Field commanders see improvements in controlling and coordinating private security contractor missions in Iraq

Since April 2003, private security companies and individuals, commonly known as private security contractors (PSCs), have provided physical security services to protect U.S. personnel, facilities and property as well as U.S. government contractors, subcontractors, and other parties supporting the U.S. mission in Iraq. The use of contractors, however, has not been without problems, including incidents between PSCs and Iraqis and between PSCs and U.S. forces. In late 2007, the Departments of Defense (DoD) and State (DoS) began making organizational and procedural changes to strengthen their oversight, coordination, and control of PSC activities, including PSC movements in areas of combat operations. Field commanders and CONOC officials generally believe that the new PSC control and coordination procedures have been effective in ensuring that such activities are not inconsistent with ongoing combat operations. In an earlier report on reporting, investigating, and remediating serious incidents involving PSCs, SIGIR similarly found that improved oversight and coordination of serious incidents could be achieved by establishing core standards, policies, and procedures early in a contingency. SIGIR identified this as a lesson learned, and this report provides further evidence of the importance of these activities.