Ok kids,
so I just heard from a friend that his friend is leaving for Iraq next week to help rebuild with a company that has that contract through the US government. His friend is going to make 85grand in the year that he is there doing the same thing he does here, painting and drywall.

Anyone done this or have friends that have? I seem to run into deadends and long waits when I apply with companies like KBR.

I don't personally know anyone who's done it, but Jake (my Jake :blink: ) worked as a contractor on a military base and there was always job postings floating and *other* people going. Most of the people there talked about how great it would be, knowing full well their spouses wouldn't let them go. :lame:

So, I'd start looking at military employment websites or contact the base closest to you.

i suppose that would be a start!

In class last year we watched a movie on contractors rebuilding Iraq... and them getting burned and hung from bridges (I think it only has happened to four people). Whatever you do man, be careful. I really don't think some areas are as under control as they tell us. According to this documentary (i forget the name of it) you can easily make upwards of $100,000 if you are willing to work private sector security for U.S. and U.K. companies there. If you are having trouble with US companies try UK companies because I believe they also hire americans.

On the subject of Iraq I have a couple of blunt political statements:
Support our troops (bring them home)
KBR is evil
The Bush administration is either completely ignorant or just evil (I hope it's the first)
and for the love god, allah, vishnu, zeus or whatever please stop our gov't from using preemptive strike on Iran.

I second the above. It is seriously, SERIOUSLY dangerous there. There is a reason it pays so damn much.

I met this Danish guy in Shanghai who spent a year in Iraq and he said that while the money he could`ve made in the private sector there would`ve been awesome, he thought long and hard about it and decided it just isn`t worth it, and went home.

Jake, take the job at the summer camp. My husband's had the dubious pleasure of being in the region...not on a contractor's salary, though! If you think you want a contract job, apply for one cleaning the aircraft at Luke. Seriously.

:tumbleweed:

The other aspect, although I don't have concrete information, is that they pay your way there - but if you decide to leave your job for any reason before they want you to, then you'll be paying your way out of Iraq. When you consider the costs for a security detail (which you'd almost definitely want), and flights, there goes the boatload of money you just made!

all of this may be true....