Got a call last night-

[Times Roman]

- Chief of party in Kabul. Wants me to think about joining the team as the Ops Manager. They recruit new teams every two years, begin Dec 14. Triple my salary.

Pros:
$300k per year (much of it tax free/deferred)
2weeks x 4 per year paid vacation, including travel expense (get to come home)
Woman / Son supportive (haven't asked daughter yet)
Will live in a palace, with chefs and maids (harem is temporarily unavailable, for some reason!)
Already know some of the people I will work with there

Cons:
Away from family, including 12 yr old daughter
Gear could be problematic, include some supplements
Gym is mediocre
Hard to get mail
Personal security detail if I want to go clubbing (off compound)
Travel via armored personal carrier (apc)


See, I'm thinking if I could save $150k/year, then after 4 or 5 years, I could just come home and retire.

Would you do it?

[warchild]

do it man!

[LGM]

I'd be on the next flight. do it man!

[Times Roman]

do it man!

the ONLY thing I'm sideways about is my 12 year old daughter. Already talked to my woman, and she said she can get her hours reduced at work so that she can be home when daughter goes to school, and home right after she gets home from school. But again, she's my baby girl, and i hesitate.....

[LGM]

Set for life, and could possibly not have to work for the rest of baby girls life? Seriously dude, I know being away sucks, but you've got 8 weeks of paid vacation/with travel expenses.

[warchild]

the ONLY thing I'm sideways about is my 12 year old daughter. Already talked to my woman, and she said she can get her hours reduced at work so that she can be home when daughter goes to school, and home right after she gets home from school. But again, she's my baby girl, and i hesitate.....

i dont have kids bro, but i could see why you wouldnt want to be gone for that long

[Times Roman]

I'm not even sure I can get gear over there. So I have that to think of. But the HR director that recommended me is an old friend, and an old co-worker I've known for about 10 years. He'll be there. He says it gets kinda boring there sometimes, as the entertainment isn't that great. Occassionally, he'll leave (it's a royal family palace, sent me pics of my bedroom..... even has a huge step down bathtub in the room, more the size of a mini swimming pool), occassionally, my friend will leave the secure compound to go to a club. They will assign a security detail to him consisting of two guards with M-16's and an APC. And there is only a couple of places he can go to.

BUT... he says twice a year, all expense round trip, twice a year, to Dubai, and he says it is unfuggin believable there. He even brought his woman over there (Dubai), and they had the time of their life.

[flatscat]

Well you won't have to worry about finding a new bed...

Money is awesome and benefits too (except living in a palace with no harem - who does that?) but your daughter would be seventeen when you come home for good and you won't have been there for her when she probably will need you the most. I don't know if I could do it.

[Nooomoto]

I know plenty who have done more for less...go for it.

[Times Roman]

Well you won't have to worry about finding a new bed...

Money is awesome and benefits too (except living in a palace with no harem - who does that?) but your daughter would be seventeen when you come home for good and you won't have been there for her when she probably will need you the most. I don't know if I could do it.

Yeah, the s3x life is pretty (ahem) grimm. My friend won't put too much detail in his emails to me (non secure line) but he did say many of the guys readily use several options available to them (what ever that means). So I could see my family 4x a year, for a couple of weeks each time. Plus there is Skyping we could do regularly. Plus, I'm really not locked into a non revocable contract. I can choose to break the contract, come home, with no legal problems waiting for me.

[LGM]

Seriously, I'm almost getting irritated that you're not packing yet. I don't think your daughter needs all that much from you at 15, other than the keys to the car, or a cell phone, or to complain about curfew, or that you think her clothes are too slutty. (you know what I mean...).

Anyway, considering your current employment status, to me this wouldn't even be a consideration. I'd tell the kiddos that daddy has to do this, and after it's done you'll all be a lot better off.

Now if there are behavioral issues or special needs with any of them, that may change my mind. But if wifey supports you, I'd be gone.

[flatscat]

It would be hard to turn it down then if you can bolt if you need to. When are you going to talk to her about it?

[Times Roman]

Seriously, I'm almost getting irritated that you're not packing yet. I don't think your daughter needs all that much from you at 15, other than the keys to the car, or a cell phone, or to complain about curfew, or that you think her clothes are too slutty. (you know what I mean...).

Anyway, considering your current employment status, to me this wouldn't even be a consideration. I'd tell the kiddos that daddy has to do this, and after it's done you'll all be a lot better off.

Now if there are behavioral issues or special needs with any of them, that may change my mind. But if wifey supports you, I'd be gone.

12, not 15.... still in many ways immature, but definately doesn't need her dad like she did a couple of years ago.

Just received a job offer (took piss test yesterday) for another job, just a little shy of $100k, with, get this, a "pension plan"... how rare is that? Just 15 minutes from the house, and that one would start Dec 6th.... but to retire with full pension benefits, that means 20 years in, and I would be 69

or I could go about 4 or 5 years overseas and retire after that....?

[Igifuno]

Tough choice.. I think you're daughter would understand if you sit her down and explain. Kids are resilient and she'll be okay.. still, tough one.

