Posted on Jun 21, 2018
It's Official, Contractor-Owned MQ-9 Reaper Drones Will Watch Over Marines in Afghanistan
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Drones
Marines
Afghanistan
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 8
Tbh, "Contractor owned Reaper drones" does not give me the warm and fuzzies.
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MSgt Stephen Council
SSG Carlos Madden I immediately was taken back by this. Like I said above, I would rather any operator have some kind of "skin in the game". Not all who are hired by these companies have that. I would hate to think of a USMC patrol out there and the person operating the drone is some recent college grad who was good at Halo or some other video game. You have to know the nuances of military processes and procedures and the intricacies of a well trained patrol if they get into some $hit over there.
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CPO (Join to see)
This has been happening for some time, even during Iraq, most of what we have fall under sub contract even the CIA birds, that's what PMC's do, they are Military units just like US Military.
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CW5 Jack Cardwell I am not sure how I feel about this. There is a real chance that a contractor operator could have "no skin in the game" and wont make a tactically sound decision at some point. Do not mistake what I am saying. The contractor force that supports the US Military are, by and large, very reliable professionals, but these things can be operated from very far away and the possibility exists to hire some "qualified" operator who has never encountered certain situations that combat can bring about. I still believe there is a reason why experienced, military pilots should be in the loop somewhere.
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CPO (Join to see)
The ones I saw in Afghanistan, working for CJSOTF were good to go, they listened to the ODA staff on where to pilot and over watch along with other missions. As for Marines this is not new they use these contractor all the time, this is just a new contract. Most of these guys wore same uniform as the guys down range, and that's how they assigned the Tech reps usually if they can, they worked on other side, so they speak same language.
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MSgt Stephen Council
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel - I just don't like any odds that could put an inexperienced person in charge of oversight of our military patrols. Our military professionals in the field deserve nothing but the absolute best support in every aspect of their mission!
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MSgt Stephen Council
CPO (Join to see) - I hope and pray you are right brother! The consequence of getting it wrong is US lives lost.
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CPO (Join to see)
MSgt Stephen Council - I saw it first hand and had them covering our Task Force in Iraq, so yeah their good, by the way civilians run the eye in sky also, basically anything like this and high tech there are civilians, same with MRAPS, they are under contact our mechs can not touch them period.
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I hope this helps prevent ambushes and spotting the Taliban in the hills and mountains.
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