the future.

Blackwater Incident

Little 4 year-old girl smiles for the camera

Yesterday the Iraqi Minister of Interior revoked Blackwater’s license to operate as a security company within the country of Iraq. I only have a vague understanding of the incident that precipitated the revocation by the government, but I have my suspicions.

Reports indicate that a Blackwater PSD came under fire, disabling one of the armored SUVs in a Baghdad neighborhood. The PSD returned fire while trying to extricate the crippled SUV from the ambush site. A twenty-minute gun battle ensued resulting in injury and the loss of life of several bystanders.

Blackwater was hit because it was an easily recognizable PSD. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to identify 4-5 identical SUVs traveling in a convoy as a PSD protecting some high-value target. Knowing, however, how the PSDs operate once the shooting began I suspect that the Blackwater boys returned a very judicious amount of fire, thusly injuring and killing several people that were just trying to get out of the way. On one hand I can fault the PSD for not controlling it’s fires better, but on the other I understand about the stresses of the moment.

The Minister of Interior is simply doing what is politically expedient. PSDs are not well liked on the streets of Baghdad, and honestly have been responsible for several needless deaths and injuries in the past. The Government of Iraq must be seen as attempting to stem the violence and mayhem caused by the PSDs, so hence the license revocation. Ironically the same government officials that are crying for action against Blackwater and the PSDs rely on those security companies to safely shuttle them back and forth everyday through the streets of the city.

Not A Good Travel Day

There was some sort of multi-country talks going on today in Baghdad so the roads were clogged with security teams, police and the Iraqi army; all of which are a huge, dangerous, pain in the ass. It was obvious that they were there solely to give the impression of security to the delegates, nothing more. There was absolutely no coordination between the different elements.

It got more than a little tense out on the road as we're trying to make our way to the airport. At one checkpoint one armed guy is telling us to drive forward into the checkpoint while another AK-toting guy, standing right beside him, is motioning for us to immediately stay where we were. Both were getting very nervous with our apparent non-compliance. My partner and I were really confused as to what they wanted us to do. We looked at each other and agreed that if the shooting started we were going to hunker down in the armored car because these morons were going to be spraying everything, including themselves. Not a fun time.

At the underground parking garage the SUV-mounted PSDs were screaming up and down the narrow passageways doing about 50 mph with, horns blaring, lights flashing, and guns hanging out the windows.
They were not about to slow down or yield to anything or anyone regardless of who or what they had to run over. I can see why the average Iraqi hates them so much.

A Long And Winding Road

“Heiwa” – Peace and Tranquility

The last two days have been brutal. We’ve been out of the villa running around the city doing the Bureau’s bidding while the temperatures have been well up over 115 degrees. Thirty-five pounds of body armor and a like amount of weapons and gear are stuffed into a car on which the air conditioning your life depends. After several hours of this you’re pretty well beat up and ready for a cold shower and a big, fluffy chair.

Iraq, or at least Baghdad, seems to be a bit calmer. The police still run everywhere with full lights and sirens, and the PSDs still think that they own the road, especially the wrong side of it. Nonetheless, the people are moving around going about their normal lives; kids walk to and from school, soccer games in the dirt lot in the evening, shop owners sell goods on the streets. It’s getting there.

Training for Close Protection

The one thing that sets military special operations forces apart from conventional forces is training. Special Forces personnel are constantly training and learning new tasks while continuing to hone old skills. This is the one great lesson I learned while serving as a Special Forces officer in the Army; that the training and preparation never end.

With several weeks off before I travel again for my next security assignment I'm taking advantage of the time to continue my personal training program. Here is a list of things that security professionals can do to increase or augment their skills while they are between jobs.

- Learn a new language. You don't have to become fluent, but try to learn some useful phrases. There are plenty of Internet sites dedicated to teaching various languages. I'm currently using JapanesePod101.

- Augment your medical skills. If you have the three weeks, get your Basic EMT certification. At a minimum get certified in CPR and AED.

- Stay on top of you physical workouts. You should endeavor to do something every day. That doesn't mean you have to thrash yourself into oblivion day-in and day-out. Be sensible and have a plan. Incorporate the basics of strength, flexibility and endurance. For me it's triathlon training coupled with yoga.

- Combatives. Try to learn the basics of a martial art that appeals to you. A lot of security professionals are practicing mixed martial arts, taking techniques from various arts that make sense and have applicability. I've been a bit of a traditionalist here and have focused on Aikido; so much so that I married my Aikido instructor. Now that's dedication!

