Any civilian contractors in afghan, non military.

[Archren]

Originally Posted by CrazyKell

From what I recall you're not in a lot of debt, but the chance to build a bigger nest egg is hard to pass up.

Consider though that you are giving up a year of life with your kids and all the milestones they will pass during that time. If you are able to do that, you will be fine. But if that will weigh heavily on you, no amount of money can compensate.

If you're looking for a thrilling opportunity it sounds like you found one! Good luck with your decision.

This is very true, and something I had meant to address with my first post, but got sidetracked.

My kids are 4 and 2 now... and I really wish I hadn't been deployed when they were so young. With my ex having remarried, they are both now very confused as to who the "real" mommy is. I know Ed won't have that problem, but my oldest was also angry at me for being gone for so long, and still has problems with letting go when she has to go back to her dad's. It's gotten better since I've been home, but she's even told me she doesn't want me to go back to Iraq.

Things like Skype make it easier... but that is assuming wherever he goes doesn't just have internet, but bandwidth enough to handle video chat. Ours was intermittent at best (glorified dial-up), and this was in Iraq in 2010. Iraq is considerably more built up than most areas of Afghanistan, even though we've been in the latter conflict for longer.

All I can say to you Ed... if you decide to go... pray like hell you don't end up in the Korengal.

[CrazyKell]

Originally Posted by Kaneman

Kids need their Dad.

We are talking about Ed here though.

Jokes.

Good luck with the decision.

[Cutty72]

Originally Posted by Inferno

I don't know about this particular contract, but I am willing to bet it is cheaper than using active military.

Remember, the US Govt has been using civilian contractors since pre Civil War.

I don't know a single Joe that makes $400k on active duty. Like Dave said, average E-5/E-6 is gonna make between $50k and $70k depending on BAH and dependants.
So, I can get 8 joes working for the same money as one civilian contractor, and i can work those 8 joes 16 hour + days and not pay them any differently. I don't get how contractors can be cheaper if we already have trained soldiers capable of doing the same job...

[Trip]

Originally Posted by Cutty72

I don't know a single Joe that makes $400k on active duty. Like Dave said, average E-5/E-6 is gonna make between $50k and $70k depending on BAH and dependants.
So, I can get 8 joes working for the same money as one civilian contractor, and i can work those 8 joes 16 hour + days and not pay them any differently. I don't get how contractors can be cheaper if we already have trained soldiers capable of doing the same job...

Military doesn't really grab a lot of engineers though. Every job fair I went to, they were begging for us to enlist and they didn't really grab that many of us. It's hard to get qualified engineers to come out unless they are paid extremely well for it, like say 400k, lol.

[Particle Man]

Originally Posted by Kaneman

I wouldn't give up a year with my kid for three times that amount of money.

I'm in that boat as well.

[Cutty72]

Originally Posted by Trip

Military doesn't really grab a lot of engineers though. Every job fair I went to, they were begging for us to enlist and they didn't really grab that many of us. It's hard to get qualified engineers to come out unless they are paid extremely well for it, like say 400k, lol.

There is the advantage (to the govt) of the guard.
They have people that are engineers on the civilian side that can carry that knowledge and experience over to their deployments.

[Trip]

Originally Posted by Cutty72

There is the advantage (to the govt) of the guard.
They have people that are engineers on the civilian side that can carry that knowledge and experience over to their deployments.

You still won't have a lot there either. A good qualified engineer won't be in the guard because they will clear enough cash at home just as an engineer, unless they are bored and want to go play weekend warrior. To get those engineering vets, you need to throw a lot of dough at them. There is engineering contractors that can stay at home and clear a couple hundred K just going around hitting 7 days a week work doing nothing but plant outages.

[Cutty72]

Differences between ND and TN...
And depends on the type of engineer you are talking about too.

EE/ME/civil are easy to come by.
Nuke... not so much, but we have less demand for them.

[Rider]

Not enough money if you ask me. What kind of benefits do you get? Medical for your family? Vacation? Free life insurance? 401K/pension? Paid sick time/personal business? Free cell phone with unlimited international calling to call your family? Furnished air fare for 1 or 2 trips home during the year? Tuition reimbursement?

[Cutty72]

On that I'd do it... but like Dave, I've signed up to do more for less already.