033111 Waiting on DoS

033111 Waiting on DoS

March is almost over and still nothing but rumors about Department of State (DoS) taking over the 'nation building' process here in Iraq.  The Army seems to want out of Iraq but even after the Army pulls out there'll still be an Army (and Air Force and Navy and USMC and 'other' (CIA/FBI)) presence (personnel wise) here in Iraq with DoS.  I think a lot of people (including me) intrepreted "Army pulls out of Iraq" as "US pulls out of Iraq".  But that doesn't appear to be the case.  I honestly never thought that I would have have been in Iraq working for the Army as long as I have and now I may be doing the same thing for the Department of State.  That is IF the DoS does move in here and takes over for the Army.  So far there is nothing but rumors and speculation.  Nothing in writing. 

And so for now, here we sit, waiting on DoS.
R/Chris

032911 "It's a recruitment tool...uh, it's a moral builder!"...yea sure.

032911 "It's a recruitment tool...uh, it's a moral builder!"...yea sure.

As a contractor in Iraq I work 7 days a week and 12 hours a day.  so there's not much time left at the end of the day to do other stuff such as keep in shape.  A few guys in the office go to the gym at 0400 but dang that's early.  And up to last week, it was just too cold (for me at least) to run in the dark.  So recently I've been using my lunch hour to go running. Soon it'll get a bit hotter and I'll start my run by soaking my shorts and shirt in cold water and then putting them on.   It's actually pretty effective in the 120F heat (for about 20 minutes or so).  But until then I'll just do my 2 miles or so and a few pushups.  Above are a few pics of me running at JBB. 

It's also against the rules to wear headphones while outside but if you wear some sunglasses and a floppy hat you can barely make out the headphones (so I've been told....LOL).

Recently I've also seen this 'monster' Army truck here at JBB (see pics).  It's pretty cool but totally useless.  And yes, they use a ladder to get in and out.  I asked the guy what is the purpose of the truck and with a straight face he told me it was a recruitment tool!  I asked how much recruitment was really needed on a base in Iraq that only had contractors and soldiers and he said that it was also a moral builder!  Well..I suppose so...yea sure.
R/Chris

032611 The Downsizing Continues

As part of the Army downsizing in Iraq all wooden will be torn down. The sprung structures will be taken down as they can (and will) be reused probably in Kuwait or Afghanistan. And while the end isn't probably till October or December gone already is the battalion BBQ and just last week the gazebo went as well. It's not that the wood will be reused (as it was just tossed in a dumpster) but the Army policy is 'if it wasn't here before, it won't be here after'. So goes the gazebo. The end continues to draw neigh.

032511 The SPO BBQ

032511 The SPO BBQ
Last weekend our office did a BBQ.  The DFAC also serves hamburgers but frankly when they are cooked an hour or so before eating, they just kinda suck.  Also as part of the 'downsizing' our Battalion BBQ was turned in (where, I have no idea.)  so it became part of my mission to uh...'get' a BBQ.  They didn't have them at the PX (sold out) and during my running the last few days I 'found' a few BBQs that hadn't seemed to be used in a while. So...voila! a BBQ.  Anyway, the SPO (Support Operations Office) seemed to be quite envious of our BBQ event so their office decided to do one and as usual, they got too much food and asked our office to join (which we did).  
R/Chris

032411 It's finally warm enough to start Running again

032411 It's finally warm enough to start Running again 

It's March in Iraq and up to about last week it was still 'coat weather' at night.  But a co-worker here in the Battalion office was going running at lunch time and so in the last few days I've joined him.  Urgh!  It really sucks to run when you haven't run in quite a while.  But it's supposed to be good for you and so I'm out there.  It's nice to run when the weather is nice and hot as you can really work up a sweat.  But too hot can certainly be not good as well.  Anyway, I need to run more (as you can tell from the pics) but then again, who doesn't?
R/Chris

032311 Happy Birthday Lucky!

032311  Happy Birthday Lucky!

 

Working as a contractor in Iraq doesn't leave much free time to do anything but the essentials (eat, sleep, laundry, clean the hooch and maybe get to the gym.)  So recently when a co-worker was having a birthday party (put together by his sister who also works here at the same camp) I was hesitant to go.  But we don't do these things very often and his sister really did a good job putting it together and it was sorta fun to do something different.  About a little over a dozen people showed up and there was plenty of pizza for twice that many.  There was cake and candles and non-alcoholic beer and there were the party poppers that toss a bit of confetti with a 'pop'!  Also in one of the pics you'll notice the silly string.  Silly String (popular in the US oh, 30 years ago) is VERY popular in the mideast.  In Kuwait after Ramadan (a ding dong) there is a the celebration of Eid (a night of celebration).  During Eid, silly string is everywhere! 

But ANYTHING you do in Iraq has to be planned well ahead.  There is no store for cheap party goods and a cake can be made to order but you'll have to give the PX a 3 day notice at a minimum. In short, if there is a will, there is a way.  The party started at 7:30 and I left at about 8:20 and rode my bike 'home.'  I then did some cleaning and watched an episode of Californication and was in bed by 9:30 PM.  Whadda life?!