- Shoot. Way too many close protection guys get wrapped around this. It's fun, and people tend to practice those skills that are fun. Don't just go to the range and blast away. Have a program that works on specific skills. Make every shot count and have a purpose. Practice with a variety of different weapons, not just your favorites. Dry fire... a lot.

- Hang out in Barnes and Noble and browse books on business dress and etiquette, foreign cultures, the world's religions, geography, and photography.

- Stay on top of technical skills. Understand the basics or wireless communication, radio theory, multimedia presentations. Become familiar with emerging technologies and applications.

In short, take an inventory of yourself. Identify those areas that you are weak in and develop a training plan for those. Don't just head off to the range a few times a week and blast away, thinking that you're now a well-trained, close protection agent. Balance in all things.

When The Music Stops

Satellite dishes peeking through strands of concertina wire.

I read a statement on the news the other day that claimed there are more private security contractors in Iraq right now than there are US troops. I’ll say right now that no one has any idea how many contractors are currently here because there’s no overseeing governing body that is tracking that number. I’ve seen estimates as low as 20,000 and as high as 50,000 plus. Nevertheless, there are a lot of them.

Question: What is going to happen when the U.S. military eventually pulls out and Congress turns off or limits funding for reconstruction? The “bubble bursts”, “the music stops” whatever metaphor you want to use, most of those 20-50,000 security contractors are going to be scrambling for a job. After running around in Iraq for a year are they going to happily go back to working the gun counter at Wal-mart? Sure there’s security work in the United States, but the U.S. domestic security industry is a finite beast and has much different rules and regulations than Iraq. Ex-contractors from Iraq and Afghanistan will not be easily absorbed into the U.S. or international security market, so what will become of them?

Some things to keep in mind if you’re a security contractor:

The security for Iraq, one way or another, will be turned over to the Iraqis. Someone has to manage and train that industry. There’s opportunity there.

Sure there will be other conflicts around the world that will require security contractors, but the United States won’t be involved for a long time to come. That’s the coming political reality. That means no large U.S. Government contracts to pay your salary.

Working domestic security in the United States requires a whole different set of skills, experience, and licenses. If that’s the direction that you want to go in, better start the ball rolling now.

You can always teach what you learned in Iraq to people that want to learn those skills. The security training market is already saturated beyond belief. All of the operators that initially went over to Iraq are now running and teaching courses in the U.S. That boat has sailed already.

Loads of military guys will be leaving the service and will now be competing directly with you for security jobs. They have the same skills as you do and will want in on the industry as well.

Clowns To The Left Of Me, Jokers To The Right...

We had the Iraqi Foreign Minister show up yesterday to do a live shot at the villa. I made my way down to the front gates in order to observe his arrival into our compound. I get a kick out of watching other security teams work, and since the Foreign Minister is a pretty highly placed in the Iraqi Government I assumed that he would have a very well-trained team looking him. This was not the case.

His advance team arrived ten minutes prior in an SUV, and did absolutely nothing other than stand at the front gate; one guy in an ill-fitting suit and three semi-uniformed thugs with dusty AKs. No coordination with us; where to park the cars, how many people will be allowed in the villa, routes in and out of the villa, our security posture, nothing, nada, zip. I was almost embarrassed for them.

The Minister showed up and came through the gate. This went smoothly, simply because that’s where his entire advance team was stacked up like baby birds waiting to be fed. After that, his arrival went south. His SUV tried to force it’s way into our driveway but was block by our parked vehicles. Someone “told” us to move them. No, that’s not going to happen. The Minister got out of his SUV and was immediately surrounded by 12 thugs with guns. They had no earthly idea what they were doing. Allah forbid that there was an incident; surely these clowns would have opened up on everything that moved, including their Minister.

I watched in absolute awe. One of these AK-toting pirates walked past me and inadvertently ran the muzzle of his AK across my chest, something that we call “flagging”. A fast check as to where his finger was and I grabbed the muzzle with my hand, jerking it away from my chest, and sent it and him into the concrete wall. He looked up at me in complete shock while I mumbled something unpleasant under my breath. I'm still not sure he knew what he did wrong.

There are hundreds of security details in country right now; some are good, and others are just a bunch of clowns. The Minister’s was the latter. It’s not because they were Iraqis, because I’ve seen plenty of western teams that were just as bad. When it comes to security, caveat emptor.

The Curfew Continues

The live shot position moved to the garden to avoid snipers on the roofs.

Following the bombing of the Samarra mosque Baghdad is under it’s fourth day of curfew. We had planed to make a run to the airport, along with the rest of the city’s population, but no planes are flying due to problems with the airport’s fuel supply and the on-going curfew. I can’t imagine what the issue is with the fuel as no planes have taken off for three days.

