The Future Use of Corporate Warriors with the U.S. Armed Forces: Legal, Policy, and Practical Considerations and Concerns
Abstract
As U.S. force planners and policymakers assess our future security needs, establish the resulting military requirements, and weigh and make choices withina resource-constrained environment (Bartlett, Holman, and Somes, 2004) to find the right capabilities, size, and mix for the U.S. military 15 to 20 years fromnow, a critical consideration will be what, if any, role private security contractors should play in augmenting that future force on the battlefield (Owens, 2004).This article asks whether the U.S. military and other federal entities that accompany the armed forces during future armed conflicts should contract forsecurity services in light of several critical policies, as well as legal and practical risks and concerns. The article is divided into a three-part analysis. First, it frames the comprehensive context by a) considering the historical use of private security contractors; b) defining private security contractors in the context of the nature andscope of the services they provide; and c) exploring an appropriate paradigm for future U.S. force planning. Second, it considers several overarching legal policies, practical concerns, and risks associated with the future use of private security contractors. Finally, it discusses the way ahead by advocating a coordinated,collaborative, and concentrated effort by both the legislative and executive branches to address the underlying question.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 2009
- Accession Number
- AD1016342
Entities
People
- David A. Wallace