2RHPZ
05-25-2004, 01:20 PM
Security firms poaching Diggers
By Mark Dunn
17may04
THE Australian Defence Force is trying to stop SAS officers quitting for rich contracts in Iraq.
The ADF said personnel from all three services were banned from travelling while on leave to any country, including Iraq, which was the subject of Department of Foreign Affairs travel advisories.
"The army is aware that the private sector has always been trying to recruit the highly trained and motivated personnel found in Australian special forces," ADF spokesman Dan Wheelahan said.
But Gordon Conroy, a former Special Air Service Regiment officer who now runs a security company in Iraq, said large international security firms were actively recruiting Australians.
"In fact it was commented that their recruiters were constantly parked outside the SASR barracks gates waiting for soldiers to finish work," he said.
"There is a tremendous demand for quality PSD (protective security details) in Iraq and while the majority to date has come from the UK and US, this specialist gene pool is beginning to run dry and a concentrated effort was made (to recruit) in Australia and NZ.
"The ADF is aware of this and I am led to believe they have put measures in place to try to preclude currently serving SAS members from leaving and taking lucrative contracts in Iraq.
"I think they may have been concerned about the flood-gates being opened once a number of members did go - which, I believe, initially occurred with a few members before procedures were put in place to try to stem an anticipated exodus."
Mr Conroy said his firm, Unity Resources Group, employed about 90 specialists in Iraq, including former army and police officers and those with experience in UN peacekeeping forces.
Others included former French Legionnaires, British military and US special forces personnel.
Other companies, including Custer Battles, Blackwater USA and Global Risk, have been known to source former Australian soldiers for work.
Sources said several Australian mercenaries had returned from Iraq in recent months unhappy about weapons and logistics support and death and disability insurance.
"There are good and bad firms out there and many gold-diggers who have little to no security experience," Mr Conroy said.
"Given the fact that security is a common thread through all projects in Iraq there is an enormous demand and some companies cash in.
"But there are a lot of cowboys who not only place their own lives in danger but those of their clients.
"Often they will bring in low-cost personnel with little training and experience, subsequently leaving their unsuspecting client and own protective staff exposed to great risk."
Mr Conroy said security work was set to balloon from 10,000 to 150,000 jobs, with the coalition's Program Management Office soon to issue 2500 infrastructure contracts worth $26 billion.
By Mark Dunn
17may04
THE Australian Defence Force is trying to stop SAS officers quitting for rich contracts in Iraq.
The ADF said personnel from all three services were banned from travelling while on leave to any country, including Iraq, which was the subject of Department of Foreign Affairs travel advisories.
"The army is aware that the private sector has always been trying to recruit the highly trained and motivated personnel found in Australian special forces," ADF spokesman Dan Wheelahan said.
But Gordon Conroy, a former Special Air Service Regiment officer who now runs a security company in Iraq, said large international security firms were actively recruiting Australians.
"In fact it was commented that their recruiters were constantly parked outside the SASR barracks gates waiting for soldiers to finish work," he said.
"There is a tremendous demand for quality PSD (protective security details) in Iraq and while the majority to date has come from the UK and US, this specialist gene pool is beginning to run dry and a concentrated effort was made (to recruit) in Australia and NZ.
"The ADF is aware of this and I am led to believe they have put measures in place to try to preclude currently serving SAS members from leaving and taking lucrative contracts in Iraq.
"I think they may have been concerned about the flood-gates being opened once a number of members did go - which, I believe, initially occurred with a few members before procedures were put in place to try to stem an anticipated exodus."
Mr Conroy said his firm, Unity Resources Group, employed about 90 specialists in Iraq, including former army and police officers and those with experience in UN peacekeeping forces.
Others included former French Legionnaires, British military and US special forces personnel.
Other companies, including Custer Battles, Blackwater USA and Global Risk, have been known to source former Australian soldiers for work.
Sources said several Australian mercenaries had returned from Iraq in recent months unhappy about weapons and logistics support and death and disability insurance.
"There are good and bad firms out there and many gold-diggers who have little to no security experience," Mr Conroy said.
"Given the fact that security is a common thread through all projects in Iraq there is an enormous demand and some companies cash in.
"But there are a lot of cowboys who not only place their own lives in danger but those of their clients.
"Often they will bring in low-cost personnel with little training and experience, subsequently leaving their unsuspecting client and own protective staff exposed to great risk."
Mr Conroy said security work was set to balloon from 10,000 to 150,000 jobs, with the coalition's Program Management Office soon to issue 2500 infrastructure contracts worth $26 billion.