Getting back into overseas contracting

[KBScobravert]

Do what you gotta do, homie. Be safe!

Thanks bud. It's only 7 months.

[Roscoe]

Do what you gotta do, homie. Be safe!

[KBScobravert]

Good luck Keith, we all do what we have to do to make ends meet. Nothing wrong with taking care of your family and you seem to have a good family structure while your away. Stay safe broskie

It isn't like it will be a foreign experience for us. Just a little harder with my 4 yr old so attached to me now.

And I'm not going anywhere away from here. As long as out Internet package is good, I am sure I will be logged in everday.

[Rick Modena]

Good luck Keith, we all do what we have to do to make ends meet. Nothing wrong with taking care of your family and you seem to have a good family structure while your away. Stay safe broskie

[KBScobravert]

Of course they want to make you feel much better. You are about to go into a shit hole of a world with little defense.

I dunno what your job is, or what alternative positions are out there, but I would strongly consider taking less to stay alive.

My contact isn't like a recruiter or office guy. I've worked for him for a long time. He wouldn't send anyone unless the odds were in my favor. He flipped shit when I got hit with a IED (coinsidently enough 7 years ago yesterday) and was way more concerned with it than I was. He was my boss when we had a close call in kabul and the convoy behind us got hit by a VBIED that we just passed. It was genuine concern. Never got lip service from him and I trust his judgement.

I can't speak about what security we will have in place or who is doing it but we will be fine based on what I know from our conversation. That is what I used to do (and am trying to get back into) is evaluate base defense before putting employees in those sites.

[Gtracer]

Just do us a solid if you come across "clock boy" while you are there


You got this man, not your first rodeo but not something to take for granted so good to see a little apprehension.

[mstng86]

We talked about getting in and out of country and where the location is. I can't say much but I feel much better compared to initial report.

Of course they want to make you feel much better. You are about to go into a shit hole of a world with little defense.

I dunno what your job is, or what alternative positions are out there, but I would strongly consider taking less to stay alive.

[KBScobravert]

NOPE! after that report, gl though.

Just got of the phone with them. This deal may go down pretty quick. I need to renew my passport and he said make it fast.

We talked about getting in and out of country and where the location is. I can't say much but I feel much better compared to initial report.

Plus it was good to hear him say that "it will be good to have you back with us". Implications that more work to come and that as long as I don't dick this up, I will be taken care of.

[inline 6]

NOPE! after that report, gl though.

[KBScobravert]

One of my interns from my old shop goes to Kenya all the time to work on alternative energy projects. This kid couldn't kick his own ass so the place can't be that horrible.

One question that I would have to answer is how much money does it pay? I am sure it varies by assignment but does it pay well (say $150K annual equivalent) or is it fuck you money ($350K plus)?

The other thing you have to be doing is building your warchest when you take these jobs, instead of wasting money on useless shit (like cars lol!), build a fat ass bankroll that pays dividends or pay off your house. Or both.

It isn't fuck you money but on this 7 month I will make more than my full year in frac. Plus if I can manage it, I can claim the overseas earned income tax break. Essentially makes it all tax free.

I got caught off guard last August when I left and my war chest was depleted paying down stuff. I still left with a good chunk of change but failed to change my lifestyle. I took for granted how long it would take to get back to work and then when I did start the oilfield went to shit. Live and learn.

Goal number 1 is get debt back down to where it was last year before I left. Second goal is to pay down mortgage I'd not pay it off but that will take a couple years.

Kenya is much nicer than Somalia and Sudan but there is always a threat to westeners. But I will be confined to a space under guard more than likely behind several layers of armed security deep. Traveling will pose the greatest challenge.

[Broncojohnny]

One of my interns from my old shop goes to Kenya all the time to work on alternative energy projects. This kid couldn't kick his own ass so the place can't be that horrible.

One question that I would have to answer is how much money does it pay? I am sure it varies by assignment but does it pay well (say $150K annual equivalent) or is it fuck you money ($350K plus)?

The other thing you have to be doing is building your warchest when you take these jobs, instead of wasting money on useless shit (like cars lol!), build a fat ass bankroll that pays dividends or pay off your house. Or both.

[fastwhite99gt]

The last gig that I was asked if I would go on was to somewhere in Africa, doing MRAP work again, but the Army told our travel division boss that they weren't sure they could guarantee our safety on the convoys in and out. Our boss politely declined to send us until the Army had more forces in place. That gig and a contract rep in Afghanistan were the only two where we would have been issued M4's as a DOD civilian. Be interesting to see if you are going to be part of the security solution for the military.

[Jewrrick]

Lmao!

[cobrajet69]

I got an email from the companies open source intel annalist

No U.S. Consulate support; significant difficulty if detained for any reason
Ineffective police presence throughout the country. Rampant lawlessness, violent crime, gangs, clan and tribal violence, banditry and widespread looting;
Ongoing extreme terrorist attacks, abduction and extreme violent crime in all parts of the country including Somaliland

o 20140524; Al-Shabaab attack Somalia's parliament; 10 CIV KIA; 11 CIV WIA

o 20150327; Al-Shabaab attacks Central Hotel, Mogadishu; 20 CIV KIA

Frequent abductions of any identified western personnel including aid workers, journalists and religious representatives. Westerners abducted from Kenya often held in Somalia
Indiscriminate targeting and killing of Westerners and those working for western and international organizations throughout the country
Frequent Terrorist attacks in Mogadishu against identified foreigners;

o Mogadishu International Airport: HVT: 20151525; 3 AMISOM KIA; 1 CIV Ctr. KIA

Unpredictable, violent, demonstrations
Waterborne (a.k.a. pirates) attacks against all forms of shipping in and around Somalia's waters. Somali pirates operate over some 4 million square kilometers extending far beyond national waters. Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden remains critical threat areas
World Health Organization declared polio virus public health emergency of international concern and has issued recommendations (renewed in February 2015) that may affect travel to Somalia

Well that just looks insane.

Chicago?
I thought you were going to Somalia?



David

[helosailor]

I got an email from the companies open source intel annalist

No U.S. Consulate support; significant difficulty if detained for any reason
Ineffective police presence throughout the country. Rampant lawlessness, violent crime, gangs, clan and tribal violence, banditry and widespread looting;
Ongoing extreme terrorist attacks, abduction and extreme violent crime in all parts of the country including Somaliland

o 20140524; Al-Shabaab attack Somalia's parliament; 10 CIV KIA; 11 CIV WIA

o 20150327; Al-Shabaab attacks Central Hotel, Mogadishu; 20 CIV KIA

Frequent abductions of any identified western personnel including aid workers, journalists and religious representatives. Westerners abducted from Kenya often held in Somalia
Indiscriminate targeting and killing of Westerners and those working for western and international organizations throughout the country
Frequent Terrorist attacks in Mogadishu against identified foreigners;

o Mogadishu International Airport: HVT: 20151525; 3 AMISOM KIA; 1 CIV Ctr. KIA

Unpredictable, violent, demonstrations
Waterborne (a.k.a. pirates) attacks against all forms of shipping in and around Somalia's waters. Somali pirates operate over some 4 million square kilometers extending far beyond national waters. Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden remains critical threat areas
World Health Organization declared polio virus public health emergency of international concern and has issued recommendations (renewed in February 2015) that may affect travel to Somalia

Well that just looks insane.

Will popsicles be available? Because if they are, that'll just be a good time.

Seriously though, this sounds like a grade A shitstorm. I'm not sure I'd even consider it unless 24/7 battle rattle was an option.