Civilian guards wanted at more war-zone bases - Marine Corps News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Marine Corps Times

Civilian guards wanted at more war-zone bases

Marine commanders have expanded a request for civilian contractors to provide military security at Marine bases in Afghanistan as U.S. forces withdraw.

Civilians will be needed to guard Camp Dwyer and Camp Delaram II, Marine officials said. The request, announced Jan. 3 by U.S. Army Contracting Command, comes after the military announced in November that at least 166 civilian contractors were needed to help guard Camp Leatherneck, the sprawling, 1,500-acre-plus installation that serves as the Corps’ main hub of operations in Helmand province. It is home to II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), headed by Maj. Gen. John Toolan.

“Security is the number one concern for service members deployed to Afghanistan,” said Navy Lt. Joseph Nawrocki, a command spokesman. “An efficient and orderly redeployment of U.S. Marines will eventually take place, and contractors will play an important role to ensure existing U.S. bases remain safe and secure.”

Dwyer and Delaram II are the Corps’ second and third largest forward operating bases in Afghanistan, and serve as regimental headquarters with airfields. Dwyer is home to Regimental Combat Team 5, which oversees combat operations in Marjah, Garmser and other parts of central Helmand province. RCT-6 is based at Delaram II, heading infantry operations in Sangin, Kajaki and other districts in northern Helmand.

Military officials released few details about the specifics of the work at Delaram II and Dwyer, but contracted guards will perform “static security services for the protection of personnel and property” on the bases, according to Army Contracting Command. The number of people needed was not disclosed, but any company that wins the contract must hire some personnel who have either a U.S. secret clearance or a security clearance from the International Security Assistance Force, commanded by Marine Gen. John Allen.

The shift comes as 1st Battalion, 25th Marines, a Reserve unit out of Fort Devens, Mass., prepares to wrap up a deployment in which it guarded all three bases. As part of the drawdown, the Corps canceled the deployment of a replacement unit, 1st Battalion, 24th Marines, out of Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich. Marines with 1/24 would have replaced 1/25 this year.