Working in war zone

[MDW]

I have been offered a position working in Iraq and am looking for experienced opinions. Pros - Cons etc... Basically open debate.

I'm looking for advice as to all the things I havn't thought of.



Lets see what you guys have got, hit me with it.



Also, if I go what do you "pack"?

 

[Bill Lins]

Originally posted by MDW

I have been offered a position working in Iraq

Doing what? For how long? Does Pam get to go also or will she have to stay here? Lotsa stuff to think about.

 

[MDW]

Carpenter Foreman.

No, Pam stays here.

1 year contract

 

[Bill Lins]

Just wondering...



How is your business here doing? If you abandon your current customers for a year, will they come back when you do?

 

[Shrimpy]

Gees Mike, that's a tough one. From all that I have heard, the money should be good. I believe that you and your wife don't have any kids, which eliminates that area of concern. Like Bill says, you have to look beyond that year. What will you give up here, and can you re-start after time off.



Personally, being married, I would have to see a little more stability in the region before I would commit. Anyone as fair skinned as you or I COULD become an instant target.



Double check on if the money you make is TAX FREE. You may have to make a longer hitch (+ 14 months) before it becomes tax free. I'm don't know how big of a deal this is to you, but check it out. It may cost you several thousand dollars.

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

My nephew is there right now and says things are worse now than when the war was going on. Most everybody has weapons and they are allowed to have one AK-47 and one pistol (Iraqis). I spent 7 1/2 months in that region back in 90-91 and I never want to go back there, especially now. To each his own though, and if you can make piles of money and still have a business to come back to and don't mind the thought that some sand flee could take your life at any moment just because you're American then go for it.

 

[Forrest]

Have you checked your health & life insurance companies?

 

[JConley]

Stay home. The money isnt worth it. If you want a reality check, I will be glad to show you pictures when I get home. Depending on where you go in Iraq, the weather is a little cooler than Kuwait, but Iraq is still a ********. For the last two days, the temperature has been around 120 with 20 MPH winds blowing sand and dust all over the place. Its real fun to breath this, and an added bonus is the crunch when you grit your teeth.



12 months is a LONG time, and even longer when you are hating life. I have been here 6 months, and I cant wait to get out of here. Iraq is more dangerous now than when the war was going on, so that is another thing to think about.



Its easy to think about working here from the comfort of home, but take it from someone who is here. STAY HOME!!!



Hope to see you soon.



12 days and counting

 

[Champane Flight]

Pros-cons

Pros- Tax free, exempt status, all you make, you take home.

You will probably make a hunk.

Probably have room and board furnished.

Transportation will be free to and fro Iraq.

Did I mention you will make a hunk?



Cons- You will have to paint giant target on your back.

Unless you speak Arabic, target will get larger.

Life insurance will be canceled or maybe furnished.

Your sex life will suffer, only companion will be weapon,

She is sweet but smells like gun oil.

Locals frown on daughters with men until marriage,

another shooting offense.

Sand fleas itch!

Showers are not plentiful.

Did I mention you will be shot at or taken hostage?

Oh, I forgot, you most likely will not have the American

military looking out for you, unless military is hireing.

Your wife could be looking for new hubby with the cash

YOU made.



For some reason the cons kind of out weigh the pros?

 

[Rams-n-Hogs]

Tried that. Not Iraq but Thule, Greenland, after I retired from the AF. Not worth it. No tax exemptions till you've been there at least a year. I stayed 2 months and that was more than long enough. I'm thinking Iraq would be a lot worse, especially right now.



Jim

 

[MDW]

Keep them coming, this is good stuff.

 

[WDaniels]

Listen to what JConley and Champane Flight said. I spent time in Oman and it is worse than they stated. And there wasn't even any shooting where I was at.

WD

 

[Champane Flight]

Just about

When I got out in 70, Bell helicopter was in a hurt. They were offering large sums of cash for six months of duty in Nam. Almost every Crew chief ETSing was offered this. I decided to go over to our field maintenance office and talk to these guys. They had just finished up a stretch of 17-12 hour shifts straight! They had a day off and were back at it, there were many, many helicopters in Nam. What I didn't realize, was that half of the ships in Nam came to them at one point or another, especially if they were shot up. I was used to MY ship, or at one time as lead crew chief, seven. We had many 100+ hour weeks, but at least once a month we got a couple of days to sit (when ships were in Field maintenance, ha ).



The deciding factor was that if I accepted the position, I had to stay another six months. Lets see, I had already been there two years, Naaaaaaa, I went home!



Oh, I forgot to mention, they did have free beer, private rooms (with AC) and a jeep at their disposal (for midnight runs to Na trang). This was the only plus.



From what I gather is that so far Iraq makes Nam look like a playground. At least over there you could get wasted for very little $ . And of course you had women . We had jungle rot, and they have sand fleas. Unless they call me back (told me they would take women and children first), I don't have to worry. But, believe me if they needed me and I thought I could save just one life, I would be gone.

 

[MDW]

Thanks for all the replys.

I havn't decided on wether to go or not but yall have given me somethings to think about and helped me out with the wife who thinks going over there is going to be no big deal. I don't think I would even be thinking about it as hard if she wasn't pushing it so hard.

Thanks again for your time.





JC: Hope to see you soon, stay safe

 

[NVR FNSH]

Has your wife secretely upped your life insurance? I'm just kidding - really



Brian

 

[Bill Lins]

I ain't EVEN goin' there!

 

[JConley]

I bet Brown and Root is hiring, so if you wife wants to come over here, let me know and I will check with them. I know a few female workers for B&R, so I know they hire women.





Its seems fair to me that you should push to have the wife to come over to the sandbox and have the fun since she is bringing it up.

 

[MDW]

This is "the wife" - in reading these posts, I think I need to defend myself here...



It is KBR (formerly Brown & Root) that has the position MDW is talking about. KBR is a business unit of Halliburton and I work in Halliburton's corporate office. When I was pushing for MDW to accept the position, I didn't know the "TRUE" story and was told that it wasn't all that bad over there. Obviously, I have found out by these posts and others that MDW has been talking to that I was being shielded from the truth. The picture that was painted for me was totally different than what I am finding the truth to be.



I have increased the life insurance though ; just kidding!!! One thing I would not want is to send him over into that environment. And the thought of MDW being shot or killed - well we just won't go there!!



Thanks guys for all your info. and thoughts on the subject. You've all been VERY helpful.



Pam

 

[MDW]

Got the "call" today to go for the screening/physical.

I have mixed emotions.

 

[Mike Ellis]

I would punt that offer bud. IMHO, it is highly likely that the President will end up pulling the troops out abruptly and leaving the infant Iraqi government to fend for itself - like we did with the anti-Saddam forces following Desert Storm. They were all slaughtered on live TV. If we bail out again, American workers in the country will be left high and dry. Since few employers are willing to go to the lengths of Ross Perot to get their guys backs, if you get snatched you will probably be there a long long time.



Since we have not had the gumption to go after the religious set over there due to the "political incorrectness" of it all, the fanatics are busy stirring up hatred every day. Accordingly, when we bail the fanatics will take over the country again and somebody like Saddam will be back in power just like before.



If that happens, do you want the fruit of YOUR labor to benefit the miserable POS's who will be running the country?