Company may be sending me over to Haiti

Well my boss asked me if I wanted to go to Haiti. I was a little surprised, I knew we were going to be sending some engineers down to survey the damage and figure out what had to be demoed. Looks like I may be heading down to provide IT support to our personnel. There are some nice benefits to the whole thing, being brought on as full employee (I am contract), 60% uplift for the three months I will be there, and of course benefits.

I have to decide in the next few days, and my wife thinks this could be very beneficial for us.

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Comments

broc

Not to mention the "feel good" factor of going there to help people getting back on their feet.

Good for you, I hope it works out!

dynamik

I think it would be a very valuable opportunity regardless of how you personally benefit. That's some life-changing stuff right there. I'd go if I had the means and opportunity.

impelse

It's not so easy. I survived two earthquake in my country and the conditions of the country after this situation is not good.

Sometimes you get power sometimes not, the security is another issue and there are sickness everywhere.

I know that you go there to work and not like a turist but after you are there one week you will see.

veritas_libertas

impelse wrote: »

Sometimes you get power sometimes not, the security is another issue and there are sickness everywhere.

I know that you go there to work and not like a turist but after you are there one week you will see.

My company is a government contractor group so I would be stationed on a military base. I doubt I will see much of the outside world. I have nothing against helping, I have been active with R.A.C.E.S. and A.R.E.S. for years now.

My boss is unsure when we will be deployed to go over.

veritas_libertas

impelse wrote: »

It's not so easy. I survived two earthquake in my country and the conditions of the country after this situation is not good.

Sometimes you get power sometimes not, the security is another issue and there are sickness everywhere.

I know that you go there to work and not like a turist but after you are there one week you will see.

I am sure the military will have this under control. I am going to go with my eyes VERY wide open though.

veritas_libertas

dynamik wrote: »

I think it would be a very valuable opportunity regardless of how you personally benefit. That's some life-changing stuff right there. I'd go if I had the means and opportunity.

Yeah, watching the pictures alone really grieves the soul. I can't imagine what it will be like in person

RouteThisWay

veritas_libertas wrote: »

My company is a government contractor group so I would be stationed on a military base. I doubt I will see much of the outside world. I have nothing against helping, I have been active with R.A.C.E.S. and A.R.E.S. for years now.

My boss is unsure when we will be deployed to go over.

You guys hiring?

veritas_libertas

RouteThisWay wrote: »

You guys hiring?

If you are interested PM me I can send you more info. We work literally on every part of the globe. Right now the majority of the work is Afghanistan, and Iraq.

Mrock4

I'm not entirely sure I'd be too hopeful on any permanent facilities that the military has in place on Haiti...

We have been dealing with some of the issues in Haiti, and it is spotty at best as far as infrastructure goes, even for the personnel that are there to help.

Firemarshalbill.com

Go, I have been in some pretty bad stuff it gives you a different perspective on life

- and be safe.
Best of luck

veritas_libertas

Well, looks like I am definitely going to be heading to Haiti. I am now both excited, and little scared. I have never been overseas, and have certainly never been in the middle of a disaster.

UnixGuy

Go, It will be a beneficial personal experience for you

networker050184

Good luck! I'm sure it won't be bad over there. Uncomfortable maybe, but I think you can handle it. Try to bring us back some pictures!

RouteThisWay

PM sent

Good luck man

veritas_libertas

networker050184 wrote: »

Good luck! I'm sure it won't be bad over there. Uncomfortable maybe, but I think you can handle it. Try to bring us back some pictures!

You got it!

I figure it can't be near as bad as when some of my coworkers went to Afghanistan.

Hyper-Me

they letting you bring your wife?

dynamik

Hyper-Me wrote: »

they letting you bring your wife?

You make that sound like a privilege

Hyper-Me

dynamik wrote: »

You make that sound like a privilege

Gotta keep an eye on her so she doesnt take all your stuff while your gone!

veritas_libertas

Hyper-Me wrote: »

Gotta keep an eye on her so she doesnt take all your stuff while your gone!

