INTERVIEW: PSC service provider - Security, made in Germany

Herbert Lang, the head of Trans-Atlantic Viking Security, knows better than anyone the actual official connections and daily routines in the Iraqi provinces. Here, parallel to the Iraqi police and formerly the intervention forces of the US Army, a whole armada of civilian experts is deployed for security. The native Bavarian grew up in his hometown in close proximity to a property of the US military and worked as a civilian employee for the United States Army Corps of Engineers after his four years of service in the Bundeswehr. From the beginning of 2004, he accompanied his department to Qatar and Bahrain. Since the end of 2004, he has been working as a Security Contractor for the United States Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of State (DOS) in Iraq and Afghanistan. His initial task was to reinforce DOD and DOS companies such as Combat Service Support (CSS), DynCorp International, SOC-SMG Inc., etc. as a reserve unit for rescue and recovery (Rescue and Recovery-Unit). However, due to the rapidly deteriorating security situation, the scope of tasks was quickly expanded to the full range of independent security services. Udo Lücken interviewed Herbert Lange for SPARTANAT.

During this time, Herbert Lang served as a PSD (Personal Security Detail) Team Leader on hundreds of Convoy Security Missions for the US military. With DynCorp, his department was parallel responsible for the police training of the local 'Iraqi Police Service' (IPS - paramilitary police units), which became known as the 'Civilian Police Assistance Training Team' (CPATT). He was unorthodoxly assigned to a US military police unit during this period. They wore the same uniforms and equipment as every US soldier in that time frame.

For four years, Herbert Lang has been working as an independent security service provider (PSC - Private Security Contractor) with his company TAV-Security (Trans-Atlantic Viking Security) in all of Iraq in the areas of PSD, Convoy Security, CCTV, Monitoring, Tracking, K9 Dog Team, Intel. Service, Security Training Academy for Locals, Locistics, Maintenance, Force Protection, static object protection, and MedEvac. His personnel consists of Expats (Germans, Americans, Britons), TCNs (Third Country Nationals), and LNs (Local Nationals). They are certified, internationally and nationally registered, and operate under the international program 'NISPOM' (National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual). Herbert Lang confirms that the demand for qualified security personnel is increasing at a rapid pace.

SPARTANAT: What do you think of the current threat situation in Northern Iraq by ISIL troops and how does it affect your area of operation?

Herbert Lang: The development has not surprised us here in the Erbil area as much as Western media portray it. We knew already in July 2013 that something big was brewing. But the Western military in Iraq did not want to take notice. The coalition air strikes always only cause temporary delays and thus dissipate in the truest sense of the word. Without combat-ready ground troops, the ISIL conquest campaign cannot be sustainably repulsed. My men are busy with the precautionary evacuation of Western companies' leadership. We are currently receiving extensive personnel reinforcements from Germany.

SPARTANAT: German security companies are rather hesitant to enter the international market for civilian security tasks. Why is that?

Herbert Lang: In crisis and war zones, German security companies have had little chance of getting contracts so far, as this market has been dominated since 2003 by the United States, Great Britain, and other countries that were part of the coalition forces. This is largely due to the fact that the US or British government prefers to hire these companies as contractors for security tasks and supports them accordingly. We at TAV Security only had the chance to penetrate this market because we were working for the USA as a German company and were involved from the beginning.

Furthermore, Germans lack sufficient experience in today's crisis and war zones. In 2003, with the start of the Iraq war, the countdown for the PSCs (Private Security Companies) began. Looking back ten years, I have to say today that the 'family' in the Private Security sector in crisis and war zones has become very small. Most of those still in these areas are 'old hands'.

SPARTANAT: How do you assess the need for PSCs (Private Security Contractors) in foreign operations?

Herbert Lang: 1000 percent. PSCs are needed more than ever, as they are the ones 'rescuing the potatoes from the fire' in crisis and war zones for the governments or organizations commissioning them. They provide a minimum level of security 24/7/365. Example: In a CET Mission (Convoy Escort Mission) where the convoy consists of, for example, 25 trucks from US or GB Military vehicles, a PSC is hired to provide escort. Why? There are already soldiers in armored and armed military vehicles in the convoy. So why PSCs? Quite simply! In case of an incident involving a shootout and potentially civilian casualties, the responsibility cannot be shifted to the government of the sending country, but the PSC has to take responsibility for it. However, the company is usually from the sending country and then has to be accountable in the courts of the country they are from. Problematic? In any case. But that is the artificially created reality.

SPARTANAT: How does the importance of German PSC/ZSD (Civilian Security Service Provider) compare internationally?

Herbert Lang: The significance of German ZSDs in crisis and war zones is at the bottom in relation to international comparison, as there are few or no experiences or notable legends in these areas. However, I can report on what other International Security Companies say about our company. "Mission impossible - give it to TAV, Mission accomplished!" This means that we currently have many missions from other very large International Security Companies that they themselves cannot or do not want to fulfill - due to high risk, lack of licenses, or an unsuitable personnel mix to operate internationally.

