OIR (Iraq and Syria) Summary

The distribution of contractors in Iraq and Syria by mission category are:

Base Support 1,273 (20.1%)
Construction 475 (7.5%)
IT/Communications Support 287 (4.6%)
Logistics/Maintenance 2,123 (33.6%)
Management/Administrative 319 (5.0%)
Medical/Dental/Social Services 16 (0.3%)
Other 79 (1.3%)
Security 418 (6.6%)
Training 8 (0.1%)
Translator/Interpreter 852 (13.5%)
Transportation 468 (7.4%)

Total: 6,318

Contractor Posture: Of the approximately 12,818 contractors supporting U.S. Government operations in Iraq and Syria, approximately 6,318 contractors are directly supporting DoD funded contracts. This is an approximate 18.7% increase from last quarter, due to an increased demand for Logistics and Maintenance commercial support.

OFS (Afghanistan) Summary*

The distribution of contractors in Afghanistan by mission category are:

Base Support 3,556 (14.1%)
Construction 1,877 (7.4%)
IT/Communications Support 915 (3.6%)
Logistics/Maintenance 7,657 (30.3%)
Management/Administrative 1,462 (5.8%)
Medical/Dental/Social Services 87 (0.4%)
Other 573 (2.3%)
Security 4,172* (16.5%)
Training 1,135 (4.5%)
Translator/Interpreter 2,045 (8.1%)
Transportation 1,760 (7.0%)

Total: 25,239

*2,397 Armed Private Security Contractors

Contractor Posture: Approximately 25,239 DoD contractors supported operations in Afghanistan during 4th quarter FY18, an decrease of 1% from 3rd quarter FY18. Local Nationals comprise 14.4% of total contractor force; 21,617 US/TCN remain to redeploy.

A total of 2,397 Private Security Contractors (PSCs) were supporting USCENTCOM operations in Afghanistan as of 4th quarter FY18. See table below for a detailed summary:

USCENTCOM Operational Contract Support Integration Cell (OCSIC) Forward (FWD). During this quarter, the USCENTCOM J4 (CCJ4) approved the realignment and relocation of the USCENTCOM OCS capability (to include vendor vetting as a subcomponent of OCS) from
Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar to Headquarters, USCENTCOM at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. The OCSIC FWD aligned its structure and core functions with doctrinal OCSIC tasks and will co-locate with the Headquarters staff and CCJ4 Divisions to enhance OCS planning,
integration, and synchronization activities. The incremental relocation will begin in October 2018 and coincide with scheduled personnel rotations. Relocation completion is anticipated by May 2019.

USCENTCOM Vendor Vetting. In accordance with the FY15 National Defense Authorization Act, Section 841, Never Contract with the Enemy, the Vendor Vetting Branch submitted to the Commander, USCENTCOM, four companies (and associated entities) for designation as
supporting the insurgency. Once designated, these four companies, and associated entities, will be barred from contracting with the United States government due to their continued support and funding of coalition adversaries. During the last quarter, the Vendor Vetting Decision Board considered 208 companies, resulting in 191 “Acceptable” rated companies (91.8%), and 17 companies rated as “Unacceptable without Mitigation” (8.2%).

Combined Joint Task Force-OIR (CJTF-OIR). The 408th Contracting Support Brigade (CSB) continues to provide the contracting support for this Combined Joint Operations Area (CJOA) on behalf of US Army Central Command (USARCENT). CJTF-OIR is working with USARCENT to improve the efficiency of the Joint Requirements Review Board, thus speeding contracted support to the warfighter.

OFS. As the Lead Service for Contracting, Army Contracting Command-Afghanistan (ACC-A) is supporting US Forces-Afghanistan and the Combined Security Transition Command Afghanistan by executing theater support contracts and contingency contracting administration
services across the CJOA. Synergy between ACC-A and the USFOR-A OCSIC increased as collaboration during the 4ID pre-deployment site survey ensured the security force assistance brigade and combat enabler requirements were properly prepared, validated, awarded, and
administered.

