In answer to the many questions we receive about training for and working in Iraq we have received the following list that we have been told gives a thorough overview.
Recommended Equipment List For Combat PSD in Iraq
The following is a recommended list of equipment personnel should consider carrying for the purpose of conducting Combat Protection operations in Iraq. This differs from normal PSD operations in that the detail is less likely to require to be covert. The visibility of the team is out weighed by the need for it to react swiftly and decisively to any threat. Also the fact that the team is most likely to be contacted at some stage during their deployment.
This list should not be seen as an exhaustive final list of all equipment to be carried but should be seen as a basic starting point from which a PSD member can evolve his equipment scale as his threat and circumstances require.
Ballistic Helmet
A good Ballistic Helmet can be invaluable. You might never use it, and everyone else might think it is a dumb idea, until you get mortared in your camp. It sits in the car for weeks on end until you get trapped in a poorly protected venue overnight, which turns into a 5 day firefight. You don't need to buy one, but if your company supplies you with it, then at least put it in the car when you go out.
Baseball Cap
I never used to agree with this piece of apparel. But it has become invaluable because of the environmental conditions, as well as a means of recognition. Strangely US forces wait a while longer before engaging per's with baseball caps. Just ensure your cap isn't some dirty rag with profanity all over it. Iraq is full of cameramen and you never know where your photo will turn up.
Headlamp
A small LED head lamp for hands free checking under vehicles comes in handy. They are great for around camp after dark or in your room when the power goes out.
Eye Protection
Not just sunglasses. Eye protection should protect from the elements and offer some protection from flying glass, wind blown sand, and ejected brass. The inside of a car is a bad enough place in an IED/ firefight. Shattered glass or rifle oil ejected at high velocity can just as effectively take a team member out of the fight as an enemy round. Some C-PSD team members are moving away from the time honored Oakley sunnies back to the ballistic ranger eyewear. These offer wrap around protection with the ability to change out the sunglass lenses with lowlight high contrast ones.
Hearing Protection
This is to allow a C-PSD member to survive an IED initiated ambush with his hearing and more importantly his balance intact. Secondly, but just as importantly, good hearing protection aids command and control during a fire fight from an enclosed vehicle. It has always amused me that in the military whilst training we emphasise the necessity of wearing ear defenders, but on the job we drop this vital form of protection. Trying to hear information on the radio or driving whist the guy in the rear empties a mag on full auto over your shoulder can be frustrating at best and deadly at worst. Peltor and a few other companies produce hearing protection with the ability to stop gunfire/ explosions but enable or augment the volume of normal speech. Ear defenders should fit in with whatever radio equipment you use/ the company provides. They should also be form fitting and colour neutral so as to not attract attention whist parked at intersections or moving slowly through traffic. They are for vehicle use and remain there on exit.
Body Armor (How much is my life worth)
You will spend the better part of your day in it. This is one piece of kit where you get what you pay for. Body Armor should be fitted correctly to cover your chest area completely. It should be comfortable enough to wear all day. It should have good side wall protection and ballistic plates rated for the level of fire you can expect from your threat. You will need to trade off some levels of protection to better enable you to do your job, but for C-PSD we are not talking light weight covert armor. You will be wearing high level protective armor with pouches attached or covered by a chest rig/ load carrying vest. A word of warning for those per's trying to save money, or weight, by using front and back armor only. Since I have been in country I know of 2 per's who are alive today because their armor had side panels. Both were in armored vehicles and the rounds came through the doors. There was nothing wrong with the level of vehicle armor. It was just a trade off that they made to enable them to better do their job in other areas. If allowed, we would all drive around in an M1 Abrams wearing 40kg armored suits and never go outside our compound. But this is why we get paid the big bucks. Armor is expensive but you do feel a lot safer and comfortable for having it.
Compass
Carry a compass. I carry a wrist compass so I don't lose my way in buildings and alleys. It also allows me to give target indication to other per's in the team over the radio.
