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Ask Slashdot: Working As an IT Contractor In a War Zone?
Capt. Picklepants writes "I have been feeling malaise about the IT and technical job market in the United States. I'm interested in doing some IT work for our government in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Africa. I've heard it pays very well. Got any advice, or pointers, aside from the usual combing corporate websites and social networking?"
There's lots of world to see outside US and its war zones. Go to China, Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore or Philippines. It's extremely easy for a westerner to find jobs in Asia if they just know something, especially in IT. Life is generally more relaxing too. I've done just that, but I don't work for anyone, I work as freelancer over the internet.
However, there's a huge amount of employers that can hire you, if you rather take a stable paycheck. This includes both westerners who have set up companies and moved there and also companies by locals. IT is huge in Asia. The funny thing is, it's also a job widely appreciated by local women, and often you find women working in IT. Really knowledgeable ones, too.
On top of that you get great weather, nice people and relaxing lifestyle. You might get marginally lower wage, but then again the cost of living is insanely smaller too.
She always advised you to wear clean underwear when you went out.
In a war zone, don't bother -- the first time you hear a backfire you'll know what I mean.
A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
...for someone to need to execute your will.
The money isn't worth it if you wind up kidnapped and looking at a video camera while they cut your head off.
Look at working in Europe or if you want to try the language China, even better Australia routinely hires for IT and they speak English (sort of).
start your own company.
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
NBC showed a piece on this Monday night. Even lesser employees were getting tons of security. The employees seemed to welcome it out of nervousness. The NBC piece was part of a series on the official withdrawal from IRAQ. Even after that about 20,000 embassy employees and contractors remain in a Baghdad and Basara consulates for "diplomatic" reasons. There are several tens of thousands of troops on bases in the area that could move on short basis for an aided evacuation or such.
You'll get 95% negative USA/Military comments from a bunch of people whose lives depend upon USA and its military.
You won't find many positions unless you have security clearance already. Companies do not want to pay for the cost of a background investigation, hence their preference for former government (military) employees.
If you like $$$$$$ and can deal with ~12 months in a shithole (but generally not on the FOB or at least far from action), its a good way to pay off a mortgage (on DoD money that is). I've known folks working help-desk style roles with basic A+/MSCE/Linux/Cisco knowledge paying easily north of 100K USD.
'We are trying to prove ourselves wrong as quickly as possible, because only in that way can we find progress.' RPF
I'd consider that your "malaise" problem might be greater in a war zone. Your freedom of movement is constrained; you're limited to corporate-cartoon-kitsch America; and you're surrounded by an alien culture that (for safety reasons) you are unable to freely immerse yourself within.
If you were a dude that liked to save money and read books in your spare time, then it might be a good thing. But if you've got malaise now, just imagine what you'd get in Afghanistan.
As someone who's been over there a number of times, my advice is to invest in some good clothing for there. As crazy as it seems, the best way to beat the heat in the desert is to cover up. Long, loose pants made from lightweight fabric and similar for shirts (along with silk-weight polypro undershirts) will keep you significantly more comfortable than your typical cotton t-shirt. Also, a good wide-brimmed boonie hat is worth it.
Basically, the idea is to keep the sun off your skin, the air flowing, and wick the sweat away from your skin.
...si hoc legere nimium eruditionis habes...
I hear the spiders get pretty big there.
Of course, Germany is not a warzone at the moment (and has not been since WW2), but the economy is currently going very good (especially due to massive exports to emerging economies), which means there are lots of open positions for engineers and scientists but also technical writers. You have to accept quite high taxes and social security/healthcare/retirement insurance contributions, though.
There are quite a few english-speaking professionals working in many German companies, so it should be easy for Americans to find work here. The federal employment agency has a quite useful search engine with hundreds of thousands of openings:
http://jobboerse.arbeitsagentur.de/vamJB/stellenangeboteFinden.html?execution=e1s1&d_6827794_p=1
You can used Google translate to get a rough idea about the jobs. Just send in a header letter (why you apply), a tabular CV and your formal certificates (school, college diplomas, MCSE diplomas and the like) and statements of previous employmers (if you have such) in a big PDF file. I am sure many companies here would love to hire qualified Americans !
I worked in Qatar (not in IT), which is technically a war zone by USG standards. It is also the wealthiest country on the planet and obscenely safe. I didn't even bother to lock my door. The pay there was good, but not insanely good. I looked into IT work in Afghanistan and would have made ~$300K. That job would require two things. 1) A USG security clearance and 2)willingness to literally be on the front lines and get shot at. Not all war zone are created equal. Pay will reflect that.
Now you will probably hear a lot of folks talking about the danger etc. Yes, it is a war zone, but your odds of being killed are very low. I'd say your two biggest concerns in a place like Iraq are: 1) dying in a traffic accident, which would be just as likely in India of SE asia. 2) Dying of boredom. THAT is the big issue. These places are boring. And the security you are forced to endure will piss off most geeks. You see it, it is designed to slow you and everyone else down. There is a lot of theater and it can get tedious.
That said, If you spend all your free time indoors reading obscure tech blogs, then I say go for it.
I thought that working in IT was, by definition, working in a war zone.
If I didn't have absolutely NOTHING to do, I wouldn't be here.
Ok. I'll stick to having them build roads, schools, kill oppressive dictators, kill terrorists, and make the world a better place. I'd rather that we didn't have to kill to accomplish these goals, but thats what it takes.
This isn't the place to ask. Network around and be aware that you're going to need a security clearance. If you don't already have one, and you somehow do get the job, be prepared to sit on the bench from three to twelve months doing busy-work while you wait your clearance to be adjudicated.
Kriston
Stay away from war zones.
Jobs in these areas are glamorous - they seem exciting and adventurous, but in reality they are extremely boring and needlessly dangerous. If that's not enough, you'll feel socially excluded because you're not a soldier in a place where almost everyone else is and you're disconnected from "real life" where civilians like yourself thrive. On top of all that, working in rigid bureaucratic organizations like the armed forces can drive people up the wall. You'll feel like you're immersed in stupid. Watch Generation Kill for a very credible illustration of that.
In summary, don't do it.
Works for me.
Seriously. They have interwebs and everything out there. Leave the kidnappings to the oil engineers and charity workers.
I worked in the Middle East as a contractor for six years. Two and a half of those years I was under fire in Iraq. Here is some advice:
Be prepared to live well outside your comfort zone. If you are working in a nice place, you will have shower trailers and restroom trailers... but most places are not nice.
Temperatures are extreme. I saw multiple thermometers claim a temp of 142F one day (July 2005 Baghdad). None of the official reports mention temps that high. Afghanistan is not so hot but it gets MUCH colder.
Be prepared to keep your wits about you as the explosive devices start flying over barriers and blowing shit (and humans) up nearby. I was able to put up with it for two and half years at which point I knew that if I stayed longer, I was going to change (permanently?) mentally in ways that were not desirable. You can only ignore the possibility of getting shredded for only so long... One of my coworkers died in Fallujah in... 2006 I think. He was the only employee from my company to die. A mortar round essentially landed on his head. His coworkers had to clean his brains and bone fragments out of the equipment to get it operational again. Could you do that?
You will not really be making that much money even if it seems like a lot compared to what you are used to. Do NOT spend all of your money. There will be some surprises down the road and you want the cash to be available.