Why can we accept these missions? One reason is that we operate under our nationality's flag (German). We are highly regarded by the Iraqis. This is also due to the fact that Germany was not among the coalition forces during the invasion in 2003 and afterwards. Another reason is that we operate with our German precision, as we have learned and are accustomed to.

SPARTANAT: How does the working method of nationalities differ in crisis and war zones?

Herbert Lang: First of all, we must differentiate into 3 groups:

1. Expats (Expatriate/Expert): Most Expats/Experts have a military or police training and have already worked in these areas as active soldiers or police officers in crisis and war zones. The Expats are also the leaders of the missions and operations. They have all the know-how related to security tasks. 95 percent of the Expats in Iraq and Afghanistan are Americans and Britons. The rest consists of some Europeans, Australians, and South Africans.
2. TCNs (Third Country National): TCNs are mostly Filipinos, Indians, Nepalese, or even Pakistanis - and many Ugandans for guard duties. These nationalities have been brought into the country since 2003 by the contractors of the coalition forces, mostly the USA and Great Britain, and have mainly worked on US, UK, and coalition forces' military bases. They usually start working as cooks, kitchen staff, cleaning staff, mechanics, carpenters, roofers, in short, service staff on the military bases. Over time, many of these people have been recruited and trained for the security field. Some of them also bring a military background from their countries. I rate this personnel as absolute top professionals, and we respect them as such. For example, my personal assistant is Nepalese, he has been with me for four years. He now knows all the techniques in the security field, speaks fluent English today, and some German, Arabic, and Kurdish, and after this long time, he is like a son to me. I invited him to spend Christmas with me in Germany last year.
3. LNs (Local Nationals - Local Employees, from the country where we operate): Local Nationals who are sufficiently proficient in the English language are mainly employed as interpreters. For security missions, we deploy this personnel as drivers, static guards, and PSDs after they have completed and passed the security training and courses required by international standards that we conduct in the country. The different levels of training and the different cultures are clearly visible. They occasionally pose a challenge. I am currently in close discussions with a security company in NRW/Germany to initiate a regular training program here in Iraq for German personal protection agents.

SPARTANAT: How is the high demand in foreign operations compensated?

Herbert Lang: An Expat who is employed independently in the security sector, for example, on personal protection missions (PSD) as a Team Leader (TL) or Assistance Team Leader (ATL), earns an average of $10,000 per month. Typically, a trained independent contractor in the security sector has been and is paid between $8,000 and $20,000 per month. Depending on the position he holds in the Security Contractor Company. The security level is also crucial for the position and salary. In addition, he receives flight tickets, equipment, accommodation, and meals. Typically, an Expat works an average of three months in a row, with a seven-day work week. This includes 12 hours of service and 12 hours of standby time per day, during which he also rests/sleeps. Then, one month of leave. This work is a very demanding psychological and physical challenge. I have seen many people come and go. Not only do you risk your life every day, but you are also very restricted in your freedom of movement due to the overall situation in the country. Although we have everything in our camps and bases that make our lives easier here, in principle, every day is the same routine.

Wake up at 6:00 a.m., exercise in the gym, breakfast, daily briefing, cleaning and/or repair of equipment, writing reports, lunch, exercise again, training or further education in the security field, shooting range training, writing daily report, briefing, endurance training, dinner, or a barbecue night by the campfire. The missions are the only thing that brings variation. It is not a lifelong profession.

SPARTANAT: How valuable was the military basic training in the Bundeswehr for working as a ZSD?

Herbert Lang: Irreplaceable. Although we are not a military organization, we still have a similar structure and chain of command that is indispensable in these areas. Discipline and the unwavering determination to fulfill the mission positively are the basis of everything. Tactical understanding and the safe handling of combat equipment must be mastered and be reflexively available. The Bundeswehr provided me with good tools for that. However, daily work has made it second nature.

SPARTANAT: Do you see the work of a ZSD in international missions as a future "normal" occupation?

Herbert Lang: In any case. Private Security Companies can generally operate more cost-effectively and flexibly than a military force. The world does not seem to be getting more peaceful and calm in the foreseeable future. Reality is tough and sometimes even brutal. There must always be people, organizations, or governments who stand in the way of looming disasters. Sometimes they need forces by their side to do the uncomfortable tasks. Of course, this cannot be done for free. However, when looking at the big picture, one will realize that security operations in crisis and war zones are very complex and require a higher investment volume. Just to mention briefly: All the high-tech equipment must be brought into the country. An armored Land Cruiser B6 (personal protection vehicle) costs about $180,000 before it is available in the operational area. Licenses and permits often cost a fortune in Iraq, for example. We are a Private Security Company that also works for governments, but primarily for the private sector.

SPARTANAT: How difficult is it to establish oneself as a German security provider?

Herbert Lang: Absolutely difficult! Most existing security companies today are from the USA and Great Britain. These receive significant political and even financial support from their governments. We do not have this support. We cannot expect anything from our federal government at the moment regarding this issue. However, this lack of support will backfire. The demand in the German economy for skilled personnel with certified know-how is clearly noticeable.

Text: Udo Lücken - Photos: TAV - The interview was first published in the "Newsletter Verteidigung", Issue 42/2013. Republished with the author's kind permission.