IMPROVEMENTS TO MANAGEMENT AND OVERSIGHT OF DOD CONTRACTORS

OCS Joint Doctrine, Organization, Training, materiel, Leadership and Education, Personnel, and Facilities-Policy (DOTmLPF-P) Change Recommendation (DCR) Approved. The OCS Joint DCR was approved by the Joint Requirements Oversight Committee (JROC) on August 20, 2018. The JROC, chaired by General Paul Selva, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, instructs the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), the Joint Staff (JS), Combatant Commands, and the Services to implement the DCR's "15" recommended solutions to institutionalize OCS across DoD to ensure OCS effectively and efficiently contributes to all phases and ranges of joint military operations. Implementation will begin in earnest as the Offices of Primary Responsibility within OSD, JS, Combatant Commands, and the Services identify action officers, plan, and organize to support DCR implementation within the specified time frame. The DCR sponsor, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Logistics) (ODASD(Logistics)), in collaboration with the OCS Functional Capabilities Integration Board (FCIB) will oversee DoD-wide implementation. The DCR Working Group, chaired by ODASD(Logistics) will convene monthly and as required to review/discuss plan execution and progress. Throughout the multi-year implementation process, the OCS FCIB, Logistics Functional Capabilities Board, DoD senior leadership and other functional communities will review implementation progress. The FY19-23 DoD OCS
Action Plan, published on October 1, 2018, will serve as the Department's DCR progress reporting document. For additional information contact Ms. Anna Lee Carter, Director OCS Plans and Programs, ODASD(Logistics) at [email protected]

4Q FY18 OCS FCIB: On August 28, Mr. Eric Chewning, Performing the Duties of ASD (Logistics & Materiel Readiness), hosted the 4th quarter FY18 OCS FCIB meeting with over 50 participants. Attendees included special guest RADM Paul J. Verrastro, U.S. European Command J4, senior logisticians, acquisition professionals and staff from OUSD (Personnel and Readiness), Defense Contract Management Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency, Defense Logistics Agency, JS J4/J7 and Services. The Board continues to focus on emerging
initiatives, such as establishment of the DoD Vendor Threat Mitigation Program, OCS Joint DCR/ Action Plan implementation, and doctrine/policy revisions to improve DoD-wide institutionalization of OCS capability. The 1st quarter FY19 OCS FCIB meeting will be held on
November 27, 2018. For additional information, contact the OCS FCIB Executive Secretary, Ms. Anna Lee Carter at [email protected]

Defense Standards for Security Services.

All DoD contracts for private security services require compliance with American National Standard Institute (ANSI) PSC.1-2012 (R2017), "Quality Management Standard for Private Security Company Operations" or ISO 18788-2015 "Management System for Private Security Operations." All PSCs at any tier are certified to one or both of these standards.

A total of 63 PSCs from 17 different countries have achieved independent third party certification to one or both of these standards. Another 20 PSCs from 15 countries are known to have begun the certification process.

Joint Contingency Acquisition Support Office (JCASO).

JCASO continues to provide Combatant Commands a joint enabling capability to integrate, coordinate, and synchronize OCS during peacetime, contingency operations, and post-conflict operations. Recent JCASO engagements include:

USCENTCOM Internal Look 2019 (IL19) Master Scenario Event List Event 2 (MSEL 2): The JS J7 and USCENTCOM J3 led the event with one JCASO participant working with the Sustainment Cell representatives. A MSEL inject was drafted and entered into Joint Training Information Management System to focus on the CCJ4 objective to increase USCENTCOM OCSIC participation in Boards, Bureaus, Centers, Cells, and Working Groups, which will impact other CCJ4 staff elements, as well.

Global Support to Combatant Commanders: JCASO continues OCS planning efforts across the regions, domains, and functions to provide additional options for decision makers, including the most challenging scenarios identified in the current National Military Strategy. Simultaneously JCASO is responding to real-world operations (e.g., support to U.S. Army Europe for ATLANTIC RESOLVE in Poland, Hurricane relief support).

OCS Tutor Pilot Program: OCS Tutors remain embedded with the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and US Special Operations Command to assist in developing and implementing OCS programs, including training and product and tool development.