More about money: You will not be making that much money forever. I knew several people who bought $600,000+ houses and then were not offered to be recontracted (either due to the company losing the contract or that person was just not wanted). Live a lifestyle like you have now and when everything is done, you will be well off. If you choose to live the high life, expect a harsh period of ... ahem... "lifestyle readjustment".
Take a durable laptop with you. If you do not play 3D video games, see if you can find one without a fan (dust buildup). Bring lots of large capacity laptop style external drives with you.
I am sure there is more. If you want, I can even refer you if you send me your resume. I have done that with two people from Slashdot already. One died (statistically very very unlikely but the real world does not care about statistics). :(
"Someone needs to talk to the tree of liberty about its ghoulish drinking problem." by ohnocitizen
I hear Zynga will be hiring soon.
Eloi are stupid, throw morlocks at them!
I considered a contract that would involve IT work in Iraq, a few years ago. I saw it as a way to help rebuild and atone for my nation's stupidity. Don't judge the guy asking the question too harshly without knowing his motives.
I'm with the OP. What are the best ways to find these jobs for someone with some skills, but perhaps not a government clearance or experience in the shit? Lots of replies and opinionating (which is why we love the /.ers) but give me some solid pointers please.
Does anyone have a good source for IT work in places that would dictate high pay? I know a guy looking for a contractor for Afghanistan but it is a sub contract on a sub contract of a contract and everyone is guarding who they work for. I'd love a place that listed dangerous jobs that pay real well.
Does anyone actually have a Java program designed to control air traffic, or for the operation of a nuclear facility?
For the USG most of the $200K IT jobs are gone. With all the wars being ended they are being consolidated and needs are shrunk.
Also the pay was not really that high, it averaged in $120K range, if you had experience and did not want to worry about bullets being fired all the time, more if in a bullet flying area and depending on skills. What gave the people the really nice salaries was working huge hours overtime, 12-14 hours/6-7 days a week. What else are you going to do.
Some of the higher paying salaries are still there but the overtime is gone you are now on a working standard 40 hour weeks.
As a former active US Marine nothing is more irritating than a private contractor, or generally any civilians in a battle space.
I'm a Major in the National Guard, a Signal Officer currently deployed to Afghanistan. That whole thing about getting kidnapped is B.S. All of the contractors here fly on the same helicopters that we do, or drive in the same convoys that we do. They get the same security and eat in the same DFACs. The only real difference is that they don't go around armed, unless they're the Law Enforcement Professionals (LEPs) or security contractors.
For the most part they stay on the Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) just like those of us not actually out on a mission. They work six months and go home on leave (I can't remember if it's 2 weeks or a month). It's all in their contract.
When I finished my Iraq tour, I was offered $250k per year to take over managing the I.T. section at a major Iraqi FOB. I was bone-weary from the deployment and just wanted to go home, so I didn't take them up on it. One of my soldiers here was offered $125k to come back and work in the I.T. department at BAF after the tour. She's still thinking about it.
Ignore most of the B.S. that's being posted here, they have zero idea what they're talking about. The pay is high, as is the security. The downside is the hours that you work. 12-18 hour days, with no days off is the norm. It gets to you after awhile.
Believe it or not, one of the things that really gets to you over here is the lack of GREEN. At least the FOBs I've been to, I am SICK and TIRED of sand and gravel, tan and grey. My wife emails me pictures of our lawn so i have something green to look at...
With a name like that, I'm sure Drill Sergeants would love having you!
-- By all means let's be open-minded, but not so open-minded that our brains drop out.
The precedent from the Nuremberg trials is that if you participate in the military aggression against Afghanistan and Iraq, this makes you a war criminal. Indeed the Nuremberg defense that you are following superior orders doesn't even apply because you are going there voluntarily.
And while I don't believe you will be held accountable for your crimes in a court of law, I see no compelling reason for you to do this. It is dangerous. As others have said you can work in plenty of countries. You can also find many lines of work like financial planning that only require minimal additional training and certification.
So my advice is there are plenty of other better opportunities to pursue, and you would be wrong for doing it. So your proposed plan of action is completely illogical.
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I spent three years working as an IT contractor in Iraq. I would expect that the opportunities in Iraq are dwindling due to the troop withdrawal, as the majority of those contracting opportunities were in support of the U.S. military. First question: Do you have a DoD Secret or better clearance? It will be much easier to find work if you do. You may be able to find opportunities in Afghanistan and Kuwait, and also in Bahrain and Qatar, as those are the theater command locations for remaining operations in southwest Asia and Afghanistan. Fluor, ITT, DRS, and most all of the beltway bandits (Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, etc.) have or have had contracts in SWA. Unfortunately, unless you have networked with folks who have worked there, your best option is to comb the job sites. Search their job sites for jobs in those countries. If you are less adventurous and the job is in a combat zone (Afghanistan)and your safety is a concern, be sure to determine where the job location is (they may not tell you exactly where due to security concerns,) and whether it requires regular travel outside of the wire.
I pulled just over 3 months in Djibouti at Camp Lemmonier (Africa 10KM from Somalia border - 40KM from Yemen coast) back in late 2009-2010. First you need a clearance...very little IT work takes place without at LEAST a Secret clearance. Second... go look at the web sites for the bases over there. If it looks bleak, remember that is the positive spin...it is most likely much much worse. I hope you don't have privacy issues...you'll most likely share a shower/bathroom with 100 other guys. No beer allowed in Iraq and Afghanistan...Djibouti allowed 3 beers a day max on base. Hard liquor is forbidden.
Get used to the idea that your life is always at risk in some way. Iraq and Afghanistan bases get infrequent rocket and sniper attacks that kill military and civilian alike. Djibouti hosts it's share of nasty poisonous reptiles. Nothing like Australia, but finding a Death Adder under the Help Desk front stairs will wake anyone up.
Camp Lemmonier was the primary support base for all of Africa when I was there. The wireless public access for the base operated at dial-up speeds (no joke). There was very little on-base entertainment. A bar for beer and wine, a movie theater, a lending library, and a TV lounge were about it. They were adding some lines to the CLUs (hee hee...containerized living units - look them up). Speaking of CLUs those are the best you can hope for housing... the unlucky go into those huge tents like the ones you see on TV.
That covers it...if you can stand doing without a lot you take for granted. The pay can be awesome...
I did IT work for the military during a war but not in a war zone and it was the worst job of my life. Military IT is a nightmare even without the possibility of being shot at. The bureaucracy will probably kill you first. Then there's the moral dilemma of the war itself. How 'patriotic' or mercenary are you?
Finally, be warned that the Mil IT jobs are rarely as described. I was quite shocked at how different the reality was.
Expect jealousy from the non-contractor types, like enlisted soldiers. I was in their boots (admittedly stateside) and we treated the contractors with exactly the required level of professionalism and otherwise not a droplet more as we hated them for doing our jobs for "ten times the pay" (actually it was probably only twice, but no reasoning with jealousy) ... Its a difficult workplace environment. If you make 10x what a grunt makes, expect them to really onload on you if you make a microscopic mistake. Also expect to listen politely and agreeably like a bartender, about how they are stuck there for years whereas you could theoretically stand up, walk out and leave; 19 year old soldiers don't understand the whole concept of "contract" and "having to pay the mortgage back home" and "having to pay for food and medical care" very well, so they really do think you can do that...
