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Jobs in Afghanistan...200K+????
03-01-2012, 07:54 PM
Guys,
Last night my brother told me he had received an offer to go to work in Afghanistan as a translator for the Canadian forces for about 200K/year plus all expenses covered, accommodations, flights etc...
Has anyone in here worked in Afghanistan? How's the situation there? Anyone from here been there recently and can report? I'd love to get your thoughts and feedback on that. I'd be interested in it myself as well if the position is in Kabul or in a place not too dangerous in the heart of Taliban infested area.
Thanks guys.
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03-01-2012, 09:01 PM
AntiTrace,
Thanks for chipping in man, very much appreciated and very much looking forward to your report once you go there. Btw, are you Canadian or American?
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03-01-2012, 09:31 PM
With the recently (incredibly stupid) burning of Qurans' by Americans...things have just gotten 10X more dangerous for any foreigners in Afghanistan>
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03-01-2012, 09:41 PM
I've been bouncing between Iraq, Afghan, and Kuwait as a contractor for 7 years. Things are winding down over here.
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03-01-2012, 10:04 PM
I was able to get more info about this position and it is not with the Canadian forces but to help the US Army in providing them "language and cultural awareness" whatever that is. AliB and AntiTrace, I'd like to talk to you guys over skype to pick your brains on that. PMs on the way.
OM, I know about the conditions, I'm not concerned about fun in Afghanistan, I'd be there just to make as much cash as possible and take frequent trips to nearby LOS and other parts in Asia and FSU to release the stress of the environment.
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03-01-2012, 10:10 PM
Bixx,
Yeah that Quran burning was incredibly idiotic and will come back to bite more than one can think of. That's highly regrettable.
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03-01-2012, 10:24 PM
Back in '05 $1K per day wasn't unheard of. Congress had a bill on the table to limit contractor pay to $200K recently. In the early days everyone was scared to be over here. Now? Fuck. They'll hire anybody with a pulse to fill a billet. The industry has went to shit, and most don't care about the soldiers. I'm getting ready to bounce out and return to the energy sector. I'll wait until another war kicks off and return. I miss the days in Iraq when it truly was the wild wild west.
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03-02-2012, 01:34 AM
If you're a Fobbit ( a creature that never leaves the FOB- Forward Operating Base ) it's easy money. If you're out patrolling, then you're taking as much risk as anyone else. Since you're a westerner you shouldn't be another mope on a patrol. The good western raised linguists were either used by the intel personnel, or as a linguist for high ranking officers. You're statistically safer over there than on the south side of Chicago in the summer, so make your money and stay safe.
"Feminism is a trade union for ugly women"- Peregrine
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03-02-2012, 01:36 AM
I actually thought about doing this when I was traveling in the Middle East last year. I realized how much safer many countries are than the media (at least that in the US) makes it seem. Some of the most pleasant countries I've ever visited are considered very dangerous for westerners (Colombia, Syria, Egypt, etc). I absolutely ignore State Department travel warnings. They are entirely useless.
Anyway, I've met a couple of people who've worked as contractors in the Middle East and Afghanistan. I think if you're inside a US military base, you are good to go, especially in Kabul. They've had a few scares in the past year with random suicide attacks in Kabul, but the causalities were Afghans, not American. Americans are secluded from what I've heard. The same goes for Iraq. There's a huge collection of international contractors in post-conflict nations. Many from the US, UK, France, China, Turkey, Germany, etc.
I would totally do it for the cash, but having clearance is a necessary prerequisite (something I don't have). Without it, it's an uphill battle getting an "in." You'll have to dedicate a lot of time, energy and focus to make the contacts and that still might not be enough. Now, companies are reluctant to invest in sponsoring new hires for clearance because it's an expensive process. You have to have some kind of military background more often than not.
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03-02-2012, 01:43 AM
Flour doesn't hire highly skilled personnel. Your credentials may be too much. The reason is they pay SHIT, and if someone with a solid background gets hired, they'll soon jump to another company paying double.
Flour
ITT (international thugs and thieves)
KBR
AECOM
ACFIRST
These are good companies to get your feet wet, but move out quick to make more money. For the record, I've applied to these for shits and giggles, and they won't touch me. My skills and experience are above and beyond their management chain. I'm just too qualified.
Companies like Lockheed Martin, GD, ect. look for highly qualified individuals, and do extensive background checks to weed out the shitbag resume rangers. They pay well, expect excellence, and are a pleasure to work for, if you appreciate professionalism. With that being said everything is a clusterfuck over here. Nothing works anything like back in the states. It'll drive you mad.
