Overseas Network/IT jobs (Iraq,Afghan)

I'll be graduating in Dec with a B.S. in MIS and wanted to do something different. I'm looking for overseas IT work preferably in networking. Does anyone know of good sites to apply for these positions? I already applied to KBR's open positions for Middle Eastern network techs. I know some of you guys on here are working in country or have worked there before.

A little background
-Former active duty Marine Infantryman for 3 years
-4 yr degree (Dec 2011)
-CCNA/CCENT
-A+
-Current Passport

Any help in the right direction is madly appreciated.

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Comments

Mrock4

Security Clearance Jobs - ClearanceJobs.com is always good..I've had a lot of luck there.

I'd recommend also checking out the contractor job sites, because a lot of time they post jobs there, but not on other sites. Try (google):

L3 communications jobs
Northrop Gruman jobs
Lockheed Martin jobs
Raytheon jobs
General dynamics careers
SAIC careers

And others. I applied at each site and monitored them pretty regularly for jobs that would fit my resume.

For what it's worth, with your background/info, you should have no problem finding a deployed position. If december comes and you still don't have anything, shoot me a PM

veritas_libertas

The big three in Afghan/Iraq are:

KBR
Fluor
Dynacorp

That should help you in applying.

themagicone

Dang I looked up that dynacor. Found a job on there I'd be perfect for but I can't. My ability to get a security clearance is 0%.

Mrock4

veritas_libertas wrote: »

The big three in Afghan/Iraq are:

KBR

Fluor

Dynacorp

Just my $.02, but I've never seen an IT guy from any one of those companies deployed. I've seen tons of GD, L3, SAIC, but never KBR IT. I'm sure they exist, but just sayin'. Good to know for the future, though.

networker050184

ITT is also a big player out there and constantly mailing me about open positions.

veritas_libertas

Mrock4 wrote: »

Just my $.02, but I've never seen an IT guy from any one of those companies deployed. I've seen tons of GD, L3, SAIC, but never KBR IT. I'm sure they exist, but just sayin'. Good to know for the future, though.

There is a lot of inside skill being hired. It's not unusual for IT folks to jump company to company between those. Since the military does not provide an IT infrastructure, they have to bring their own in for satellite, server, VoIP, etc.

Blackout

themagicone wrote: »

Dang I looked up that dynacor. Found a job on there I'd be perfect for but I can't. My ability to get a security clearance is 0%.

I hate to break this to you like this but it isn't very likely that you will get a contract job in a deployable area like afghan, and Iraq without a clearance. SAIC requires Secret with the ability to get a TS, and they do polygraphs for almost all positions. What would prevent you from getting a clearance? You don't have to answer if you don't like. The only reason I ask is that some people have misconceptions on what will get them denied for a TS clearance.

RPMar52

Mrock4 wrote: »

Security Clearance Jobs - ClearanceJobs.com is always good..I've had a lot of luck there.

I'd recommend also checking out the contractor job sites, because a lot of time they post jobs there, but not on other sites. Try (google):

L3 communications jobs
Northrop Gruman jobs
Lockheed Martin jobs
Raytheon jobs
General dynamics careers
SAIC careers

And others. I applied at each site and monitored them pretty regularly for jobs that would fit my resume.

For what it's worth, with your background/info, you should have no problem finding a deployed position. If december comes and you still don't have anything, shoot me a PM

Check out CACI as well.

themagicone

Blackout wrote: »

I hate to break this to you like this but it isn't very likely that you will get a contract job in a deployable area like afghan, and Iraq without a clearance. SAIC requires Secret with the ability to get a TS, and they do polygraphs for almost all positions. What would prevent you from getting a clearance? You don't have to answer if you don't like. The only reason I ask is that some people have misconceptions on what will get them denied for a TS clearance.

1 Bankruptcy, 15 charge offs, 6 180+ days late CC, foreclosure... Plus more on credit. Soon to be 2 bankruptcies and more.

Blackout

themagicone wrote: »

1 Bankruptcy, 15 charge offs, 6 180+ days late CC, foreclosure... Plus more on credit. Soon to be 2 bankruptcies and more.

Thats a tall order.

