David Phinney

Hello I'm Mark. I spent nearly 2 years in Iraq. I was a convoy driver my first year. And heavy equipment the 2nd year. I was hauling fuel out and into Camp Anaconda in June, July and August of 2005. When one of our convoy's got hit. I was on base when I heard about it. One of my friends Crazy white boy (call name). Got hit in the next with shrapenal an a couple of other places. he went to a base just North of Anaconda for surgery, (via Black hawk), his first time out also note. And the trainer driver not driving was Blackhawked out to Germany, via a Air force jet I'm sure. But he ended up losing his leg. And going home. Crazy white boy was treated at the hospital north of Anaconda with greatness from all. But when he got back to Anaconda they bosses never even offered him a ride to his Hooch(container living). They barely said hello. Never even offered him anpther position. They were to stuck up of course. Driving there $80,000 Hummers or $60,000 Suburbans. Not even a ride on the Golf cart. Although he opted to stay and drive. KBR Bosses some look down at workers when we had to walk more than a mile with our armour and cooler and clothes when we had to go onto a mission. they never offered to pick anybody up. At 1 or 2 in the morning. And then when we never left 14hours later waiting outside in 160f heat. Then having to lug that crap for a mile or two. And missing chow while bosses went on there marry way saying if you have an MRE eat it. While we were not going anywhere because of red roads or Sandstorm where you cannot see your hand in your face. This goes on all the time.

I'm thinking about going to Iraq to drive and would like to hear more about what it's like from real people that have been there. Where is the best place to look for information. Or maybe speak with drivers back from there recently.

My husband leaves in the morning for a civilian contracting job in Iraq. He got a job as a "light wheel mechanic". I would really, truely appreciate any and all information you all could give me. My main concern is his safety. As I understand it, he'll be "permanently" placed for four months, then have a vacation, then do it all over again. So any information I can get on the type of housing he'll have, food he'll eat, any little detail you can think of.

Thank you all so much! I'd prefer an email as I don't know if I can find this site again! Ha ha ha.

jessiepenick@hotmail.com

:)

i am due in houston on the 11th. GOD BLESS thoes before me and the ones yet to come.

my husband is in iraq at anaconda. when he left tx he was suppose to be going to africa. can they just send u anywhere? he has been gone 3 weeks and i dont really know yet what he is doing or how safe he really is...any info would be greatly appreciated. please email me thanks amy

These people that have came on here and said the things they have not told the whole truth. i have been in Iraq for 4 years, 14 months as a soldier, now i have been here with kbr for 31 months. i am a recovery driver, what i do i go out and picked up down epuipment outside the bases. the work here is easy if you have to right Attitude, the complant about no one giving a ride didn't say that there is a bus system here that works well to give him a ride. The complant about Contractor deaths in Iraq? Why do you think they pay us all the hazzard pay to work here? THIS IS A WAR ZONE PEOPLE DIE IN A WAR ZONE, ANY CIVILIAN CAN GO HOME AT ANYTIME. Now the the soldiers over here on their 3th and 4th tour here making a third of what we do. don't have that choice, they don't get vaction every 4 months. Over 3200 Soldier have lost their life over here. Civilians are over here for the money and that's it cause no one would be over here if they was making what Soldiers do. So go cry to someone else, get over it we all have the choice.

I have been here only 18 months myself, Baghdad, and have had the opportunity to see and work with many good folks. There is the downside of course, but I continue to remind myself of my reasons for being here, and it's not just for the money. Although the pay is above that of what we could earn in the US for the same type of work, it does come with many sacrifices. Just being away from the one's we love is the greatest sacrifice of them all.

But Being here, and taking full advantage of the opportunities available to anyone who would like to advance,is achievable. Not an easy task as we know, but obtainable with much perserverance if that is your desire, and if you posses the level of knowledge and experience you would be seeking to get into. So if there are those here who think that being in a war zone entitles us to a bit more than what we deserve, well as one writer earlier in this blog stated, take a look at the soldiers who stepped into this with much less than what we are being afforded.

And yes, there are many more downsides here than there would be positive, but hey, we can leave anytime. So for now, those of us who are here, stay focused, and please stay safe. Don't play Russian Roulette with bunker calls during incoming.

