Would you take a civilian job in Iraq?

[NightJumper 0]

Yes, I have already have worked in hot spots before in the middle east.

[mpsniper98 0]

i've been a non-civilian in a combat zone and it paid a whole lot less than 50k. i'd go back for over 50k but you'd have to drag me away from my dropzone and my white-collar chemistry job.

NBFT

[boudy 0]

Quote

I've often wondered what the life of a mercenary is like....

http://www.keepmedia.com/ShowItemDetails.do?item_id=366991&pageId=1&x=9&y=10

I posted this somewhere else but I think the story is fascinating enough to repost . Tucker Carslon from Crossfire spent some time on the wild side with DynCorp security contractors. He said the former special services guys made around $250,000 - the only Iraqis they trusted enough to hire were the Kurds.

[metalslug 31]

Quote

...areas where Fedayeen Saddam might be waiting to chop off my head or incinerate me in my car and hang my charred corpse from a lamppost.

I am going to assume the reluctance to be in Iraq is because most of the folks here fear being captured and killed as suggested above.
But I have a question... who is more at risk and what is the probable order of risk ?
(1)Americans
(2)Citizens of any country that has a military presence in Iraq
(3)Anyone who is not Islamic
(4)...or simply anyone who doesn't look like a native of the region (race/ethnicity) ?

As a South African, our goverment's official position is to oppose the Iraq occupation and South Africa had significant oil trade with Iraq before the occupation. Nelson Mandela is known to be sympathetic towards Fidel Castro, Muammar Gadhaffi and probably Saddam too.
But.. I am a white South African, non-Islamic, with European ancestry and 'western' thinking.. and my personal views on Iraq are not necessarily those of my goverment. Is it safe for me to walk the streets with my passport and accent at the ready ? Anyone willing to place bets ?

[gmanpilot 0]

I have been approached about working for DynCorp, and I have several friends working for them and TripleCanopy. I just don't see the future in it, from a career standpoint. It's a good gig if you are already retired though. TripleCanopy pays a little better than DynCorp.

_________________________________________
-There's always free cheese in a mouse trap.

[slug 1]

Quote

Quote

I only operated within friendly line perimeters

Are there any?

Could be, The "Green Zone" where the Paul Bremer (head of the CPA with his "personnel staff of contractor's" stays might be OK most of the time. deep perimeter, basements etc.


The problem is not everyone has the same status as Mr Bremer and a person won't know how much doo doo there going to be exposed to until they get there.

Recently we've seen the a lot of disapointed folks in the software industry because their company after telling them they were "family" decided to save some expenses by sending their jobs to india.

You all can do what you want I won't trust anyone else with my life again unless I have veto authority.Based on my experience we're considered expendable.

There are no commercial flights out of Iraq. Once your there and you don't like the odds? quit

My ex employer lost a contract employee ($150K/yr EOD person) to a IED. It didn't happen at work but during the daily commute to work. To bad so sad, someone screwed up on their risk analysis.

Was the daily commute necessary? Who decided on the mod of transportation vs the cost and risk.

BTW befor you leave to play in the sand read the fine print in your contract. If you decide to leave the sandbox early your monthly pay rate for time served might be a lot less than you expected, (per contract).

R.I.P.

[ozthebum 0]

I voted yes, for more than 50k. That's more than I get paid now, (there is a GOOD chance I'll be joining my bros over there soon) and as I figure it....if it's my time to go, then it's my time to go. Not that I'd be happy about it.

[nacmacfeegle 0]

"Let's say a company comes to you for your occupational specialty and says, "I'd like you to go to work for us helping to rebuild Iraq." "
Currently I work for Halliburton, I specialise in fixing worn out petrochemical stuff, and building new plants.

They already pay me more than your 100k to sit in the office in Aberdeen, and I get home safe and sound to see the wee one every night, so its going to have to be a good deal.

Unless the deal was outstanding, I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole.
By outstanding, I 'm talking 3 times normal pay (tax free), full expenses, company organised everything, armed escorts for compound-worksite travel, armed security at worksite and compund, business class flights (transferable) in and out, 6 weeks on 2 weeks off rotation.

None of these conditions are unusual for my line of work, problem is, we can get this sort of deal by going to places such as Nigeria, Myanmar, etc.
So like I said, it would have to be outstanding.

--------------------

He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson