IT Job in Afgan

ironman682

Hell Felles, I got an IT/Networking job in Afghanistan for a year pay good, please has anyone been there as a CONTRACTOR working for the military or IT/Networking can you give me some insight.

Also if anyone interested you can let me know and will send you contacts.

cyberguypr

What kind of work? I have a friend over there doing microwave and satellite setups.

veritas_libertas

LOL, send me a PM and ask away. I haven't been there but I talk/IM remotely with my coworkers in Afghan all the time.

ironman682

Man !!! I said earlier IT/Networking, well it is satelite communication copy, and will be config. setup networks, routers/switches (cisco) ghosting, wireless/wired networks (It says help desk but it looks more of system admin. What is the name of the company you friend is working for and how long.

This company has a NOC Center in Kileen Tx. monitoring their satellites and network over there so any problem we will have to troubleshoot, install, config. setup.

cyberguypr wrote: »

What kind of work? I have a friend over there doing microwave and satellite setups.

ironman682

Yes it is a satelite company

instant000

ironman682 wrote: »

Hell Felles, I got an IT/Networking job in Afghanistan for a year pay good, please has anyone been there as a CONTRACTOR working for the military or IT/Networking can you give me some insight.

Also if anyone interested you can let me know and will send you contacts.

They offered me $160,000 to basically be a low-level sys admin, and my fiancee said no, so I'm still in the U.S.

As far as being a contractor working for the military or IT/Networking, I can give this insight:

-- The military is "structured." For the most part, you have to do things within guidelines. Things are too serious to be cowboys. I mean, come on, a quantum leap between setting up some Joe Blow for Hughes Net, versus getting the uplink so the CO can get the SITREP across SIPR. Things are a *little* more important.

-- You will get sick when you get over there, happens to everyone. Just be ready for it.

-- Servicemembers will love you if you're helping their network connections. Expect to be appreciated everywhere you go.

-- If you get a similar role like some contractors had while I was a servicemember in IRAQ, you get to travel all around the country helping them out. If you're not doing set-ups, you're at a minimum doing health-checks on their network setups.

-- Firearms. Get some firearms training if you can. You don't want to be a liability. Make sure you get the correct policy on if you're allowed to engage or not.

-- Armor. Your issued armor may or may not be sufficient. Be prepared to get a little extra if needed.

-- Snacks. There will be a lot of U.S. food and snacks available (at the bases). You need to pack your own POG bait for when you go on trips. However, the experience has been that they tend to 'go fast'. You can often mail order stuff (or even better, have people back home send it to you).

--Mail. Sometimes mail is quick. Sometimes mail is slow. Can't be helped. Everyone is good friends with the mail person. Be careful to not have any contraband shipped to you (or try to ship any out), as it could get you in trouble.

Not too sure on your role yet, but hope these tips help.

eansdad

I'll go, had a few friends that went a few years ago and I wish I had gone then.

Everyone

My 1st job after leaving the Active Duty Air Force was replacing a guy that went to Afganistan to work. His wife was from the Philipines, so he sent her back there to live dirt cheap with her family while he went and made a ton of money tax free. I'm sure he's probabily retired and living it up in the Philpines by now.

I was tempted to do it many times myself, however my wife wouldn't have it. She hates it when I go away for just a couple weeks for an Air National Guard deployment. I always say if I was single with no kids, I'd be all over a job like that for a couple years.

Only thing is your typically work at least 6 days a week, and 12 hour days. So that $160k/yr is only just shy of $43/hr.

colemic

Everyone wrote: »

Only thing is your typically work at least 6 days a week, and 12 hour days. So that $160k/yr is only just shy of $43/hr.

...but there's no wal-mart... no malls... no car payments... no rent payments... it adds up to a heckuva lot more when you look at what you are NOT spending. I was in AFG in Afghanistan. Stayed there until I went back to school in Scotland, and while that was a blast as well, i regret not staying. I could probably have retired forever if I had toughed it out for 4-5 years.

Everyone

colemic wrote: »

...but there's no wal-mart... no malls... no car payments... no rent payments... it adds up to a heckuva lot more when you look at what you are NOT spending. I was in AFG in Afghanistan. Stayed there until I went back to school in Scotland, and while that was a blast as well, i regret not staying. I could probably have retired forever if I had toughed it out for 4-5 years.

Again, if you're single and don't have kids. If you're married your wife still has all that stuff back home and is still spending your money, lol.

LoMo

I would definitely be interested in something like this.

colemic

Everyone wrote: »

Again, if you're single and don't have kids. If you're married your wife still has all that stuff back home and is still spending your money, lol.

Touche.

eansdad

It's called a separate bank account. $160k would be 4x my salary so splitting half to the joint account and half to my personal would net me a lot of money.

kiki162

Did anyone add that it's TAX FREE!

veritas_libertas

kiki162 wrote: »

Did anyone add that it's TAX FREE!

If you stay for at least a year. One thing I advise is to work closely with your tax accountant.

eansdad

I believe the first $75k is tax free.

rwmidl

I believe you have to be out of country (US) for 330 days for it to qualify as tax free. I'd really suggest you talk to an accountant and get your affairs in order before you deploy.

Also, is your medical covered while you are overseas? Also if you have a life insurance policy going to a war zone may void it, so talk to your insurance agent. If you don't have one, it might be worthwhile looking in to getting one.

