Newspaper Article- Scottish Daily Record

kenpsd

WHEN Robert Cumming's body arrived at Glasgow Airport from Baghdad, his face was so mutilated his sister Deely was not allowed to see him.
Robert was one of a growing number of private security contractors from Scotland killed in the war zones of Iraq and Afghanistan.
More and more Scots are being lured from the British Army to private companies where at least the wages are as high as the risks.
Private security firms are now the second largest occupying force in Iraq behind the US, and British companies are among the biggest players.
So few young men now want to join the forces, that experts believe within the next decade, apart from the attacking regiments, everything else in the armed forces will be privatised.
When Robert's body arrived in April last year, there were nine other dead on the same flight, but it is unclear which part of the UK they came from.
Stephen Armstrong, the author of War Plc, a new book which investigates the civil armies, claims there is no way of knowing for sure.
He said: "It is unlikely that Glasgow is the drop-off point for the whole of the UK, so it is reasonable to assume all these men were Scottish."
Unlike the British Armed Forces, there is no official body count of private security contractors and estimates vary upwards from 1000.
Many of the security companies prefer it that way rather than put off potential recruits. It also suits the British and US Governments - the jobs the soldiers used to do still gets done but the country doesn't have the same emotional investment in them. And PSCs are so powerful that the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan would now be unsustainable without them.
Robert, 35, a former paratrooper from Comrie, near Perth, was typical of the recruits to the large British Private Security Company, Erinys.
Superfit paratroopers are a popular choice for civil armies and there are so many former members of the regiment in Private Security Companies that in Baghdad they are referred to as 5 Para.
Robert was killed on March 31, 2007, when a bomb exploded while he and his team were escorting a convoy of US military engineers in Diwaniya, 100 miles from Baghdad. Shrapnel cut through Robert's neck and face, killing him instantly.
Robert had grown disillusioned with army life and had watched many fellow soldiers leave, tempted out by wages of up to s1000 a day in PSCs.
Stephen said: "If you are in the British Army you'll feel you're getting a raw deal. You get badly treated for peanuts and be on a six-month rotation between Iraq and Afghanistan.
"A PSC then says, you can do what you are doing already but for s6000 a month tax free and have an eight week rotation with three weeks off.
"It's a no brainer."
Robert's first job in April 2006 was with ArmorGroup, guarding the British Embassy in Kabul. The British Government is one of biggest clients of PSCs and has awarded contracts worth s200million in Iraq alone.
Many human rights organisations like War On Want, view private armies as "making a killing out of conflict".
Contractors are immune from prosecution in Iraq and War On Want claims: "There are hundreds of reports of human rights abuses by PSC employees, including contractors firing indiscriminately at civilians."
For Robert, the embassy job was considered plum, but when ArmorGroup started to cut salaries, he and many of his colleagues left.
He then took a job with Erinys, who, in 2003, was awarded an 18- month contract to provide security for Iraq's oil refineries and pipelines.
They offered Robert around s7000 a month and he hoped to use that to move to New Zealand with his girlfriend Emma. Crucially it included "non-contributory insurance under the US Defence Base Act" and his family believe Robert thought Emma would be fully covered.
Yet after Robert's death it emerged that she wasn't because they weren't married. Erynis said it had no control over the insurance which was operated by a separate company.
Stephen said: "Many returning PSCs or their families find similar problems securing compensation.
"The PSC guys don't realise that in most cases if they die, that's end of contract and the company has no responsibility to their families."
Emma understands that the public may have little sympathy for men who left the army to take big money but denies Robert was a mercenary.
She said: "He was guarding people who are helping to rebuild Iraq and he risked his life doing it. That's not my idea of a mercenary.
"He was brave beyond belief."

psdtraining

Good post and a sobering reflection on life as a Psd Operator. although somewhat outdated, it has an edge to the sometimes thankless work some people are involve in, yes we accept the Yankee Dollar and the risks involved, but how many times have we forgotten our families at home, for the sake of our mates on the ground, a simple fact of life, which most would not admit.
AB

Rich H

It is a fact also that many 'operators' in either Iraq or Afghanistan are there because, well, there remains little work elsewhere available that requires their skill set level. Something else they would probably would not admit.

