Matt Moyer

Photographer

Guns for Hire: Private Security in Afghanistan

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Location: Syracuse, New York

Biography: Matt Moyer is a photojournalist, teacher, and public speaker who focuses on social and cultural issues. Moyer, has photographed multiple feature stories for National Geographic magazine and is a National Geographic Explorer. His assignments... MORE

Private security contractor, Ne... drivers to get out of the way.

Private security contractor, Neil Gary, a former U.S. Marine, orders a driver at gunpoint to move his car while working to provide security for a convoy in Kabul, Afghanistan. Gary and his fellow security contractors often wade into traffic yelling at drivers to get out of the way.

Young Afghan children look on a... oversight from any government.

Young Afghan children look on as a private security contractor rides in an SUV while providing security for a convoy in Kabul, Afghanistan. Neil Gary works for the private military company Crucible providing security for U.S. State Department contractors in Afghanistan. The men who decide to work as private security contractors often base their decision to do so upon a combination of a feeling of patriotic duty, a desire for action, and the ability to make a lot of money. Private military contractors work in many of the world’s war zones often with little oversight from any government.

Private security contractor, Ne...ent contractors in Afghanistan.

Private security contractor, Neil Gary, 26, a former US Marine, runs along a sidewalk in Afghanistan drawing stares from locals while providing security for a convoy in Kabul, Afghanistan on November 9, 2005. Gary works for the private military company Crucible providing security for U.S. State Department contractors in Afghanistan.

Private security contractors, N...n market in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Private security contractors, Neil Gary (L), a former US Marine, and Mike Stocksett (right), a veteran of the US Army, share a laugh while shopping at an Afghan market in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Private security contractor, Ne... oversight from any government.

Private security contractor, Neil Gary, a former US Marine, rides in an SUV while providing security for a convoy in Kabul, Afghanistan. Gary works for the private military company Crucible providing security for U.S. State Department contractors in Afghanistan. The men who decide to work as private security contractors often base their decision to do so upon a combination of a feeling of patriotic duty, a desire for action, and the ability to make a lot of money. Private military contractors work in many of the world’s war zones often with little oversight from any government.

Neil Gary provides security for...fghanistan on November 6, 2005.

Neil Gary provides security for a DynCorp International official outside a tent camp in Kabul, Afghanistan on November 6, 2005.

Private security contractor Kyl...vices these hired guns provide.

Private security contractor Kyle Kaszynski (right), a police officer on leave from his job at the St. Paul Police Department, waits for his pay in Kabul, Afghanistan. Kaszynski works for the private military company Crucible providing security for U.S. State Department contractors in Afghanistan. Kaszynski's decision to work as a private security contractor was based upon a combination of a feeling of patriotic duty, a desire for action, and the ability to make a lot of money. Kaszynski was able to make more than double his police salary. Kaszynski was killed on December 22, 2005, just a few weeks after this photo was taken, while working for Crucible in Iraq. Kaszynski had been transferred from Afghanistan only a few weeks before his death. The U.S. endeavor in both Afghanistan and Iraq relies heavily on the services these hired guns provide.

John Ferguson, Country Business...cials of DynCorp International.

John Ferguson, Country Business Manager for DynCorp International, a publicly traded, multi-million dollar private military company contracted by the US State Department to train the Afghan police force, hands out toys to Afghan children while being protected by a private security detail in Kabul, Afghanistan. The private military company Crucibal has been contracted to provide protection for high level officials of DynCorp International.

Private security contractors (l...security in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Private security contractors (left to right) Pat Scott, Mike Stocksett, 32, Neil Gary, 26, Matt Goss, 24, and Kyle Kaszynski, 39, pose for a photograph while on a break from providing security in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Private security contractor, Ne... airport in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Private security contractor, Neil Gary, keeps a sharp eye open for potential threats while providing security at Kabul's airport in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Members of a personal security ...icials over Kabul, Afghanistan.

Members of a personal security detail ride in the belly of a Soviet era cargo plane while providing protection for U.S. State Department officials over Kabul, Afghanistan.

Private security contractor, Ne...ghanistan on November 11, 2005.

Private security contractor, Neil Gary, 26, a former US Marine, hangs out of a moving SUV while providing security for a convoy in Kabul, Afghanistan on November 11, 2005.

Private security contractor, Ne...a convoy in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Private security contractor, Neil Gary, 26, a former U.S. Marine, points his weapon while providing security for a convoy in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Private security contractors (L...ghanistan on November 13, 2005.

Private security contractors (L to R) Mike Stocksett, 32, Neil Gary, 26, Kyle Kaszynski, 39, and Pat Scott (Front) pose for a photograph in a tank graveyard in Kabul, Afghanistan on November 13, 2005.

Private security contractor, Mi...ghanistan on November 14, 2005.

Private security contractor, Mike Stocksett, keeps a sharp eye open for potential threats while providing security for a convoy in Kabul, Afghanistan on November 14, 2005.

Private security contractor, Mi... son grow up over the internet.

Private security contractor, Mike Stocksett, talks to his wife via internet video connection in his room at a company compound in Kabul, Afghanistan on November 14, 2005. Stocksett, who has been deployed to both Afghanistan and Iraq, says he has watched his young son grow up over the internet.

Kristin Kaszynski, wife of secu... oversight from any government.

Kristin Kaszynski, wife of security contractor Kyle Kaszynski, sits in her husband's childhood bedroom while holding a box containing his remains in Minneapolis, Minnesota on January 5, 2006. Mr. Kaszynski was killed December 22, 2005 while working as a contractor for the private military company Crucible in Iraq. The men who decide to work as private security contractors often base their decision to do so upon a combination of a feeling of patriotic duty, a desire for action, and the ability to make a lot of money. Private military contractors work in many of the world’s war zones often with little oversight from any government.

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Thumbnail of Private security contractor, Nei_t drivers to get out of the way.

Thumbnail of Young Afghan children look on as_e oversight from any government.

Thumbnail of Private security contractor, Nei_ment contractors in Afghanistan.

Thumbnail of Private security contractors, Ne_an market in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Thumbnail of Private security contractor, Nei_e oversight from any government.

Thumbnail of Neil Gary provides security for _Afghanistan on November 6, 2005.

Thumbnail of Private security contractor Kyle_rvices these hired guns provide.

Thumbnail of John Ferguson, Country Business _icials of DynCorp International.

Thumbnail of Private security contractors (le_ security in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Thumbnail of Private security contractor, Nei_s airport in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Thumbnail of Members of a personal security d_ficials over Kabul, Afghanistan.

Thumbnail of Private security contractor, Nei_fghanistan on November 11, 2005.

Thumbnail of Private security contractor, Nei_ a convoy in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Thumbnail of Private security contractors (L _fghanistan on November 13, 2005.

Thumbnail of Private security contractor, Mik_fghanistan on November 14, 2005.

Thumbnail of Private security contractor, Mik_g son grow up over the internet.

Thumbnail of Kristin Kaszynski, wife of secur_e oversight from any government.

Public Story

Guns for Hire: Private Security in Afghanistan

Updated May 2022

Location Kabul, Afghanistan

Topics Documentary, Editorial, Journalism, Photography, Photojournalism, War, War and its effects, Weapons

Summary

This group of men work for the private military company Crucible providing security for U.S. State Department contractors in Afghanistan. The men who decide to work as private security contractors often base their decision to do so upon a combination of a feeling of patriotic duty, a desire for action, and the ability to make a lot of money. Private military contractors work in many of the world’s war zones often with little oversight from any government.