The Shadow Workforce: Unraveling The Presence Of Civilian Contractors In Afghanistan

The number of civilian contractors in Afghanistan has fluctuated over the years, depending on various factors such as the security situation on the ground and the policies of the US administration. In 2019, there was a notable increase in the number of armed private security contractors, with a more than 65% increase since President Donald Trump took office. This rise was attributed to administrative changes and the need to substitute contractors for soldiers to meet force manning levels.

However, more recently, there has been a significant drop in the number of contractors. As of July 2021, the total number of all kinds of contractors in Afghanistan had decreased by more than half in the previous three months, falling from almost 17,000 in April to only 7,800, including fewer than 2,700 Americans. This reduction coincided with the Biden administration's withdrawal of military support from the country.

Throughout the US-led war in Afghanistan, contractors have played a crucial role in supporting military operations and local forces. They have provided essential services such as training, gear maintenance, intelligence gathering, and close air support. Their presence has been both praised and criticised, with some arguing that they have been unsung heroes who supported the troops and bled with our troops, while others point to incidents of abuse and financial malfeasance.

The high number of contractor deaths in Afghanistan, exceeding 8,000 as of 2021, also underscores the risks and sacrifices made by these individuals.

The number of civilian contractors in Afghanistan has dropped by more than half in the last few years

The number of civilian contractors in Afghanistan has dropped significantly in recent years, with the total number of contractors falling by more than half in just a few months. This decline has had a significant impact on various types of contractors, including private security contractors, logisticians, and mechanics.

In the past few years, the number of private military contractors in Afghanistan has decreased precipitously, marking a distinct shift from previous administrations' approaches. This reduction is evident in the Defense Department's quarterly report, which revealed a drop from almost 17,000 contractors in April to only 7,800 three months later. Among these, the number of private security contractors has seen a notable decline, falling from 2,850 in April to fewer than 1,400.

The decrease in contractors is particularly concerning given their critical role in supporting the Afghan military. Contractors have provided essential maintenance and military support, including training, gear maintenance, intelligence gathering, and close air support. The departure of these contractors has been identified as a contributing factor to the challenges faced by the Afghan military in their battles against the Taliban.

The reduction in contractors has also affected logisticians and maintainers, whose numbers have more than halved from 5,500 in April to 2,150. This group forms the largest portion of private contractors in Afghanistan and plays a crucial role in maintaining the country's fledgling air force. The decrease in their numbers raises questions about the future of Afghanistan's air capabilities.

The withdrawal of military support by the Biden administration has resulted in a rapid decline in contractor numbers, deviating from the approach taken by previous presidents. This shift has left local allies without on-the-ground military backup and has raised concerns about the lack of a clear plan to ensure the Afghan forces receive the necessary support to defend against insurgents.

The employment of private security contractors had soared during the Trump administration, reaching nearly 6,000. However, with the current reduction, the number of armed private security contractors stands at 2,847, with the majority being non-American.

The decline in civilian contractors in Afghanistan has had a significant impact on various sectors and has left the Afghan military facing challenges in maintaining their capabilities and defending against the Taliban.

The US military employs an unprecedented number of security contractors in Afghanistan

The US military has relied heavily on security contractors in Afghanistan, with their presence being a significant aspect of America's longest war. The number of private security contractors employed by the US military in Afghanistan has fluctuated over the years, reaching unprecedented levels at certain points in time.

In April 2019, it was reported that the number of security contractors had surged to over 5,800, the highest since President Barack Obama declared an end to combat operations in 2014. This represented a spike of more than 20% in just three months, with the total number of contractors, including those in non-security roles, exceeding 17,000. This increase occurred under the administration of President Donald Trump, who had lifted caps on troop numbers, and it was speculated that the US government might be concealing the true situation on the ground.

The use of security contractors in Afghanistan has been a controversial issue. On the one hand, they provide essential support functions, such as training local troops, maintaining infrastructure, and providing security for high-profile officials. They also offer more flexible personnel systems and fill gaps where there is a shortage of servicemembers. However, there have been concerns about a lack of oversight and accountability regarding their activities. Incidents of human rights abuses and financial malfeasance have occurred, damaging the reputation of security contractors.

The withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan under the Biden administration saw a precipitous drop in the number of contractors. By July 2021, the total number of contractors had more than halved to around 7,800, with fewer than 2,700 Americans among them. This reduction was part of a broader trend of the Biden administration's approach to disengaging from military support in Afghanistan, marking a shift from the strategies of previous administrations.

The departure of contractors was identified as a critical turning point in the collapse of the Afghan military. Their presence had been crucial for maintaining US-supplied aircraft and providing intelligence support to Afghan troops. With the withdrawal of these contractors, the Afghan military quickly lost its advantage over the Taliban, leading to the stunning collapse that followed.

