Contractors in the 21st Century "Combat Zone"
Abstract
Victory in the Cold War brought reduced military budgets and lower end-strengths. At the same time, operational tempo rose dramatically. This, plus government policies favoring outsourcing, has led to a growth in the importance of contracted support for military operations and, correspondingly, an increase in the prevalence of contractor personnel in proximity to combat. This paper reviews the domestic and international legal status of civilian contractors in proximity to combat; control of contractor operations and discipline of contractor personnel; contractor security and force protection; and, the impact and cost effectiveness of contract support on combat operations. Particular attention is paid to the contracting process and its impact on the effective delivery of combat support. The adequacy of traditional contracting policies and processes for combat support functions and the need for possible changes also are examined. The research shows that there has been a delay in updating contracting policy and doctrine and that on occasion a "business as usual" approach has decreased the efficiency of contracted contingency support. Serious deficiencies in organization and training for contingency contracting in support of joint operations persist. Contracting in a stressful environment has demonstrated the inadequacy of certain government contracting procedures.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA494611
Entities
People
- Richard L. Dunn
Organizations
- University of Maryland