On the other hand, in a warzone, maybe there is more camaraderie?
The most important thing you can do to make friends, is figure out what the grunts are not easily able to do and then "help them out" in a way that gets no one in trouble, untraceable, is more or less legal or at least "blind eye" situation, and makes you friends. Back in the day, civilian contractors were "expected" to provide us with warez for our personal laptops in the pre-wide public availability of internet access (note personal laptop in Army speak, is like "personal weapons", things you own and paid for and use solely in your downtime, not personal as in merely army issued "work laptop", it would be dumb to mess with army issued hardware). Also they were expected to provide us with alcohol for all party reasons, not sure how well that works overseas in Islamic countries, but the "rich contractors" were expected to buy us rounds at the bar, not the other way around. On the other hand don't do anything stupid with serial number items or or using classified rated hardware to run unclassified level software. Also be aware of certain army traditions, like you'd share ammo with your buddy if he was out, or you'd share food if he had none, or you'd share medical supplies if he had a sucking chest wound, so expect near violent response if you don't share your mp3 files with anyone who asks, thats just kinda how it is in the Army. Same with pr0n jpegs and movie files. Also paperback books. If there is a paperback book in your possession, and you are not currently reading it, its a major social error to not instantly hand it to someone who wants to read it, so don't bring your signed 1st edition copy of LOTR or something and expect to hoard it until you return home, unless you do literally read it over and over the whole time.
"Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger
Offers to work in combat zones initially look great. They'll back a dump truck full of money up to your house and all you have to do is go have an adventure overseas for 12-18 months. Woo!
The reality is that you'll be working 7 days a week, 18 hours a day. It's expected of you, everyone is doing it, and if you did try to work 8 hour days you would quickly go nuts from boredom because there is nothing to do. There are only so many magazines and videos and games around. Your office will be hot like an oven from all the desktop machines. If you're lucky the server closets will be a little cooler. You will be working harder, in those 18 hours a day, then you've ever had to work before.
If you want that kind of life, get an IT job on an oil rig. Or take a break from IT and go work on an Alaskan fishing boat. The hours, money, boredom, and stress levels are basically the same.
When was the last time your government engaged in an operation on this scale to help people? Did the US drop trillions on Haiti after US installed governments didn't want to make strong building codes? Do they spend trillions on developing clean drinking water solutions? No. They do these things when they want explicit control of an area. So they use military force.
Likewise, you can apply your talents to many projects that help people and involve zero killing.
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Simple and to the point. Great advice.
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I strongly agree with the recommendation to work internationally in non-war zones, doing work that either makes the world a better place or at least makes cheap consumer junk or entertainment but doesn't make the world worse. It's possible to see the world, meet interesting and exciting people, and not help kill them. I'm not just saying this as a peacenik hippie - I used to work for the military-industrial complex, security clearances and the whole bit, and it does mess with your head even though you get to work on interesting problems*. Don't do it. If you do want to work in a partially-American English-speaking enclave environment, oil companies are a way to do high-tech work in wild and crazy places.
The reasons to work in a war zone are either that you approve of the war or that you think you'll make a big pile of money at the risk of getting killed. So if you are going to do that, you should look into working for a contracting company, not for the US Government themselves. A friend of mine did that for a while in Iraq and then started his own company, providing computing and satellite services. You have to be a real generalist, able to handle anything from hardware installation to electrical generation in addition to the computer stuff.
(*Back in the 80s and 90s I'd have recommended working for drug smugglers in preference to working for the military, but the current cartel wars in Mexico make Blackwater and the Taliban look like friendly moral non-crazy people.)
Bill Stewart
New Fast-Compression-only CPR http://preview.tinyurl.com/dy575ks
... and now I'm scared to work in a war-torn country.
But it's hard to jump right on, get a clearance and go to a war zone.
Better to find a local job that requires a SECRET clearance, get it and they get you your clearance. Then get another local job that requires upgrading to TS. Then put yourself in clearancejobs.com and go for the $$$.
EVER!
"Terrorists" are people that oppose government will and interests. At the moment, "OWS" protesters are considered low-level terrorists.
I've served in the US military. I am a war-time veteran starting from Operation Desert Shield and ending with Operation Desert Storm. I know what goes on in the military (generally speaking) and I know how these things are viewed. It's all a lot of work they (we) would rather not be doing and quite a bit of it is HEAVILY doubted. You will not find many, if any, "spirited patriots" in the U.S. military service.
So from your comment, I can guess with a high degree of certainty that you have never served in the military, let alone during war-time. And if you did, you were an officer of some sort and have lost your ability to tell truth from bullshit.
Most of what the US military does is wait for orders and execute them. Now take a few steps back and look at how the military forces of the US are used and why... I mean the REAL reasons why. The US military is used to push US business and US banking interests around the world. Sometimes when the troops get too idle, they have them build stuff or do things for the children of that region, but don't believe for a second that is their primary mission.
I used to believe what you believe. Then I saw and did very different things. I know nothing I say will change your beliefs... that's what beliefs are all about after all. But since you haven't really been to those places or done any of those things, please at least preface your crap with "I have never served nor been there to see what really goes on, but..." Because I've gotta say every time I see "patriotic flag wavers" "supporting the troops" and crap like that, all I see is a parrot repeating the crap they were fed.
I've worked in the defense sector and although I have not signed up for one of these gigs, I know plenty of people that have. It's true that if you are worth your salt (or look good on paper), can obtain a secret clearance and willing to sacrifice a year of your life working 15 hours a day, every day... you can make $250 in a year in Afghanistan. Good places to look are the company websites: L3, SRI and STG - there are many more. Also job fairs in military towns. HOWEVER, if you really want to do this, get on while the getting is good. As you may know, the US trying to fold up it's many operations in SWA and other combat theaters, plus while the government is going broke, it's going to be hard for the DoD to justify paying a quarter million a year for each contractor working in these places... knowing what I know from my days in the DoD, I suspect this gravy train will come to screeching halt... and soon.
I know this, because you're asking the question on slashdot.
Persistent Volume manager for Kubernetes - https://github.com/dwimsey/openshift-pvmanager
Working in a war zone is not for everyone. The money is great, the weather is terrible, the hours are almost as bad as the weather, and not everyone can handle the stress of the occasional rocket hitting the FOB (Forward Operating Base). The good news is that you will probably never leave the FOB except to get in and out of country, so you are almost as safe as in the US. When I worked at Camp Victory, the joke was that it was safer there than Detroit, but I don't know if that was true. The biggest cause of death was traffic accidents, so it could have been true. Keep in mind that it's one thing to know that intellectually, but another thing to experience it.
Iraq is being spun down, so you will get to miss out on 130F heat (only 110 at night!), the most bizarre rainy season I've ever seen (the mud is unbelievable), and dust storms must be experienced to be believed. I've only spent a few weeks total in Afghanistan, but my impression is that Khandahar was like Iraq but a little milder and with mountains. Bagram is even milder and seemed like a decent place to be.
The facilities will vary wildly depending on where you live. Major bases like Khandahar and Bagram have very good facilities, but smaller bases will be much more primitive. The food is surprisingly good but the internet even worse than you think it will be.
