Just like the war in Iraq, contractors have assumed a significant share of the U.S. military effort in Afghanistan and even surpassed the number of soldiers, both in terms of total personnel and fatalities.

 

As of January, nearly 113,500 employees of defense contractors were working in Afghanistan, compared with about 90,000 American soldiers. Only 22% of the total contractor force was Americans, while 47% were Afghans and 31% came from other countries.

 

In terms of casualties, 430 contractors were reported killed in Afghanistan last year. This total exceeded the number of U.S. troops who died (418) for the first time since the conflict began in 2001.

 

The responsibilities of contractors have ranged from cooks to convoy drivers to security guards in charge of protecting American diplomats and even generals.

 

L-3 Communications and its subsidiaries Titan Corporation and MPRI Inc. have lost 370 workers, with another 1,789 seriously wounded. Since the invasion and occupation of Afghanistan more than ten years ago, 231 employees of the Supreme Group catering firm have been killed, as have 125 people working for another catering firm, Service Employees International. Compass Security has lost 163 employees.

-Noel Brinkerhoff, David Wallechinsky

 

Risks of Afghan War Shift From Soldiers to Contractors (by Rod Norland, New York Times)

Are Military Contractors Free to Commit Torture without Punishment? (by Noel Brinkerhoff and David Wallechinsky, AllGov)

Forgotten Victims of War…Contractors  (by Noel Brinkerhoff and David Wallechinsky, AllGov)

More Contractors than Troops Killed in Iraq and Afghanistan This Year (by Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)

Contractors Outnumber U.S. Soldiers in Afghanistan (by Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)