Another thing. These jobs appeal to the dregs of society. Dumb fucks that can't cope with hard work, authority, never amounted to anything, suddenly get over here and find a niche. They suck. But there's an army of them and they never leave. The sorts that never made $30K stateside, but suddenly make $100K, think their shit don't stink. I call it the Lord of the Flies effect. Some real surreal shit.
Yeah I'm hating. It's get old working around fucktards. Most of these brainiacs have never served, but love to give the big warfighter speech. They have no fucking clue what's it's like outside the wire, and as much shit as they talk, would piss their pants if you handed them a rifle and kicked them out the gate.
I'm keeping my eye on Iraq. Their starting to get the oil pumping. Big money if you have the balls. But remember, the military ain't there to watch your ass anymore either. Something to think about.
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03-02-2012, 08:56 AM
200 K isn't anyhwere near enough.
You have a very real risk of getting maimed or killed even if you are a stay in the base type. You just might win the mortar lottery. Or one of your Afghan translators blows himself up in the mess hall.
And if you are really unlucky, while traveling to or from the base your convoy gets attacked, you get kidnapped, and then the last couple hours of your life are spent being brutally tortured by some medieval tribsmen.
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03-02-2012, 09:04 AM
Money is to be made out here. I had a buddy of my from my last deployment in '09 get one with L-3 Communcations. 25hr plus OT. You work 84 hours a week or thats what you write down. 300 a day in per diem. He's making 9k a month entry level. I got an interview with Mantech as a Hazmat guy. Starting 125K. I was deployed and they needed somebody soon. I have my clearance but is pretty tough getting on with logistics background. Afghan isnt that bad. We lose more to suicides than anything (fucking Jody). If you need a list of contractors PM me. Aliblahba list is a start and most jobs are entry level. Best thing is if you do 330+ days its tax free haha.
The cycle of disrespect can start with just an appetizer.
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03-02-2012, 09:22 AM
Good info guys. Ali, thanks for the additional insight.
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03-07-2012, 10:13 AM
Ali, what's your feeling on the US expat jobs like these 10, 20 & 30 years from now?
I can't help but to feel pessimistic...I continue to see Indian engineers come through, making 10% of what I do, willing to do the job. Not quite sure how much longer this niche will last? Your thoughts?
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03-07-2012, 10:23 AM
Quote: (03-07-2012 10:13 AM)sammybiker Wrote:
Ali, what's your feeling on the US expat jobs like these 10, 20 & 30 years from now?
I can't help but to feel pessimistic...I continue to see Indian engineers come through, making 10% of what I do, willing to do the job. Not quite sure how much longer this niche will last? Your thoughts?
There will always be expat jobs. Brits, Germans, Aussies, Japanese, and Americans are in high demand. There's no substitute for our skilled labor. Some companies hire OFW's out of India, and the Phils, but it takes several of them to count for 1 of us, and years for them to get spun up. for These jobs have been around since Ghengis Khan. KBR was in Vietnam. Guys are still working in Okinawa, Germany, Japan, and Kosovo. The longer a place has been set up, and shit calms down, the less it pays. Jobs in K*wait are paying around $9K, and Germany $6K.
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03-09-2012, 06:19 PM
Yeah, there is tons of cash to be made in Afghanistan.
A few months ago, I crossed paths with this totally repulsive, fat American dude who was on a 2-month trip around Europe. He was telling me about how he worked as a contractor in Afghanistan and was making bank.
His job couldn't have been very demanding either. This guy had zero social skills, was way overweight and wasn't very sharp.
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09-09-2013, 10:09 AM
Seems there will be jobs in Syria soon enough
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09-09-2013, 10:15 AM
^There is always a war going on somewhere in the world. Damascus seems like it would be a pretty nice place to live too.
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09-09-2013, 10:18 AM
I don't know anyone left in Afghan. Everyone has been sent home, or said fuck it when companies dropped the pay to $80K for the same bullshit. Most of us with the background can make that here and get laid at the end of the day.
I doubt Syria will produce jobs. The U.S. already has bases setup and I doubt it'll be an occupation. If so the jobs will be few and very competitive. Plus the guv I don't think will need to pay those big salaries across the board anymore.
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09-09-2013, 09:07 PM
Look up Mantech.com ... I saw six supply tech jobs for Kuwait. Kuwait will always be there. One of the better companies to work for overseas.
The cycle of disrespect can start with just an appetizer.