160+ new jobs in Iraq

All,
Just got the word that the place I work for is hiring a bunch of bodies for work over here.

There are a few schools of thought.

The memo announcing this said three new sites are being put togther. That might be true.

or

The company is geting ready to deal with the guys that have done their year and don't want to come back.

or

These new hires will be brought on board for a lower rate, and they can put us high rate guys out of work.

I won't pretend the mid east is safe or a lot of fun. Im still twitching from being close to a mortar impact.

None of these jobs allow us to be 'armed'.
Do not expect "Welcome to Iraq, here is your AK" It ain't happening.

I don't know what the slots are paying.
You should be able to qualify for a security clearence.

Here is a list of the needed talents.

SL-100 techs
That's a fancy phone switch. Similar to DMS 100.

SL-100 switchboard operators
Someone who knows how to operate and maintain the above switch.

Billing Clerks
Can't imagine that being too tough or dangerous.

Sys admins,
Net admins,
These are internet kind of jobs. Keep in mind the Army runs two nets. One for classified traffic, and the other for more standard stuff.

Tech Controllers
These guys are 'general experts' with a experience in exotic data multiplexing.

OSP personnel.
That's company speak for Outside Plant. Aka Wire dogs. People that can wire up buildings for CAT 5 and POTS (Plain Old Fashoned Telephone Service).

What was not mentioned in the memo that I know has been a long term problem for finding were more guys like me in the Satcom line.

If your thinking of work here. Remember it's an experience of a life time. It's not exactly safe. There are many ways to get messed up, and not all of them involve hostile events.

Think about things that I have posted.

You don't get your pick of assignments.

If your still interested, use the e mail at [email protected] I will get back to you.

If you want me to call, send me back a phone number. Just remember that phone calls from here take some doing, geting a phone call out of a war zone. Unless you have a DSN phone, you can't call here.

Keep in mind it's three sat hops and the delay is very long. I have called home, and hear the phone pick up, someone say "hi" a pause then get hung up on before my words cross the pond. Very annoying. So if you asked me to call, don't assume im a crank caller from 7k miles away please.

Remember that Iraq is at GMT+3, so when it's 06:00 here is about 22:00 East Coast. Time zones can be such a *****.

Be well all.
Jack Crow in Iraq

Wouldn't expect or want an AK. BUT I would at least want my AR nearby and my KelTec with me at all times!

I'm tempted to apply with one of the private security companies doing the same job I'm doing now, but for 2-3 (or more) times the pay. Of course that would mean coming back, and my wife wouldn't be too happy about that. If I were single, I'd jump all over it.
Those times zones are a PITA. DST made things even worse, especially if you have any family/friends in whichever state doesn't use it, and you have friends/family in more than one time zone. It's also hot, dusty, tons of flies, mosquitoes, ants, feral dogs and cats, and generally a not very nice place. The only reasons for coming here as a civillian are to help out the Iraqis build a new life for themselves, and let's be honest, the money. I guess the adventure, and thrill of being in a war zone, but as Jack can tell you, the first time s shot up vehicle comes zooming through your gate (my experience), or a mortor round lands near you, that thrill wears off pretty damn quick. Not to mention when you find out about people you know getting killed or wounded. Mail is kind of iffy sometimes. You might not get anything for a couple of weeks then get tons of stuff all at once. I've had in the same shipment, packages that were sent 4 days earlier, and one that was from a couple weeks earlier. If the military handls it though, you will get it at some point.
It's not all dangerous though. Not too much more than driving I don't think. 40k a year from traffic accidents, but that is from a larger pool of people. Probably more discomfort and lacking in amenities than actual danger in many areas. Especially for the support type stuff. The security gus are probably in more volatile areas, and with the blend of militia and terrorist, there really is no "safe" areas anymore. Even in Kuwait and Saudi, the threat is actually real. Kuwait is cool though, they wanted us to be armed whenever we left the camps (we used them as staging areas basically), and gave police escorts whenever we had a convoy. That is a place that you risk your life antyime you drive, and I've heard that Saudi is even worse.

U,
The Kuwaitis drive like people from New Jersey.

Ive been thinking of a sign to hang on the trucks to keep them from being taken.

You know how there are universal signs for "corrosives", and "explosives", how about a little dimond panel for "Bacon", or "Pork" products on board.

Ever notice how the TCN's handle breakfast meats? Plastic gloves, and stainless tongs at arms reach. Is it radioactive?


Later dude
Jack Crow with Poor attitude.

[ QUOTE ]
Jack_Crow said:
U,
The Kuwaitis drive like people from New Jersey....

[/ QUOTE ]

Hmmm. I just spent 6 years living in upstate NY. It was VERY obvious that people from NJ drive like crap. I had assumed it was because they were traveling long distances to get to the mountains, and didn't know the area. I didn't know they had a general reputation for being lowsy drivers, although I can personally attest to it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Get a side business going selling hot-dogs from the trucks. That'll keep them at a distance and you can make some side money too...

Of course you'll have to fill mortar rounds with pork rinds to deal with snipers.


Hey post or PM if the parts ever get there.


Keep your head down.

14C,
I think I sent you an e mail and a MP on the subject.

Yes the parts arrived and came in handy. Along with a bunch of other goodies that were well accecpted. A good chunk of it went to the Chaplin's office for distribution to the troops.

Let me check the MP sent file and resend again.

Many thanks
Mike aka Jack Crow in Iraq

Jack, I never got any messages or email, sorry.

Glad to hear the package got there.

New Today
Just got word back one of the guys who contacted me after my inital post was hired for a fairly good rate. Anybody else need a job, slots are still open, the danger is real.

Send me a private message here or
[email protected]

Hope all is well
Jack Crow aka Radio Mike in Iraq

I can't believe the number of people working for some of the contract security companies for less than eleven dollars an hour. Yeah, it's in mostly safer areas than Bagdad, you get a car, a place to live and it's tax free, but still. I'm not working for only $9.50 as a guard, or $10.50 as a supervisor, even in the smaller countries that nobody knows about. As I said, I was tempted by companies like Blackwater, who I think has the highest pay. But then they are doing things like guarding Paul Bremer, and are in the thick of it a lot.
I think that most of the civillians we have here are being payed pretty good though. Less now than a year ago, but there still are a good number. Of course, I'm seeing a lot more vests being worn and carried, especially by the ones who have to commute from a different compound. That's kind of a sobering thought right there. The need for body armor in an area that we didn't even consider a combat zone.
Not to mention all the TCN's. I think it depends on which country the TCN's are from, the ones here are I think mostly from Pakistan and are less adverse to the pork, and one seems to like American music videos of the Britney Spears, Christina Aquilerra type.