Operational Support and Services

Operational Support and Services (OSS) is a privately owned company based in Fayetteville, North Carolina, United States. It was established in 1993Top Secret America - Operational Support and Services, Washington Post. Last accessed 2 July 2014. and according to its website (now defunct) 'OSS is the largest provider of foreign language immersion training to the U.S. Government.' OSS's staff include 'former Foreign Area Officers (FAOs), Intelligence personnel, and Special Operations personnel trained for U.S. Government diplomatic service, arms control negotiations, treaty implementation, and intelligence operations'. About OSS, OSS website. Accessed in the Internet Archive of 25 November 2007. Last accessed 2 July 2014.
It would appear that in late 2009 Operational Support and Services became Linc Government Services, with the latter sharing the same headquarter address and telephone number as OSS. Subsequently, Linc Government Services became part of ABM when the company acquired The Linc Group in late 2010Linc Government Services Wins Slot on $9.7 Billion U.S. Department of Defense Contract to Provide Language Services to Troops Worldwide, ABM Press Release, 12 July 2011. for $300 million.ABM Industries Acquires The Linc Group, LLC, Business Wire, 1 December 2010.
==Offices and Recruitment==
In 2007 the OSS website stated that it had 'offices in New Hampshire, North Carolina, Virginia, Canada, France, Iraq, and Russia.' The company was also actively seeking to recruit for the following positions:
*Russian Linguist
*Counter Intelligence Agents -- Urgently needed
*HUMINT Instructor
*Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection Instructors
*Arabic Speaking Role Players
*Exercise Role-Players
*Foreign Area Specialists
*Linguists
*Operations/Personnel Manager
*Subject Matter Experts
*Training Specialists
==Areas of Operation==
===Iraq===
====Training of Bilingual Bicultural Advisors====
In 2004 OSS was contracted by the Deputy Secretary of Defense of the U.S. to provide Bilingual Bicultural Advisors (BBAs) of Iraqi descent or origin to support the reconstruction and capacity building efforts in Iraq. The BBA candidates were trained in Fayetteville, USA, before being deployed to Iraq in early 2005. The program was extended throughout 2006BBA-SME Program, OSS Iraq website. Accessed in the Internet Archive of 17 November 2007. Last accessed 2 July 2014. and the program was eventually implemented throughout all 18 provinces of Iraq.History of the Program', OSS Iraq website. Accessed in the Internet Archive of 7 July 2008. Last accessed 2 July 2014.
OSS provided health insurance to BBAs but no life insurance. BBAs were not allowed to meet with friends or relatives whilst on deployment in Iraq. Typically, a BBA would be contracted for one year and would be expected to work 7 days a week, 10-12 hours per day. They were given two two-week R&R vacations, one scheduled at the end of each six-month period.Frequently Asked Questions - BBA Program Candidates, OSS Iraq website. Accessed in the Internet Archive of 18 November 2007. Last accessed 2 July 2014.
Alan Levesque was Deputy Program Manager of the BBA Program in Iraq between May 2006 and January 2007, becoming the BBA Program Manager in January 2007 until October 2007. Levesque went on to become OSS's Iraq Theatre Manager from October 2007 to August 2008.Alan Levesque LinkedIn Profile, LinkedIn.
====Deradicalisation Program====
It would appear that Operational Support and Services also operated a deradicalisation program whilst working in Iraq. In 2007 Ami Angell signed on with OSS at Camp Bucca, once Iraq’s largest terrorist detention centre. Camp Bucca held 26,000 detainees in 2007, the highest its population ever reached, following the U.S. troop surge of that year.Jason Keyser, Camp Bucca: Military Closes Largest Detention Camp In Iraq, Huffington Post, 16 September, 2009. Under the command and supervision of General Douglas Stone, Angell would work on introducing and implementing religious discussion classes, bringing in Islamic clerics to discuss religious issues with small groups of detainees. The program was expanded and Angell oversaw several programs in her role as detainee rehabilitation program lead.For Ami Angell, rehabilitating terrorists is not simply possible – it’s necessary, Newman University magazine, 29 October 2009. In 2011 Angell went on to co-author a book with Rohan Gunaratna entitled 'Terrorist Rehabilitation: The U.S. Experience in Iraq'.
Charles Ryan worked for OSS in 2007 and was Program Manager (in Iraq) for the Multi-National Force Reeducation Program of Iraqi Detainees. Part of his role included the hiring of 'clerics, social workers, and teachers within Iraq to teach the detainees about the Koran.'Charles Ryan LinkedIn Profile, LinkedIn.
==Clients==
As of 1 January 2001, OSS had served the following clients: 
*MNF-I (Multi-National Force - Iraq)
*MNC-I (Multi-National Corps - Iraq)
*Headquarters, US Army Europe
*US Army War College
*US Marine War College
*Center for the Advancement of Language Learning
*US Army Command and General Staff School
*US Air Force JAG Office
*US Air Force Attache and Foreign Area Officer Office
*Combined Arms Training Center, Europe
*Office of Advanced Language Skills and Requirements, Washington
*Drug Enforcement Agency
*Federal Bureau of Investigation
*US Army Special Forces
*US Military Intelligence Organizations (tactical and strategic)
*US Army Psychological Operations Unit
*Fort Gordon Joint Language Center, Georgia
*Kunia Joint Language Center, Hawaii
*Defense Intelligence Agency
*Environmental Protection Agency
*US Navy Security Group
*Ft Meade Joint Language Center, Hawaii
*US Air Force Academy
*US Military Academy
*US Naval Academy
*Irvin Aerospace, North Carolina
*George C. Marshall Center
*Foreign Language Training Center, Europe
*Defense Language Institute
*Joint Readiness Training Command, Louisiana
*Partnership for Peace, Belgium
*National Forge Company, Pennsylvania
*TechTrans International, Texas
*ATT language Services
*NASA, Texas
*Carlson Wagonlit Travel
*Wrigley's, Inc.
*Gillette, Inc.
*RJ Reynold's, Inc.
*US Department of State Foreign Services Institute School of Language Studies
*Johnson and Johnson, Inc.
==Contact==
:Operational Support and Services
:Headquarters
:1876 Bureau Drive
:Fayetteville, NC 28312
:Phone: 910-425-4900
:Fax: 910-425-5110
:About OSS/General information:
:info@usereep.com
:Resumes/Employment information:
:resumes@usereep.com
:Battle Staff Rides (North America):
:Samuel Doss - reepsd@earthlink.net
:Battle Staff Rides (Europe):
:Peter Herrly - reepeurope@compuserve.com
:Language Training:
:Erin Lipton - immersion@usereep.com or languagetraining@usereep.com
==Notes==