Annual "fighting man" cost

[TailgateNut]

Just read in Time that the avg annual cost of an Army SGT is approx. $180,000.00, but those costs increase to $445,000.00 for private "contractors" (mercenaries, if you will).

Are we paying these extraordinary fees because the politicians are afraid to bring back the draft, or are we to believe these "special soldiers" are really THAT special?

[ant1999e]

Just read in Time that the avg annual cost of an Army SGT is approx. $180,000.00, but those costs increase to $445,000.00 for private "contractors" (mercenaries, if you will).

Are we paying these extraordinary fees because the politicians are afraid to bring back the draft, or are we to believe these "special soldiers" are really THAT special?

One group fights for the love of country. The other fights for the love of money.

[TailgateNut]

One group fights for the love of country. The other fights for the love of money.


One group the goverment controls, the other is "out of control". The question remains: do we really need this type of "soldier" and especially considering the costs?

[Florida_Bronco]

Just read in Time that the avg annual cost of an Army SGT is approx. $180,000.00, but those costs increase to $445,000.00 for private "contractors" (mercenaries, if you will).

Are we paying these extraordinary fees because the politicians are afraid to bring back the draft, or are we to believe these "special soldiers" are really THAT special?

Most (probably 90% if I had to estimate) private contractors are former Special Forces or equivalent. Think Navy SEALS, Delta Force, Marine Force Recon, Police SWAT and so forth, so they are in fact very, very special.

Also, they are pretty much security guards in a very extreme sense, as they don't go out on conventional missions like regular military.

It's a good business to get into if you are qualified. I have a friend of mine that does this work in Iraq since 2003 and he's getting about 150k a year after taxes, plus all his "toys" get paid for. I would do that work in a heartbeat, but unfortunately all the begging and pleading in the world won't get you a job there. Ha!

[Florida_Bronco]

Also, remember that these guys are not "out of control" despite what Blackwater does. All of the security contractors I know of absolutely hate Blackwater for the way they act over there.

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

http://www.bartcop.com/criminal-roaches.jpg

[TailgateNut]

Most (probably 90% if I had to estimate) private contractors are former Special Forces or equivalent. Think Navy SEALS, Delta Force, Marine Force Recon, Police SWAT and so forth, so they are in fact very, very special.

Also, they are pretty much security guards in a very extreme sense, as they don't go out on conventional missions like regular military.

It's a good business to get into if you are qualified. I have a friend of mine that does this work in Iraq since 2003 and he's getting about 150k a year after taxes, plus all his "toys" get paid for. I would do that work in a heartbeat, but unfortunately all the begging and pleading in the world won't get you a job there. Ha!


The POINT i was making is that these guys are NOT worth 455 grand a year. You and I are paying that amount when we could have a soldier do the job for about a third of that cost.

[ant1999e]

The POINT i was making is that these guys are NOT worth 455 grand a year. You and I are paying that amount when we could have a soldier do the job for about a third of that cost.

How about half that amount?:pray: :giggle:

[Florida_Bronco]

The POINT i was making is that these guys are NOT worth 455 grand a year. You and I are paying that amount when we could have a soldier do the job for about a third of that cost.

Fair enough, but remember that these guys are ELITE, they aren't just infantry Sgt. or LT.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Fair enough, but remember that these guys are ELITE, they aren't just infantry Sgt. or LT.Uh, yes, a lot of them are and none of them are worth anything close to that kind of taxpayer money.

[Florida_Bronco]

Uh, yes, a lot of them are and none of them are worth anything close to that kind of taxpayer money.

I'm not sure which ones you are referring to Beerslug, but several of the contracting companies I looked into required at least 2 years of Special Forces service.

[TailgateNut]

Fair enough, but remember that these guys are ELITE, they aren't just infantry Sgt. or LT.


Elite, because they wear "Docker Camo gear"? They are nothing but glorified security guards with a license to kill first and ask questions later, while systematically emptying the nations war coffers. They do not deserve any better treatment than the rest of our fighting men, but for some reason this administration sees the need to use overpriced security forces. I believe the only reason is to hide the real need for more soldiers.

[Rohirrim]

If it was up to me, we would add an amendment to the Constitution banning any agency or affiliate of the United States government from hiring mercenaries.

