Hi,

I am not sure if this is the right thread to post this in, but I had a question for those familiar with special operators. I am trying to find out if this is normal or if I should worry. (Like I need something ELSE to worry about when the world is going to hell in a handbasket)

One of my coworkers has been involved with a lot of 'operations' in his life before coming to work in the business world. He was military, but also a contractor and his travels intersected a lot of historical events, whether as part of an 'official' operation or as a contractor.

He has been at things like evacuations of citizens in foreign countries prior to military actions, international hijackings, 'executive protection' gigs, etc.

For the last few years he has worked in private industry and seemed to be well-liked and a hard worker. I had become pretty good friends with him over the last few months, but a strange event happened this week that kind of bothers me.

I talked to him on Friday as normal. When I came in Monday his office was cleaned out, his nametag on the door was gone and none of his coworkers knew anything about where he went or what happened. There is scuttlebutt about a sudden resignation, but nothing verifiable.

I shot him an email and a couple of voice mails, with no response. Someone in his department said he told them he would be 'unavailable' for at least a week and would not be answering emails or phone calls.

My question is this - Would it be likely for someone who has been out of the special ops community for several years (he ain't no spring chicken) to be called out of the blue and 'disappear'?

It's just really weird. It's not like he was a low-level employee. He was a Director of the company and the head of Public Relations, so he has been the visible face of the company for many years.

Is it plausible he was called up for an assignment, or is it more likely he got ticked off and told them to shove it?

Thanks!

I have no real knowlege in this case, but I have an idea that there is a whole lot that goes on behind the scenes that most of the public doesn't see. If he was a sniper, he might have been a really good one and they need him for a job (from the movie sniper). I know for a fact that the millitary can and does call you back if they need you. As long as you are still in the window of inactive reserve. But they are the government. "they" can do watever they want. I wouldn't ask too many questions due to possible opsec problems. Just my opinion.
Have a nice day brother.

I suggest putting 2 and 2 together in this instance. He was an operator and was involved in spook stuff in the past and now he is a visible person working in PR. If he was involved in a covert OP that has for some reason gotten some light on it they would have to remove him from the public eye so no one could do a snatch and squeeze on him. When the source of the light on this exposed covert OP is removed or resettled what have you your friend might be able to come back into the light but if not he might have to go dark himself for a while.

That is my read on the situation.

Depending on how deep or how high up he was in his military SpecOp carreer, they might call him back at anytime, especially if a project that he worked on at one point suddenly became relavant again.

Perhaps he worked some projects in the Cold War that are getting pulled out of the back of the filing cabinet due to current events. Thats what sprang to mind for me.

On the other hand, maybe he was just let in on a lucrative contract. Those government contractors make damn fine money if you can tolerate the work. If I was working on the other side of the house, I would be making roughly three times my yearly salary for doing a similar job- only I would spend 6 months in Iraq instead of 12-15. Not an unattractive concept if you don't mind the location. Three times the money in half the time. If he was part of some good-old-boys network in the contractor business, maybe he got in on some money that was too good to pass up. Some contractors work in secret just like the mil side as well. Not unlikely he might have to "disappear" for a little bit.

It seems more likely to me that he has been on a special operation for several years, and dropped you a hint. You may be standing in the middle of one.

You might consider taking some sudden vaction time!

People like that don't retire, they become retired, with a bullet.

Someone with too much knowledge becomes a liability if they are not constantly monitored. Better to keep them in play. I knew someone who monitored assetts. They do not get to just get up and go where they like, or talk to who they like, if they are so important that they survive retirement. No one is too important to receive their final retirement package.

[edit on 30-8-2008 by Cyberbian]

Originally posted by WhiteOneActual
Depending on how deep or how high up he was in his military SpecOp carreer, they might call him back at anytime, especially if a project that he worked on at one point suddenly became relavant again.

Perhaps he worked some projects in the Cold War that are getting pulled out of the back of the filing cabinet due to current events. Thats what sprang to mind for me.

On the other hand, maybe he was just let in on a lucrative contract. Those government contractors make damn fine money if you can tolerate the work. If I was working on the other side of the house, I would be making roughly three times my yearly salary for doing a similar job- only I would spend 6 months in Iraq instead of 12-15. Not an unattractive concept if you don't mind the location. Three times the money in half the time. If he was part of some good-old-boys network in the contractor business, maybe he got in on some money that was too good to pass up. Some contractors work in secret just like the mil side as well. Not unlikely he might have to "disappear" for a little bit.

Well I know money was a little tight for him lately, so that would make sense.

Some of the countries he has been to have very recently started to be back in the news.

Very interesting!

If he was a sniper, he might have been a really good one and they need him for a job (from the movie sniper).

I just watched that movie the other day! I think it's called "Shooter" rather than Sniper but I could be wrong.

OP, are you in a large city? If so, his absense could go unnoticed by others for quite a long time. If you are in a small town, where people all know each other, and people are calling him at the office he used to work at because they can't reach him any other way, it might be just a matter of time before someone decides to report him missing.

Interesting story. I hope you keep us updated on what you learn about his sudden departure!

Jemison

When you are in spec ops you make alot of enemy's around the world and they do know who you are.... he might have gotten some threatening news that some thing was going to happen to him so he ducked and covered.. or since he is a contractor he is down in Louisiana helping control the chaos with the hurricane with Blackwater.

Originally posted by Danman
When you are in spec ops you make alot of enemy's around the world and they do know who you are.... he might have gotten some threatening news that some thing was going to happen to him so he ducked and covered.. or since he is a contractor he is down in Louisiana helping control the chaos with the hurricane with Blackwater.

That is certainly possible too. I know some of his buddies were in NO after Katrina. They were mostly doing rescue and security work.

Semper Fi

What about the most likely scenario?

He was recruited away to a competing company, and that pissed off the current management.

In business, when high level employees depart for a competitor, the other company definitely "erases" the evidence very quickly. They want a clean break.

That competition might involve certain undisclosable contracts.