Private Military Contractor International April 2014 | Page 15

In the early morning hours of November 14, 2004, a group of Private Military Contractors crossed the Iraq/Kuwait border headed north to Balad, Iraq. This is their story... It’s 0330, and five American contractors along with a Gurkha and two Iraqis strap on their side arms, tug on the straps of their black armored vests, and conduct their radio checks. They suck down a last gulp of coffee, and toss an extra case of Redbull into their vehicles. The eight men split into three SUVs; a Toyota Prada, an armored Chevy Suburban, and a GMC Yukon. Wolf Weiss, the team’s leader, in his usual high spirited asks as he always does, “Are we ready to roll men?” “Locked, Cocked, and Ready to Rock!” replies his #2, Scott Schneider, with his favorite line. The three vehicles snake their way through the Iraqi border town of Safwan and head north on a 450 mile trip from the Kuwait border to Balad, Iraq. Their mission: Proceed to Camp Anaconda, pick up two Army officers, both female, and escort them from Camp Anaconda to Baghdad International Airport (BIAP). BIAP is just about 65 miles south of Camp Anaconda. But these are a very long sixty five miles, made ever so much longer by frequent enemy attacks and IEDs encountered in this particular stretch of road. The U.S. Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) asked this private security contractor firm if they could execute the mission. There was never any consideration by either the CPA or the Contractors that going 450 miles north to escort two American officers going just sixty five miles south was insane on the surface of things. The CPA didn’t care, probably didn’t know, and the contracting firm, Crescent Security, needed the money. So the mission was accepted, directed, and launched. Missions happen that way in Iraq. Money talks, bullshit walks. Wolf and Jake along with an Iraqi they call Dee, load up in the lead Toyota SUV. Wolf, who had served with the Marine Corp’s elite Force Recon, is thirty-six, has a muscular build, a high and tight haircut accentuated by a pony tail, and multiple tattoos on both of his huge arms. Between his stint in the Marines and becoming a private security contractor he was a rock star of sorts - and damn if he didn’t still look the part! While in Iraq, Rolling Stone magazine interviewed him for an article entitled, “Heavy Metal Mercenary”. He was quoted as saying “There’s only a few things in this world I can do really, really well. War is one.” Jake Guevarra, riding shotgun, is about twenty five, fresh scrubbed, clean cut, physically fit, and had been a Scout Sniper in the Marine Corps. Jake is smart, well read, and not motivated by money, or so he says. He never can quite articulate why he came here, but he is smart enough to know that any given day could be his last and he is hoping it isn’t going to be today. Dee sat in the back seat; he is Wolf’s Iraqi counterpart on this hybrid security team. In addition to vetting and managing the Iraqis on the team, Dee has proven himself in countless firefights. He is street savvy, a skilled fighter and completely trusted by the Americans. Wolf, Jake and Dee pass time during the drive listening to Wolf’s colorful war stories. He is exciting to be around, competent, and exudes confidence. “Wolf has it together. I just feel safe when I am around him.” Jake thinks to himself. Spirits are high and Wolf’s sense of humor has a way of keeping the guys from taking life too seriously. The three men would be dead or wounded before the end of this day. 15