I am compiling some much needed information for an ongoing investigation. I need current and former KBR electricians to answer the following questions for me. PLEASE
- What country did you work for KBR/SEII/OAS in? Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Other
- When where you there? This is helpful info but not mandatory
- What was the number and name of your Camp, FOB or Base? Again helpful information but not mandatory
- How were you told to make your electrical installations? As per the National Electric Code (NEC), The British Standards, or no code was mentioned.
- Did your camp have a copy of these standards readily available? The NEC, The British Standards
These are my answers.
- Iraq
- July 2004-July 2006
- Green Zone
- NEC-But without the tools and material nearly impossible.
- My personal copy of the NEC/British Standards were never mentioned.
You can leave it in a comment. Anonymous is OK….PLEASE be honest. Or email it to me at mssparky@mssparky.com Your name and email address will never be divulged. Please forward to other KBR electricians who may not be aware of my blog.
Thanks in advance from me, the soldiers and their families.
Ms Sparky
Iraq
2005
H-2
Nat Elec Code
No I think one of us had it on disk somewhere
Ms Sparky’s Response:
Thanks. Please forward to any other KBR electricians you know of.
hey deb – whats this for?
you know they said NEC but we couldnt do it because we didnt have the part.
iraq -2004-2006 – IZ – NEC – did i borrow yours?
stay on it girl-dont let them get away with this shit.
mike
Ms Sparky’s Response:
Trust me Mike. I’ll tell you when I can. It’s for the greater good! Please forward to any other KBR electricians you know of.
1-Afghanistan
2-2004-2006
3-Kandahar, FOB Deh Rawood, FOB Anaconda, FOB Cobra, Bagram, PRT Chaghcharan, FOB Salerno, PRT Kandahar
4- This is funny: When I got to Kandahar and asked about codes, I was told that we were in a war zone and we needed to make it happen. Our GF was a plumber!
5-had the ex send my code book to me since I NEVER saw one anywhere else. I was forced to leave Kandahar and fly out to a special forces base for two months, due to the fact that I demanded we adhere to proper grounding/bonding techniques at Kandahar.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
Good for you for sticking to your guns!!! You Rock!! You probably saved lives!! Please forward to any other KBR electricians you know of.
There were no damn codes of any kind. If you tried to push the code issue they threatened to fire you.
I was in Iraq 2006-2007 I brought my code book. I did the best that they would let me do. They never said nothing about doing it to code. It was get it done. That was the code.
1. Afghaistan
2. Sep 2007 – Sep 2008
3. Kandahar
4. I found so many things that were not code and was told, “that is not what we are worried about”)
5. I took my own NEC code book.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
They better get worried about it. I’ll bet you $100 that Afghanistan will be added to the Inpsection List!! Thanks
I do not know if you have contacted any of the locals in Illinois, but here is one address to get started. http://www.ibew21.org
Regarding my issue…that of my folks getting
beeped by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services…it took over four years, but I finally received a response from Illinois Senator DICK Durbin’s office. They blew me off, and did so with the typical fact free content.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
Sorry to hear that. Just keep pressin’ on.
Tikrit, Iraq 2004-2005 No code at all no code book. If I had even asked I would have been laughed at and told this isn’t the U.S.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
Thanks
Iraq 2005-2007 If you wanted to do it to code you would not have made it very long at my camp. they want people to just go get it done. they didn’t care if it was right. they only cared if it was fast. I didnt even know the Brits had a code. I guess just about everyone has a code of some kind.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
Thanks
Afghanistan-SEII
Kandahar,Kandahar PRT, Laghman PRT, Qalat FOB, Lash-Ka-Gar PRT, Tarin-Kowt PRT, Shin-Kay FOB, Kabul 2C,Kabul2E, Kandahar/Kabul
No standards were mentioned by anyone, except in the contract.
I had my own mailed to me from U.S. Most of the electricians I worked with knew or cared nothing about it.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
Thanks Jeff!!
Green Zone, Iraq
08-2004-06-2006
No code was mentioned at all
I had my copy of the NEC
Supervision was never there and was always off surfing the net. And yes he’s still there.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
Thanks
Iraq/ SEII (you think KBR)
2006-2008
H-sites
No code-just get it done with or without materials or tools-whatever
Some guys had their own NEC and British that they personally paid for, but we never used it unless we had to prove it to QA/QC that they were wrong when they would write us up for something that would be so insignificant while there was real problems due to not having the proper materials and tools.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
You actually had a British code book there? I’ve talked to 100 electricians in the last two days. That’s the first I’ve heard that. Thanks
1. SEII, IRAQ
2. 2007 – 2008
3. Camp Cropper(D5C), Radwaniyah Palace(D9), Camp Rustimiyah(D7) (Helped out Camp Liberty F2)
4. NEC/British Standard/”Your in Iraq” Standard
5. No code books. I had my NEC and Ugly’s sent to me. I also printed off as much of the British standard I could find. Also made conversion charts and cheat sheets for other electricians/TCNs. Have to be resourceful when you have limited support from your employer.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
Thanks
1.SEII, Iraq and Afghanistan
2.04′-08′
3.Karbala, Diwaniya, Tallil, Abu Graib, Al Asad, Ramadi, Haditha Dam, Fallujah, Taqaduum, Karbala, Babylon, Bagram, Jalalabad
4.First, no real mention-but a given NEC. But per the material could be BS, really depends on the electrician. You can see what happens when you hire electricians without knowledge or skill. It is foremost the JW’s responsibility for proper installation.
