10th Mountain Division asks for civilian volunteers to Iraq

[Robbien]

Source: Newsday

FORT DRUM, N.Y. (AP) _ Fort Drum commanders are looking for volunteers to serve in Iraq and are asking the post's 1,000 civilians workers if any are interested.

The civilians would assist soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division's 1,000-member Headquarters brigade, which will deploy to Iraq next spring to provide overhead and support for other combat troops already there, Lt. Col. Paul Swiergosz said Tuesday.

In a memo issued last month, Maj. Gen. Michael Oates directed the post chief of staff and garrison commander to "query all" civilians for their interest. Forms were also distributed asking volunteers to list their specialized experience, such as force protection, information management and logistics, as well as what type of security clearance they had, Swiergosz said.

"This is not a manpower crunch. We have enough soldiers to do the job," Swiergosz said. "Commander Oates simply wants to take advantage of the civilian expertise that we have developed here."

Volunteers will be allowed to select the length of deployment, ranging from four months to 15 months, he said. Accepted volunteers will be paid their salaries plus an additional 70 percent _ half of that amount is mandatory danger pay given to all military personnel deployed to a combat zone, he said.

Read more: http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--fortdrum-civilian1211dec11,0,2892923.story

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Bush Admin says it is safe now in Iraq. Any takers?

[terisan]

1. No manpower crunch; just want to open new vistas and provide opportunity for civilians.

[Xipe Totec]

2. And how much do the pay Blackwater mercs?

I bet they get a lot more.

[Tempest]

3. Or even Halliburton

If civilians were to go, they'd go for higher pay, not for what the government is paying them.

[Posteritatis]

11. $350-$900 per day, depending on duties and what's going on at the time

(Just finished reading Scahill's "Blackwater," and those are the figures that pop up for American BW personnel.)

[balantz]

4. No problem, I'll be right over!

[AndyTiedye]

5. They Should Post Their Ad on FreeRepublic, I'll Bet They Get Lots of Volunteers There, NOT

[saigon68]

9. The Freeper Trash Like Gangster Cheney will be jumping

for Joy

Profits to be made by Halliburton

Joy to the World the $$$$$$$$ have come

[0007]

12. Perhaps we can dangle an olive branch to China?

[saigon68]

15. Maybe since Walmart sends them $300 Billion a year

For shoddy crap it sells in its "Super Stores"

[pdefalla]

6. olunteers will be allowed to select the length of deployment, ranging from four months to 15 months,

Hmmmm. Wonder what happens when you want to come back before your 15 months are up? I also wonder if you are immune to all laws like Blackwater contractors? I wonder what happens if you are wounded- do you lose your job? Do they pay the rest of your contract? Do they send money to your family?

[JBoy]

7. Sound like fun, just like Outward Bound but with money!

Yay!

[rockybelt]

8. How are the new

enlistments going? Sounds like they might be a tad behind in new recruits ie. cannon fodder.

[tomg]

10. And if this doesn't work

they can always try press gangs.

[hedgehog]

13. Listen - winters in Watertown may be bad, but they aren't THAT bad!

[shaniqua6392]

14. Ooooh! That sounds like it would be a blast!!!!

:nuke:

[Javaman]

16. Huh, so now they are opening looking for mercs...

Yeah, let me go over there and work for free...yeahhhhh, that's it.