Army to hire 3,000 Security Guards Eliminating Private Security Contractors
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - The Army is converting approximately 2,500 installation access control point security guard positions from contractor to federal employee status at nearly 50 stateside locations. Overall, Installation Management Command will be announcing 3,076 openings for guards that will be needed at every garrison, except those aligned under Base Realignment and Closure or those transitioning to joint bases where another service is the lead agency.
The conversion is being made because of congressional mandates and the expected loss of a waiver established after Sept. 11, 2001 that allowed the Department of Defense to contract security guard services at military installations in the states, said Craig Shreiner, branch chief of physical security for IMCOM. While the employment category of these guards will change, the service they provide seven days a week, 24 hours a day will not. "Throughout this process, we will ensure a well-coordinated transition that continues our support to the mission, Soldiers and families, and Army communities," Shreiner said.
The conversion will be completed in two group phases. The first phase consists of 28 garrisons and must be completed by Sept. 30. The second phase will consist of the remaining 18 garrisons and will be completed by July 26, 2011. Group 1 involves garrisons from IMCOM's Northeast, West, Pacific and Southeast regions. Group 2 involves Southeast and West regions. Visit the IMCOM home page - www.imcom .army.mil/hq/ - for a listing of garrisons within each region.
Once the job announcements are made, all qualified applicants - including contractors currently holding such positions - are encouraged to compete for the openings. "Additionally, veterans' hiring preferences are in place," Shreiner said, "and previous experience with military security work is something we value." Job announcements have been made at several installations and will continue to be published throughout the conversion. IMCOM's Northeast Sites which will go Department Of Defense DOD: Aberdeen Proving Ground, Adelphi, Carlisle Barracks, Detroit Arsenal, Fort AP Hill, Fort Belvoir, Fort Detrick, Fort Devens, Fort Drum, Fort Hamilton, Fort Lee, Fort Leonard Wood, Fort Meade, Fort McCoy, Fort Monmouth, Fort Monroe, USAG-Natick, Picatinny Arsenal, Rock Island Arsenal, USAG-West Point.
Guy James, President of the Federal Contract Guards of America FCGOA, stated the decision to go from private contract security to DOD because of congressional mandates will affect many of these security police officers. Many of these officers presently work for Wackenhut Services Inc. WSI and the majority of them are unionized covered under a collective bargaining agreement. Furthermore there in no guarantee these officers will even be hired because they now have to reapply for their security jobs. Presently these Wackenhut Security police professionals enjoy job security, wage and benefit protection, collective bargaining rights and respect. James noted we refer to security guards as security police professionals whereas the army refers them as "SECURITY GUARDS".
The Federal Contract Guards of America FCGOA is one of the newest and fastest growing 9(b)3 Unions in the America today specializing in the representation of Federal Contract Security Guards / Security Police Professionals working at Nuclear Facilities NRC, Federal Buildings, Dept of Energy DOE, Dept of Defense DOD, Dept of Homeland Security DHS, Correctional Facilities, INS Facilities, Armor Car, Airports, Commercial and Industrial Facilities. www.FCGOA.Org