New Initiative Supports Contractors in Combat Zones Facing Mental Health Challenges

Returning soldiers benefit from various veterans’ support groups, a wealth of charitable organizations, and dedicated government agencies focused on addressing their unique needs. However, contractors working in combat zones have historically lacked similar institutional support. This reality is beginning to change with the launch of the Association of War Zone Contractors this week.

These civilian workers deal with the same mental health traumas linked to combat deployment. Many face serious health issues, such as cancers linked to exposure to burn pits, which have also affected military personnel. Before the establishment of the AOWC, there were no organizations dedicated to serving the needs of contractors who endure the effects of war, according to the group’s founders.

Scott Dillard, the co-founder of this new nonprofit, expressed the organization’s mission by stating, “We’re looking to make sure contractors are seen, heard, and counted, because those things haven’t been happening for a long time.”

The Invisible Workforce

The American public often overlooks the significant role contractors play in providing services on overseas military bases. An estimated 50 percent of individuals working in U.S. positions during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars were civilian contractors. This number highlights the critical need for support tailored specifically to them.

Dillard further elaborated on this by stating, “Some contractors go outside the wire, but many of them are just changing light bulbs, slinging mashed potatoes, cleaning toilets, or whatever the case may be. But they’re on these bases, they’re in a hostile environment that gets attacked.”

Tragic Statistics

Contractors have been dubbed the “hidden casualties” of the Iraq War, with many serving as convoy drivers transporting supplies across perilous terrain. Over the two-decade span of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, more than 8,000 contractors lost their lives, in addition to approximately 7,000 U.S. service members, according to data from Brown University. One notable issue is the government’s lack of effective reporting regarding contractor deaths, making it difficult for their families to obtain necessary support.

Cory Archibald, another co-founder and former contractor, stressed the importance of recognizing this hidden workforce. He stated, “The public deserves to know, policymakers need to know in order to make the right decisions, how integrated contractors are in everything that the military does, fully integrated in military operations, and that needs to be understood and acted on.”

Advocating for Contractors’ Rights

Similar to veterans’ groups that have fought for improved post-mission care for U.S. military personnel over the years, the AOWC aims to educate contractors about the resources available for mental and physical health issues related to their work. They also seek to advocate for simplified procedures for filing claims regarding work-related injuries.

While the PACT Act provides a clear link between exposure to burn pits and certain medical conditions for veterans, civilian contractors face additional challenges. Their claims are overseen by the U.S. Department of Labor, requiring them to prove a connection between their medical conditions and their deployment history.

Through the Defense Base Act, insurers for contracting companies must provide coverage for work-related injuries, including cancers resulting from exposure to burn pits. Yet, Dillard highlights that the process can feel adversarial, saying, “It’s an adversarial process for contractors. The insurer is almost certainly going to deny the claim.”

Delayed Compensation

Contractors who successfully file claims often face prolonged waiting periods before receiving compensation. In cases where claims are denied, they may need to hire attorneys and go through lengthy litigation.

Research Gaps and the Need for Data

The research that led to the PACT Act focused primarily on military service members, identifying a direct link between specific medical conditions and exposure to burn pits. This research mostly covered deployments lasting between a few months and a year and a half. However, insufficient research exists regarding the impact of burn pits on contractors, who frequently work in overseas environments for extended periods.

The AOWC’s first strategic objective is to create a burn pits registry aimed at collecting data and establishing a direct correlation between exposure and illnesses among contractors. By gathering this essential information, they plan to approach policymakers and advocate for streamlined processes that facilitate access to care.

Contractors: An Integral Part of Military Operations

As the size of the military has decreased in recent years, there has been a growing reliance on civilian contractors to fill roles on military installations. Unfortunately, contractors often remain invisible in discussions regarding military reductions. Dillard remarked on this phenomenon, saying, “They say, ‘We’re drawing down the troops.’ Okay, great. But they don’t say that on the backside there’s contractors coming back in.”

Archibald echoed these sentiments, noting, “The fact that all these jobs have been outsourced to private contractors means that the public has less of an understanding of what is the cost of war, because they’re not seeing that reflected in the casualty figures, not just deaths, but also injuries as well.”

Lack of Awareness and Support

Many contractors are unaware of their rights and the support available to them. Archibald shared his own experience, stating, “I did not know what my rights were. I had no clue that there was that help available. And a vast majority of contractors have a similar lack of knowledge.”

Moving Forward

As the AOWC takes important steps towards advocating for the rights and well-being of contractors in combat zones, it aims to fill a crucial support gap that has long existed. Their efforts seek to ensure that the contributions of these individuals do not go unnoticed, fostering a greater understanding of the human cost of war.