Military Operations: Background Screenings of Contractor Employees Supporting Deployed Forces May Lack Critical Information, but U.S. Forces Take Steps to Mitigate the Risk Contractors May Pose

Abstract

Force protection has long been a challenge for Department of Defense (DOD) in the Middle East and elsewhere. Since the 1996 Khobar Tower attack in Saudi Arabia, which killed 19 U.S. servicemembers, DOD and the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) have issued policies and procedures to help commanders, who are responsible for the safety and security of their installations, reduce the risk of terrorist attack and mitigate those risks that cannot be eliminated. However, DOD recognizes that all risks cannot be eliminated and terrorist attacks will still occur. To help installation commanders address force protection challenges, DOD, CENTCOM, and others, such as the Multi-national Forces- Iraq (MNF-I), provide guidance and assistance to installation commanders. For example DOD and CENTCOM have developed force protection standards that apply to installations in CENTCOMs area of responsibility, including Iraq and Afghanistan. These standards describe specific actions commanders should take to help prevent terrorist attacks. MNF-I has issued guidance to its subordinate commands directing among other things, the development of anti-terrorism plans, which include specific physical security measures. In addition, the Joint Staff periodically visits installations in Iraq and elsewhere to complete antiterrorism vulnerability assessments. The expert teams assess an installation for potential areas of attack and suggest actions the installation commander can take to reduce risks. Commanders are also provided with threatassessments which are updated as necessary, and routinely receive intelligence information, which could affect the security of their installations and forces.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 22, 2006
Accession Number
AD1152492

Entities

People

  • Carole F. Coffey
  • David A. Schmitt
  • Grace Coleman
  • James A. Reynolds
  • Kenneth E. Patton
  • Laura C. Johnson
  • Laura Cooper
  • Vincent Balloon
  • William M. Solis

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Antiterrorism
  • Biometric Security
  • Combat Support
  • Congress
  • Contractors
  • Contracts
  • Control Systems
  • Crime
  • Department Of Defense
  • Department Of State
  • Employment
  • Force Protection
  • Governments
  • International Relations
  • Law
  • Military Operations
  • National Security
  • Personnel Management
  • United States
  • United States Central Command
  • United States Government
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Military and Counterinsurgency Studies.