Just Got a Call From KBR

[atreides1]

They want to know if I would like to work overseas? I haven't decided yet how to reply.

Any suggestions?

[ewagner]

1. A couple of questions

first....what kind of skills/people are they looking for?

second...how do you get in touch with them?

[atreides1]

3. It Varies

They are looking for all skills, from security to fire fighters.

www.halliburton.com

[JHB]

2. Ask: Do they provide armor or do you have to bring your own?

n/t

[atreides1]

4. It's Bring Your Own

They do provide you with a sleeping bag and a cot, as well as a space in a military GP medium tent.

Not much, is it?

[Mistress Quickly]

5. How's the pay?

[atreides1]

6. Not Sure

I haven't called them back yet. I do know that it's more then $40,000
and it's tax free.

[Richardo]

7. Tax free for YOU, you mean.

The rest of us get to pick up the slack.

[atreides1]

14. Yes, I Forgot

Tax free for me.

[hangemhigh]

8. KBR offered my brother

180K sign on bonus and 10K per month to do "security"-he's been a ramp agent with a major airline for 20 years so really no special skills or training. We talked him out of it but he's still interested in becoming a Freeper in Iraq.

[Mistress Quickly]

9. Dang that's a lot of money

Some serious weighing of the pros and cons would be going on for me. Is he a republican already?

[hangemhigh]

17. Oh yeah, he's "ate up" with it.....nt

[jswordy]

10. Sure...

The pros: The money is fabulous, much of it will also be tax-free. They will let you bail if you get cold feet once you get over there. You get to travel some and see new stuff.

The cons: You could get killed. You may be kidnapped and tortured, then beheaded. You may find yourself in situations where you will be required to kill, maim or mutilate one or more human beings. It can be boring, especially Iraq. There will be no drinking or drugs, unless you take big risks to do them. In many Mid-East countries, possession of alcohol is a LIFE sentence, and if caught by them you WILL go to THEIR jail.

If yer cool with all that, you could sock away some serious cash in 2 or 3 years. I have known several ex-pats who have done so.

On the other hand, if you want big bucks, just go to Alaska to work on the oil pipeline. I know a guy who is a welder up there, has a farm in Tennessee. He's 3 months on, one month off, makes around $120K. Cost of living in Alaska is high, he brings as much with him from home as he can for his stays.

:shrug:

[atreides1]

11. Thanks

The pros: the money is good, it's a one year contract and I can bail if I get cold feet, and some traveling.

The cons:
Getting killed-true, but I can get killed here in the US as well, though here, the chance is lower. And if I consider my political views, it may not be that far away where torture becomes an accepted practice against those who dissent against this "government".

The position I applied for is logistics, no killing involved.
Thanks to the US Army I've been stationed in places where boredom
is a sport.
I don't do drugs, and most preachers probably drink more then I do,
so neither of those things is a problem.

I've been to the Mid-East several times, thanks to Uncle Sam, and unlike most Americans I don't look down on the Muslim people. Their
history and culture is interesting to study, and we might even learn something about them.

Alaska doesn't sound too bad, but I'm not sure if they have openings for logistics personnel? Would be okay, I guess.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

12. My buddy who was in Iraq for a year said they had no problems

with alcohol where he was at.

Apparently, some Iraqi had a van down by the river (no, no, not Farley) who used to sell liquor to all the soldiers.


On edit: Don't take this as a endorsement of the job with KBR. My friend was also almost killed on several different occasions.

[atreides1]

13. Thank You

I won't take it as an endorsement, I just wanted to get some advice from the people here.

I actually respect some here, but the final decision will be between my wife and I. She retires from the USAF in September, and she has good job prospects, mostly on the East Coast.

Me I'm 45, and I'm now in my third year with my current job. With all the outsourcing, I'm not sure that I can find a job if we have to move.

So I have to consider all sources of employment.

[AlCzervik]

15. do you have a wife and kids or anybody else to support?

The "Security" job sounds dangerous, actually the whole thing sound dangerous.

[atreides1]

16. Kids Are Grown Up

My wife is retiring from the USAF and can get a job, if we have to move for her to take the job, my chances of finding another job are slim at best.

We want to buy our own house, so the money that I get paid if I take this job will help us.

Our three kids are grown, and have kids of their own, and the only "children" we have are a dog and a hamster.

[AlCzervik]

18. i can understand why you might want to take it

but i'd be really worried about you while you were there.

[hangemhigh]

19. It's blood money. Are you okay with that? nt

[Worst Username Ever]

20. I guess I would say that I am morally against it.

To be against the war yet be willing to be paid for it, I dunno. Unless you are for the war, I suppose. Also, I consider people over there working for contractors to be war profiteers. If you are making a profit off the war and have a choice whether you are there or not, it is war profiteering.