Working in Afghan

[Jambo]

Has anyone on here had a bash at this? Im thinking about going and was wondering what the situation is like and what its like danger wise. I mean it must be risky for the £53000 PA salary but hey on the other hand Brixton isnt so nice lol.

Any info would be great!

[Grizzly]

Respect Jambo.
I would love to know how you do a risk assesment for that job?
Big risk! Big Bucks!
Only you have all the facts, (well at least I hope you do) To make a decision like that.
Grizzly

[thermo prince]

Jambo,
Afghanistan/ Iraq would have to rate as very very risky, as you rightly suspect already by yourself.
Aside from those 2 and the apparent danger, all Middle East environment is quite different to life you ( I assume) grew up in the UK.

Why not start off by looking for work in Dubai / Saudi / Kuwait/ Oman /Quatar first off and see how you like the region. Money would'nt be too much different ( to the offer you quoted in post) as I know it and tax free etc.

No amount of $$$ is worth getting injured or worse for!

regards
T-P

[Jambo]

I understand the risks involved. Speaking to a mate who was in the army, you cant really trust any local you could be teaching, plants could be booby trapped ect and there's the risk of being mortered and sniped.

But hey fresh out of college with 3 years on the tools, id never have a chance to earn that kind of cash here and for someone looking to get on the housing market the offer seems to good to pass up!

What i find ironic is you have AC engineers in the army who are paid a mere £16,700 and have no choice but to go to afghan and yet they are willing to pay a civvy contractor £53000 to do it. Makes you wonder!

I think it would be a great adventure, not many people i know could say the have done that!

[Giannis]

Its really a big risk and ofcourse your life is more than dollars..

If you want to find a job with a lot of money you can find other not so much risky countries , a good technician is always welcome everywere.

Dont take the risk..

[Grizzly]

[quote=Jambo;86634]
What i find ironic is you have AC engineers in the army who are paid a mere £16,700 and have no choice but to go to afghan and yet they are willing to pay a civvy contractor £53000 to do it. Makes you wonder!

When I was in the Army the maintenenace of A/C was one of the responcabilities of an R.E.M.E. Armourer (Gunsmith) which I was. But it wasn't my main job.
Have they made it a Individual trade now?
It might of been a trade also covered by the Royal Engineers? But I am not aware of it!
Please advise on that one?
As I said only you can decide as to wether the rewards outway the risks.
Admitedly there are less options to acheive what you want now. I and many like me had the oil rich countries to choose from. Not such an option now.
Good Luck anyway.
Surely your area is going to be a gold mine shortly with the Olympics coming?
Grizzly

[Latte]

Jambo,
£53,000 to work over there No Thanks
Mind you, No offence to the people of Brixton but i wouldnt go there either. If you want to earn good money, stay in this country and try and get into NH3 or Major supermarket work, At least you havnt got to look for booby traps every time you walk in somewhere

regards

Raymond

[thermo prince]

Jambo, only you can decide ultimately but several replies have advised against.
A few questions you should think about and get answered ....
1. Who will your employer be? UK company or locals?Will you work alone or part of team ?
2 Work on one site or various? transport to sites? will you have escorts ( seriously!) ... and I dont mean night time activities " excort ladies" either - b.t.w the revived Taleban probably scared them all away from there!
3. What are terms of " contract" - 1 yr, 2 yr or 3 yr? what are the penalties if you decide to break that ?
4 What currency you will be paid? GBP posted in Bristish bank ? or local currecny or USD ? paid where then?
5 Annual leave - as Grizz said, in the golden days of projects in the oil rich countries, we had 2 annual rtn trips paid home / per annum.

I still say look at Dubai or Abu Dhabi - they still need craftsmen there as the boom continues along the UAE waterfront. Who know's ,,, maybe you will get to service a/c in Posh & Beck's Palm Island mansion!

good luck in whatever you decide ...
T-P

[verdi21]

i'm also 21 and want to achive that little bit more before i get to old and settel down i would like to go for a job in the middle east can u give me any companies name or web sites

[bernard]

Hi
I would have no problem working there but would expect a lot more cash as you can that amount in the uk and sleep in your own bed at night.

Regards Bernard

[Karl Hofmann]

£53K is not a lot of cash, even if it is tax free and everything included...True it would be a boys own adventure but remember that the health and safety out there say that if you are too dumb or slow to live then you deserve to die.

I'd do it no probs but not for as little as £53k you can earn that anywhere..

[Magoo]

you would have to have rocks in your head to even consider such an arrangement. Life is short, why risk being snuffed out by some extremist with a bomb up his/or her kilt. There is not enough money in the world to sacrifice a life for that extreme risk.
I would'nt be dead for quids.
magoo

[supermarketguy]

Hi Guy's

I have a couple of friends who are working in Iraq qnd Afghanistan and they do not move from the base that they are working in. Things only happen if you do not listen to the people around you and they do not just send you in.

You are sent on a week long course and it is spelled out to you of the good and the bad of it and how to cope with it.

I myself worked in this enviroment a long time ago with un field service, when i was single and it was a great job. i understand the pro's and con's that have been disscussed, but the guys i know have been doing this for a few years and so far so good.

This type of job is also a multiskilled job, you will be fridge guy one day and electrician the next. And if you are really unlucky the gennie mechs bitch for a day( diesel and oil a lovely combo).

Hope this helps.