I have been asked several times over the past several weeks about the level of safety in the warzone for contractors. For some reason there is a perception that the level of safety for expat or 'western' folks is more or less than others that work in the warzone as contractor's for the US or NATO.
I'll start by describing the process by which every contractor processes into Afghanistan or Iraq after they arrive in Dubai. All contractors, whatever nationality generally arrive via military chartered air (some come via civilian air) from Dubai into either Bagram (some move on to Kandahar) or Baghdad airports. There are slight variations to this depending on the contractor and the contract that you are working on, but generally if you are working on the larger contracts with the major players (KBR/Fluor/Dynacorp) this is the way you will come into country.
For those going to Afghanistan you will arrive in Bagram assuming that is your final destination in country. For some it will be Kandahar. I'll discuss Bagram for purposes of this article. You will deplane, process in the military terminal details of which I'll leave out of this article. From there you will go, along with your respective contractor representative and receive your protective gear. This gear will vary depending on which contract and contractor you are working for. Some contractors are large enough that they purchase their own gear. Others utilize military supplies which you receive in other location.
The bottom line is, all personnel receive 'battle rattle'. There is no difference in safety, from my experience, for a westerner or other country national. It really is not any safer for you there than anyone else. It's probably more dangerous for you due to your looking different than the local population and likely sticking out like a sore thumb! We all get the same gear too by the way.
I've honestly been asked this question several times, and I don't know why folks would think it is safer for Americans than others. Maybe they have the impression that since they are Americans they will somehow be protected better by the Army? I don't know the answer to whey they think that way, but to be honest there is no elevation of your protective status due to your nationality, American or not. When stuff goes down, chaos ensues and generally it's 'Get to the bunkers now!' regardless of what you look like.
So, when making your decision about pursuing a warzone job, please bear in mind that you are not any safer there just because you are an American or westerner. You will be in a warzone, mortars do hit, rockets do stream over the sky! Bullets and guns to go off and yes they do land somewhere! Are you dodging and running for life all the time? Some days it feels like it, but 95% of the time or more it is workaday stuff, doing your job, going to the DFAC, gym, PX and hitting the rack.
I'll start by describing the process by which every contractor processes into Afghanistan or Iraq after they arrive in Dubai. All contractors, whatever nationality generally arrive via military chartered air (some come via civilian air) from Dubai into either Bagram (some move on to Kandahar) or Baghdad airports. There are slight variations to this depending on the contractor and the contract that you are working on, but generally if you are working on the larger contracts with the major players (KBR/Fluor/Dynacorp) this is the way you will come into country.
For those going to Afghanistan you will arrive in Bagram assuming that is your final destination in country. For some it will be Kandahar. I'll discuss Bagram for purposes of this article. You will deplane, process in the military terminal details of which I'll leave out of this article. From there you will go, along with your respective contractor representative and receive your protective gear. This gear will vary depending on which contract and contractor you are working for. Some contractors are large enough that they purchase their own gear. Others utilize military supplies which you receive in other location.
The bottom line is, all personnel receive 'battle rattle'. There is no difference in safety, from my experience, for a westerner or other country national. It really is not any safer for you there than anyone else. It's probably more dangerous for you due to your looking different than the local population and likely sticking out like a sore thumb! We all get the same gear too by the way.
I've honestly been asked this question several times, and I don't know why folks would think it is safer for Americans than others. Maybe they have the impression that since they are Americans they will somehow be protected better by the Army? I don't know the answer to whey they think that way, but to be honest there is no elevation of your protective status due to your nationality, American or not. When stuff goes down, chaos ensues and generally it's 'Get to the bunkers now!' regardless of what you look like.
So, when making your decision about pursuing a warzone job, please bear in mind that you are not any safer there just because you are an American or westerner. You will be in a warzone, mortars do hit, rockets do stream over the sky! Bullets and guns to go off and yes they do land somewhere! Are you dodging and running for life all the time? Some days it feels like it, but 95% of the time or more it is workaday stuff, doing your job, going to the DFAC, gym, PX and hitting the rack.
