Contractors: A Strategic Asset or Achilles' Heel?
Abstract
The use of civilian contractors for support within the U.S. Army is not a new phenomenon. From the Revolutionary War through the East Timor peacekeeping mission, contractors have always accompanied America's forces. An examination of the historical use of contractors demonstrates that their importance has increased from supplying goods, transportation and medical support, to serving as force multipliers. Currently, contractors are a strategic asset that the Army requires for all deployments and operations. As the Army is confronted with the growing threat of asymmetrical warfare, how much force protection is needed to safeguard a contractor's employees? In future operations, will our adversaries identify civilian contractors as our Achilles heel, thereby making contractors a strategic vulnerability? The U.S. Army has not been tested in this area during recent conflicts or peacekeeping operations. But if contractors and or their services and facilities are attacked or captured, will the major defense contractors be able to keep their employees on the job? Commanders must include contractors and their roles in their operational plans. Integration of contractor support into their campaign and contingency plans is vital. However, Commanders need to understand during planning for any operation that they do not command or control contractors. They manage them through their staff and the Administrative Contracting Officer (ACO), and in some instances, the contracting officer. Commanders and their legal advisors must also deal with discipline and criminal jurisdiction of civilian contractors' personnel. In January 2000, Congressional legislation addressed this perplexing issue. However, procedures for implementing this new law are not yet in place. Nor has the inevitable litigation altering it yet arrived before our courts. How will the military determine the readiness of its contractors? Yet their failure to perform during conflict will be recognized quickly and painfuc
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA391192
Entities
People
- Richard G. Schenck
Organizations
- United States Army War College