I’m in the process of applying for a civilian job on a US base in Afghanistan. It would likely be on one of the bigger bases - one with a PX, fast food, USO; that sort of thing - and, if offered the job, I’d do purely administrative work - no patrolling or security details; no transporting; I probably wouldn’t ever leave the base.
Still, it’s Afghanistan and not Boise, Idaho. So I’m curious: can anyone give me a realistic assessment of how dangerous such a job would be? Or what daily life is like as a civilian on Kandahar, or Bagram, or one of the forward operating bases throughout the country? Thanks -
I was in Bagram in 2008, and am looking at going back sometime this spring. As I (quite truthfully) told every friend and family member that asked, I was more in danger of twisting an ankle on a rock than anything else. Given that I lived in Tampa at the time I was first there, I was actually safer in Bagram, given that I didn’t have to drive on Tampa roads twice a day.
There is fast food, coffee (Green Bean when I was there), etc. Movies in the MWR, USO tours, etc. It’s really not bad at all, other than there being nothing green, and tons and tons and tons of people. You may have your own room, that would be nice.
If you get hired, PM me…maybe we can meet for coffee!
If you don’t mind communal showers that aren’t always hot and a general lack of privacy, you should be ok. I’ve spent quite a bit of time on smaller FOBs and always felt pretty safe. I’ve heard mortars but nothing came close while I was there but that’s not saying it won’t. Kandahar gets brutally hot in the summer, Bagram less so but it’s still hot. The winters are damp and nasty and locals burn human excrement for heat which leaves a lovely lingering aroma…
Group showers and a lack of privacy I can handle. Burning dung sounds like a bit more of a challenge…
I’m not sure how to phrase this in a way that won’t sound trivial or inane, but is there any “fun” in that life? Meaning, if you’re on a big and pretty secure base with decent facilities, even though you’re in the middle of a godforsaken desert and living in close quarters, do people generally get along and make the best of things? And even though you miss your family and would rather be home, life on the FOB isn’t so bad?
Or is it just a long, boring, sometimes dangerous slog that everyone can’t wait to escape?
Haven’t done afghanistan yet but I’ve been to iraq. The life of a Fobbit is not particularly dangerous. Lack of freedom of movement and living in a third world shithole can be depressing after a while. Indirect fire does happen but you have to be very unlucky for it to happen to you.
I don’t know the rules in Afghanistan but in iraq contractors were partying their asses off every night. No alcohol for soldiers. Plenty of alcohol for contractors.
My friend whose tour in Iraq was primarily at Camp Victory, with a short stint in Balad, said that they got indirect fire maybe a few times, and it was terrifying, but not particularly damaging to anything.
He also has implied, but not outright said that they were mostly bored out of their minds.
Terrifying? Guess it depends on your personality. Some did get hurt or die but it was rare. If it happened at night I mostly just pulled up my magic blanket and went back to sleep.
While you can get alcohol at the embassy, it’s considered bad form to drink on a US FOB even if you’re not subject to the restriction. Get a job on a foreign one if it’s that important - almost all the European ones had bars.
If you’re fine with missing your friends and family, life is pretty easy. The money will make it all worth it. Contractors tend to get laid a lot, too. Most of the people get along just fine with each other, so you’ll make some life-long friends while you’re there.
The food sucks, but it’s free. Sure, it’s called “steak and lobster”, but it’s more like “thin beef and salty rubber.” I’d say the danger is negligible. You’ll hear bombs, but statistically, you’re pretty safe.
My best advice is to stay active. Boredom will get to you if you let it. So follow an “activities schedule” and I mean stick to it. Go to the gym every day. Set up a poker game every other night. Have a pool tournament on Tuesdays. Toss a football every Friday. The idea is to get every day to pass quickly, and you’ll be home in no time.
I did do a vanity search and I’ve spent a couple years in Afghanistan, but I actually have never lived on a base. They can range from pretty posh to spartan in the kinds of services they’ll have. If you’re on KAF, or Bagram they have fast food, PXs, etc, but if you’re on a FOB they often don’t have much in the way of services. If you have an APO address, you can get anything you need including Starbucks coffee delivered.
As for the security, it will really depend on where you are posted. I’ve never felt that unsafe in Afghanistan, but different people have different comfort levels. If you are on one of the large bases, I don’t think there is much risk. You’re biggest proble will be being bored. One thing I’ve noticed about bases, they all watch FOX news, that would drive me crazy. If you’re a gym rat, there is always a good gym on bases.
I GOT THE JOB! Wow, I guess this is really going to happen!
Thanks for all the advice so far and, since this is really going to happen (if I keep saying it, it’ll sink in?) further thoughts/advice are still certainly welcome!
Stay active; stick to the schedule - sounds very good. (And potentially fun…)
FOX news, eh? So they even get cable on those bases? I was expecting AFN, maybe, but this is a new development.
And I’m not a gym rat, but in a general effort for self-improvement (and staving off boredom - see above) it might be good to become one.
