Defense Base Act Articles
For Civilians Injured Overseas

Defense Base Act Worker Stats in Iraq & Afganistan

Our experience Defense Base Act attorneys have represtened hundreds of contract workers who were injured in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In this article, our attorneys share some interesting statistics* about the number of Department of Defense contract workers deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

U.S. Contractor Workers in Afghanistan

As of the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2016, 25,197 Department of Defense contractor workers were located in the country of Afghanistan, compared to only 9,800 U.S. troops. This means that contract workers represented approximately 72% of the total Department of Defense personnel in Afghanistan.

Approximately 36% of these 25,197 individual contractors were U.S. citizens, while approximately 23% were third-country nationals. The rest -roughly 41% – were nationals oif the local host country. It is important to note that all of these employees qualify for Defense Base Act coverage and compensation – even if they are NOT U.S. citizens.

Of the 25,197 Department of Defense contractor personnel working oiverseas in Afghanistan in 2016, about 3% were armed private security contractors.

U.S. Contractor Workers in Iraq

As of the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2016, there were 2,992 Department of Defense contractor workers in Iraq. However, force management levels only authorize the presence of up to 4,087 U.S. troops in Iraq. This means contract workers represent approximately 42% of the total
estimated  personnel presence in Iraq.

Most of these civilian workers are deployed as part of the U.S.-led coalition’s “advise-and-assist mission” supporting the Government of Iraq.

Approximately 61% of the 2,992 Department of Defense individual contract workers were U.S. citizens, while roughly 25% were third-country nationals; leaving approximately 14% local host-country nationals. Again, all of these employees qualify for Defense Base Act coverage and compensation – even if they are NOT U.S. citizens.

Private Security Contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan

Armed and unarmed private security contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan comprise a large number of the Defense Base Act employees in those regions.

These civilian personnel are essential to the safety, security and success of our military operations overseas. They have been employed to provide integral security services such as protecting fixed locations; guarding traveling convoys; providing security escorts; and training police and military personnel.

The number of private security contractor employees working for the Department of Defense in Iraq and Afghanistan fluctuates significantly over
time, depending upon a variety of factors, including current force management levels in each country as well as U.S. operational needs.

The number of  private security contractors peaked in Iraq in 2009 at more than 15,000. Private security contractors peaked in Afghanistan in 2012 with more than 28,000 employees.

In the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2016 the Department of Defense reported that 3,053 private security contractors were employed in Afghanistan, and 813 of these men and women were categorized as armed private security contractors.

In the same period, the Department of Defense reported only 239 security contractor personnel in Iraq , none of whom were classified as armed private security contractors.

* (All statistics obtained from the Congressional Rersearch Service report entitled:  Department of Defense Contractor and Troop Levels in Iraq and Afghanistan: 2007-2017.)

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