Bring a durable laptop, preferable with a large screen. This will probably be your only computer. You will make good money, so don't focus on price and just get the best one you can. Not every place can have a TV, I had to use a USB TV-in to hook up my XBox to my laptop, which worked surprisingly well. Don't bring anything you truly care about, as the dust ruins everything. When I came back I opened up both my laptop and XBox and they were so caked with dust I'm surprised the 1st gen XBox survived (it had heat problems in the best of situations). Find the lightest, coolest shirts you can, cargo pants, good sturdy boots, and a good pair of sunglasses. I also found a large, floppy hat to be useful. I looked like a dork, but I was a cool dork whose head was always in the shade.
If you have ever been in the military or worked for them, then you know a little of what to expect. If not, then be prepared for a very different office experience than exists anywhere else. Even if you are familiar with the military culture, a war zone is unlike anything else. Everyone is armed and there is a level of intensity that doesn't exist here in the states. It's very different, but I have found that people can get used to almost anything and even a war zone can become eventually become routine. The days will drag on forever, but the weeks will fly by.
The money is great, but you only make it while over there. I suggest getting some investment advice, set up a plan, and follow it. That is what I did, but unfortunately 2007 wasn't the best year for throwing over a hundred thousand dollars at the stock market. Even the best plan can be sabotaged by poor timing. Even with the bad stock market, I'm still looking at cutting several years off my retirement age.
Consider the tax benefits of staying a whole year. 330 days out of the US, and your first $85,000 (guess, I don't know what it currently is) is tax free. Less than 330 days, you don't get the tax break. Some shady or misinformed tax preparers have been known to try to pro-rate the break, but I've known a few people who got in trouble with the IRS for this.
I mentioned the stress of constant attack, but it bears repeating. I still jump when I hear a dumpster lid shut (it sounds spookily like a mortar hitting), and I've been home for four years now. Just relax, and remind yourself that you are inside the wire, the bad guys are outside it, and treat those soldiers and marines who go out on patrol with the respect they deserve.
Good luck! You are considering something that very, very few people will ever have the opportunity to do. I think of my time as an adventure and I'm very glad I went. If you have a security clearance, getting over there should be easy, but I'm not sure how things look if you don't.
Oh, incredible! The LHC must have ripped a hole in the fabric of space-time and we are communicating with an alternate universe, people is actually posting on /. from over there!
How's the weather on your side? Does it rain candy every day?
WTF am I doing replying to an AC at 5 A.M on a Friday night?
The premise here is that somehow you will be happier with the job if it were a government job in a war zone. The US Government is actually the most depressing places I have ever worked (I actually had a pretty _cool_ job). With the exception of being in the military, it was not _the most_ depressing places. Malaise will not be resolved by a switch to the government, I would say it would get worse... Now if you simply want to do it for the money then more power to you, but make sure you know why you are doing it...
-matt
$diff terrorists hippies
$
$rm -rf *terrorists *hippies
What do you have on SAT link xray delta echo down up up down? Your response I will fix when the soldiers fight somewhere else.
It is true that you can get a lot of extra danger pay and post differential working in 'war zones', however as has been stated, the US is pulling out of Iraq and Afghanistan (and they are shitholes). Pakistan is another country that receives a lot of American AID, one can receive 60% on top of their base salary if they work in country -- as noted though, Pakistan is not very safe anymore.[p] Forget working for the military, they pay peanuts. What you really want to do then is work for a consultant firm (see www.devex.com), American consulting firms that receive their funding directly from the American Government will pay the best. European firms come close, but their benefits aren't nearly as good (and who wants to get paid in Euros???). Forget Asia. Forget China. Austerity is in the air and cutbacks are happening. One must find their niche. The international development community is actually quite small, make a name for yourself and you can work for anyone. Work in a POST-conflict country or developing nation, helping with poverty alleviation, IT, health, commerce, and agriculture. Focus on MENA and sub-Saharan Africa, central asia, and SE Asia - these are Obama's focus areas. Sub-Saharan Africa has the most development AID from the US. For example, South Sudan is receiving a tremendous amount of money. Among my associates, there have been incidences of kidnappings and even killings in Afghanistan. One guy was ransomed, another was shot dead (and these incidences are kept hush hush for all concerned). One must evaluate the level of personal risk and danger they are willing to accept before they accept any assignment. Working overseas can be stressful and not all personalities are suited. You must learn fast and rely on yourself- support systems can be nonexistent. Attrition rates are high for a reason. But one has to start somewhere, get a gig in a friendly African country and work your way up the chain. All things considered, the marginal amount of danger pay one can get in a 'warzone' is not worth it long term. ---that said, I know several people who became millionaires in the early days of the Afghan occupation. To each his own --- IMO now it is a whole new ball game. Those golden days of endless piles of money are coming to an end.
i was in Afghanistan a couple years ago and a group of guys were working next to our FOB setting up a RAID camera, a thermal cam on a big ass tower. I was talking to one and he said he got 150,000 a year. i saw them do literally nothing. A boot working party set the whole thing up me included.
All that I'm coming away with from this is a whole lot of people saying, ..."my advice to you is...." and they probably don't have a freaking clue about either their "advice" or any credible experience. I think the active duty postings probably get it closer to the truth.
Sigs? We don't need no steekin Sigs!
If you consider "Africa" a warzone then it may be better to brush up on your geography before you look into moving. Africa is huge. I live in Mozambique and just this country has a coastline 200 miles longer than the western coastline of the USA. Mozambique is an average size country for Africa.
In my experience it's not that easy to find a job overseas, at least not a conventional field.
Let's consider local companies first... It's true that it's not that difficult to find English speakers, that's not always the case. And the thing is that in day to day business the ability to speak the local language is pretty much mandatory. Sometimes you'll luck out and find a company that's interested in hiring you as the token foreigner, but don't expect to be doing anything particularly fulfilling. Also expect pay comparable to what a local would be earning, which is usually paltry compared to what you'd get as an ex-pat at a big multinational. In a lot of cases you'll just be getting by and will have to save carefully.
So then you've got American companies with international offices. The catch is landing a job that will enable you to travel where you'd like to go. Good luck with that. The people I've known who've been so fortunate tended to be in management or finance. And you never really get the proper experience of living overseas anyway. They generally set you up in a really nice place in the best part of town and in countries where safety is a concern they stick you in an isolated, often guarded community. And the circles ex-pats inhabit are usually separate from other foreigners.
I know there are options via defense industry and US government, but not having had much experience with that I can't speak to it. I know someone who was in Japan for a while and is now in Germany, working with the government, but he doesn't really have a say in where he's sent.
There are a couple of other surefire ways to get a job overseas. The first is to do charity work, although more than likely you'll be looking at the third world. The pay isn't necessarily good, but the work is definitely fulfilling. The second is to teach English. It's fairly easy to get a job teaching in Asia, even Japan, given how big they are on learning English. The pay isn't great, but in a lot of countries it's actually marginally better than what your average local makes. Also, if you end up at the right company they may even have arrangements for room and board which will help cut down on expenses. And the thing is that may afford you the opportunity to look for the kind of work you're actually interested in doing.
