Hired Help Part 3

Third Country Nationals exist in an ever-changing grey area security-wise. The only consistent procedure is they have their pass-ports and cell phones held by the US military personnel they are working with while in Iraq.

At some bases the TCNs are seen as potential threats, where-as on other bases they are allowed to wander almost as freely as transient military personnel. The level of threat they are seen to pose varies from base to base, creating a confusion of contradictory and ever changing operating procedures for searching the TCNs and their vehicles. At COB Speicher for instance, the TCNs are restricted to a holding area (named Area 51) where they turn over any propane tanks/stoves they may have as well as electronics that could be viewed as suspicious. From Area 51 they are escorted across the street to an inspection area where their vehicles are X-rayed, the drivers are patted down, then X-rayed, have their biometrics recorded, and receive a temporary ID/base pass. All this is done under armed guard provided by the convoy that the TCNs are with.

TCNs waiting to leave Area 51 to be searched at COB Speicher, Iraq.

At the opposite end of the security spectrum from COB Speicher is CSC Scania. A heavily-used refueling stop, Scania can be considered the equivalent of a truck stop in the United States. Unlike many of the larger bases in Iraq, TCNs and their vehicles are not searched at Scania. As long as they remain in the staging area the TCNs are free to wander about, draw their own water and ice, and there is a old west style boardwalk containing multiple shops, a barber shop, and a restaurant. Also in contrast to bases like Speicher, at Scania the TCNs stay in the same staging area as the military and KBR convoys, unsupervised.

Depending on the military unit escorting them, the TCNs can be anywhere from kept totally in the dark to having just as much information about the over-all mission (or at least trip for the night) as the military personnel do. Most of the TCNs have been driving in convoys in Iraq/Kuwait longer than their military counterparts, and they have their own unofficial “intelligence network” among themselves. I have seen this result in more than a couple military Convoy Commanders ask the TCN’s Convoy Commander for input about a night’s trip. While some Americans might scoff at such a thing, the TCNs view it as a source of pride from helping to contribute to the mission. A thoughtful Convoy Commander will make sure that his TCN Liaison Officer notates in the appropriate driver’s file they provided assistance. This not only helps recognize the driver to his parent company but also can affect pay raises, number of missions the driver is given, and his chances of being in charge of the other TCN drivers in the future.

Briefing TCNs on the mission. Photo by Matth Behrens.

Like military truck drivers in the early years of the operations in Iraq, the TCN drivers live in and on their trucks. Unlike some of the mili-tary trucks, theirs have nowhere near the room or comfort. On most missions the TCNs drive cab-over style trucks and are fortunate enough to have a small bunk behind their seats. At these times it is common to find four or more of them sitting in a circle inside one of their trucks playing cards, dominoes, mahjong,or a similar activity. Other missions they can be found driving simple day cabs. At these times their beds consist of a piece of wood cut to fit across the two seats and around the transmission column. Blankets and a pillow are added and for some of the luckier drivers foam padding also. The ac-commodations are tight, even for a small person, yet the TCNs repeat this time after time.

A TCN driver takes advantage of some down time to grab a nap.

While on convoys the military provides bottled water and ice, but for anything else desired it is up to the drivers to find a way of obtaining it on their own. Rip Its (a type of energy drink the military issues) are highly sought items. Some bases, such as Scania or Speicher, have market areas for the TCNs to buy items off the local economy. Many of them also carry propane camping-style stoves for cooking food, as very few bases allow them access to dining facilities.

Along with dining facilities, very few bases provide shower facilities for the TCNs. Just like the military during the early years of operations in the area, the drivers can be found between vehicles using bottled water for bathing. This same water supply is used for washing laundry, as well as drinking water. Along with inconsistencies in their being viewed as a security threat, the policy for TCNs to be able to draw their own rations of ice and water vary from base to base. This results in the TCNs water supply being replenished as often as daily to as little as every few days depending on the route the convoy they are assigned to takes.

On average TCN drivers comprise eighty-five percent of US military Sustainment and Theatre convoys. Not counting the Security Escort, this equates to about eleven TCN driven vehicles to every military vehicle in a convoy.

For all their hard work the average TCN driver earns an average of three KD (Kuwaiti dinar) or about $9.50 US (at the time of this writing) per day they are in Iraq, where as they receive one KD per day for time in Kuwait. In addition to their base pay the TCNs receive five KD per week as a food allowance while in Iraq. TCNs given the position of Convoy Commander for the TCNs in a convoy receive a bonus of two KD. After five years of employment the base pay is increased to five KD per day in Iraq and two KD per day in Kuwait. The TCN drivers must pay any undocumented damage to their vehicles out of pocket. Every six months they are given two weeks leave time.

Despite the various treatment they receive from US personnel, and inconsistent regula-tions at the different bases, the TCNs conti-nuously work hard. They make a large, if un-known, contribution to US operations in the Iraq/Kuwait theatre of operation.

Two military convoys passing at night along MSR Tampa.

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Note:  Re-posted to correct the daily pay rate.  3KD actually comes out to around $9.50 USD.