Triple Canopy chooses sub-contractor in African Peacekeeping Program

October 31, 2017 | CONTRACTS, OVERSEAS INTEL

Professional Overseas Contractors

William Wassink, chief executive officer of Saya Defense Services, Inc. of Abilene, announced Oct. 3 that the company has been awarded a sub-contract as part of an Africa Peacekeeping Program multiple award for an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract with the U.S. Department of State.
William-Wassink

The primary contractor is Triple Canopy, Inc., a Constellis company. “We are honored to work with Triple Canopy to support the United States government’s commitment to bringing peace and stability to Africa,” Wassink said.

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DOS release travel warning for contractors in Niger

October 30, 2017 | OVERSEAS INTEL

Professional Overseas Contractors

The U.S. Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to Niger due to terrorist activity, kidnappings, and high crime. The Department recommends U.S. citizens avoid travel to Niger’s border regions, particularly the Malian border area, the Libyan border area, the Diffa region, and Lake Chad Basin area because of activity by various extremist groups including al-Qa’eda in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham–Islamic State West Africa (ISIS-WA), ISIS-Greater Sahara (ISIS-GS), ISIS-Libya (ISIS-L), and Boko Haram. Due to security concerns and travel restrictions, the U.S. Embassy’s abilty to assist U.S. citizens in remote and rural areas is very limited. This replaces the Travel Warning dated April 11, 2017.

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Terrorist organizations, armed groups, and smugglers operate in the areas bordering Mali, Libya, and throughout northern Niger. Mali-based extremist groups have crossed the border and carried out multiple lethal attacks on Nigerien security forces (FDS) and on U.S. forces assisting the FDS.

The government of Niger has maintained a state of emergency in the Diffa region since February 10, 2015, and a curfew has been in place in the Diffa region since December 2014. The Nigerien government declared a state of emergency on March 3, 2017, for seven departments of the Tillaberi and Tahoua regions bordering Mali after a spate of deadly attacks.

There is significant potential for violent crime outside Niamey, and armed criminals target travelers throughout the country. Outside the city of Niamey, all U.S. Embassy personnel are required to travel only during daylight hours in a minimum two-vehicle convoy and armed Nigerien government security escorts.

There is a high threat of kidnapping by various terrorist groups, who have kidnapped Westerners, including a U.S. citizen, and threatened U.S. citizens in Niger. As a result of safety and security concerns, some organizations, including foreign companies, NGOs, and private aid organizations have suspended operations in Niger or withdrawn family members and/or staff.

For further information:

See the State Department's travel website for the Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and Country Specific Information for Niger.
Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
Contact the U.S. Embassy in Niger, located at 11201 Rue des Ambassades in Niamey, at +(227) 20-72-26-61, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Friday. After-hours emergency number for U.S. citizens is +(227) 20-99-49-90-66.
Call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

Private military company pay vs. Army pay

October 27, 2017 | Hiring Information

Professional Overseas Contractors

Although the United States isn’t a signatory to the U.N.’s “International Convention Against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries,” the employees of private military companies aren’t mercenaries. PMCs supply support services and personnel whose jobs range from aircraft repair to medical and humanitarian aid. They also provide security guards who have parlayed their U.S. Army training into a job paying three to five times their Army pay.

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Private Military Company Pay

Private military companies are as hesitant about providing information about their payroll as they are about naming their clients. The individual contractors who worked for PMCs rarely speak of it because their clients include organizations such as the CIA, and their contracts require silence. Average pay ranges between $300 - $750 per day or between $9,000 and $22,500 per month.

Army Pay

U.S. Army pay depends on an individual’s rank. The higher the rank, the greater the responsibility and the corresponding pay. A private, entering advanced individual training earns $1,468 per month. A sergeant with five years experience, possibly including combat, earns a base pay of $2,448 per month. A master sergeant with 20 years of experience may be only 38 years old and earns $4,189 per month in base pay. An infantry officer, after five years of service, probably has combat leadership experience and -- if a first lieutenant -- earns $4,349 per month. If that same officer holds the rank of captain, he earns $4,952 per month in base pay.

Similarities

Because PMC personnel work outside the U.S., they can receive their pay through direct deposit to their bank in the same way Army personnel do. Some PMCs, such as those that provide aircraft maintenance, for example, don’t work in a combat-type situation. Instead, they may contract to foreign governments, where their personnel maintain the aircraft, both military and civil, belonging to the government.

Differences

PMCs don’t have the same duty schedules as the U.S. Army. Instead, the PMC tours of duty are based on their clients' requirements. For example, in Iraq, PMC contracts with the U.S. government may require that personnel leave the country after a period of several months. PMC personnel provide physical security for U.S. nonmilitary assets and personal security for U.S. government civilian personnel. Additionally, PMC personnel aren’t subject to military courts or orders and can resign their positions at any time, without repercussion.

Best Fit

The U.S. Army is the common starting point for career soldiers, both those who spend 20 years or more in the Army and those who become PMC field employees. If you prefer the more casual relationship and the higher pay that a PMC offers, you may be well suited to that work. On the other hand, if your paycheck is not an issue and you prefer the traditional military role the U.S. Army offers, stay in the Army.