I would not recommend working in that environment as a newbie civilian. It would be one thing if you had a military background and knew what you were getting into. I will assume that is not the case given the questions you are asking.
Rather, I suggest that if you really yearn to see another part of the globe (an educational and eye-opening experience for most Americans) go somewhere other than the countries you mentioned. While you are deciding where that might be, consider perusing the State Department Travel Alert system (or whoever maintains that data today). That will provide you some idea of which locales might be safer than others.
I currently work as an IT professional in Kuwait, and will be cycling back to the states for about six weeks, then off to Afghanistan. I am also a combat-deployed Army veteran, having served six years in the US Army.
Unless you have at least a Department of Defense SECRET clearance, you will not work in IT in a war zone for anything associated with the Dept of Defense. Most companies that hire for these positions want their prospective hires to already possess said clearance--this is a MAJOR barrier to employment for most people that have IT skills. That SECRET clearance investigation costs quite a bit of money (thousands of dollars). Then, most IT professionals working in DoD are being required to have certifications (A+, Net+, Security+, CCNA, CISSP)--this is also a barrier to employment, because many people in the civilian world have "grown-up" in IT and learned by doing, not by testing. There are also health tests and fitness requirements that are not waiverable, and you simply will not deploy if you do not meet those health and fitness requirements.
So, *if* you have these core pre-requisites, or you find a company that is willing to pay for them, then you *might* consider it. Do your research--a LOT of research-- into the Company that might hire you--there *are* a LOT of bad-reputation DoD contractors out there-- some deserved, some not. Then, do some soul-searching. --worst case scenario type soul-searching, first...do you have a wife and kids? what happens if i get killed? --That type of soul-searching.
Then, don't assess yourself: ask someone you know and trust, that has been in the military AND deployed to assess you. Do *they* think you can deal with the stresses involved? I know a LOT of IT and communications professionals in the US, both former military as well as pure civilian IT and communications folks--and most civilians will suffer horribly in a combat zone, even in the relative comfort and safety of FOB's and main bases. It *is* a war zone, and most civilians possess neither the training to function in, nor the situational awareness to survive in, a combat zone in any capacity. There is a reason people that are trained in the military get out and come over here--and it isn't necessarily for the money, although that's nice. WE ARE TRAINED TO LIVE, WORK, AND SURVIVE in this environment and come out on the other side a whole person. If you have not had that training and experience, my personal opinion is that you simply ought to stay out of the combat zone: leave it to the people that really do know what they are getting into--because they've already done it. the best of the worst case is you get yourself killed...the worst of the worst case is you get someone else killed.
This applies to Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Southern Philippines. There are other places (Kuwait, Djbouti, Qatar, Bahrain among them) that have more subtle--and potentially as deadly--consequences, as well. Don't think that just because there isn't an active conflict going on that you can't get killed in Kuwait just as easily as you can in Iraq...and don't let appearances fool you. If you have never left bum-f**k Pennsyltucky and lived and worked overseas in any capacity, the above-stated places are probably NOT the places in which you want to cut your teeth. Try Europe, Japan, or Korea.
Most of the war zone contractors want you to already have a clearance, so those jobs are hard to get without one.
But it's a lot easier to have a contractor get you a clearance for a job in the US. So you work here for a few years getting your clearance, then go for one of the high-paying war zone jobs.
But look carefully at the specifics. Some jobs have you sitting in a relatively safe compound the entire time, others have you in another country that's safe, but still gets paid war zone wages. Other jobs require at least weekly excursions into the field where you get to brave IEDs and getting shot at, not to mention just plain dying in a car crash (there are a lot of those over there).
I've only got one response to that: Fuck you.
No really. It is your way of thinking that had created untold suffering to thousands of innocent lives and probably exacerbated the current global recession.
Here is a place to get started in the community.
http://specopsnet.org/mailman/listinfo/jobs_specopsnet.org
I would argue that your home nations troops should generally be supported even if you disapprove of the politicians motives in sending them there...
Donte Alistair Anderson Roberts - hi son!
Karma: Chameleon
I was offered such a job a few years ago - I'd have been working in a Forward operating Base (FOB) in Iraq or Afghanistan as tech support. the pay being offered was good, but not itself exceptional. However, it came with VERY substantial bonuses, both as retention bonuses and travel allowances, not to mention room & board. I figured that even after taxes I would have come out with over $100,000. And that's assuming I paid taxes in full; I'm given to believe there are ways to avoid a good amount of taxation.
So, the money's pretty good. But you'll be working 60 hour weeks, at minimum. FOBs are often placed in rather inconvenient, or at least uninteresting, places - meaning that it's not like there will be a great night life. And for all that you'll be supporting the military, you won't *be* military which means, notwithstanding the social consequences, that you wont' get certain important benefits - like medical care.
And there have been a lot of contractor deaths. At least some sources indicate that more contractors have died in Iraq than military personnel; not sure how that really breaks down, but you will certainly be at risk.
Some people do choose to take these jobs. The money is definitely good. And if you're in a situation in which it makes sense to leave things behind for a year or more, it's not without value. Just know that you'll be working your ass off, you'll spend a lot fo time being pretty damned bored, and social opportunities might be pretty limited. Oh, and there will be people trying to kill you.
Your assessment is correct. I have not served.
I do have several friends who have served and many more who have family members serving now and I resent hearing people I respect and like called government murderers. I think in this case I responded hastily to a troll. I do have concerns about how, why, and where politicians deploy my friends.
"I know nothing I say will change your beliefs." You'd be surprised. I struggle with this, I don't want a government that represents me abusing the military but I do recognize that having a force like the US does is sometimes necessary. I know the job that my friends do in the Army sucks and I want to understand what they do in the vain hope that I can make is suck less.
It's all about how you negotiate your contract. Make sure everything is in writing before you sign it. Make sure all bonuses, 401k contributions, etc are based on gross pay, and all living conditions, time off, vacation and sick leave are in writing as well as overtime compensation (not straight hours) is documentated. Make sure that all USG hazardous duty ect (35 %) bonuses are in writing and based on gross pay not base pay.
IRS exemptions are a matter of law, however there is a form to fill out prior to going OCONUS that will stop taxes till you hit the exemption ($92,900). The 330 day rule only applies if you vacation back in the US. If you leave the AOR but stay outside US that time still counts towards 330-days.
Document all trips to the medical clinic, keep all copies of paperwork- why? Post-deployment workers compensation for injuries or PTSD.
I just got back from 13 months over there, so I'll give you what I can about it.
The positives, for me, are:
1) Money. Every US contractors over there will tell you the money is pretty damned good (save for the Ugandan security forces, they get screwed). I made a little over $130,000 in 13 months. And because of that money, I work because I want to, not because I have to.
2) Study time. Most IT contractors work 10 hours day, 6 to 7 days a week, so you've got a lot of time to study. Even on the job, you've usually got a decent amount of study time.
3) Travel time. Vacations to Europe are pretty easy to do, since Kuwait International Airport has pretty much ever major EU airline in and out of it. You can explore Europe and the rest of the Middle East pretty easily. I recommend KLM flights to Amsterdam or Gulf Air to Dubai. Once there, the rest of the region is open to you.
4) People. You'll meet a LOT of new people, military and civilian, that you'll form some damn good friendships with.
