Overseas Opportunities

In a recent article (Trapped in Amerika), we tried to offer suggestions for those looking for opportunities outside of the US.  In response, we received many emails from former US military people who asked us for more details about getting a job in Qatar.  Their queries were on how to get jobs such as bodyguards or even as US military contractors.

Here at TDV we never want to support the US Department of Offense in any way, however, we gave it some thought and realized that someone was going to take the high paying contractor jobs with or without our support.  And, we'd much rather TDV readers, who are much more aware of true freedom and liberty were to get that money than your typical neo-con or statist.  Especially since war is one of the only growth industries emanating from the US at this time and looks to be marching on, now from Iraq into Iran.

So, we asked the man who knows the insides of the belly of the beast as well as anyone we know, Private Parts.  Pvt. Parts writes a monthly column in our newsletter aptly called, "Dispatches from Within the Belly of the Beast".

He works as a contractor in Afghanistan and makes $100,000+ per year, mostly tax free and literally does absolutely nothing... He mostly just parties and goes to the gym every day.

So, we asked him if he had any tips for TDV readers in need of work on how to get high paying contractor type jobs.  His response is below.  Please remember to spread the word on truth, freedom and liberty from the inside if you do take advantage of these employment opportunities:

-----

Hello from Afghanistan TDV'ers,

Sure I'm happy to help.  There's no secret to it really.  The days of getting hired based only on "who you know" are long gone.  Companies with govt. contracts in conflict zones like Iraq, A'stan or parts of Africa look for contractors to hire the same way as any other company looks for employees...

 
*By posting their job vacancies on their company websites
*By posting ads on job boards/forums
*By using recruiting firms to find quality resumes posted on sites like monster, career builder, linkedin, etc.

EVERY US or UK security company that is eligible to get a government contract will have a website, and they almost always post the jobs they have available.  Companies like:
 
*Xe Services and US Training (two spin-offs that used to be known as Blackwater)
*Armor Group
*Triple Canopy
*Erinys International
*MVM Inc.
*Aegis
*Sabre International
*EODT
*Global Strategies Group
*Edinburgh International
*Linxx Global
*SOC SMG
*TigerSwan
*Hart Security
*Unity Resources Group
*Control Risks Group 

And probably another dozen security companies whose names I'm forgetting... ALL have websites and post job openings constantly.  And even if they don't have any openings posted at the moment, they'll have a generic HR or recruiter email address posted for you to submit your resume to.  And TRUST ME, if they like your resume, they'll contact you.

But the ex-military guys have to remember something, especially nowadays in 2011 and with the terrible economy in the US.  The private security market overseas is very competitive.  There are untold THOUSANDS of vets out there with multiple combat tours, many with special operations backgrounds, who are also looking for contract jobs.  So just because a 23 year old kid is fresh out of the Marines or Army with two combat tours and is "willing to work anywhere, anytime", that really doesn't mean much any more.  Almost EVERYONE has multiple combat tours now.  Recruiters are looking for specialties, particularly special operations backgrounds, advanced medical training, top secret clearances, VERIFIABLE maritime security experience (for the new contracts that are popping up securing ships in the Gulf of Aden), etc. 

As for bodyguard jobs, guys have to remember: high risk = high pay, low risk = low pay.  The "dream job" bodyguard gigs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, etc. are pretty much just fantasies.  With very few exceptions (and it would take me an hour to explain any further), they don't exist.  And why would they?  There's no risk there.  How many wealthy businessmen get kidnapped in Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, UAE or Oman each year???  Exactly!

Now there ARE security gigs in those five Middle East countries (the nice ones), but they're almost exclusively "force protection" jobs, which are nothing more than glorified security guard jobs, protecting military bases, storage warehouses, oil facilities, etc.  And those jobs very rarely pay 6-figures (until you get into the senior management level).  The only 6-figure (security) jobs you're going to find are in true "conflict zones", Iraq, A'stan, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Congo, Libya, etc.  Again: high risk = high pay, low risk = low pay.

By the way, the companies I listed above are primarily security companies (my specialty/background).  There are a lot of other companies involved in overseas govt. contracting in other fields like IT, logistics/supply, maintenance, construction, engineering, host nation forces training, food services, intel/translating, oil & gas, etc.  And their high-paying contracts aren't only in "conflict zones" or in the gulf.  You can find contract jobs in IT, logistics, etc. in a million (nice) places.  I know guys who've done contracts in Russia, Germany, Australia, Japan, S. Korea, Philippines, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Kenya, Liberia, Uganda, Mauritius, Djibouti, Jordan, Israel, Turkey, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guatemala, Mexico, etc.

For non-security contract jobs, here are a few well-known companies:

*ITT Corporation (although they have plenty of security jobs too)
*DynCorp (some security jobs too)
*Raytheon
*L-3 Communications
*Agility Logistics
*PAE Group
*Northrup Grumman
*Vinnell
*MPRI
*CACI
*Chenega
*Worldwide Language Resources (WWLR)
*Torres AES

And they all hire the same way as the security companies, either directly through their company websites, or using recruiting firms, posting on job boards/forums, etc.   

A few well-known job board/forums that specialize in overseas contract work:
 
www.clearancejobs.com (free, but only for people with active clearances....if you have a clearance, trust me, you WILL find a job on this site)
www.militaryhire.com (free)
www.closeprotectionworld.com (free)
www.dangerzonejobs.com (I think you have to pay monthly for their job postings but I've met a LOT of guys in Iraq and A'stan who mentioned they found their gigs through that site, so I have to assume it's pretty good)
www.icaonline.us (a pay site, but I heard good things about it too)

Good luck to all,

Pvt. Parts 

Comments

[Kashyap S]

I have to say... WOW! Impressive that you're sharing so much info for free. Glad you don't have any hang ups over Intellectual Property "Rights". Keep up the Resistance Jeff, Zion depends on you.

[2Easy]

Great post. Having recently returned to the States from the region, I can vouch for Mr. Parts and the accuracy of this post. Not sure why someone would want to live there, but that's a different topic.