Down sides? I think back when my husband told me he was going over to Iraq to work. I was horrified. I begged him not to go. But he did. He was there approx 18 months when he came home and killed himself. We were married 17 years and have a daughter.
Please think long and hard before flying off to Iraq. You will see things there that your imagination couldn't even make up. Horrible things. I always thought my husband was tough and strong. Apparently Iraq was stronger. Please be safe and love your families. Mine is shattered and that is the worst "down side" of them all. I hope and pray this doesn't happen to anyone else. The pain that is left behind is unbearable. No amount of money is worth what I have lost.
yours truly,
BDill

I am a UK based heavy truck driver, can anybody give me any info on how to get a job out in the middle east.

PLEASE,understand we take chances we shouldn't all the time.I've been in and out of south america for three years in mexico for a one year. I do this because,i want to.Is it money driven sure..i like making alot of money in a short time.We all khow the danger of going out of secure suroundings.And if you don't understand.you should not apply for the job.

I can take an oath to verify that what the folks above are saying is true. I also worked in Iraq and now work in Kuwait, still frequenting Iraq weekly, via Mercedez truck.
I've seen so many supervisors, managers, and management, in general, who didn't give a hoot about the people that worked in their department. The ones that did care were usually "black-balled" and transferred or given other jobs just to get them away. I'm not saying all supervisors are like this but the majority of them were. No people skills, no type of supervisory background experience, and plainly didn't have any business being in charge of people.
In closing, if you're coming overseas to work as a contractor, be prepared to take lots of negative jargon. Don't expect respect and courtesy, especially if you're a truck driver. Know how to mind your p's and q's and stay away from the problem children. This was the only way I stayed insane and prevented myself from doing something I'd regret.

I am going to Iraq, working with CSS. after reading all of your stories it is a new understanding of the bravery.. I am going to build and maintain military basis.. So for me it is my part in protecting and reinforcing our military as they do not have a choice of being there, true 60% of it is for the money. I am married and have a 4yo child. Leaving them is the hardest thing to do, but these brave men and women do not have a chance to come home every 4 months like we do. I can leave whenever i want.

I have never done anything like this, and would appreciate any insight any of you can offer. I can say I am proud to do my part as ALL of you are doing over there, no matter what you do it is protecting our way of life in some small way, and that is worth the sacrifice.

Sincerely,

Greg Piedt

Posted by: amy at February 2, 2007 10:18 PM
I have been in Iraq for four years and have to say a little about this post above.If it was not for us CIVILIANS the military would not have the living conditions they have now.Not all of us are just over there for money,Its as a TEAM Together Everyone Achives More.

I am going to Iraq in a couple of months. I am a single white 53 yr old woman. I am going to be taking care of the mail. My question is are there any other women going over there for KBR?

my fiance leaves today. he is going to iraq to be a recovery mechanic. supposed to be stationed outof anaconda. but i know that can change when he gets overthere. if anyone reads this that has been or still is a revovery mechanic in iraq please e-mail me i would like to know more about how he will be doing over there. thank you

lauraploof@yahoo.com

Hi,
I'm a single 35 y.o. female and I barely even have a family. I've been thinking of applying with KRB because I have friends in the military and I guess I just want to be a little bit like them. I figure I can handle the danger as I have very little to lose - no family, no children, no husband, etc. I'd be working food service or whatever they can give me, and I understand I would never even leave the base. If anyone has any advice, please write me or leave a message here. Thanks

I am considering going to work in IRAQ. I am going for a true adventure, to do something that's risky, and to fufill an adventure need. Mostly for the money at least 75% for the quan. I'd like to know about the day in and out lifestyle there. I mean simple things like medical care, and I guess if there is stuff to occupy your down time. Are there many bad ugly bugs that invade you at night? Do you hear bombs a lot? Are there many terror filled nights/days? What's a HOOCH like? What's a typical day like? When they let you off where do you go? And for how long are you gone? How's life for a woman within the compound? These are my concerns, please write about the daily things. Is the store good? Is there airconditioning at night when it's hot? Showers all I need? How do you pay for things, do they run a tab is that deducted at some point? Do they nose dive a plane into the compound to get you in there? Have there been missles fired into the compound there? Please answer as much as you can? Thanks.:)