The suck, for me, was:
1) The heat. Worst day in Iraq was 147F. The upside was my sinuses were seared open so I got maybe half the sinus issues I did. Afghanistan is better as far as the weather goes, since they have more then two seasons.
2) Explosions. No matter where you are, you'll hear suicide bombers every now and then. Afghanistan is probably worse, depending on where you go. Get used to the idea that your life is in danger, but don't let the knowledge screw with your mind too much.
3) Away from family. Most IT contractors have to be in country for 5 to 6 months before they can take a vacation, so you might not see your family for 6 to 7 months.
4) Normal corporation BS. IT companies in war zones still BS you and will mess with your pay and other such. Read your offer letter over a couple dozen times before you agree to it, and know everything they can screw you over for. Talk to the other guys on site once you get there or at CRC and see if any of them know any of the normal dirty tricks they company will pull.
Now, all that being said, I can't say if you should go. It was the right thing for me to do. Gave me the ability to be relaxed in ways I've not been able to in years because now I don't worry about money. Check out all the IT companies over there, some pay better then others, some have better benefits then others. Once you decide to do it, go hit the gym. You'll need to be in pretty decent shape to deal with 75lbs worth of gear.
"Extremely easy" is hardly informative as said in the top comment... I think what you're asking for is how to find an opportunity, and work.
Antarctica public opportunities are handled through here: http://www.usap.gov/
They need IT people, but it is mostly infrastructure, WAN and LAN related work, and it's usually for 6 month or 1 year contracts. I applied many years back (when Raytheon handled all the contracting through polar.org) but got no response... I met someone later that had done a couple of tours there and he described it as that with something with as tight a community as Antarctica you need an "in", or network your ass off to get to one. It's an environment of trust in an extreme place, and most of the positions are filled by people that already have a relationship with a decision maker.
Positions in dangerous places, if that's the adventure you're looking for, are nearly always managed by an NGO or government contractor responsible for all hiring, etc. So for Afghanistan, as a contractor, you'd probably look to something like SAIC, or even Blackwater/Xe, and once again, you need to network your way to a relationship with someone that could vouch that you're a sane person. These positions are in demand, and they don't lack for peeps through those channels. Again, nearly all infrastructure work. A clearance, if you have one, is a plus, and you'll be required to pass a secret clearance regardless. (which means, some people from the government will ask everything about your life, anything illegal or of bad character you've ever done, drug use, where you lived. The key here is be truthful - it's not necessarily an attempt to eliminate you from getting a clearance, but just to not let anybody blackmail you for skeletons in your closet. They'll ask some questions of your neighbors too, just to verify anything they suspect might be a lie.)
For the rest, in a functioning, growing economy in Asia or South America or Russia vicinity, etc, there are headhunters/staffing firms much like in the US. Best bet is to go local as possible to the hungry, commission only recruiters, vs going through a big multi national. And like the US, don't just work through one, but half a dozen, as they all have knowledge of different opportunities. They do look for real world talent of all kinds, and you can probably bring a lot to the table with the experience you have in more mature environments.
Just keep in mind that if your boss asks you to set up a new server in the DMZ, he may mean something different than what you're expecting.
If you were a national of a country that had invaded mine, for no lawful reason, and had murdered hundreds of thousands if not millions of my fellow countrymen, not just soldiers trying desperately to protect it, but innocent civilians as well, sometimes for sport, I would advise you very strongly not to come here, and if you were already here, to leave at once. You may not consider yourself to be part of the invading/occupying force, but trust me, there are enough people there who will, and will consider you a completely legitimate target.
Even if you are OK with the risk of dying, consider that you might not die, but maybe lose a few limbs, maybe your eyesight, maybe a part of your brain. Maybe you'll live 60 more years but in constant, agonizing, unbearable pain. Maybe you'll need dozens of expensive surgeries that will bankrupt you and everyone around you. War is not exciting, glorious, pretty, or fun. It is the sum of all evil. Avoid it if you can.
Others have pointed out that there are plenty of interesting, exciting and safe places in the world where you would be welcome, provided you behaved yourself, and would have little trouble finding gainful employment. There are banking, tax, and of course cultural issues to consider, which I'd strongly recommend researching in advance. But it still can be a tremendously enlightening and rewarding experience.
Nonaggression works!
"I resent hearing people I respect and like called government murderers"
Stop respecting and liking people who murder for the Government then.
Working in a war zone might sound exciting, but even if you never see combat, there are bad guys out there trying to kill you. All. The. Time. This is why a lot of non-combat veterans end up with PTSD. I frankly don't think that's worth the paycheck. If you're looking for adventure, you can get more than enough for a lifetime working in Europe or Asia in places far away from any war zone.
Finding God in a Dog
I looked at some of those positions. You get a little extra pay for the warzone, but it's not nearly enough. It's like a 8% incrase in normal pay. Just because the government thinks that is enough does not mean you need to think that way.
Fact is, the IT industry is growing, and skills are in high demand. It's an experiance driven industry that pays well already, so tell the Military you would need at least $150,000 per year.
I've had an interest recently in either Volunteering or Working in Emergency situations (like earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, etc.) around the world? Any tips on how to find that kind of work?
Most of these places named -- Iraq, Qatar, Afghanistan, etc. might be fine and great money, but use common sense. If you can stick to a base and are working for the US government, fine. I'm sorry to say I would never lift a finger to help the actual people on the ground. You may think this is a cold sentiment, but if you are a Jew, Druze, Bahai, homosexual, etc. then you are only helping people that hate you.
It's true that there are probably some good, tolerant people that deserve your help, but note that many of these people, especially in Muslim countries would gladly kill you if given opportunity if they knew you fell into one of these groups. It's also well known that even Muslims who you might be friends with, if they are commanded by a Sheik or other leader to kill you, they will. Your life and supporting people that persecute you are never worth it.
I am deeply saddened by people like Daniel Pearl and Warren Weinstein. I also feel they as humans needed to escape idealism and dedication to the job in favor of common sense. There are plenty of people in this world to help, and our troops certainly deserve your support, but the people they are helping and protecting who aren't you may not want your help or you in their country.
Btw, as someone who has fought in wars and will be soon moving back to a country that is always under the threat of war, I find it distasteful that so many people here look at it as purely a way to profit. If you must come, be humble and realize you are there to help and those people are the reason why you are taking home a big pay day.
Honestly. It'll lower the chance of your getting shot somewhat.
Check your premises.
1. Duck
2. Duck again
3. Make lots of backups
4. Profit, if you survive
Table-ized A.I.
My advice on pointers is once allocated, to free memory eventually. Consider using a language with garbage collector.
I hadn't the slightest objection to his spending his time planning massacres for the bourgeoisie... (P.G. Wodehouse)
Your link ((http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuremberg_Principles) says waging a participation in a war of aggression is a war crime. And it does not exempt you based on superior orders, as your link states.
The "Canadian ruling" was a ruling in 2006 made by a Canadian court on whether Canada was going to accept a US war resister as a refugee. That ruling just applies in Canada, the Nuremberg principles do not give the Canadian federal court jurisdiction to interpret them. I think it is clear that Canada had a biased position on this issue because of it's close relationship with the US.
Democracy Now! - your daily, uncensored, corporate-free
The precedent from the Nuremberg trials is that if you participate in the military aggression against Afghanistan and Iraq, this makes you a war criminal.
