As many as 56,000 private contractors could accompany the 30,000 additional U.S. troops being sent to Afghanistan, according to a congressional study.
The Congressional Research Service report says that would bring the number of contractors in the country to about 160,000.
Last December, contractors made up 69 percent of the Pentagon's personnel in Afghanistan, "the highest recorded percentage of contractors used by the Defense Department in any conflict in the history of the United States," according to the study, which was first reported by Talking Points Memo.
The dramatic increase in contract work is changing the way military leaders wage war.
"Prior to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, contracting was done on an ad-hoc basis and was not adequately incorporated into the doctrine -- or culture -- of the military," the CRS report said.
Now "doctrine and strategy are being updated to incorporate the role of contractors in contingency operations."
The Congressional Research Service report says that would bring the number of contractors in the country to about 160,000.
Last December, contractors made up 69 percent of the Pentagon's personnel in Afghanistan, "the highest recorded percentage of contractors used by the Defense Department in any conflict in the history of the United States," according to the study, which was first reported by Talking Points Memo.
The dramatic increase in contract work is changing the way military leaders wage war.
"Prior to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, contracting was done on an ad-hoc basis and was not adequately incorporated into the doctrine -- or culture -- of the military," the CRS report said.
Now "doctrine and strategy are being updated to incorporate the role of contractors in contingency operations."
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