Some men working in Iraq

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Norton

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I think the euphemism is "contractors" for what these fellers are doing over there. No, I don't know who they are or who they work for.....sent by a friend who knows a guy, who knows a guy's cousin.....well, you get the idea.
 

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Let's play name that firearm....free drinks to the winner...Spot77 is buying :D
 
This photo is been around the net for sometime now, one of the regulars over at Free Republic actually found the original photo and posted it there not long after someone posted this pic and said he was one of the dudes in the photo, some SPEC OPS Dip????.

Anyways…

The real photo IIRC was taken of a bunch of normal dudes, just being funny, who were in Iraq working for UNC Lear or some sub contractor.

Where they got the weapons was not really clear
 
Why are they hiding their faces?
Click to expand...
It's fairly common for those who are involved in "Special" work to not want their faces shown. This sort of picture is fine in a scrapbook back home, or on one's 'Hero' wall in the basement, but when it makes it to the internet, having one's face out there brings more risk than a prudent person would want.

That is quite a variety of weapons they're displaying, though. I would think there might be some body armor.
 
RE: Missing faces.....I took them out as a courtesy to the gentlemen involved. They didn't ask to have their faces posted, but I thought that we might be interested in their equipment.

What is the large weapon at the bottom left? Is that what is called a SAW?

I presume it's in 7.62 NATO, no?
 
>>What is the difference between a "contractor" and a mercenary?<<


Like I said.....a euphemism ;)
 
Could be any number of folks. The only thing you can tell for sure is that they are not 'line' troops. So much for speculation. I might know some of them, by sight at least.

The real photo IIRC was taken of a bunch of normal dudes, just being funny, who were in Iraq working for UNC Lear or some sub contractor.
Click to expand...

I tend to doubt that. Hard to find that many people in one place willing to 'loan' out thier gear for a gag photo op. It just isn't done. Murphy's Law and all. Even inside the wire.
 
They're called "contractors" because they are independently contracted. The IT guy working for your firm could also be a contractor.
 
No idea who these people in the photo are, but my son is doing that work.

He had a choice of several 9mm pistols, and chose a Browning Hi-Power, a favorite. His M-4 carbine looks just like the one shown. He told me on the 'phone that the vertical foregrip has a control taped to it to activate a small flashlight mounted on the forearm.

Said the weapons there encompass almost anything that one can envision. A Sterling SMG goes for about $130 US.

Lone Star
 
Second from the right, front row has an interesting RPK variant. Wonder where it was made? Also wonder if the folding stock in the back row belongs to an AKMS, or something else?
 
Hell, I'd like to go over their and make some buck$ as a contractor. Don't like the desert or the idea of walking into a house that blows up in my face though. Could care less about the phony oil war. I got a friend in the military who pulled 60K last year. I heard some of these contractors are making upwards of 100K.
 
Contractor Work

I just finished myself a 6 month Contract in Iraq. "Contractors" are usually ex-special operational forces members (SEAL, Army Special Forces, Army Ranger, Marine Recon, etc..). Most are working for Dept of State or Dept of Defense doing Personal Protection work for high level diplomants or techinical contractors. Usually providing site security, convoy security, and personal protection. The major companies that have the contracts are: Blackwater, Triple Canopy, Special Operations Consulting, MVM, Dyncorp and Armour Group. All usually have a very strict and competitive interview and hiring process and also usually a 2 week selection/training course stateside before deploying overseas. The training usually weeds out 35% of qualified applicants. Pay is usually around $400 to $700 per day, depending on contract and location. Contracts very in length from 90 days to 1 year.

I did a 6 month gig, and served with the best group of guys on my team that I have ever served with.

Contractors see the same crap most grunts do, but usually have little support, and are usually underarmed. They are providing a service that is vital, especially since the military is stretched thin. Please Pray for them.
 
The Army has been asking DOD civilian logisticians (work for the Army but arent officers or enlisted) if they want to go to "Southwest Asia". I've been thinking about it, but no one will tell me if I will be able to have a weapon and be issued battle rattle. I do have a year before I have enough senority to apply, so I've got a while to research it more.

Kharn
 
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