Department of Defense Contractor and Troop Levels in Afghanistan and Iraq: 2007-2020
Abstract
Throughout its history, the Department of Defense (DOD) has relied on contractors to support a wide range of military operations. Operations over the last thirty years have highlighted the critical role that contractors play in supporting U.S. troopsboth in terms of the number of contractors and the types of work they perform. During recent U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, contractors often accounted for 50% or more of the total DOD presence in country. For the fourth quarter of fiscal year (FY) 2020, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) reported 43,809 contractor personnel working for DOD within its area of responsibility, which included 27,388 individuals located in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. From FY2011 to FY2019, obligations for all DOD-funded contracts performed within the Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan areas of operation totaled approximately $187 billion in FY2021 dollars. In late 2017, the DOD stopped reporting the number of U.S. military personnel deployed in support of operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria as part of its quarterly manpower reports and in other official releases. These data remain withheld.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 22, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1148090
Entities
People
- Heidi M. Peters
Organizations
- Library of Congress