Technically military and security elements are allowed to move through the city during the curfew, but those security teams that rely on blending into the normal traffic flow as a tactic (low-profile) are at a huge disadvantage. Moving around during a curfew highlights the fact that you're a security team and not just an average Iraqi going about his business, so we sit tight and wait.

We did take a short trip yesterday and I was struck at how deserted the streets were. To me it looked like a scene out of the old Clint Eastwood movies where he walks down an empty Mexican street, the only movement is a dust cloud and the mangy dog trotting up the sidewalk.

There's the Third World, and then there's Baghdad

Prayer beads wrapped around a taxi's gearshift. Not a comforting combination.

I’ve driven countless places in the Third World, but Baghdad drivers are among the very worst. Yes, even worse than Miami. I was stuck today in a traffic jam, three lanes going each way with a median between. Traffic jams are a normal thing in the city, but when it’s 120 degrees and occasional gunfire, there’s bound to be drama. I watched, not one but several, drivers trying to make their way up the wrong side of the street; forcing their way through a sea of static cars going the other way! I’ve seen cars drive down medians or break down lanes, but never try to go up a choked off street against traffic. I was simply amazed.

There are special challenges driving security vehicles here. The first of which is that the windows don’t roll down. That, coupled with the fact that you’re wearing 30 lbs of body armor and it’s 120 degrees outside makes for some interesting times. I once estimated that if the car’s air conditioner ever quit that we would have about ten minutes to get to somewhere safe before we baked like a muffin inside the car.

The Future of Security in Iraq

Contract Iraqi security guard

All of the western security companies are using contracted Iraqis, in one manner or another, to augment their security operations. The day is soon coming when private security will be turned over to Iraqi run companies, or western companies using a majority of Iraqi personnel. The gold rush days of western private security operators coming to Iraq and earning $500-$800 a day are quickly coming to a close. Contracts are becoming fewer and fewer, while the pool of willing, and quasi-qualified westerners, continues to grow. Congress will eventually structure US Government contracts to mandate the hiring of local Iraqis instead of expensive westerners; all part of the politically planned withdrawal. Currently PSDs are scrambling for a seat, because the music will soon stop.

Mayhem - No Photos

Today was high adventure. We were coming through a very heavily armed check point leading into the Green Zone; me and a local driver leading in our Mercedes, and my Scottish partner, Sean, following in a problematic Chevrolet. Exiting the checkpoint we got out ahead of Sean a little too far when I heard him yelling on the radio to come back quickly and to bring a fire extinguisher.

We spun the car around and ran back to him, all the while digging the fire extinguisher out from under the seat. I found him stopped in the middle of the road, directly in front of the British Embassy with smoke pouring out from the car. The 5-6 ex-Gurkha embassy guards were in a mad panic because they thought that it was a failed car bomb about to suddenly right itself. Sean was desperately trying to reach me on his car radio, but that was dead due to the power failure of the stalled car. At the same time he was trying to get to a fire extinguisher, but it was locked in the trunk that had an electric latch as well. Half of the Gurhkas were running and diving for any available cover, the other half had sighted their weapons on Sean. Other cars coming through the checkpoint were reversing out at full speed back toward the heavily armed US military guards, who were now deeply concerned as well. Sean was trying to tell the Gurhkas that he wasn’t a Scottish Jihadist and not to shoot as the electrical fire in the Chevrolet continued to smoke and burn. It was fucking mayhem!!

Finally everyone calmed down, and we arrived to tow the car from in front of the Embassy to the garage. It’s funny now, but at the time it was fairly stressful.

Private Security in Baghdad

One of the most common sights on the streets of Baghdad is the private security companies. These are normally western firms that are contracted to provide security to the reconstruction effort; often guarding fixed sites or more commonly providing protection for people and things as they move along the Iraqi roadways.

Some firms adopt a “high profile” approach to security; utilizing heavily armored vehicles outfitted with enough weaponry and technology to impress even the US military. They move massively and quickly along the highways counting on brut force and overwhelming firepower to protect their clients. Machine guns swivel and lock onto any suspected person or vehicle, and signs posted in the rear warning other vehicles to stay well-back or risk “authorized deadly force”.

Other security companies utilize the “low profile” approach to security; non-descript cars blending into the normal daily traffic flow in Iraq. They hide among the masses using deception and finesse to safeguard their client’s movements. Inside the cars are covert radio kits, hidden weapons, and medical bags. Windows are slightly tinted as to make it hard for the passerby to peer in, but not so dark that they stand out. They dissolve into traffic and are gone before anyone cans suspect who or what they are.