[Times Roman]

It would be hard to turn it down then if you can bolt if you need to. When are you going to talk to her about it?

I was told I will receive a call from DC on monday. IF I get that call, and IF it looks like if we are beginning the process, then right after that. We thought we were going to Kabul a year ago, and we talked a little bit of it then.... so it shouldn't be a complete shock.

[Cycnasty]

Seriously, I'm almost getting irritated that you're not packing yet. I don't think your daughter needs all that much from you at 15, other than the keys to the car, or a cell phone, or to complain about curfew, or that you think her clothes are too slutty. (you know what I mean...).

Anyway, considering your current employment status, to me this wouldn't even be a consideration. I'd tell the kiddos that daddy has to do this, and after it's done you'll all be a lot better off.

Now if there are behavioral issues or special needs with any of them, that may change my mind. But if wifey supports you, I'd be gone.

his daughter is 12.im a father of 2 boys and 2 girls.my girls are 11 and 13,all i can say is money aint everything.you will never get the time back that you spend away from your children.im not blowing smoke either i spent 10 yrs in the service most of it overseas

[Times Roman]

his daughter is 12.im a father of 2 boys and 2 girls.my girls are 11 and 13,all i can say is money aint everything.you will never get the time back that you spend away from your children.im not blowing smoke either i spent 10 yrs in the service most of it overseas

ex military myself. two overseas assignments, so I have a clue what that is. but no kids / family at the time, and none of my duty in combat zones. I also know military does not pay. So if you were making $30k/year, this would be 10x that. I think I am starting to rationalize myself taking this if it is offered....

[paulzane]

Times, not trying to pi ss on your strawberries, but there is a reason that the money is so high and that is the DANGER element. Yes you may get away with it and survive 5 years or so. Then maybe you won't.

How will your daughter and wife and family feel about that if it all goes wrong and you get flown back in pieces?

Yes Dubai is great if you have the money!

[Hazard]

They hiring more guys? I'm certainly qualified.... I've got no idea what you do, no military experiance, all I know is medical, and i'll take care of the harems for everyone whenever they get back to the palace...... sounds like they should pay me atleast twice what everyone else is getting

let me know if they like that resume

Not sure I could be away from familly for that long..... but it does sound very enticing. Either way..... congrats on the great offer man! I'm happy for you.

~Haz~

[Hazard]

BTW - the most important question here is will you have internet access to keep updating the "smallest bikini" thread?

~Haz~

[Times Roman]

Yeah, internet access for sure! My mate there sends me email all the time. I haven't accepted anything yet. Still need "the phone call" on monday. But we've been working on this for about a year now. So we will see....

[lovbyts]

I have a daughter now 17. Do it. It's a good age to go, if she was older I would say ??? You can come home 3 or 4 times a year like you said and spend quality time with them instead of what; 1 hr a day if you are lucky? Plan family vacations around your time off, more memories for them with you.

Save more and forget the going off base to party. Also find other ways to make more $$$ while you are there. OT or other jobs. make the most of it. 3 years will fly by and put most of it into some type of account that the wife cant over spend either. It's easy to get out of hand. The more you have the more you spend.

I regret not packing up and moving to Philippines 8 years ago with a buddy of mine. I should have packed up my daughter and gone.

[kelevra]

Family became more and time at home became more important to me. I stopped contracting to be at home consistently and I wasn’t out lengthy periods to begin with.
I vote family. Unless they are about to starve and that is the only way to pay the bills.
I took a ruff approx 25 grand a year cut to stay at home, but we have things in order. I just cant go buy all the damn toys I want now. Yet we still live well.

[Knockout_Power]

Dont worry about your daughter mang, she will be happy with the Ferrari you can afford to buy her for her 16th bday...

Economy getting scarce in some parts, take the opportunity to make some good coin while it has presented itself.

[Times Roman]

I just found out the construction on the new living quarters is almost complete. Comes with wet bars, several TV lounges, nice back yards with fire pits.

A few years ago, my buddy came home and dropped $150k on a class A motorhome, three harleys for him and his wife, and other toys. He went back to Kabul, and as he was going, he told me the money from the first two years he was there was gone.

Me? I already have my harley, so I'll just bank the rest. A little for the kids college fund. Maybe I'll buy a house free and clear. But the rest is retirement. I'll probably resume working for a few years, but my goal is to not have to work until I die, like I thought I would have to.

[Knockout_Power]

Its also a good time to buy up cheap property and hold on to it till the market comes back up... talk about a real retirment plan. I'll be taking a trip to the US to find some properties right around my birthday in January.

[Times Roman]

true.

btw, if anyone is interested, here is a link for a website where you can find high paying international jobs...

http://www.devex.com

[lovbyts]

I just found out the construction on the new living quarters is almost complete. Comes with wet bars, several TV lounges, nice back yards with fire pits.

A few years ago, my buddy came home and dropped $150k on a class A motorhome, three harleys for him and his wife, and other toys. He went back to Kabul, and as he was going, he told me the money from the first two years he was there was gone.