Be really careful with your finances. In talking with some people who have been over, it is so easy to have NewEgg/Amazon send you something, that people quickly order a bunch of toys and are broke by the time their year is up.

Best of luck and stay safe!

colemic

Agree, definitely talk to an accountant... the tax free limit is now up into the 90K area now, I believe. Goes up a little every year.

the_Grinch

Where would I find job postings for Iraq/Afghanistan?

Killermac

You can look here:
This is Jacobs corp
https://www.cytiva.com/jacobs/ext/cojobs.asp?Sortedby=State&Query=Desc&UseCust=True&Category=24&Location=&States=&JobsID=&DaysBack=&Keyword=&Req=&PostalCode=&DistanceUnit=&SearchRadius=&appid=

You can also see:
Lockheed Martin http://www.lockheedmartinjobs.com
Boeing http://jobs-boeing.com/
Raytheon http://www.rayjobs.com/
SAIC
General Dynamics General Dynamics Careers
ClearanceJobs http://www.clearancejobs.com

thetrillionaire

160K is an ok offer depending on the situation that your are in, are you working 7 days a week 12 hours a day? Or 10 hours a day 6 days a week? There a many different schedules you can have over there. Also what province will you be in some are more dangerous than other. WIll you be a mobile asset that travels to different FOB's (Forward Operating Bases)? . Some you many sleep in a HOTT ASS TENT others Conex Boxes(Think Shipping Containers) or you could be a wet hut which is a modular building.

Im pretty sure since this is your first hostile deployment experience you were low-balled think about this if you work 12 hours a day 7 days a week that's 3960 hours of work for the 330 days you would be over there that only equal about 40 bucks and hour....Think about it....

I got an offer similar when I first separated from the military but had a buddy who was a little contract savy steer me in another direction. I have since been over there twice for no less than 230K

geeksquad09

thetrillionaire wrote: »

160K is an ok offer depending on the situation that your are in, are you working 7 days a week 12 hours a day? Or 10 hours a day 6 days a week? There a many different schedules you can have over there. Also what province will you be in some are more dangerous than other. WIll you be a mobile asset that travels to different FOB's (Forward Operating Bases)? . Some you many sleep in a HOTT ASS TENT others Conex Boxes(Think Shipping Containers) or you could be a wet hut which is a modular building.

Im pretty sure since this is your first hostile deployment experience you were low-balled think about this if you work 12 hours a day 7 days a week that's 3960 hours of work for the 330 days you would be over there that only equal about 40 bucks and hour....Think about it....

I got an offer similar when I first separated from the military but had a buddy who was a little contract savy steer me in another direction. I have since been over there twice for no less than 230K

I feel really dumb for asking this but............" Can we get jobs in Afganistan and whatnot without being Enlisted in the U.S Army"

Priston

geeksquad09 wrote: »

I feel really dumb for asking this but............" Can we get jobs in Afganistan and whatnot without being Enlisted in the U.S Army"

Yes, government contract jobs

powerfool

I have seen IT contractors get the equivalent of up to $400k/year for these deployments, but for six month stints.

Everyone

powerfool wrote: »

I have seen IT contractors get the equivalent of up to $400k/year for these deployments, but for six month stints.

I heard that a lot too when I was still on Active Duty and couldn't take any of them anyway, $400k-$500k range, but that was early in the war, and when things were still super hot over there. As the years have gone by, it seems the pay for those jobs has dropped quite a bit.

thetrillionaire

Yes there are many contract jobs over there....90% of the it work is done by contractors.....but u almost always have to have a clearance the higher the clearance the better the pay.

Th most I actually knew some got was 320 but I am sure more was
available....

geeksquad09

thetrillionaire wrote: »

Yes there are many contract jobs over there....90% of the it work is done by contractors.....but u almost always have to have a clearance the higher the clearance the better the pay.

Th most I actually knew some got was 320 but I am sure more was
available....

What do i go about getting clearance. I wouldnt mind governement contract work

colemic

geeksquad09 wrote: »

What do i go about getting clearance. I wouldnt mind governement contract work

Mine came out to 240 but I only stayed 8 months... Salaries across the board have dropped dramatically the last couple of years as things wind down in Iraq and spin up in Afghanistan, the funding is just not there anymore. I think the only ones that haven't dropped that much are IA and anything related to DIACAP.

geeksquad09

colemic wrote: »

Mine came out to 240 but I only stayed 8 months... Salaries across the board have dropped dramatically the last couple of years as things wind down in Iraq and spin up in Afghanistan, the funding is just not there anymore. I think the only ones that haven't dropped that much are IA and anything related to DIACAP.

OK im not familiar with IA or DIACAP. Maybe i was looking at the salaries wrong but do people get paid 180k just for doing Government I.T work Over Seas, or am i mistaken.

afcyung

You only make that kinda money if you are on contract work in a deployed area, and the work is usually a long time deployed Year +. I wouldnt expect that type of money to be available much longer.

geeksquad09

afcyung wrote: »

You only make that kinda money if you are on contract work in a deployed area, and the work is usually a long time deployed Year +. I wouldnt expect that type of money to be available much longer.

Ill probably wait till a year or too after i get my degree to get my Clearance.