Watch
A good quality watch that keeps the correct time. Duel time keeping is better so you can keep track of what the time back home is.
Global Positioning System GPS
I have an ETrex Legend. I would never be without it. I will upgrade it to the newer color version when I break or lose it. If contacted it saves time for sending locations of casualties and downed vehicles. Great for long vehicle moves and the tracking function is helpful around town to show roads you have been down before and can use in emergencies. The one hand marking function allows rapid recording of potholes and barriers on the road. The only downside is that with excessive pressure on the button I have seen 10 other guys break their ETrex. You will also need a vehicle/ computer cable to download info from the computer and power it in the vehicle. A vehicle mounting attachment is also advisable. Some personnel use vehicle GPS that allow better functionality for car movement. But I like to take mine with me on exiting the vehicle. Be aware that what ever GPS you use it should be WAAS enabled and if hand held then should have an antenna and software that can update rapidly from a moving vehicle. A few final words on the GPS. It is an aid to navigation and therefore does not replace good map reading skills. Read the instruction manual and then interpolate what the unit can and can not do. For example, it will not run if the batteries are flat.
IR Strobe
A small IR/ LED strobe for identification purposes. This is as you approach an American checkpoint at last light or night. The one I use is small, robust and the battery lasts for about 72hrs continuous. I don't expect the army not to fire at me, but at least they might pause a little longer before letting lose with a 50cal or Mk19. They are also good for identification from an aircrafts point of view. Modern helicopters can engage from 2-4km and IR strobing means they can identify your men from insurgents.
Gloves
Nomex fireproof/assault gloves or their equivalent should be worn. This will in some way reduce the flash effect from an IED or a burning vehicle. Also in summer a tire change in 55C heat is impossible in bare hands.
Light & Pouch
Whether a Surefire or Maglight up to you. But the advantage of a Surefire is that you can buy a bracket to fit onto a weapon. A major consideration with touches is the availability of batteries and bulbs carry a spare of each.
Combat Knife
A good folding belt knife for those times when you need to cut your way out of an entanglement. So if you are going to carry one save on doubling up and carry a fighting knife.
Weapons kit
The weapon you carry will depend on the company policy and ROE that you are operating to. Some companies spend money to ensure that their guys are kitted out with a good primary weapon and backup. Others don't. Whatever weapon system you end up with there are a few things you need.
Sling- single point or 3 point. But your weapon retention needs to be good in a crowd. Also if you become a casualty it will be easier for your team mates to drag you if they don't have to worry about your weapon as well.
Holster- there are many to chose from, and invariably you wont be happy with the one the company supplies. Train with yours and carry it with you.
Cleaning kit- Otis supplies about the best cleaning kit on the planet. It will clean any caliber up to 50cal and can be used on soviet block weapons. Buy one.
High Capacity Magazines- I carry 10. Other C-PSD teams I have seen in country carry 100 round drum magazines. If I could find one I would too. The company supplies 12 rd pistol magazines. I supply my own 17 rd magazines.
Medical Kit(on person or armour)
Tourniquet able to be applied by the casualty. Yes that's right, a tourniquet. Again I know of one PSD member who is alive because he applied a tourniquet to himself during a contact. After the protracted fire fight his team found him unconscious with extensive blood loss. Without the tourniquet he would have bleed out long before his mates could do anything for him. First field dressings.
Breakaway Pack
This carries rations. Enough loose ammo to reload all of my magazines, both pistol and rifle (would be in magazines if I had another 10). Spare field dressings, water, batteries for all of my electronics and toilet paper.
Notebook and pencil/pen
There is a lot to be written down when it comes to grid references and details. I must be getting old and my memory slipping because I find more use for this item as the years progress.
General Equipment
Clothing
Long sleeve/ long trousers. Neat, presentable and hard wearing. Long sleeves aid in preventing flash burns when your car blows up. They also stop that annoying burning from hot brass which seems to spit in great volumes from modern small arms. Trousers should be lightweight with belt loops.