Me? I already have my harley, so I'll just bank the rest. A little for the kids college fund. Maybe I'll buy a house free and clear. But the rest is retirement. I'll probably resume working for a few years, but my goal is to not have to work until I die, like I thought I would have to.

Want a room, mate? Hmmmm really it's tempting. It would be really bad timing but???

[Sicko]

Funny how I would love to be in your shoes and hate it at the same time..I am away from my wife and child(soon to be two) 3-5 days a week depending on job location..I have been with the wifey for over 11 years and have always had to travel.The difference now is my kid. when it was just her(wife) it was good kind of kept it fresh..But now I cant stand to be away all week long. i feel like I am missing so much..I constantly question whether the money i make is worth the absense in my childs life.Of course i make less than third of your current offer so it makes your decision just that much harder...Its almost like saying "you must choose between losing your hand or foot" how can you choose which one would hurt less? maybe not the best analagy but for me,way difficult decision..
Congrats on the offer and good luck!!!

[Times Roman]

Well, I'm supposed to get "the call" from D.C. today, so we'll see.

My buddy told me to bring a six month supply of test until we can get a secure supply source from a legit GP. He also said I will have a private APO box, and you can get "anything" in Dubai. I'm going to be real cautious, but my buddy told me there is little if any screening on incoming mail. So one less thing to concern myself there.

The "no alchohol" thing in Kabul seems to be moot, if they have several wet bars in the living quarters.

And the women. Not so sure about that one. Maybe I should start a new thread dedicated to all the "burka babes"? (j/k)

[DSM4Life]

They hiring more guys? I'm certainly qualified.... I've got no idea what you do, no military experiance, all I know is medical, and i'll take care of the harems for everyone whenever they get back to the palace...... sounds like they should pay me atleast twice what everyone else is getting

let me know if they like that resume

Not sure I could be away from familly for that long..... but it does sound very enticing. Either way..... congrats on the great offer man! I'm happy for you.

~Haz~

If haz goes, ill go.

[Times Roman]

If haz goes, ill go.

I am being told it can be VERY boring there.... nothing to do except work, workout, sleep. It is definately a sacrafice. It can be very difficult to get recruited. I've been working on this for almost a year. Preference is given to ex military. then to those that have had lengthy overseas assignments. Not every one is ex military, however. My friend is a retired first seargent, and I had two overseas assignments during my six years in the army. The "problem" that is common over there is due to the isolation. Many go over there chasing the buck$, never really been away from home for any length of time, first get lonely, then stir crazy, then to my buddy (he's a p/t recruiter). He's also the one that pats em on the asss and sends em home on the plane when they can't hang anymore. that's why they focus on ex military, because they have a proven track record of being away from home for lenghty periods of time without losing their motivation.

Well, I just turned my phone on, so if I get "the call" it will either be here soon or later tonight due to time differentials.

[lifterjaydawg]

very difficult decision, good luck.

[MuscleScience]

12, not 15.... still in many ways immature, but definately doesn't need her dad like she did a couple of years ago.

Just received a job offer (took piss test yesterday) for another job, just a little shy of $100k, with, get this, a "pension plan"... how rare is that? Just 15 minutes from the house, and that one would start Dec 6th.... but to retire with full pension benefits, that means 20 years in, and I would be 69

or I could go about 4 or 5 years overseas and retire after that....?

You got to ask yourself is the 4-5 years away from your daughter worth the extra money. Once those years are gone, no amount of money can replace them. How much is missing your kids most vital years worth to you in dollar terms is the question?

[MrGreen]

I would be gone personally. Already as it is I work away from home 6-9 months a year for just over 1/3 of that so the choice would be crystal clear. As KP said things are rough and you should take advantage of the opportunity when it comes knocking!

[spywizard]

depends, do you want your 12 yr old to be pregnant by age 14..??

stay home..

[lovbyts]

depends, do you want your 12 yr old to be pregnant by age 14..??

stay home..

What the mother doesnt have anything to do with raising her? The father is supposed to be the bread winner. He will be home 3 or 4x a year 2 weeks at a time and can afford 2 or 3 REAL vacatoins for the family for a week or more of the time. That will be better quality time than being home every day and hardly seeing your kids like most parents. They will be more appreciative, wanting/excited to see him, looking forward to the time together and better memories.

I say go for it, it's not like he is abandoning them, quite the contrary. He needs to also make them aware HE is sacrificing a lot to better the quality of their life and help secure their future and education.

[fattymcbutterpants]

Just remember though the vacations with your family will be nice, but I mean all the little things are pretty big memories to many people. Just little things having to do with their kids, little experience play a big part. But at least she is 12 and not like 4 or 5

[lovbyts]

Yes I think younger would be harder. She is at the age now where she will be spending more and more time with friends and less with mom/dad. You have to trust mom to monitor things and you can still be very involved via chat, skype, etc.

[fattymcbutterpants]

Yea when she starts dating just make sure you schedule a vacation and spend a day or two at home to meet the BF lol