Kbr..dont Do It!!!!!

Hey Iraqvet-a lot of what you say is true. I do know some drivers that have made in excess of 120,000 but they earned it. A lot of us that went over there did it not only for the money, but because we knew you fine guys were over there. Imagine how it was in WWII. Even Patton didn't have a/c in his hootch. No defacs, MWR, no running water,etc. There are a lot of dead enders that couldn't get a decent job here working for KBR. But there are also a Hell of a lot of really good people that are trying to make it a little easier for the guys at the tip of the spear who go outside the gates. Just got an e-mail from a bud who is driver. Took 17 ak rounds near Basra. He now looks forward to going twice a month to Tikrit. Would have never said that 6 months ago. I think what people who have not spent any time over there just don't realize is that there are no battle lines. They move every day. I went 3 months is Diwaniya and it was safer than Dallas. Then they decided we were mortar range for a couple of weeks. Same at Talil AB. Just pop and drop coward attacks. We never had any military trucks. All volvo and Mercedes cabover w/ ballistic blanket in cab. Better than nothing but not stopping any RPG orIED.
KBR sucks but I will say that they spend 10 days telling you and showing videos of just what you are getting into. But the money still wins out most of the time. I did get a kick out of a bunch of the office employees during an attack. Be in a bunker and they would be crying cause it was 130 and they were getting fired at. "I didn't sign up for this". Bravo Sierra they spent a whole week warning your dumb b@tt.
Any way hats off to you and all armed forces!

 

Yeah KBR pay is whacked out. guys working in the trades like generator mech, HVAC, electricians, plumbers, etc make about 80,000 max. Out in weather all day. MWR worker {gym asst.} over 90k. Medic over 110k. Billeting helper{desk clerk} over 100k. Purchasing agents 100-120k.
Engineering{designing wood C-huts} over 120k. Safety and QC over 100k. All these sit in a/c all day and gripe about the heat walking to D-fac. Plus the vehicles they give them are a total waste. New loaded Explorers and Suburbans to drive 1/4 mile. Half of them left them running all day even if they weren't going to drive for hours. Can't be getting too hot.

 

Well lets see where to start. I have been here for 4 years come Feb and i spent the first 2 years since Feb 04 running out side the wire as a Driver a CT and a CC and a Trans Foreman'Supervisor. I have been to every part of Iraq hauling any thing and every thing you can on a truck. I got into IT in Feb 06 and love every minute of it. I lost some good friends on the roads and made some real good friends over here. The money yes its good and the Tax free part is what makes me stay. That and the fact that i am continuing what i started in a small way in 1991 when i was here as a service man in the gulf war. Does KBR make money off us you bet does any company make money off you they better if they want to stay in business. Its what you make out of it just like anything else. Is it for every one hell no but if you can make the first year the rest is gravy. Those that quit and go home and complain about the way they were treated came over with there eyes closed. I for one have had my bad days and my good days but all in all it is what you make out of it just like anything else. The military folks over here have it allot worse than we do and we do our part to help them get threw this as best we can. They rotate out every 12 to 18 months but some of us have been here since the start and will probably be here when it ends. I guess we just like the job and knowing we are doing our part to help the guys and gals in uniform make you all a little safer every day so you can still be free to complain about how bad you have it.

 

WELL, i got desperate. IM a 13 year driver that had a workers comp. case. now i cant get hired anywhere. 8 months out of work, KBR is the only one that offered. HEY, life is just funny that way. I served in the first gulf war and swore i would never go back. WELL jokes on me! oh well, you know what they say, "EVERYBODY SOMTIME" {REM} WELL i cant say i was suprised about the post. my wife and i discussed it this morning over coffee, i said one thing about it, if i do loose my legs at least ill save money on work boots!........ later

 

Thinking about the KBR thing, just wondering what the hiring process was, timeframes, etc. Also how do they handle the pay? Weekly, monthly, direct dep. or what? Was gonna go the guard but even with prior service I am too old now. Why do I want to look into this? Money is ALWAYS a factor unless your facing a draft, so no gettin around that. But honestly, it's just the way I am. Always volunteer for the dangerous, the dirty, the stuff nobody else wants to do. Why? So they dont have to do it. And regardless of where you stand on Iraq, Our sons and daughters are over there and deserve the absolute best we can give them in support, both here AND there. Somebody has to do it, so why not me.......now I just gotta convince MOMMA....hehehe.

 

KBR pays once a month by direct deposit only. When I was with them time went in last Sat of month and money was in your account late Thursday or Friday. Some months would have 5 Saturdays so it was about 1500. to 2000. more on those checks. Supervisors are required to give you copy of the hours they turn in and also pay stub. Most were ok-had to chase down some of the lazy ones. Best to just get on-line and check for your self if you got all your money. Only had one month they shorted me 11 hours. Went to payroll and she got it put on next months check. The whole thing is handled by another company out of Dubia. Service something or other. Sure they make more or get tax breaks by doing this. There is no overtime. Just extra time at same rate. 1st 40 hours get upgrade for war zone and hazard. Anything over that is at reduced rate. 84 hours is normal week. Guess those extra 44 hours you are not in danger.LOL They have been sued and lost 2 times so far by ex employees trying to make them pay upgrade for all hours. It will be in courts for years. Hope they lose. Could use that other 60k I would receive. 1st 80k is tax free only if you are out of the US for 330 days a year. You are allowed 35 days at home. Not 36 or 37.35 period.

 

Thanks for the info, now just gotta figure out how to tell momma.