I am seriously considering going to Iraq!

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gunfan

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As a Security Officer to escort convoys. At $100,000.00 (tax-free) this could arrange to have me prepare to attend Law School at the University of Montana in Missoula.

I need to take at least $10,000.00 to move Shelley and I to Missoula. I believe that I can handle myself "in country". Its a "leg up" on the situation. I'll be hoping that the company will issue me a .45 ACP and an AK-47 (at the very least). While I don't fear death, (I've seen my own children die in my arms, and have awakened next to my dead wife) I am concerned with the time that I'll be spending away from Shelley.

Any suggestions/ideas/comments?

Scott
 
Do you have military or combat experience or training? That is a lot of money, but American "contractors" are targets over there from what I've heard.
And a good, healthy fear of death can be an advantage when you're trying to stay alive...:cool:
 
How about getting the money back into the country? Or is it paid to you tax free in the united states? Hint: bend over.

It is probably going to be an easy 100k, but you only have to die once for it to be a crappy job. Your awareness and skill with weapons wont protect you against an IED or a sniper. Dont come crying to us if your number gets called.

edit: and I hope you speak arabic.
 
Gunfan,

Don't know you, but a couple questions come to mind. Military or law enforcement experience? Also have you traveled internationally every before? Any time overseas? Do you have any Arabic friends or exposure to their culture?

Also what of health, long term disability benefits? If you are maimed, it will be very expensive for your whole life possibly.

Also you wrote of your child and wife. That was tough to read that you went through that. You must be quite a person to have gone through that. Blessings to you.
 
Best of luck. I considered going over as a contractor when I seperated from the Army this summer, but decided against it. Stay safe.
 
R U NUTZ?!

Just got back from there and also Afghanistan...as a soldier. Don't let KBR, Mantech or the barrage of other contractors reel you in. They won't give you a gun, but you will have a few "Weekend Warriors" protecting you. If you do decide to go don't let one of those privates or corporals know how much you make, they may not jump in front of a bullet or dive on a landmine for you ;>)
 
By the way, I'm sorry for appearing harsh or callous, but you will essentially be assigned to a soft target at all times. The likelihood of you being attacked is probably much higher than that of an actual combat unit. Not that I think you wont see combat, but I think the enemy will be bringing the fight to you by surprise, not the other way around.

If you do decide to go, dont skimp on the body armor and be careful.

Pay for law school with loans my friend. It takes longer, but you dont die from it.
 
My only suggestion.

If you do get ambushed, and find yourself shooting it out, save the last round in the chamber for yourself. An IED or snpier bullet would seem tame compared to getting your head slowly sawed off by rusty, dull machete.

Best of luck.
 
beerslurpy said:
Pay for law school with loans my friend. It takes longer, but you dont die from it.
Click to expand...

I definitely agree with that. $100K is a lot of money but you have even more to live for over here.
 
First off, if you don't have military combat arms experience or police tactical unit experience, you're probably not going to be hired as a trigger puller. Another member here, Nightcrawler parleyed his National Guard Combat Engineer experience into a gig in theater but not in Iraq. IIRC it was a static guard post on a facility. You might look at some of his posts on his experience over there.

The money isn't totally tax free, you still have to pay FICA tax and you have to remain out of the country for your tour in order to keep the tax free status. At least thats what I was told when I was approached about one of the jobs a year ago.

Jeff
 
Probably safter than a night shift at 7-11 - go for it. Get the best body armor and make sure you always have it on.
 
you won't need 100k from the inside of a casket

get a loan out, go to school
 
Have you seen any of these videos posted on here lately, alot of them are contractor getting ambushed or getting their convoys blown to bits by IED's?

I'd rather go work on one of those crap boats for a season or two and make the money then go to Iraq where everyone and their brother would like to put a bullett in your head!
 
Only about 84K is tax free and only if you stay overseas for 330 consecutive days. Guys, convoy escort means trigger puller, not unarmed "KBR." Yes, you'll be a target, but hey who isn't over there? The military and Iraqi civilians still get shot up more (a lot more) than contractors.

100K sounds a little "light" for convoy escort duty. Shoot for at least 10K per month. Make sure you know the details of your contract, every company is different. Some just pay X dollars every month like a salary. Some pay a huge hourly rate but only when you're on the road. Some provide gear no charge, some charge for it. Some have benefits, some don't.

You can't judge a company by someone else's experience either. Every contract is different and all companies have good people and good contracts/jobs as well as bad. If you were in the military...well the contractor mindset is different. Your job is to protect your client (or his stuff) not your buddies or achieve a "mission". You are a well paid expendable asset. Not a bad thing, just business. These companies try to take care of folks, but the job comes first and if you don't like it you can quit. In the military you can't quit, so morale is more important.

I spent 5 months over there as a security contrator and it was the best job and experience I've ever had. I'd stay longer and/or go back, but it's hard with a family. A lot of those guys are single and stay for a year, then get on 3 or 6 month rotations.
 