JS, J4, Operational Contract Support Division (OCSD):

OCS Reporting. CCMDs, Services, and Agencies completed military OCS quarterly assessments, which consolidate reporting on readiness, risk, shortfalls and outcomes. JS J4 completed a strategic risk assessment on commercial support to operations. This assessment helps inform the Quarterly Readiness Report to Congress in addition to other readiness reports. In addition, JS J4 completed a strategic OCS assessment on readiness and shortfalls for inclusion in the November Joint Logistics Estimate.

OCS Planning. OCSD conducted an appraisal of a geographic problem set in support of Joint Staff global integration and planning. This was a focused effort on assessing and developing approaches to planning for commercial support to operations in combatant commands and identified areas for additional work including determining the level of reliance on commercial support at echelons above the Service components. OCSD also provided input to Defense Planning Scenario development to more robustly reflect commercial support considerations. The scenario will be used by the Services as a basis for the development of war games and analysis.

OCS Doctrine Update. Reviewed and adjudicated 1675 comments on the revised joint publication for Operational Contract Support, JP 4-10. This update will proliferate best practices on OCS from recent operations throughout the joint force.

OCS Training

• Joint OCS Planning and Execution Course (JOPEC). Delivered three (July, August, and September) JOPECs to 73 students. Since the course’s founding in 2013, 1,274 students have been trained.
• Joint Knowledge On-line (JKO). During the 4th quarter FY18, 483 personnel completed the Joint OCS Essentials for Commanders and Staff (JOECS) Phase 1 and 113 personnel completed the Phase 2 online course. As of September 19, 2018, 12,408 personnel have completed an OCS introductory online course.
• Staff Joint Training. OCSD is working with the geographic combatant commands, defense agencies, and Services to determine OCS training needs and subordinate unit staff joint training requirements to inform future direction and priorities. In addition, OCSD conducted initial planning and site visits to support execution of a US European Command exercise with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

The Montreux Document

The Montreux Document describes existing legal obligations regarding Private Military and Private Security Companies and lists recommended good practices for States which contract for such services as well as the States in which the companies are registered and/or operate. Although oriented on armed conflict, the Montreux Document states that its recommended good practices may also be instructive for post-conflict situations and for other, comparable situations. Further, although addressed to States, the good practices may be of value for other entities such as international organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and companies that contract for private security services, as well as for PSCs and other military support contractors (sometimes called Private Military Companies or PMCs.) Although the Montreux Document is not a binding international agreement, the U.S. Government recognizes the existing legal obligations described in the document and the value of its recommended good practices. DoD's regulations covering PSCs are reviewed for consistency with the Montreux Document and DoD works with other agencies of the U.S. Government for consistency throughout the government and to promote the Montreux Document internationally.

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Regulation of Private Military and Private Security Services by the United States began before Montreux and continues since then. DoD believes that its policy, directives, instructions, the requirement for compliance with the ANSI or ISO standard for PSCs, and its other contracting and regulatory practices implement all of the provisions of the Montreux Document for contracting States. This regulation can be found in the U.S. Laws and Defense Department Directives and Instructions cited above. PSC specific elements include the determination of services, selection and vetting of PSCs, accounting for weapons and other materiel, use of force, training, and applicability of Host Nation Law. Other elements of national law and standard clauses required by the Federal Acquisition Regulations and Defense supplements (DFARS) apply to all contractors accompanying the force or providing operational support. These laws and implementing clauses cover elements such anti-human trafficking, other personnel welfare provisions, measures against bribery and corruption, and contract management and oversight.

The U.S. Government's support of the Montreux Document is active and continuous. A detailed description of the U.S. Government's implementation of the Montreux Document can be found in a response to a questionnaire on that subject. The Department of Defense promoted the development of a Forum for Montreux Document Participants. The purpose of the Montreux Document Forum is to provide an informal consultative arrangement whereby participants in the Montreux Document process can share information, review best practices, work to ensure consistency in national legislation, provide State oversight of the International Code of Conduct initiative, and review application of the goals of the Montreux Document to conditions other than armed conflict and for non-State purchasers of such services. The International Committee of the Red Cross and the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs co-chair this forum. The U.S. Government currently chairs one of the forum’s working groups and serves as “Friend of the Chairs.” The most significant development specifically intended to support U.S. implementation the Good Principles of the Montreux Document are the consensus based performance standards for PSC operations, described above.

