Civilian Contractors on US Military Bases Compromise the Safety of Military Members and Their Families
This incident happened in a supposedly secure base housing area in Beaufort, SC. While the gates of Laurel Bay housing are guarded by military police officers, civilian contractors are allowed on base to mow the yards of all houses and others handle all construction and housing repairs. In fact, the Marines have nothing to do with this housing area other than guarding the gates and providing regular MP service.
Military housing areas are notorious for their safety. They are generally self-contained, with gas stations, small shopping areas, daycare facilities and DOD schools. Until recently, base housing was owned and run by the military. Military members and their families took care of their own yards and small repairs, but over the past few years, the government has been paying contractors to take care of all aspects of base housing.
I lived on this specific base for the first six months after returning from Japan, and the yard workers were the most troubling of all the contractors. The workers were unkempt, assuredly underpaid for repetitive work. Yes, I found these men to be creepy for lack of a better word but more importantly, I didn't appreciate strangers unaffiliated with the military hanging around my house where I kept my children during the day.
To make matters worse, on two different days, workers happened to see my in my house through the open blinds and they let out a wolf whistle. Afterwards they hung out by the window for a while pretending to weed whack the stones in front of our windows while looking directly into my eyes. I was appalled and my husband reported this to the housing office.
I later found out that some women with deployed husbands would let the whistlers in for a little "break". It was a code I was unfamiliar with at the time. I found this out years later. While the stabbing that occurred this afternoon is on another level altogether, it shows how these civilian contractors can learn the patterns of the different families in base housing and use it to their advantage.
In Japan, most Marine Corps bases are guarded by Japanese guards, without a Marine MP in sight. While I'm sure most of these guards are good people, it's a well known fact that some let their ID-cardless friends onto base so they can gamble. What's more troubling to me, a former Marine, is how it would only take one guard to let a terrorist on base.
Japanese guards don't have families on base. Their children aren't in our daycare facilities. Other than their Japanese friends who, thanks to a US/Japan contract, make $50,000 a year flipping burgers at the Burger King on base, they have no ties to anything inside of the base other than a paycheck. While the Japanese are forgiving and kind individuals in general, there are a number who still adamantly protest American bases on Japanese soil, and that's where the risk lies. The protests may be calm for the most part, but anything can happen, and these protests take place right outside of the gates.
Undoubtedly, this stabbing will ruffle some feathers and base higher-ups might even tighten up security on base, but I guarantee the corporation under contract with the government will bear no repercussions, as they were the lowest bidder. When it comes to the Marine Corps, the cheaper the better, no matter what the real cost is. Military members are not without our own faults and criminal incidences, but let us take care of our own areas as we have done for many years. Free lawn care is not worth the potential risk of being stabbed, harassed, or otherwise assaulted.
Published by Alicia White
Alicia is a former air traffic controller who lived in Japan for several years. She's currently a freelance writer in California, and a full-time student majoring in digital media/graphic design. View profile
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9 Comments
Post a CommentTammy G, while I understand your concern, I would suggest you not use a blanket term for the type of people you are concerned about. Civilian contractors provide expertise in skilled areas the military cannot or has chosen not to support. Beyond lawn care and gate security, civilian contractors support a large part of the military communications network - phones, computers, etc. Contractors support many business functions in military organizations so that military members can concentrate on the operational side of the job our country needs done. Contractors are hired both for their depth of expertise and for continuity, among other reasons. By now you get it - the term "contractor" is a very general term that applies to anyone who supports the military, but who is not an employee of the US government. If there is a concern about an individual because of their actions, I would advise to bring it up to the base commander. But there is a reason that contactors are hired...
I agree with the author of this article, I'd rather mow my own lawn than to have some of these creepy people that mow lawns now. A lot of people do leave their car doors unlocked etc. I suggest that they start to use a bit more caution. With civilian police officers being hired who's to say they aren't going to invite/allow some fools inside the housing areas, etc? There are still police officers out there, that work for the wrong side of the law. Now this isn't to say that every P.O. is rotten but let's be realistic here look at the times we are living in now. I think that every family living in base housing should start to become more alert of their surroundings. We should be taking care of our own indeed as we've always done. Seems that every org. is trying to cut cost to save a dime but this is one area I think the old saying applies " if it aint broke don't fix it" To the author kudos great read!!
