Jobs at KBR in IRAQ

I worked on the LOGCAP III Project for over two years, and it is a lot nicer then one would think. I'd say 90% of the people that go love it, because of the money. I worked on the HR team that does the actual processing and shipping you'll go through before you ship. The hours are long, and being away from home sucks, but the the laborers, food preperation workers and laundry attendents make 65K in one year tax free... that's the people that would make minimum wage state-side.

What job would you be doing and what camp would you be at? I can give you detailed information about both.

 

I haven't been to Iraq recently, but I've been to Afganistan in the past 6 months. Even if the money is good, be prepared to see hell on earth for a long time when you are over there.

Since you will be on a base, the risk level is very low. Your major problem will be with the scorpions.

 

Read this before considering any job offers in Iraq.

 

The facts in that case are completely wrong... KBR gives a $50,000 death and dismemberment policy regardless of your job when you go overseas, and they give you the choice of paying a monthly fee for up to $250,000 (fee is based on medical condition). His medical insurance was cancelled because he decided to go with the basic medical plan which covers you and your family only as long as you are employed. Per their DoD contract restrictions KBR's insurance must be from a third party thanks to conspiracy theorists who believe it is all one big machine making money over there.

Truckers are the most dangerous job one can expect to have, I have met many truckers who have been injured and returned, or injured and brought home for good, and KBR didn't abandon any of them. I no longer work for KBR but if there is one thing I do know they take care of people who get injured. They fly their families (large or small) to Houston, give them room and board, get them rushed passports and get them to Germany (usual stopping point) to be with their loved ones. Many of his problems were with his insurance company and that is something he could have made sure would not happen if he would have payed attention during processing.

I met Thomas Hamill before he went over, and I met him after he we was captured and then escaped and they treat all significantly injured employees the same way they did him. A lot of the people that go over don't want to pay the extra money per month (usually under $250.00) to completely cover them in case something goes wrong. This includes increased health benefits, increased life insurance and added insurance (think AFLAC).

Deciding to go over is a big step, but if you choose to do it cover all of your bases and pay attention to every detail they give you in processing. Orientation and presentations are boring, but those are the things that save your ass.

 

Completely wrong?

 

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/h-2.htm

The IT jobs are one of the best you can have, the pay is great too... H2 is an airbase west of Baghdad and is also one of the nicer places to be stationed at. You're away from the dangers of Baghdad and the security is tighter then your normal base. You may be living in housing (dorm like) or in a living container (like a work trailer with AC). You get a paid week of vacation every three months, they give you $800 on top of 40 hours paid for the week... the $800 is for a plane ticket which you can either come home, but most people go to Europe for the week because if you fly back and forth the the US it counts against your tax status and it also wastes most of your vacation in flight time.

The only real downsides to office jobs are the work hours, and being away from home for a year. The living conditions aren't the best (not much privacy), but you'll have AC, running water and plumbing so it's not the worst in the world either. However, it is a great way to get ahead though because the money you make is leaps and bounds more then you'd even make stateside and if you are out the the country 330 of the 365 days you're completely tax exempt for the year. It is a great thing to do for single/younger people because the experience shows strongly on a resume, because it takes real dedication to work non-stop for a year in a place like Iraq. It should be noted that a lot of the people that go to work for KBR in Iraq and Afghanistan are "re-signs" from previous projects like the Balkans.

If you do decide to go, when the process and orientation time is generally 4-25 days... all depending on the speed of your background check returning. You'll have everything you need done by your 4th day in orientation but if you live in a small town or had some run ins with the law then that slows down the process... however if you've lived in large cities your entire life and have never been in trouble you can easily get your background check back in a week and be gone by the end of the first week or start of the second week. During processing they give you a hotel room near Greenspoint Mall, the processing center and orientation takes place at the mall... they also serve three meals a day there. Even if you live in Houston make sure to request they give you a hotel room, you'll want to be as close as possible to take care of any missing paperwork or problems. Plus you'll have to be there at given times to go get your passport, then come back and sign in, and then go get your military ID and medical workups.