Mrock4

veritas_libertas wrote: »

There is a lot of inside skill being hired. It's not unusual for IT folks to jump company to company between those. Since the military does not provide an IT infrastructure, they have to bring their own in for satellite, server, VoIP, etc.

Oh, I know, I worked in an almost all contractor organization (a deployable one) before getting out of the military. I just hadn't heard of those particular companies deploying their folks, because we had all the big name ones...or bigger.

themagicone

Blackout wrote: »

Thats a tall order.

Like I said lol. I did have a secret clearance when I was in the AF but that has since been expired. With my credit and job history I have no way of getting it now.

eansdad

Some of the jobs I've seen only require a NAC-I which isn't as demanding as a TS

Blackout

themagicone wrote: »

Like I said lol. I did have a secret clearance when I was in the AF but that has since been expired. With my credit and job history I have no way of getting it now.

I believe that Secret clearances can be reactivated without another background check, the policies changed a few years ago I believe. If im wrong someone can correct me.

eansdad

In 2006 I had to go through another full check for a TS when I last had one in 98. That might have changed in the last 5 years though.

Blackout

eansdad wrote: »

In 2006 I had to go through another full check for a TS when I last had one in 98. That might have changed in the last 5 years though.

The TS is every 5 years atm, but the secret I believe is a one time background check these days.

Anonymouse

I hope this isn't an unwelcome place to ask but how exactly does one get a security clearance without any previous government or military experience? I remember doing some sort of security clearance process for working at an airport in 2007 but that contract fell through. I'm not sure if that was the same sort of clearance though.

MrAgent

Blackout wrote: »

The TS is every 5 years atm, but the secret I believe is a one time background check these days.

Not true. TS is 5 years, and Secret is 10 years.

Blackout

MrAgent wrote: »

Not true. TS is 5 years, and Secret is 10 years.

Correct that the Secret is 10 years I forgot to mention that, but as per the security officer at my command, the secret clearance can be reactivated once expired without an additional background check.

MrAgent

Anonymouse wrote: »

I hope this isn't an unwelcome place to ask but how exactly does one get a security clearance without any previous government or military experience? I remember doing some sort of security clearance process for working at an airport in 2007 but that contract fell through. I'm not sure if that was the same sort of clearance though.

A company would have to be willing to sponsor you for a clearance, which can take some time. Some companies do it, but not many. The reason is they want to start billing for you as soon as possible. If youre sitting the corporate office, youre probably being paid from overhead.

joeykeis

When did you get out?
I got out 28 months ago out of active duty (still in IRR though) and was told that my Secret clearance was still active in JPASS by my new employer, a top contractor... So that "you have two years or 24 months to re-use your clearance when you get out or it expires, ie re-investigation" is not true.

However yes, all those positions that you see will require MINIMUM a Secret but most likely a T/S.
I am also contemplating going to the SandBox mainly because of money, in my company all the Iraq jobs are S however Afghan(Incoming),Kuwait(Isolated),Qatar(Club Med) are all T/S..

universalfrost

the 2 year rule regardless of clearance is what they go by (as long as it is not going past your original expiration date)...

so you can let your clearance stay inactive for 2 years if you get out, between contracts, etc... but don't let it go past the expiration date.

for a secret clearance you are still good to go as long as you are honest and 100% open with the investigator and on the SF-86... I have a contractor that works for me that even got busted a couple years ago for doing drugs and he was 100% honest with the police, did his short time in the county jail and disclosed everything to the investigators and he just got his secret clearance renewed (of course his company makes him take a drug test every couple months).... right now folks with bad credit are very common and it is understandable.

so at least give the jobs a shot.. also try clearedjobs.net and dice.com

securitytech123

I would appreciate any advice for obtaining I.T. contract work in Afghanistan. (Open to any position overseas though)
Currently, I have the following Certifications: Net+/Security+/CEH-Certified Ethical Hacker (Associates in Computer Science) I also am seeking advice on obtaining the appropriate security clearance/ as well as advice regarding Head-Hunters, etc
Currently I'm doing Help-Desk Support for Comcast. (8-years)
Thanks in advance...
Michael

veritas_libertas

securitytech123 wrote: »

I would appreciate any advice for obtaining I.T. contract work in Afghanistan. (Open to any position overseas though)
Currently, I have the following Certifications: Net+/Security+/CEH-Certified Ethical Hacker (Associates in Computer Science) I also am seeking advice on obtaining the appropriate security clearance/ as well as advice regarding Head-Hunters, etc
Currently I'm doing Help-Desk Support for Comcast. (8-years)
Thanks in advance...
Michael

Posting the same question three times will not win you points.