On a serious note a person I know was pulling some fast moves behind his wife while he was out of the country. She found out and withdrew all the money he was making and left town

veritas_libertas

Hyper-Me wrote: »

they letting you bring your wife?

I don't think she would want to do the Alaska tent thing. We figure on 200 personnel being sent down to Haiti, and they fill those tents to the brim. If it were somewhere else that is not in the middle of a national disaster I would have wanted her to come.

Military | Products | Alaska Structures

L0gicB0mb508

This will definitely be an eye opener. If they issue you meds to combat illnesses from water in insects, make sure you take them. Stay where ever they put you. I know some people may want to wander off, yeah don't.

The experience will change your life. You are doing a feel good mission, and the money is nice. Just watch yourself and watch out for those around you when you can.

hustlin_moe20

veritas_libertas wrote: »

You got it! I figure it can't be near as bad as when some of my coworkers went to Afghanistan.

I'm currently in Afghan and have also worked in Iraq and Kuwait. Afghan isn't as bad as people say it is. I also work for a Government contractor. Veritas, I sent you a PM about Haiti.

Mrock4

hustlin_moe20 wrote: »

I'm currently in Afghan and have also worked in Iraq and Kuwait. Afghan isn't as bad as people say it is. I also work for a Government contractor. Veritas, I sent you a PM about Haiti.

+1...depends on where you go, but those places really aren't as horrible as you imagine. At this moment, due to the established infrastructure, I think I'd rather go to the middle east than Haiti.

unsupported

Forgive me if this was asked or mentioned, but how long would you expected to be there? I can see this as benefitial all around. A good personal experience and a great professional experience. Also, being that you are doing IT support, you will be everyone's friend.

Getting favors for extra time on the internet, plus you can be connected 24/7.

If you do go, maybe the board can do something nice like making a care package for the troops, or a donation in the forums name? Just throwing that out there...

cbigbrick

Keep a journal if you can.

veritas_libertas

unsupported wrote: »

Forgive me if this was asked or mentioned, but how long would you expected to be there? I can see this as benefitial all around. A good personal experience and a great professional experience. Also, being that you are doing IT support, you will be everyone's friend. Getting favors for extra time on the internet, plus you can be connected 24/7.

If you do go, maybe the board can do something nice like making a care package for the troops, or a donation in the forums name? Just throwing that out there...

I am going to be there for three months. Not sure when I will be leaving yet, it originally was going to be two weeks from now. Now it looks more like the last week of February, or the first week of March. I promise I will keep you guys updated.

A care package is a really neat ideaa. I am not sure what we would have to do as far as dealing with TSA/Airplane Regulations.

veritas_libertas

Just got a call from the HR recruitment person and just about fell out of my chair by the job offer. I literally asked him to repeat the amount for me. I was hoping for a raise moving from staffing to the actual company but it was much more than I was hoping for

dynamik

Congratulations!

hustlin_moe20

veritas_libertas wrote: »

Just got a call from the HR recruitment person and just about fell out of my chair by the job offer. I literally asked him to repeat the amount for me. I was hoping for a raise moving from staffing to the actual company but it was much more than I was hoping for

Hence the reason I've been outside the U.S. for 3 years. The more dangerous the place, the higher the uplift. I'm at 70% uplift right now (Afghan). Haiti is 60%, Iraq 70%, Kuwait 20%. I suggest to anyone that's wants to get ahead in life to do a year or two over here, collect the tax free money, pay off your nice new big houses, and invest the rest. Well at least that's my plan lol. Plan 80% complete.

veritas_libertas

Thanks for the congratulations guys

I have decided to pursue the A+ (required for WGU) and RFID+ while I am in Haiti. The A+ is rather boring to me, and the RFID+ is very interesting to me from a wireless security standpoint. Hopefully I can easily knock them off when I get back.