Belt
Long enough to allow you to put a pistol holster, leatherman, touch, pistol magazine, asp and any other equipment you might need to carry from time to time. The buckle system must be strong enough to hold up under all of this extra weight. And just as importantly hold your gut in after running 200m carrying all this excess shit (except the pistol, you can never carry an excess firearm). The belt needs to be rigid enough so that it will not deform when you draw said pistol as this will lead to a fatal lock up when you least need it.
Footwear
Strong, hard wearing and most importantly comfortable. You could be on your feet for 8+ hours. In your armor and equipment weighing 20kg. They also need to be good kicking/ stomping boots for going through crowds (see Tank and Larry I do pay attention to what you say). Plus offering protection from rolled ankles on rough ground, or people stomping on your feet.
Computer
A laptop to fill out reports and timesheets. As well as do your email on, watch DVDs and a hundred other things during your down time. Also it's tax deductible and with all the money people think you will be earning you will need all the deductibility you can get.
Digital Camera
Not for just the happy snaps. You might have to do a recce on a venue, or a panorama for a range card. I worked for a company which disputed an accident report submitted by a contractor. Until he produced photos of the damage and scene of the accident. Strangely they never worried about IED damage or bullet holes.
Digital Battery Alarm Clock
A small portable digital battery alarm clock. You work odd hours and the power supply is not very reliable in Iraq. If possible with a dual time function so you don't ring home at NZDT 0230hrs. An irate wife is ten times scarier than an Iraqi insurgent and you will have to go home some time.
Rechargeable Batteries and Charger
The cost of AA batteries in country will soon bankrupt you. Also getting them at a PX might not be an option as there may not be one in your location. Buy the largest amp hour ones you can find. 2 sets for all of your electrical equipment should do it.
Surge protector/Multi board
A power board with built in surge protection for all of your electrical equipment. You can buy one in the PX, but it will have the wrong plugs and if you buy locally then the wiring is so poor that they short out and damage your equipment.
Multi plug
You can now buy one that fits all power sockets throughout the world. Another piece of kit not to be without.
Camel Back
It's hot and you get thirsty.
Spares
Spare parts for equipment you might have in country. Even shoelaces are hard to get sometimes. And the mail is unreliable. 9 months and I still haven't had a letter.
Distance Learning Course
With the inevitable down time in country you can do a language or masters in your time off. Just something to think about.
Tip of the day.
All of this should be carried in a robust carry all and be as lightweight as possible. Guys can turn up at the border carrying lots of bags only to find minimal transport to take them to their compound. And if you think airline company baggage handlers are careless then you haven't seen a PSD team who think your extra baggage lessens their chances of identifying a threat and reacting to it.
Suggested Skills and Qualities To work in Iraq
Quite frankly the list is up to your employer and the team members who work with you daily. But the following is a baseline of those skills and qualities I believe you should be proficient in prior to thinking of deploying to Iraq. It should also be noted by prospective operators that Iraq is not the place to learn basic PSD skills. These should be of a level and standard that allow the team to do its job safely. But as the need for more PSD personnel arises, companies are settling for a lower skill level. So eventually teams end up with 2-3 highly qualified and experienced per's training or carrying non PSD qualified personnel. Not a great situation when the safety of a client is concerned. But some companies need people to fill slots so they can charge them out at ridiculous prices to clients who don't know any better.
In some instances I have seen companies keep individuals in country who were not allowed to go on tasks out of the compound because of their inability to perform under pressure or to a basic standard. The reason for keeping such per's in country was simple. Money. A guy on the ground in country is still earning the company a fee even if he is not performing the task he is paid for. The only people who know are the other operators who have to cover for these people. Eventually they are weeded out but at the cost of extra work to fellow PSD members, client security, and the reputation of the members of the company. No security professional likes to be associated with a company who operates dickheads. Or have their reputation associated with a dickhead. In the end your reputation for professionalism is what gets you by in this line of work and keeps you in work.