No it doesn't. You become a war criminal by committing war crimes. The mere participation as a combatant in an military confrontation - let alone as an auxiliary - does not constitute a war crime, with the Nuremberg trials that you so ignorantly quote as precedent of this fact. There is a very clear definition of what a war crime and a war criminal are under international law. Anything else, including your interpretation, is rhetorical bullshit.
Because gleefully exclaiming that the money is worth the risk is probably an indicator of an unstable personality at best, if not a depressed/suicidal disorder.
Apparently, it is also highly likely that such a person uses Internet Explorer.
Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens
...and no family, I would do it in a heartbeat. I had the opportunity a few years ago (when my skills were relevant, had TS clearance, and no family) but didnt take the opportunity when I was seriously considering going to Qatar on a headhunter tip...might have been interesting! :)
I just got back from a deployment to Afghanistan, those contractors live pretty well and really do make bank... I spent a lot of time talking with them, seeing as it's something I'm considering doing when I get out of the Marine Corps - I say hell yeah, go for it - great experience and they keep contractors pretty damn safe. You'll probably be working on a well established base somewhere in less danger than you would be in a big city back in the states.
"...aside from the usual combing corporate websites and social networking?"
Yeah, don't get killed by insurgents.
You might try the UN, they have their own IT service workforce (I forgot their name but you will find out).
Don't do it because war is f**king WRONG.
I'm 52 and the USA has never been attacked by another country in my lifetime, and yet we're always going off killing people somewhere.
Don't give me 9/11, that was a bunch of Saudi's funded with Saudi money, and UBL left Afghanistan years ago and everyone knew it, why are we still there?
We murdered over 2 million Vietnamese by the time I got to high school, and the whole time all I heard was the Soviets are the bad guys. Grenada, Panama, Iraq, and dozens of other military undertakings no one seems to care about, all in the following years.
The murdering won't end until we stop helping them do it.
The one thing I have yet to see is the following comment.
Getting into a war-zone IT position has both pros and cons. However, getting a job in that location with a DOD contractor is going to be extremely difficult without a security clearance. That is a process that can take years depending on the requirements. Without the right clearance, the starting point is blocked.
It is not as easy as interviewing and shipping out the next day. Best of luck if you have the qualifications. I hear there is stiff competition for the few IT positions with the contractors.
I've worked with two companies for contracts in Iraq. The first was ITT and it paid around 130K a year with bonuses. The pay was low but they give plenty of time off (which you shouldn't take if you want to max out your $) and are a good company to start with as they will hold your hand in getting you from the states to the AOR. If you don't have a military background and haven't worked overseas before then they might be a good option. Generally everyone else will pay more than them, so do look around for other companies. My second contract was also for work in Iraq (nearly identical work in fact) but paid over 250K a year. It was also nice that no pay was tied to completion bonuses so I wasn't stuck with any loss of pay if I had decided to go elsewhere. Speaking of, feel free to network like crazy when you get in country, and also to jump ship for another contract if you want. If you are wanting to work in IT then you will almost certainly require a security clearance. A Secret can be had in as few as 2-3 months if it's just a simple records check and you don't have anything too sketchy in your past. If you want more info on clearances and what can keep you from getting one then http://www.clearancejobs.com/ is a good site (run by DICE now I think). Also note that while you are earning a good salary (30-38$ an hour) you are also possibly working seven days a week twelve hours a day. You should also check on the uplift that the country you are looking at will get you. Uplift is a percentage of your pay that is added on to the hours you work (capped at the first 40 hours if you work with ITT) and will make a big difference in your take home pay. The State Dept sets these rates and currently the rates for Iraq and Afghanistan are the same at 70% but this may go down if Iraq becomes more stable after the troop withdrawl. Speaking of specific locations, your company will probably not be able to tell you where they are going to place you because they may not know where the openings will be by the time you finish your training and go through CRC ( http://www.campatterbury.in.ng.mil/NationalDeploymentCenter/tabid/1101/Default.aspx ). They may not even be able to tell you what country. If you want to maximize your chances of getting to Iraq (the lesser of two battlefronts) then you may want to stick with companys that are hiring for jobs with the Dept of State and not the Dept of Defense. If you really want to come away with something after your contracts are over then you should look for a company that is willing to sponsor you for a Top Secret position. It will take much longer to get (possibly more than a year) and you won't want to quit your current job until you have it but it is a great way to seperate yourself from others in a tough job market that is still going to be tough in a year or two when you get tired of working in a war zone :)
MooCow
Can U Tell? Dated 2039 (Unix has a problem)
(Sorry MooCow, I couldn't resist) Haiti, Iraq, and Afghanistan. as funding dries up and the major withdrawals start to happen, these jobs are going to become rarer and rarer until the next SHTF event. The pay sucks anymore and the hours are 12x7 on most contracts now a days to maximize profit, leave is limited and can be expensive as 130K doesn't go far if you have a family. My experience was great pay with travel where I got to see the nice and not-so-nice parts of the world and now, after 3 deployments in 5 years, I'm divorced father of 4. Not a sob story, but a cautionary tale about good money, time away, and doing this with a family. Seriously, don't do it if you have young or teen kids or you're taking off to get away from your spouse on a 'working vacation' in a combat zone; do it with a set of goals in mind (save money for school, house, paying off debts, etc) and do it for the clearance and then move your butt straight to DC afterwards - that's where you can use your SECRET clearance and maximize any sandbox experience as well. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions. -Doc-
This topic has made me wish that I was 15 years younger more than I have for awhile. Not only my age, but I would hate leaving my family at this point.
One thing that I haven't seen any single post mention is the (sexual) social life. I assume there is none, and that's partly how money is saved. Or is there a satisfactory amount of females to make it not totally a sausage party? Spending the best years of my life surrounded by dudes could leave one rich, but lonely. True?
--
$tar -xvf
What kind of IT skills that are sought after in warzone? Does software developer have a good chance to work in warzone?
All you need is a valid security clearance and a valid pulse. You don't need to know anything about IT.
I've been in Afghanistan, now going on my second year. There are NO "periodic deaths on base," in any context a IT Contractor would ever experience. If he's a Blackwater security guy training ANP, maybe, but again, NOT on base. Monkey's flinging poo are more effective than the Talib with rockets and mortars. Furthermore, when they ARE stupid enough to approach a base: They get their azz handed to them 50 yards before they even make it to the wire/front gate. A .50 tripod mounted machine gun, manned by a guy with binoculars, lights them up before they ever even see the guard that's shooting at them. They're not dumb enough to do that more than 1-2 twice a year. Suicide bombers, "other nasties," are again, off base. I'm probably one of the more exposed because I travel to all the Regional Commands, and I take frequent MoveCons across Kabul.
What there isn't a shortage of, it appears, are people trying to scare you. I won't drop numbers but you can count on making easily in the mid 100,000s your first year. Your second year will be closer or over 200,000. You will need a security clearance. A few replies back someone commented it seemed more who you knew than what you know. Yes in some cases. I've seen people that should never have been there (from a knowledge point), and then, some who should and knew the right people but got caught in politics. It's really like anywhere else.