Pilotreborn

veritas_libertas wrote: »

Posting the same question three times will not win you points.

Especially when you post in bold font.

Firecell

securitytech123 wrote: »

I would appreciate any advice for obtaining I.T. contract work in Afghanistan. (Open to any position overseas though)
Currently, I have the following Certifications: Net+/Security+/CEH-Certified Ethical Hacker (Associates in Computer Science) I also am seeking advice on obtaining the appropriate security clearance/ as well as advice regarding Head-Hunters, etc
Currently I'm doing Help-Desk Support for Comcast. (8-years)
Thanks in advance...
Michael

LMFAO!

This is the fourth post!

Keep it up. I am sure someone on this forum will hire you...lol

518

Jason0352 wrote: »

I'll be graduating in Dec with a B.S. in MIS and wanted to do something different. I'm looking for overseas IT work preferably in networking. Does anyone know of good sites to apply for these positions? I already applied to KBR's open positions for Middle Eastern network techs. I know some of you guys on here are working in country or have worked there before.

A little background
-Former active duty Marine Infantryman for 3 years
-4 yr degree (Dec 2011)
-CCNA/CCENT
-A+
-Current Passport

Any help in the right direction is madly appreciated.

ITT Mission Systems is currently looking for Network Admin in Afghanistan and Kuwait. The bad part is, you dont get the full up-lift of 120hrs worked. They only pay you 80hrs uplift and 40hrs regular pay. Still a six figure job, though.

veritas_libertas wrote: »

There is a lot of inside skill being hired. It's not unusual for IT folks to jump company to company between those. Since the military does not provide an IT infrastructure, they have to bring their own in for satellite, server, VoIP, etc.

Sir, even our computers are owned by the Army. We manage the communications, but the Army owns it. In stateside, outsourcing company/contractors actually provide the equipment, not here in theater.

KBR isnt as big anymore, they even lost the contract to Fluor. Also, Fluor is mainly DFAC and facilities jobs, not IT.

Last time I was offered a job by Dyncorp in Qatar as a Network Tech, it was just $70k/year...no thank you.

Look up Vista International, Five Rivers, DSCI. These guys gets paid twice as much as ITT Systems, same job.

Some DRS Defense contractors actually work in a high-level position like in JNCC-A.

If you end up in a FOB as a Network Admin, you will spend most of your time reading IT books and getting ready for another cert.

518

Blackout wrote: »

Correct that the Secret is 10 years I forgot to mention that, but as per the security officer at my command, the secret clearance can be reactivated once expired without an additional background check.

The clearance can be re-activated if the INVESTIGATION has not expired, yet. I mean, why would there be a PR every 5 years for TS and every 10 yrs for S if no additional background is required?!

in all technicality, a CLEARANCE does not expire, the INVESTIGATION does. Then again, what good does a clearance do when the INVESTIGATION is expired? lol

Blackout

518 wrote: »

The clearance can be re-activated if the INVESTIGATION has not expired, yet. I mean, why would there be a PR every 5 years for TS and every 10 yrs for S if no additional background is required?!

in all technicality, a CLEARANCE does not expire, the INVESTIGATION does. Then again, what good does a clearance do when the INVESTIGATION is expired? lol

Im literally sitting TAPS right now, secret clearance deactivates at 10 years, you have 2 years to reactivate your clearance or the background check expires, if it is reactivated before the end of the 2 year inactive period the background check is still valid. Im not going around making this stuff up, the TS background check is mandatory every 5 years. As I said before I could be wrong, and our security officer could be wrong as well, but it has come from multiple sources as well, im just going by what they are telling me and others in our separation class.

518

Blackout wrote: »

if it is reactivated before the end of the 2 year inactive period the background check is still valid.

Investigation expires 10 years after the adjudication for S. If or when you stop using it, getting out of the Military in your case, you have 2 years to get it re-activated without going thru another investigation. Granted, you have not passed the 10 year period from initial adjudication.

now we're making sense

TAPS? FTN! lol