It is a dangerous proposition to work alongside guys you don't initially know, either as blokes or their background, to work in a highly dangerous environment together with the fact that much of your survival depends on a lottery of fate. It is a thankless task because no one asked you to go there and you are there for your own reasons, mainly financial.

It can, without doubt be an excellent job if that is what you're after. Working alongside mates from your old mob working a professional and well run job. The adrenalin rush and the satisfaction of providing security in the most difficult of circumstances. It does remain though, a position of horses for courses and what suits your personal life. AB is right when out on the ground our first thoughts are the blokes we are fighting with and not our families. That is the way it should be. If it isn't you will remain a liability to yourself and those around you.

Both Iraq and Afghanistan, occupationally, are here to stay, certainly for the next few years. I would, however, advise that if you are keen to remain in a CP/ Security role leading to management responsiblities world wide then education in the broader security sense is most definitlely required. I also imagine that one day, the UK will be influxed with many 'CP' guys whose only experience is in the sand pit.

Rich H

psdtraining

I would personaly state, IMHO, if your motivation to go to Iraq or any other sh*thole is anything OTHER than money, your going to be a possibe liability to your fellow team members or yourself.

Please don't give me crap about "mates" or "buddies" or "for Queen n Country" it's all about the money, you work out the risk v the benefts = your boots on the ground.

Otherwise stick to the sia and Europe

AB

Rich H

No one is mentioning other reasons for going over there other than money. No one is giving 'crap' about 'mates' or 'buddies' or 'for Queen and Country' whatsoever but if I was in a contact, if my back was up against the wall, I would want to rely on the guys on the team and not worry about them running away so they can spend their money. I'm sure everyone reading this would agree.

If your sole intention is money and you don't give a crap about your 'mates' or your 'buddies' then you will soon be found out. I certainly wouldn't have that type of individual on my team.

A bit of a contradiction going on with both your comments that are, in the end, not so humble. The underlying problem with your equation is that sometimes it doesn't work. No one was 'having a go' at the job role over there concerning civilian contractors but you have just underlined an argument; when it comes down to the guys you work with the big difference is that of doing the job in the Forces and doing the job as a civvy.

Rich H

psdtraining

WTF?

No idea where you found I was "having a pop" at anyone.......

IMHO (In my honest opinion) if your motivation, to go into a combat zone and work without large scale support, is anything other than money, then you shouldnt be going, what other reason is there?

Ex Military Answers, as heard on various Psd Training "Operator" courses, in order of preference:

(1) MONEY

(2) To fight "with your mates"??? - as a civilian contractor, you should NOT enter into any offensive action, only DEFENSIVE.

(3) To combat global or localised terrorism?? - See answer 2

(4) I miss the "rush" - re-enlist, See answer 1

(5) I miss the camaraderie - re-enlist, remember you signed off cos you hated the bloody military, or you would have stayed in.

(6) All my old mates are out there, they can get me on the job - Ask them why are THEY THERE.... See Answer 1................MONEY!

Non Military/Civilian Answers (Ex old bill, medics, UN staff etc)

(1) I've worked security for years, but it's boring, I want to test myself in an extreme situation - take up parachuting without a reserve, or rock climbing wth no safety ropes, go out with 3 woman at the same time, see if they all "get on well" then ask them to all sleep with you at the same time!

(2) I've seen it all on the TV and it looks exciting - remember that answer when your mucka loses his head to an Efp sat next to you in the car. Stick to the movies and PlayStation.

..................... there's no romance in being dead, High Risk, is high risk, your motivation should be for financial reward, to better your current circumstances, pay off the mortgage, get a new shiny motor (Sports Car for the Over 40's) nothing else and anyone who tells you they "are" or "were" doing it initially for anything else, is lying!

But this, of course, is only my opinion and like ar*eholes - we all got one

Nothing personal, intentially or otherwise, no harm came to the students during the making of this post.

9 out of 10 CATs prefer Minimi's/GPMG's or any other f*cking big gun that causes MFV

Rich H

Good answer.

Rich H

psdtraining

Rgr That......
Protegimus.........

Andy

shakespeare

Well, I went out there a few years ago just to have a break from the wife and kids...