One further note. I do not mean to sound all "holier than thou" and I do not class myself as some PSD guru, but some operators need to seriously revise their understanding of PSD. If your CV's states you are a qualified PSD operator and your experience in any way led you to believe protection teams deploy without a round in the chamber ready to fire then you weren't doing PSD. If you were wearing body armour then you were a mobile barricade.
Common F#!ken Sense
Seems to be in short supply with some people, but would be the most valuable skill/ quality needed by people conducting PSD in Iraq.
Military Background
Personnel for PSD in Iraq should have a military background and I do not mean exclusively SF. A state of war with the insurgents still exists and therefore operators need to have knowledge of basic military minor tactics and weapons. More importantly they need the mindset of a killer. I realise that this point will be rather contentious. Some personnel already in country will say that they have the skill to be here being ex VIP protection or Anti Terrorist trained. And in some instances I would agree with them. But as a general rule I would rather work with a military trained person who has done a PSD course rather than a policeman trained to the same skill level. The reason is mindset. As with CQB, your training is only as good as the mindset to carry through with the job when the shit hits the fan. Soldiers are trained to live in harsh environments with little support and to kill people.
Shooting
As simple as it might sound some PSD companies in country couldn't shot their way out of a paper bag let alone a fire-fight. Anyone can fire a magazine into the general area of a contact. But as the country settles down the likelihood of prosecution for unlawful killing is increasing. As Iraq returns to stability someone somewhere will get the idea that it is about time they made an example of these high paid gun toting foreigners. It is happening in Afghanistan. I believe 2005 will see the first instances of individuals tried and possibly convicted for this offence. Bottom line, if you can't shot, maintain a weapon system, and handle weapons safely then what are you doing in country.
Driving
Good driving skills are like rocking horse s#!t. Team members with offensive/ defensive driving skills are worth their weight in gold. There is no point having the best PSD team and then loosing your client in a car accident. Just ask Lady Di. Also an armoured car is a huge investment for a company, anything upwards of 100,000 pounds. If you damage it your client might be unable to work until it is repaired. A worse possibility is that you travel in a soft skin until your vehicle is fixed.
Situational Awareness
Being aware of your surroundings under pressure and stress. A lot of people look but don't see. If all the people are clearing the streets and the stores are closing then chances are good that you are about to start earning your money.
Medical Skills
I am not talking brain surgery or proscription drug issue here. A PSD member needs to understand basic medical treatment in relation to a combat situation. Modern weapons do horrible things to humans. Doing the ABC's is not applicable to a PSD team in a fire fight.
Diplomacy
You deal with very important people every day, and in some cases, people who believe they are very important. This is a commercial world not the military. Piss off the client; lose the contract, hello unemployment. It might feel good to tell a contractor he is a dick head. But when your air conditioner breaks in 55C and you need a replacement you will quickly regret it.
General Skills/ Qualities
I prefer to speak in skills and qualities rather than qualifications. Experience has taught me that qualifications are bought. Qualities, skills and experience are all earned. Honesty, integrity, punctuality, a sense of urgency, self discipline, responsibility, patience, professionalism. The list goes on and on. But as long as you have a good head on your shoulders, a reputable PSD course under your belt and some military time/ Police time up then everything else is common sense. All the expensive courses and on the job experience have taught me that PSD boils down to 3 simple facts. All round defence, fill in the gaps and working with a good team increases my life expectancy.
Interested in Close Combat Training? Todd Group Depots are located throughout New Zealand and at various overseas locations.
For more information on Todd System of Close Combat see the following books, dvds and cds:
- Close Combat Books
The Do's and Don'ts of Close Combat – Tactical C&R – Control and Restraint – No Nonsense Self Defence – Military Close Combat Systems Phase One – Combative Masters Of The 20th Century - Close Combat DVDs
Self Defence of the Elite – 80 Years of Combative Excellence – Primary Option Control & Restraint – Military Unarmed Combat – Phase 1 - Close Combat CDs
Technique To Command – Combative Code of Conduct
