U.S. commanders want civilian contractors to provide military security at the Marine Corps’ largest base in Afghanistan as a planned withdrawal of U.S. forces from the war-torn country expands.

The contracted security personnel will guard Camp Leatherneck, the sprawling, 1,500-acre-plus installation that serves as the Corps’ main hub of operations in Helmand province and home to II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), commanded by Maj. Gen. John Toolan. To date, coalition forces have handled security at Leatherneck, but commanders have discussed using contractors for months in anticipation of a smaller Marine footprint, said Lt. Col. Riccoh Player, a Marine spokesman at Leatherneck.

“As we prepare for fewer Marine boots on the ground, the requirement to maintain a certain level of security aboard Camp Leatherneck must be maintained,” Player said. “That’s where contractor support will provide Camp Leatherneck security where Marines have in the past.”

U.S. Army Contracting Command announced a competition for the job in November. At least 166 civilian guards will be needed at all times, meaning the company that wins the contract will almost certainly need more to account for vacations and other leave time. Companies who seek the job must hire guards who are citizens of the U.S. or some of its closest allies: the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

Base security at Leatherneck has been performed primarily by a reserve infantry battalion, currently 1st Battalion, 25th Marines, out of Fort Devens, Mass. However, as part of the drawdown, the Corps already has canceled the deployment of a replacement unit, 1st Battalion, 24th Marines, out of Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich. Marines with 1/24 would have replaced 1/25 in theater next year.

The civilian guards posting security must have a secret security clearance issued by either the U.S. or the International Security Assistance Force headed by Marine Gen. John Allen, according to documents released in the competition.

Personnel will be expected to wear body armor, man security towers and be familiar with the M16A4 rifle, M4 carbine and M9 pistol, plus crew-served weapons such as the M240B heavy machine gun and M2 .50-caliber machine gun. A typical workweek will last up to 72 hours, military documents said.

Civilians to guard Marine base in Afghanistan - Marine Corps News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Marine Corps Times

So if you always wanted to fall screaming out of a watch tower, like they show in the films, then this is your chance.

Lt. Col. Riccoh Player,

Really?
Truly?

Originally Posted by cloudbuster

Really?
Truely?

Photocopier Walt..but he does exist!

CC Riccoh Player selected as a Congressional Fellow « USMCCCA

Can't think of a worse plan than to put civilians incharge of security in a volitile environment.

Could be worse, they could use local labour

Originally Posted by 2/51

Can't think of a worse plan than to put civilians incharge of security in a volitile environment.

I would expect them to be ex-soldiers pretty much like the whole circuit at present, whether maritime security or on land.

blackwater not in the running then!!!.

Originally Posted by Fallschirmjager

I would expect them to be ex-soldiers pretty much like the whole circuit at present, whether maritime security or on land.

Its not who they are, its more to do with the ability for the US government to turn there backs on them when the enevitable "pear shaped" plan goes wrong.

Will the US be under any obligation to extract civilian contractors if the ballon goes up?

Originally Posted by 2/51

Can't think of a worse plan than to put civilians incharge of security in a volitile environment.

That's the Olympics fucked then!