5.Had codes but Gunny threw it out. Hate to say it but military tampers with panels a little too much. And not just US military.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
Thanks
ms sparky I posted you on the forum that all the familys are going on. once again I would like to thank you for you work. I am leaving dec 7 for houston and just wonder where to find more pics of the wormy work out there. I am so glad I came on this site to hear from the brothers and sisters who were already there and back. Thank you all.ibew 441
Ms Sparky’s Response:
More pics??? And deprive you of that very first “Oh my freakin’ God, what the hell is this shit?” LOL I do have some pics on my site. Look under the Iraq electrical quiz category. I’ll be posting more. But the pics will just pale in comparison to reality.
I’ve been an Air Force electrican for over 15 years. We’re required to go thru multiple schools and continuous upgrade training. But when we get out we’re still not considered “journeymen”. We are held to an extremly high standard and we MUST follow the NEC even when we deploy. I’ve been hearing this BS term “Technically non-compliant, theater accepted” for over ten years from KBR. I’ve met a few good guys that worked for them, but still seen some crappy work because they’re not “allowed” to do it right. This is my 5th trip to the AOR, and still they don’t want to do the work properly. They’d rather argue on why it doesn’t meet the code. GIVE ME A BREAK! Most of these guys never should have been given a license. If someone quotes you an NEC code and you don’t understand it, you don’t belong in the field. Just my opinion.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
First…thanks for serving. And I agree, “Technically non-compliant, theater accepted” was a blank check for KBR to just “Get er done!” Rarely was anything done to the NEC. Several reason….lack of parts and lack of qualifications. Then for KBR to claim they were doing work to the British Standards in an effort to be absolved of any responsibility for the electrocution deaths is unconscionable. The hold the DCMA at least partially accountable as well. They let KBR get away with it.
i just don’t know where to begin there was so many code violations happening everywhere i went i had to get out of there i was afraid i would forget how real electrical is installed . one incident that sticks out is when I found 230 volts on cat 5 wire all over the LSA’s with soilders living in them I made a safety report they (KBR) had me sign an attorney /client priviledge statement . metal conduit running in and out of plastic boxes etc etc etc goes on and on. I got my masters pay but still left after 8 months .one question i have is KBR never installed the incinerator we had on our base i was told they bought 34 and only installed a few but they had these guys that would come by every so often to take inventory on the parts and peices how much were the incinerators and did they get paid for them ? rarely did we have a day when the air would just choke you out. NEVER AGAIN KBR
Ms Sparky’s Response:
I would love to get more info on this. And that statement you signed. Thanks for the great comment.
Ms Sparky. I have one question. My husband is a Journeyman Electrician over in Afghanistan and as you know same deal bad work/no material. On top of that my husband has a real jerk for a boss! Is it normal for them to write you up for every little thing?
Ms Sparky’s Response:
The “boss is a jerk” thing is nothing new. But, I would like to say it is not typical to write someone up all the time because it takes too much work for the KBR manager. And you would think they would be treating their electricians with a little more respect. But…not knowing the situation it’s hard to say. But if they are writing him up all the time they are planning on firing him. There is no other reason to do it.
Due to the Army’s Criminal Investigations Unit (CID) investigating KBR and KBR managers for various alleged negligent activity including the electrocution deaths of soldiers. KBR managers are finally being brought to task for their poor management styles and decisions. So if he has a manager that lacks in management skills it is very possible that’s what it’s is all about especially if your husband is pushing the issue on “doing the right thing”.
He may need to just ask for a transfer or quit. KBR HR will not help him in this situation. Primarily…because he doesn’t work for KBR!
Keep me posted.
Thank’s Sparky….you give well informed information. Well what he exlpains to me is they want him to do work that is not right and then tell him to validate it, and he is not willing to do that when he know’s the work is wrong. That started the issues between him and the supervisor. My husband did ask for a transfer and they told him he has to wait 6 months before he can get a transfer. He is already at 4 months. Do you know if they normally grant the transfers?
Ms Sparky’s Response:
Tell him not to do it. If he does it, even under protest, even if he protests in writing, and someone dies because of his work, he very well could be charged with “negligent homicide”. It’s better to just quit and come home than to go through Federal Court and possibly end up in a Federal Prison all for doing what some dumb ass told him. He’s bound by his license. They will claim he knew the dangers. And don’t think for a minute that KBR will pay for a defense attorney!
As far as a transfer goes, if they do, they will try to transfer him to some hell hole as punishment or keep him….as punishment. If they are trying to get him to “pencil whip” paperwork he needs to get in touch with his DCMA.
Nov 3,2008 to Mar 15 2009
J-bad, Keating, Fortress
Last job I did for KBR was at Fortress troubleshooting 120 vac on the shower head to concrete floor and 120 vac from any grounded equipment to concrete floor in D-fac. TCN’s responsible for the wiring.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
That’s just unfreakin’ believable. I blame the DoD just as much. I was told that the DoD has allowed KBR to bid LOGCAP IV with 30% less expats replacing them with TCN’s! Do you know anything about Task Force Power in Afghanistan?
1. KBR/SEII, Iraq
2. Jan 09 – Dec 09
3. F2/WW
4. One thing I can say for our electrical construction department is that our superintendent didn’t skimp on ANY of the codes compliance. But there was still some confusion on how to apply NEC codes to foreign wiring materials & equipment. Technically anything that wasn’t a hard stand was NEC, all hard stands were supposed to be BS. This was decided during my year over there. I did 2 new HQ office trailers for the DCMA and everything was done as close to the NEC as possible. Obviously the trailers we got from Kuwait weren’t wired to the NEC and there was a lot of discussion about that involving the DCMA, Bill Black and Joe Tedescoe. Honestly I think using the NEC at all in IQ was a waste. The only thing that I could apply 100% was electrical theory, none of the codes ever perfectly matched the materials we had to work
with.
5. Our department had brand new NEC books given out and I had a complete BS and NEC copy on my laptop.