[Florida_Bronco]

Elite, because they wear "Docker Camo gear"? They are nothing but glorified security guards with a license to kill first and ask questions later, while systematically emptying the nations war coffers. They do not deserve any better treatment than the rest of our fighting men, but for some reason this administration sees the need to use overpriced security forces. I believe the only reason is to hide the real need for more soldiers.

As I explained in my original post, these guys are former SF operators (ya know, like Delta, Marine Force Recon, Navy SEALS?) and also, the actions of Blackwater are NOT indicative of security contractors in general, and the American government have been employing security contractors for years.

[TailgateNut]

I really don't care who the **** they are or were. Their company and cohorts are bilking us (taxpayers) out of millions of $$$$.



According to former Blackwater officials, Blackwater, Regency and ESS were engaged in a classic war-profiteering scheme. Blackwater was paying its men $600 a day but billing Regency $815, according to the Raleigh News and Observer. "In addition," the paper reports, "Blackwater billed Regency separately for all its overhead and costs in Iraq." Regency would then bill ESS an unknown amount for these services. Kathy Potter told the News and Observer that Regency would "quote ESS a price, say $1,500 per man per day, and then tell Blackwater that it had quoted ESS $1,200." ESS then contracted with Halliburton subsidiary KBR, which in turn billed the government an unknown amount of money for the same security services, according to the paper. KBR/Halliburton refuses to discuss the matter and will not confirm any relationship with ESS.


More of the Bush "fill your buddies coffers" kinda policy, isn't it?

[TailgateNut]

here's some more about your superheroes.


Another private security company, Blackwater USA, whose employees recently killed as many as 17 Iraqi civilians in what the Iraqi government alleges was an unprovoked attack, is 12th on the list of companies and joint ventures, with $485 million in contracts. (On November 14, the New York Times reported that FBI investigators have concluded that 14 of the 17 shootings were unjustified and violated deadly-force rules in effect for security contractors in Iraq, and that Justice Department prosecutors are weighing whether to seek indictments.)

[TailgateNut]

more annoying little tidbits:


Other key findings from the Center's analysis:

• Over the three years studied, more than $20 billion in contracts went to foreign companies whose identities—at least so far—are impossible to determine.

• Nearly a third of the companies and joint ventures on the Top 100 are based outside the United States. These foreign contractors, along with the $20 billion in contracts awarded to the unidentified companies, account for about 45 percent of all funds obligated to the Top 100.

• U.S. government contracts for work in Iraq and Afghanistan have grown more than 50 percent annually, from $11 billion in 2004 to almost $17 billion in 2005 and more than $25 billion in 2006.

[TailgateNut]

IT'S a criminal waste of our tax dollars. PERIOD!

[Florida_Bronco]

here's some more about your superheroes.


Another private security company, Blackwater USA, whose employees recently killed as many as 17 Iraqi civilians in what the Iraqi government alleges was an unprovoked attack, is 12th on the list of companies and joint ventures, with $485 million in contracts. (On November 14, the New York Times reported that FBI investigators have concluded that 14 of the 17 shootings were unjustified and violated deadly-force rules in effect for security contractors in Iraq, and that Justice Department prosecutors are weighing whether to seek indictments.)

Who said they were my superheroes? I made it pretty clear what I think of Blackwater.

Guess you should slow down and read a bit, eh?

And I'm not getting into the discussion of whether or not the money spent is justified, BUT I will say that if it was YOUR ass they were protecting, you might feel a little differently.

[Dukes]

Who said they were my superheroes? I made it pretty clear what I think of Blackwater.

Guess you should slow down and read a bit, eh?

And I'm not getting into the discussion of whether or not the money spent is justified, BUT I will say that if it was YOUR ass they were protecting, you might feel a little differently.

And I wouldn't want anyone else watching my 6 in Iraq.

[TailgateNut]

If it was up to me, we would add an amendment to the Constitution banning any agency or affiliate of the United States government from hiring mercenaries.


^5

Having the ability and the means to do so not only wastes taxpayer money, but IMO also allows the govement a way to wage war without declaring war by using funds allocated to those particular agencies.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

BUT I will say that if it was YOUR ass they were protecting, you might feel a little differently.Why in the world would I ever have to worry about glorified paid mercenaries having to protect my arse?

[orinjkrush]

of all the things our tax money goes for, this bothers me least. housing prisoners at over $$$$$$ per year chaps my butt more.