For the first time contractor deaths have exceeded military deaths in Iraq/Afghanistan: Review Article Here from ProPublica.com.
Sobering news for those considering a job in the warzones. It's a poignant reminder of the danger that you could face working alongside the military. The danger is all too real.
I was in Afghanistan at a major base south of Kabul sometime last year when we were attacked full force by Taliban/insurgents. There were RPG's, suicide bombers, small arms fire, etc that went on for several hours. This was a major base with significant armament, air support and significant numbers (more than 5k) of troops. There were helicopter gunships overhead, rockets being fired, heavy machine gun fire going on for hours. I'm saying this because the civilians on the base continued to operate as if nothing was going on. I was quite amazed myself as there were hundreds of civilians milling around attempting to get to their 'regular jobs' with little regard for the danger going on around them. Quite literally they were less than 50 feet from where RPG's were exploding and they were acting as if nothing was occurring.
I think a lot of that had to do with them being in the warzone for so long and being exposed to this to such an extent as to be immune to the commotion, but I would say this.. myself and several former marines were hunkered down in a bunker with body armour on. No sense dying for being stupid.
The danger is all too real there. Prepare yourself for this. Understand it, face it and then when you are there if something does go down, don't be macho.. if you hear a loud bang and aren't sure what it is.. when in doubt hit the deck. Better to be laughed at for overreacting than to be dead. By these statistics it does happen.
Sobering news for those considering a job in the warzones. It's a poignant reminder of the danger that you could face working alongside the military. The danger is all too real.
I was in Afghanistan at a major base south of Kabul sometime last year when we were attacked full force by Taliban/insurgents. There were RPG's, suicide bombers, small arms fire, etc that went on for several hours. This was a major base with significant armament, air support and significant numbers (more than 5k) of troops. There were helicopter gunships overhead, rockets being fired, heavy machine gun fire going on for hours. I'm saying this because the civilians on the base continued to operate as if nothing was going on. I was quite amazed myself as there were hundreds of civilians milling around attempting to get to their 'regular jobs' with little regard for the danger going on around them. Quite literally they were less than 50 feet from where RPG's were exploding and they were acting as if nothing was occurring.
I think a lot of that had to do with them being in the warzone for so long and being exposed to this to such an extent as to be immune to the commotion, but I would say this.. myself and several former marines were hunkered down in a bunker with body armour on. No sense dying for being stupid.
The danger is all too real there. Prepare yourself for this. Understand it, face it and then when you are there if something does go down, don't be macho.. if you hear a loud bang and aren't sure what it is.. when in doubt hit the deck. Better to be laughed at for overreacting than to be dead. By these statistics it does happen.
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