I hadn't heard of this incident. But I do know that many military families living in base housing think they are living in the 1950s where they could leave their doors unlocked and cars open without any repurcussions.
Sophie
I know the family as well and they are not crazy, I also know that there has been other breakins on laurelbay as well, dealing with stolen underwear, another some one stole a gun, and another was just random and nothing was stolen. besides he would be in jail or psych ward if he had "admitted to it" which he isnt, i just stopped by their house the other day. they are afraid to go upstairs and their whole family sleeps downstairs now. they only go upstairs to take baths and when they do that they go up all together and never alone. and their doors look like a new york apartment with all the locks on them now. any ways dont listen to jennifer, she doesnt know what she is talking about. also the article is off on quite a few things as well on what happened that day.
I know the family as well and they are not crazy, I also know that there has been other breakins on laurelbay as well, dealing with stolen underwear, another some one stole a gun, and another was just random and nothing was stolen. besides he would be in jail or psych ward if he had "admitted to it" which he isnt, i just stopped by their house the other day. they are afraid to go upstairs and their whole family sleeps downstairs now. they only go upstairs to take baths and when they do that they go up all together and never alone. and their doors look like a new york apartment with all the locks on them now. any ways dont listen to jennifer, she doesnt know what she is talking about. also the article is off on quite a few things as well on what happened that day.
I was one of the MPs on the scene and he was asked if he had done it himself or if his wife might have did it to him, which is standard in these investigations, we have to cover all areas of the crime he didnt admitt to anything and the investigation is ongoing................. just on personal insight though, he didnt look crazy he looked scared as hell. i know i wouldnt want to be in that situation. and yes it was his 3-4 month old daughter not a toddler. and he is an active duty corporal married to an active duty petty officer with two children. he was not working at the time either.
I know them too, they are great, they have 2 of the most adorable children with full heads of hair when they were born. i love there chistmas decorations. they put snow down and everything. my children love it. but they wont go near his house on halloween.....too scary. .....and jennifer you shouldnt spread rumors on things you dont know anything about.
THE ABOVE COMMENT IS UNTRUE, THE MARINE HAD GOTTEN OUT AND THEN REENLISTED DURING THE WINTER, HE IS MARRIED TO A NAVY CORPSMAN, AND IT WAS HIS 3 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER AT HOME WITH HIM THEY CAM BACK FROM A WALK NOT FROM WORK. AND THE POLICE QUESTIONED HIMON THE SAME DAY ON WHETHER HE STABBED HIMSELF OUT OF STRESS OR IF HIS WIFE HAD STABBED HIM IN A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DISPUTE AS PART OF THEIR INVESTIGATION INTO THE MATTER NEITHER OF WHICH WAS ADMITTED. I HAVE KNOWN THIS MILITARY FAMILY FOR 5 YEARS AND DO NOT BELIEVE HE OR HIS WIFE DID IT. THE PROBLEM IS THAT EVERY ONE BELIEVES IN A FALSE SINCE OF SECURITY IN BASE HOUSING, BUT ANYONE CAN GET ON BASE. IT IS NOT THAT HARD TO DO. BESIDES NOBODY EVER LOCKS THEIR DOORS ON BASE HOUSING. I HAVE TALKED TO THE FAMILY RECENTLY AND THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO MOVE OUT OF THE HOUSE DUE TO BEING SCARED TO DEATH. THIS FAMILY IS VERY NICE AND ARE THE ONES THAT DECORATE THEIR HOUSE FOR FREEDOM SOUND EVERY YEAR FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.SHOW SOME RESPEC
OMG ya - we heard about that too. I wanted to move my family into a hotel after that. It was all a lie by that guy though!!! He went crazy and stabbed himself, then told everyone that a civilian did it. I guess a civilian really did do it lol. The guy was a former Marine, married to an active duty Marine and they lived on Laurel Bay together. It took the police 2 days for him to admit that he had done it himself. Crazy huh! This whole ordeal made us think about safety on base though, and that's good, but I feel sorry for this guy and his fam.