In conclusion, the US military's employment of security contractors in Afghanistan reached unprecedented levels at certain points during the conflict, and their presence played a significant, yet controversial, role in America's longest war. The surge and subsequent withdrawal of contractors offer important insights into the dynamics of modern warfare and the complexities of nation-building.

The withdrawal of US government contractors was a turning point in the collapse of the Afghan military

The US military's time in Afghanistan ended in the summer of 2021, but the withdrawal of US troops and contractors had been ongoing for months. The number of private military contractors operating in Afghanistan had dropped by more than half in the three months leading up to July 2021, from almost 17,000 to 7,800, with fewer than 2,700 Americans among them.

The withdrawal of US contractors had a significant impact on the Afghan military's capabilities, particularly in the areas of maintenance and air support. The Afghan military had relied heavily on contractors for training, gear maintenance, intelligence gathering, and close air support in their battles against the Taliban. With the withdrawal of US forces and contractors, the Afghan military lost access to critical maintenance and support services, which led to a rapid deterioration of their capabilities.

The departure of contractors left a gap in expertise that the Afghan military was unable to fill on its own. While the Afghan troops could still perform basic ground combat, they lacked the necessary skills and resources to maintain and operate more advanced military equipment, such as Black Hawk helicopters and C-130 transport aircraft. As a result, the Afghan military quickly lost its advantage over the Taliban and was unable to effectively defend itself.

The loss of US contractors also had a significant impact on the morale of Afghan troops. Without the presence of US forces and contractors, many Afghan soldiers lost the will to fight and were unwilling to risk their lives against the Taliban. This further contributed to the collapse of the Afghan military as they faced a determined and resurgent enemy.

The withdrawal of US government contractors was, therefore, a critical factor in the collapse of the Afghan military. The loss of expertise, maintenance support, and morale resulted in a rapid deterioration of the Afghan military's capabilities, ultimately leading to their defeat at the hands of the Taliban.

Over 8,000 contractors have died in post-9/11 operations

The death toll of violence in the U.S.-led invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq is difficult to determine. However, according to Brown University researchers, the figure stands at 4.5 million to 4.6 million, including 3.6 million to 3.7 million indirect deaths. This figure includes the deaths of over 8,000 contractors, which is higher than the number of U.S. service members killed, which is over 7,000.

The U.S. Department of Labor confirmed that by March 31, 2021, a total of 1,822 civilian contractors were killed in Afghanistan. However, this number only covers up to March 2021, and the true figure is likely higher. The majority of U.S. contractors are citizens of other countries, and many of their deaths may not have been reported.

Contractors performed essential tasks such as logistics, maintenance, and base support. They were a permanent element of the military force structure and provided advantages such as more flexible personnel systems. They filled the gaps left by servicemembers, who are expensive and hard to recruit.

The true toll of the post-9/11 wars extends beyond direct deaths and includes injuries, trauma, and displacement. Veterans of these wars are more likely to suffer from serious injuries and mental health issues such as PTSD. The indirect consequences of the wars, such as malnutrition, infrastructure destruction, and compromised access to essentials like water and food, have also led to indirect deaths, which some estimates place at four times the number of direct deaths.

The human cost of the post-9/11 wars is immense, and the efforts of contractors who supported the troops and made sacrifices should be recognized.

The number of armed contractors in Afghanistan increased by more than 65% under President Trump

In January 2016, during Obama's last year in office, there were 1,083 armed contractors in Afghanistan. This number fluctuated over the following months, but never rose above this level, settling at 813 in October.

However, by January 2017, when Trump took office, the number of armed contractors had more than doubled to 1,722. This increase was attributed to an administrative change in manning, with shifts changing from 12 hours to eight hours to reduce employee fatigue and improve coverage.

The use of armed security contractors continued to increase during Trump's presidency. By the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2019, there were 2,847 armed private security contractors supporting Operation Freedom's Sentinel in Afghanistan, an increase of more than 65% since Trump took office.

The rising number of armed contractor jobs in Afghanistan was filled primarily by "third-country nationals" or local Afghans. U.S. citizens working as contractors often had military or law enforcement backgrounds, while third-country nationals were generally cheaper to hire, and local nationals were the least expensive. However, the use of local nationals as security contractors was not without risks, as they were more difficult to screen and could be infiltrated by hostile forces.

The increase in the number of armed contractors under Trump was part of a broader trend of relying on private contractors in Afghanistan. The number of private contractors in Afghanistan jumped at an unprecedented rate in the last three months of Trump's presidency, with more than 5,800 privately employed security personnel operating in the country under Pentagon contracts. This was higher than at any time since Obama declared an end to combat operations in 2014.

The total number of contractors in Afghanistan, including those performing administrative and logistical tasks, also increased during Trump's presidency. In October 2020, there were 43,800 contractors in the CENTCOM region (including Afghanistan), compared to 15,000 military personnel. In Afghanistan, the ratio of contractors to military personnel increased from 1:1 in 2010-2011 to 3:1 at the end of Trump's term.

Frequently asked questions