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Afghanistan: what's the deal?

JL Rockies

JL Rockies

Binders Fulla Expo
Location
Draper
I am looking for a contractor POV on the experience. I might have an opportunity to go this spring and I have been research mode since the conversation started last week. Here are some things I've been told, if you have anything to add, I'd like to read about it.

1 - The hardest part about going to Afghanistan is getting the job due to the floods of apps received; if you know someone connected, its a lot easier. I've been speaking with someone who claims connection.

2 - Everyone you work with will probably be an a-hole. I've been in the car business a long time and I sometimes hang out with Stephen.

3 - If you walk around acting like a badass, eventually, you'll get knocked the eff out or worse. I only claim gangster status.

4 - There are lot's of spiders. Guess who I heard that from?

5 - Boredom is one of the biggest obstacles. I understand that porn is blocked from gov'ment computers.

6 - Bases can be just as dangerous as any large city. I don't know what to say to that.... like Newark, NJ dangerous?

If you've gone, have you had issues with co-workers? Ever been robbed? What was the living quarters like? Are vegetarians screwed? How did you spend your off-hours?
 
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MOODY

MOODY

Bald Guy
Location
Sandy
A good friend's dad has been overseeing a fleet of vehicles in a shop over there for a couple of years now. He works for a few months and then comes home for a month. If you're interested, I can get his email and you can contact him.
 
JL Rockies

JL Rockies

Binders Fulla Expo
Location
Draper
MOODY said:
A good friend's dad has been overseeing a fleet of vehicles in a shop over there for a couple of years now. He works for a few months and then comes home for a month. If you're interested, I can get his email and you can contact him.
Click to expand...

Now you've done it.... your PM inbox is going to get flooded. :D
 
Kiel

Kiel

Formerly WJ ZUK
Its hardcore and manly. They only eat meat. Vegetarians are killed out of moral principal
 
Tacoma

Tacoma

Et incurventur ante non
Location
far enough away
We've talked a little about this. That list is all true except for #6, in my experience, and #4... well, they weren't real spiders, but there were tons of camel spiders. I need say no more on that subject.

I was working, comically, with the NSA, so my quarters were boss-- Converted Conexes with a bunk, bathroom, stove, TV, and decent cable internet, and most importantly, air conditioning. :D . Your mileage may vary. Lots of other guys were staying in tent cities, which by all accounts sucks ass. We ate a lot of hamburgers and bacon, etc etc., standard fare for the troops there, and it was all tasty. Lots of vegetables too, but I didn't see ANY vegetarian stuff. I mean, there were non-meat items served, but.. You might have a hard time with that.

Never had any issues w/robbery, again, our quarters kinda precluded any of that-- we had locks on the doors. My co-workers were jackasses but generally alright. One of the electricians got adjusted a little after he sucker punched me. I spent my off hours sleeping, because we were busting ASS all night, and it was super hot during the day anyway. If I was up, I was roaming the base, taking pictures of Russian-era ruins and doing some drawings, or hanging out in the ludicrously posh market area. We also had a gym that was packed full of hyperaggressive troops all day. If we had a night off we'd hit that and I'd run. Had some decent pick-up volleyball games w/the French Air Corps.

Powdered drink mixes were more valuable than money where we were. So we hijacked the jerky electricians' shipments and bartered pretty well. Wet wipes, also good. Bring books, work on your manifesto, whatever.



Overall, I was bored more than I would have thought. We were on a base, and didn't really have time to get out much, nor would we have been allowed even if we did. I got to go to Kabul a few times, but my escort and I were kinda keyed up because we weren't in a great neighborhood, and there had been trouble. Got to shoot guns on one of our trips, I don't recommend it.

Again, depends on what your deal is. It wasn't awful, it was just super boring. We were at Bagram, pretty safe, well-guarded/stocked/secured.
 
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