[Broken5hift]

Originally Posted by Chair-Force

I've dealt with some of these companies in Kirkuk. Most of the companies have a two tour contract. The first tour you dont make alot of money (45-60k) but if you make it (dont get killed or fired), the second tour you make the big bucks. They arent mercs, far from it. They are private security. Almost all of them rolled outside the wire in armored suburbans. The ones I talked to were borderline crazy. Army guys said they would see them shooting at unarmed, innocent Iraqis because they "looked out of place".
Alot of private security guys were killed by IEDs on a regular basis. Its not like being merc that you see in the movies. Sure they had good equipment and gear but unless you are rolling in a M1A1 tank, IEDs will kill.

good post