IT jobs are one of the easiest there because there aren't hundreds of problems a day with the few PCs that they have there. You will ONLY be working on contractor computers and hardware, all military hardware is worked on by the military. Now, there aren't hundreds of PCs at these locations, you'll be dealing with logistical workers, planners, hr personel and other office workers. There are a lot of jobs where you have to work your ass off but usually IT workers (and recreation workers) just watch DVDs and cruise the net all day. There will be hellish days where everything seems to go wrong, but you're in IT and you deal with that already anyway.

 

What's the pay range for computer Techs going out there and working on the base?

I was thinking about this too for a while and see if i would be worth it to go work there for a year.

 

I will like to explore this opportunity.

Can you send me a link (any helpful information) to how I can apply for this job. I do not mind taking off from school work to attempt this wild opportunity.

You can email me at mrfegwu@yahoo.com.

Thanks.

 

You aren't in danger of losing your life at H2 (especially as an IT worker), it's safe to say that no Halliburton contractors have lost their lives there. I don't work for the company anymore so I don't have access to the information first hand but the main people who are in danger are truck drivers because of convoy ambushes. I'd say you have about as much chance of dying in H2 as you did working and living in Houston. KBR has sent over 100,000 people overseas over the last 4 years and there have only been 35-40 casualties. That sounds like a lot, and it is but most of those were in the first 6 months and were truck drivers or other personnel killed on convoy ambushes or convoy accidents.

The loss of life has gone down tremendously. I don't have the exact figures, but your recruiter is required to tell you if you ask... they tell you anyway in orientation. They give you every chance to say no thanks while processing, and if you get over there and decide it's not for you you are free to come back at anytime, just know your orientation, processing and medical testing costs an average of $15,000 paid for by John Q Public. Obviously there are risks and you aren't 100% safe but the chances of being injured are slim and none... but I'd be lying if I said it wasn't possible.

As far as web links go, I have no clue about that... I imagine some people have blogged while over there but most workers don't have time considering you work 84 hours a week.

 

www.kbrjobs.com

 

Your pay depends on where you're stationed at. You get a couple of "uplifts" in pay for various reasons. 25% hazard pay, 15% out of country pay, etc. I'd say the average IT worker over there makes 125-150k a year (tax free remember)... and a lot of them make even more. If you work a job state-side that is 45-60k a year you can basically triple it over there in one year. Remember you are working 7 12s which is 84 hours a week. Now you aren't working that entire time, but you'll be ready to if needed. Like mentioned above, kids 18 years old with no experience can go over there and make 65k a year as a general laborer, laundy attendent or food service worker... that's a lot of money for a lot of people. The tax free thing is a huge plus too...

 

Thanks for the Info. I was thinking about doing it for a year and make some money and just come back you know. It would be a stretch it i did it but good to know all the info you gave me.

 

Yeah, it is very tempting... and the people that go always have even more respect for our service men and women when they come back. You're over there away from your family relatively safe while making a great living... meanwhile your military counterparts are getting shot at while making about 1/5th of what you are, and they can't come home if it sucks.

 

Yeah definently understandable. So all the jobs are like 1 year contracts and stuff? Or you basically stay there as long as you want?

 

i have one relative over there...and also one of my bro's buddies went back to Iraq to visit his mom and dad.....


they were giving out these jobs to anyone who would take em back a year ago...lots of jobs in Iraq...lots of oil


make sure you are stationed in the GREEN ZONE...very important.

if you are...then hey its safer than you back yard. The green zone is huge so you don't have to worry about walking around….. plus nobody is allowed in that zone other than military and authorized personnel.

 

You sign a one year contract, but you can come home whenever you want they can't force you to stay... but if you tell them off the bat "I'm only going for 3 months or 6 months" they won't give you the time of day. You can also stay longer then a year they always love it when people "re-up" afterwords... saves them from having to find a replacement and pay for their orientation, shipment and training.

 

All bases and air fields are considered green zones... and yes, it isn't difficult to get the job, if you are remotely qualified and want it they give you the benefit of the doubt... you interview over the phone and they fly you in when you're ready (don't fly Houstonians in obviously ). There are thousands of jobs over there that need to be filled, and KBR isn't the only contract holder. Worley Parsons has a huge contact over there as well, and some other smaller firms.