Happy Birthday Lucky!

R/Chris

031711 What do firefighters do best??? ....hump hose.

031711  What do firefighters do best??? ....hump hose.

 

Many but not all jobs in Iraq are 'contracted out'.  For example, the US Army does the Army stuff like fighting battles, running convoys and monitoring Intel.  But for non-Army stuff like food preparation, base cleanliness and computer support is generally done by contractors.  Of course there are always exceptions and it can certainly differ from base to base. Commanders are given a 'budget' to accomplish their task and to some degree there is a bit of freedom as to how they spend their budget.  I've also discovered that if the US Army needs something from the State Department, they have to 'pay' for it out of their budget.  In short, nothing is free and if you only get more money if you spend all your money and if you don't spend your money you get your budget reduced.  Needless to say, there are some odd incentives that arise because of rules like this.

The firefighting mission is a good example of the above.  On certain bases (like JBB) the firefighting mission is done by the US Air Force.  At VBC (Victory Base Complex) the job is subcontracted to KBR who then subcontracts the job to Wackenhut.  There are lots of stories about what it's like to be contractor firefighter overseas and here are a few links.

http://www.firerescue1.com/fire-news/289138-firefighters-find-opportunity-in-iraq/

http://firelink.monster.com/topics/1779-iraq-fire-fighters/posts

http://lincolntribune.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=639

http://omgili.com/contract-firefighting-iraq

The job certainly isn't for everyone.  I've met some of the contractor firefighters and a few were real dicks while a few were really cool guys.  Anyway, they do seem to have the 'chip on the shoulder' regardless of whether they are contractor or military firefighters.  Attached are the pics from the JBB firefighting (Air Force) newsletter.  This is sent out regularly and there is some valuable information in it (such as don't plug a 110 volt device into a 220 volt circuit.)  But the 'chip on the shoulder' attitude still comes through and of course the (sexual entendre) quote 'What do fire fighters do best? ...hump hose.

R/Chris

 

031311 Happy Eostara...I mean Easter, or whatever

031311  Happy Eostara...I mean Easter, or whatever

The Army is really quite represetative of society as a whole and I think it does a great job of accomodating as many as much as possible.  Never when I was in the Navy did the military even mention any faiths outside of Cathloic, Protestant and Judaism.  Now I regular services for Muslim, LDS, pagan and other (but so far not The Force, which IS a recognized religion in Australia.)  Any any research on Easter will mention the Germanic goddess of Eostre or Ostara.  So Happy Eostra!..or Easter, or whatever.
R/Chris

031211 More closures at JBB and where will I get a haircut after Oct. 9th?

031211 More closures at JBB and where will I get a haircut after Oct. 9th?

 

The other day we received the notice above.  There are now many empty spaces on base where previously there was a trailer and some sort of business.  There are also a lot few soldier and airmen at Balad but I heard somewhere that there still are between 5,000 and 7,000 military personnel at Balad (JBB).  As a taxpayer this should interest you since YOU are paying (some small part) of JBB.  About a year ago I naively thought that when the President said the "US would completely withdraw from Iraq by December 2011"  meant exactly THAT!  And yes, the US ARMY is on schedule to do just that, pull out by December 2011. BUT the US Department of State is ramping up it's presence here and though there's been no official notice, it sure looks like there'll be a US presence in Iraq for many years to come.  I came to Iraq for a job and an experience and I'm also getting an education in 'how things work', so to speak.  Most (if not all) of the other contractors (and some military) are hoping to transition to State jobs (I being one of them.)  This blog is about what it's like to be a contractor in Iraq for the US Army and it sure seems that part of that is the eventual transition to State (Germany, South Korea, Bosnia...etc!)

It's been and it will continue to be interesting to see how the transition goes.  Heck, where am I supposed to get a haircut after October 9th?  Maybe it'll be like the beginning again where we all lived in tents and you got your haircut from a buddy.

R/Chris

01 March Back at Balad...and things are changing

01 March Back at Balad...and things are changing

 

I've been traveling for work and a few weeks of R&R.  That long flight(s) from the mideast to and from the states is REALLY wearing thin on me.

 

Any way, I wanted to update things as this blog is for my record as well as those seriouly contemplating a contractor job in Iraq.  

 

I currently work for the US Army here and while Army said that its time in Iraq would eventually come to an end, it only now that I'm seeing serious indications of such.  I really see the US Army truely ouf of much of Iraq by the end of this year.  Normally this would mean the end of my job (and thousands of other jobs) and the end of any US presence in Iraq.  

 

BUT, Good bye US Army and hello my new overlords the Department of State!  

 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/01/AR2011020106523.html

 

So the DoS soon hopes to have 4-5 locations in Iraq employing anywhere from 8,000 to 17,000 people (mostly contractors.)  (And you thought the US would REALLY pull out?!)

 

Anyway, this is the current rumor and we'll know by June or July whether or not A) the DoS comes to Iraq and at what locations and B) whether they'll use the application I help to administer for workorder and maintenance recording.

 

R/Chris