Since I threw the flag, I'll ante up what I know first hand. In the last 2 years, no one on KAIA has died on base. KAIA is the IJC 3-Star HQ. On Khandahar, once last year a worker in the laundry facility was wounded, not killed, and a second person was wounded (not killed) when they decided to continue a volleyball game (that I was walking towards to watch) after 4 rockets, and not follow procedure to proceed to a bunker (which is where I went). That's it. I would not classify that as periodic.
And agree on Camp Bastion, no one in their right mind would attack there. It's in the middle of nowhere and you'd get lit up a half mile before you even saw the base. And let's say for argument sake you didn't, there's a couple thousand armed Marines that are bored and would love to be your Huckleberry. It'd be sniper/shooting range nirvana for them. Actually, I'd prefer they do that to what they actually do: Kill hundreds of innocents with IEDs every month. If anything turns this war, it will be the local populations recent trend at being pissed off and tired of Talibs planting roadside bombs everywhere, barely getting us in comparison to the Local Afghans.
Everyone here seems to be focused on SE Asia and US warzones. Why not look a little closer at Africa?
Africa as a continent is huge... with well over 1 billion people living there. There are loads of expat job opportunities around in various countries... although, the competition for the jobs is intense. A LOT of people want to live there... and take advantage of high expat salaries and often tax free income.
Where to look though is the challenge. Try the UN. The UN is always hiring skilled people to work in Nairobi (one of the biggest UN centres in Africa). AMREF often has IT related jobs available (again, mostly Nairobi). I see loads of jobs popping up for Ghana, Nigeria, Zambia etc. Just take a poke at http://www.careerjet.com/ and pick a country... search on Ghana for example, or Kenya... and you'll get an idea of what's available just from a simple search... you have loads of options if you are not locked into one specific country.
I've lived in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda while on job postings there for a non-African based company I worked for at the time. I loved it. Great weather, awesome people, amazing food. I had to leave in 2009 - but am definitely going back... this time to stay (I hope). I've also had the opportunity to live/work in China, and while it was interesting, Africa wins out by a huge margin.
Got any advice, or pointers, aside from the usual combing corporate websites and social networking?"
Do not get killed.
Every end has half a stick.
I struggle with this too. I support the troops, because in my naivete I believe they are just doing a job, and did not choose their deployment, and indeed have an actual desire to do good. For this reason I donate to Help4Heroes, which helps wounded soldiers recover. I do all this, whilst opposing both wars. My would-be brother in law is enlisted, been briefly to Afghan. My best friend did two tours. I see them just as people doing a job. What I don't like is the attitude by some that the soldiers should be treated as gods, because they sacrificed so much. What I think about that is, there is no draft, they do this because they want to not because they have to. Essentially the same as a fireman or policeman.
This should add to the stress, boredom and general fun level.
I considered a contract that would involve IT work in Iraq, a few years ago. I saw it as a way to help rebuild and atone for my nation's stupidity.
Yeah, so obviously you were thinking of working for a charity of some sort, right?
To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
I just left a company after 7 years of service working in Iraq, Afghanistan, Djibouti, and a couple odd Western African nations. Basically, pay rates vary significantly from company to company as well as location. If you have a current and active clearance the pay is generally better. But basically the gist of all the comments is correct. i.e. The hours suck ass, remember you have no where to go so you basically have no off time. it's 12 hour days some are even longer when you take into account "Staff Meetings" and such with your US Counterparts that happen well after 5 PM your time. The jobs are boring, the technology isn't cutting edge, no one is working on OC-192's in Iraq... Be happy with your 1/2mb VSAT connection (if it's even that big). Gaming... Forget about it. Think Skype (audio maybe video if your lucky) and browsing. Torrents... HAHAHAHA... But you can also buy just about any movie or game for around 3 bucks at the local Hadji shop so that balances out.
Food Sucks, People resent you or don't understand you, it's boring, and you'll miss everything from the real world.
All that said, I loved my time. I met amazing people that I'm friends with today. African's, Iraqi's, and Afghani's are all just like everyone else. They can be total asses or the coolest person you know, just depends on the person.
Good luck
"I find it hard to believe you can pay off an entire mortgage on a house, as well as other accumulated debts, with one year's salary, but even if you could a whole year away from my family is more than I would sacrifice. "
Umm...If you don't live in California lets estimate your home mortgage is $150k? That seems very very fair and gets you a nice home in most of the midwest. If you make $200k in AFG, there's nothing to spend it on here except for Amazon.com. So... I say you should net around $190k. Less taxes (93kdeductable) I say you net (walk home in your bank acct) with around $155k. The only debt I had was $15k in student loans and a mortgage (California sized). I'm not wasting my time paying off my mortgage. I'm more interested in investing it elsewhere and building up assets so I never ever ever have to come back here again. My home I consider an asset and rent it out while I'm out here. So...more tax breaks. Live and breath to seek out tax breaks!
While in AFG I've studied and received my CISSP, GCIH, CCNA, CEH, and am now studying for my CCNP. You should see the library of books I've been through in just six months while I've been here. I figure I'll top this adventure off with a trip to a CCIE bootcamp in Thailand on my way out before heading back to the US.
To break it down...I've only been here six months and I've accomplished far more in certifications and finances than I would have in 3-4 years living in the SF Bay Area. Yes I'm from the Valley and was paid just fine at around $120k salary/stock/health/etc.. before leaving for this lousy adventure. My life was amazing and always full of entertainment. I had the best work-life balance in the Silicon Valley and I dream every day of returning back to the amazing work/life balance the valley provided me.
I have traveled around the world while out here and it's a great feeling knowing that I was being paid more than I was spending while on vacation. Did I mention riding a blackhawk lights out to your next flight is pretty damn awesome too?
Shit, I make more money while I sit on the toilet than the 99% make in a month! BUT! My work life balance is useless and I wouldn't wish it on anyone who has a passion for life. I signed my contract and made a promise to fulfill it....otherwise I would be out of here like a light!
Anyways, to each there own. Life is a bitch, suck it up and go make some money while it's here. One year of pain is worth not having to work for 1-2 years after leaving and being able to follow your true passion without having to worry about going broke.
The International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg, which followed World War II, called the waging of aggressive war "essentially an evil thing...to initiate a war of aggression...is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime, differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole.
If you missed the all the talk of the Nuremberg principles, once again, they say that if you participate in a war of aggression, you are guilty. Maybe you should look up the Nuremberg principles.
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I am in Afghanistan presently, working as an IT contractor. I found the job on a site called-"Nerd of Fortune". They have listings of almost everyone who is offering work here and elsewhere. The people here are kewl, for the most part, no real issues--just gotta watch your back--like being in Crenshaw--LOL. Anyway--Nerd of Fortune.......if you want an IT job overseas or domestic--not just war-zones...Nerd of Fortune is the place I would suggest--it worked for me (making 165K presently--YEAH BABY!!!)
I considered this and emailed off a few places but not being American probably didnt help. I have since found another industry that pays well and has similar perks such as travel, food, accommodation and tax free pay and you are in a hell of a lot nicer locations - sure you will work long hours too but then you will also get extremely generous holiday periods to compensate you for it plus the previous mentioned benefits
As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a reference to Godwin's Law approaches 1
I don't recall. All I remember was it having something to do with rebuilding infrastructure.