The International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers (ICoC): 

Article 8 of the Introduction to the Montreux Document states: “That while this document is addressed to States, the good practices may be of value for other entities such as international organizations, NGOs and companies that contract PMSCs, as well as for PMSCs themselves.” The PSCs that acted as expert advisors in the development of the Montreux Document accepted this recommendation and approached the Swiss Government to facilitate the development of a tool that would enable the PSC industry to adapt and apply the Montreux Document’s good practices in their own operations. This effort produced the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers. The ICoC was signed by 58 private security providers in Geneva in November 2010. There are hundreds of signatory companies today.

The ICoC represents the PSC industry's commitment to abide by the legal obligations of the Montreux Document and implement the recommended good practices in that document which are appropriate to private security service providers and other practices consistent with broadly accepted human rights principles. The Department of Defense encourages companies to commit to the principles of the ICoC as supporting DoD strategic goals for private security functions. The ICoC remains, however, a voluntary, industry led initiative. It supports implementation of the Montreux Document. It does not impose any obligation on States and States are not parties to the ICoC. In 2013, PSCs, some governments, and a select few Human Rights-based advocacy NGOs formed a multi-stakeholder initiative known as the International Code of Conduct Association (ICoCA). This is a private association formed under Swiss law and headquartered in Geneva. Key points of DoD support for the ICoC include the understanding that:

• The ICoC does not bind governments and incurs no obligations on the Department of Defense.
• Current U.S. Government requirements for conformance with ANSI/ASIS PSC.1-2012 or ISO 18788 implement the recommended good practices of the Montreux Document and are consistent with the commitments made by PSCs in the ICoC.
• DoD does not sanction or endorse the ICoCA, its service, products, or activities..
• DoD will not require membership, certification and oversight by the ICoCA as a condition of any DoD contracts. Neither can DoD show the ICoCA any preferential treatment.

Additional information about the ICoC can be found at: http://www.icoca.ch/ 

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Guidance on the use of force:

The use of force and the potential to use deadly force is the fundamental issue that distinguishes private security contractors from other operational contract support (civilians accompanying the armed forces.) Regulating the use of force and violence is a sovereign prerogative of States and, in many cases, is also subject to the provisions of international law, to include the Law of Armed Conflict and outside of armed conflict, International Human Rights Law. The Department of Defense is involved in several initiatives to ensure that the use of force by PSCs is consistent with international law and the notion of State monopoly of violence.

The Department of Defense works closely with the International Institute of Humanitarian Law in Sanremo, Italy in its Rules of Engagement Workshops and The Sanremo Handbook on Rules of Engagement. This handbook is used by armed forces on all six inhabited continents in developing Rules of Engagement (ROE) for their armed forces, including U.S. Geographic Combatant Commands and the Joint Staff. DoD participation helps students understand the differences between armed forces and PSCs and the critical differences between ROE appropriate to armed forces in combat and the Rules for the Use of Force (RUF) for civilian self-defense.

To further clarify this distinction and in recognition that most purchasers of PSC services are not States and international organizations, but come from the private sector (to include NGOs), DoD participated in an initiative sponsored by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to develop a Use of Force Handbook for PSCs. This work is patterned after the Sanremo Handbook and is written by many of the same authors. The difference is its sole focus on use of force appropriate to PSCs rather than a broader work on ROE that can be used to develop RUF. The UNODC initiative also addresses that in many cases, PSCs will not be operating under State issued or approved RUF but under a use of force policy developed by the private sector purchaser of security services or by the PSC itself. This UNODC sponsored effort was published in September, 2016 as the Handbook for Use of Force by Private Security Companies by the NGO Oceans Beyond Piracy. It is available on their website. This handbook can be useful for both formal RUF development and use of force policy consistent with recognized PSC operations standards.