I wouldn't advise doing anything just for the money. In my case, the money was a bonus. No, I wouldn't have gone for free, or even half...but I would have gone for a lot less. I wanted the experience both professionally and personally. If the only, or even main, reason is just to pay for school...:uhoh: Only you can make the best decision for you and yours, good luck with whatever you decide.
 
strambo said:
I wouldn't advise doing anything just for the money. In my case, the money was a bonus. No, I wouldn't have gone for free, or even half...but I would have gone for a lot less. I wanted the experience both professionally and personally. If the only, or even main, reason is just to pay for school...:uhoh: Only you can make the best decision for you and yours, good luck with whatever you decide.
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Why would you go for any reason other than money, if I might ask?

Are you going to be a body guard by trade here in the states?

Seems like an awful risk to put one's self in for "the experience."

And I'm not trying to sound insulting, just very curious.
 
Seems like an awful risk to put one's self in for "the experience."
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Seems like an awful risk just for some green pieces of paper too. That's what I meant by that, I think for this kinda thing there has to be more than just money as a motivator. Kinda like folks who only join the military for the college $$. They sure aren't happy campers when it comes time to deploy.

No insult taken Strike...yeah, considered trying to get into the Executive Protection field in the States and have some training in it. It is a very hard field to get into. I was also active duty combat arms and still in the Guard. I wasn't deployed in the WOT for the military, so there was a sense of duty for me as well. The rest can't be explained easily...I just feel that I was suited for it and protecting civilian construction contractors over there building the country would be a meaningful job.

I learned also that the money has to be high. Folks are voluntarily taking lots of risk and leaving their families for a job with little support and a questionable future. I mean would you quit a great career for 1 year of good pay? Most people probably can't get a leave of absence.

Ironically, I'm headed to Afghanistan for a year with the Guard soon. Less pay and a lot longer time away, but I haven't served a tour for Uncle Sam yet and I volunteered. Again, it's not for the money (cause it's a lot less) but the money will still be pretty good and I'm hoping the experience better. If not, well that's why they call it "serving your country" I guess.
 
Ladies and Gentlemen, these are fair questions.

I have served in the military (U.S. Navy) and have extensive security training. I have qualified with the semiautomatic handgun and revolver (several times) and have remained in the top 20% of my security teams. I have had training in crime scene preservation, bomb detection (for Federal installations) and inspecting electronic devices at entry checkpoints while operating a Magnetometer and metal detection wands. I have also worked over 10 hours at a time at cold, dreary posts.

I intend to take Graduate Level Student Loans. (In the end, I will owe over $200,000.00). In the long run, It should be worth it. I'll always "cover my six" to go back to my Shelley. I have outlived four children and have been married five times. (My fourth wife died from diabetic complications). BTW, nothing in this life surprises me.

In college, one of my beloved Sociology professors was from Baghdad. (I mourned the loss of his mother).

Yes, I have "been there... done that".

Scott
 
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Boogyman said:
Do you have military or combat experience or training? That is a lot of money, but American "contractors" are targets over there from what I've heard.
And a good, healthy fear of death can be an advantage when you're trying to stay alive...:cool:
Click to expand...

that they are, and my experience with the american security contractors was that they were typically rather arrogant and used APPALLING tactics when they got contact. a bad combination over there. so watch who you sign up with....do some serious research on the company.
 
carlrodd said:
that they are, and my experience with the american security contractors was that they were typically rather arrogant and used APPALLING tactics when they got contact. a bad combination over there. so watch who you sign up with....do some serious research on the company.
Click to expand...

All I want to do is guard my principle and cover my back. If I can get by with doing just so, I may just sign with the company that knows how to perform its job well.

As you stated, I must perform an extensive amount of research.

Scott
 
Don't do it, Gunfan!!

There's more to life than making money.
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+1.

Such as:
Being alive instead of dead.
Having two legs.
Having two arms.
Having two eyes.
Being there for your family.
Not having your head sawed off by a bunch of psycho Islamic thugs.

Listen to the guy who said:
Just got back from there and also Afghanistan...as a soldier. Don't let KBR, Mantech or the barrage of other contractors reel you in. They won't give you a gun, but you will have a few "Weekend Warriors" protecting you. If you do decide to go don't let one of those privates or corporals know how much you make, they may not jump in front of a bullet or dive on a landmine for you
Click to expand...

Go jump neck deep in a war with no gun??? N.F. way - not for $100,000 a month, let alone $10,000. Hey, even "Uncle Sugar" gives the troops guns!!

Your family needs you. There are many ways to pay for law school and still be here for your family - they need you more than you can imagine.

Think about it, my friend.
 
I'd see if I couldn't negotiate the money a little. As noted above, it seems a little light. A good buddy of mine just turned down $16K per month to go there.
 
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