Al Jazeera’s September report covers Iraq’s changing security picture. What changes do you expect next?

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/29/iraq-begins-high-stakes-security-balancing-act-as-us-troops-withdraw

New to the wall? Say hello and tell us what part of overseas contracting interests you: PSS, static security, medic, K9, logistics or another support role. A specific question is easier for people to answer than “how do I get into PMC work?”

An industry example for the WPS side: GovCon Wire’s report on GardaWorld Federal Services leadership for WPS and LGS Iraq.

https://www.govconwire.com/articles/gardaworld-federal-services-derek-wood-wps-lgs

Open introduction thread for anyone who has been reading but has not posted yet. What area are you interested in—security, logistics, maintenance, communications, or something else? One sentence is enough. You can also share a question you would like the community to discuss.

One sentence of advice for someone heading onto their first overseas contract. Mine: read the whole offer and ask the boring questions before getting excited about the money. What is yours?

Related reading here on preparing for an overseas contract. What do you wish someone had explained before your first assignment?

https://www.your-poc.com/understanding-overseas-contracting/

Forget the expensive kit for a minute. What small thing makes a long overseas rotation more comfortable? Earplugs, decent bedding, a coffee setup, something for the downtime? The boring answers are usually the useful ones.

What would make this group more useful to you: industry articles, career questions, training discussions, general deployment preparation, or introductions? Pick one topic and tell us what you would like to see people talking about. New members are welcome to jump in.

Seeing people with all kinds of military and security backgrounds ask about overseas work. If your experience was outside the U.S. military, do not assume every employer treats it the same way. What is the best way to get a straight answer before spending weeks applying?

For the clearance side of the conversation, Military.com has this background FAQ. The actual employer’s vacancy still determines what a particular role requires.

https://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/security-clearance-jobs/security-clearance-faq.html

If you could improve just one part of your professional profile this week, what would it be? Updating your skills section, clarifying your most recent role, checking contact details, or replacing an old resume? Sometimes a small, clear improvement is easier to finish than a complete rewrite.