Department of Defense Contractors in Afghanistan and Iraq: Background and Analysis

Abstract

The critical role contractors play in supporting military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq necessitates that the Department of Defense (DOD) effectively manage contractors during contingency operations. Lack of sufficient contract management can delay or even prevent troops from receiving needed support and can also result in wasteful spending. Some analysts believe that poor contract management has played a role in permitting abuses and crimes committed by certain contractors against local nationals, which may have undermined U.S. counterinsurgency efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq. DOD relies extensively upon contractors to support overseas contingency operations. As of March 2011, DOD had more contractor personnel in Afghanistan and Iraq (155,000) than uniformed personnel (145,000). Contractors made up 52% of DOD s workforce in Afghanistan and Iraq. Since December 2009, the number of DOD contractors in Afghanistan has exceeded the number in Iraq. According to DOD, in Afghanistan, as of March 2011, there were 90,339 DOD contractor personnel, compared to approximately 99,800 uniformed personnel. Contractors made up 48% of DOD s workforce in Afghanistan at that time. This compares to December 2008, when contractors represented 69% of DOD s workforce in Afghanistan. According to DOD data, the recent surge of uniformed personnel in Afghanistan and the increase in contract obligations did not result in a corresponding increase in contractor personnel. DOD obligated approximately $11.8 billion on contracts performed primarily in the Afghanistan theater of operations (including surrounding countries) in FY2010, representing 15% of total DOD obligations for the area. From FY2005-FY2010, DOD obligated approximately $33.9 billion on contracts for the Afghanistan theater, representing 16% of total DOD obligations for the area.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 13, 2011
Accession Number
ADA585309

Entities

People

  • Joyprada Swain
  • Moshe Schwartz

Organizations

  • Library of Congress

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Army Procurement
  • Business Administration
  • Civilian Personnel
  • Contractors
  • Contracts
  • Department Of Defense
  • Department Of State
  • Employment
  • Governments
  • Homeland Security
  • Management Personnel
  • Military Operations
  • National Security
  • Personnel Management
  • Private Military Companies
  • United States Central Command
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Government Contracting/Procurement.
  • Military Mobilization and Reserve Forces Studies.
  • Political Violence and Terrorism Studies.