You just proved my point! Never even supervised, let alone management level – is that why you’re so angry at them, you didn’t make Foreman?

Secondly, I left KBR 4 yrs ago and I expect no rewards. Just trying to give them credit accordingly.

Thirdly, you don’t need to respond as I see that the only way you would agree with a blogger is if he blames KBR about something.

Have a nice life!

I am also surprised that you’re still blaming KBR for the faulty showers in Iraq and it has publicly been acknowledged that those were build by KBR subcontractors, not employees.

I just love it when people read one post on MsSparky and know everything about me! Just in case you don’t have time to educate yourself about me….I spent two years in Iraq for KBR/SEII as an electrician. So don’t even argue KBR electrical with me!

KBR’s public acknowledgment of anything does not constitute fact. I am very familiar with each and every single electrocution death in Iraq and most electrical injuries.

Your loyalties to KBR are duly noted. I’m sure that KBR will reward you accordingly. You can put your pom poms down now!! Rah Rah K-B-R

My opinion has not changed.

Still, your third paragraph makes me think that you spent little time in the company to be a good judge of its policies. And I also believe that you spent no time in or with management level people.

I am also surprised that you’re still blaming KBR for the faulty showers in Iraq and it has publicly been acknowledged that those were build by KBR subcontractors, not employees.

TTYL

B

Hiring unskilled craft from Host countries and SE Asia is a major factor in the electrical issues in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many people, not just Americans have died or been injured because of it.

If companies like KBR had taken more time to hire qualified craft and other workers, not recruited from homeless shelters and other poverty stricken regions, had treated their employees with dignity and respect the attrition would have been much less. But since KBR got paid by the new head there was little incentive to establish employee retention.

So….as you sit there and berate people for leaving for stupid reasons, at least they had the option to leave. Many workers brought in by way of labor (slave) brokers did not.

This mirage the DoD puts on that this is some sort of cost savings is a joke. All they are doing is promoting Human trafficking in the form of slavery and prostitution.

I worked for KBR for 7 years, first as an HCN and then as a TCN. When I first started working for them, there were more Americans on the ground than Locals. THE US GOVERNMENT decided this was too expensive, so they ORDERED KBR to cut down EXPATS and hire more HCNs (cheaper) – when I left to go to Afghanistan (4 yrs later) there were 4700 HCNs and 300 Expats. Expats were supervising and HCNs were building and maintaining (very efficiently) a “State of the Art” Camp called Bondsteel.

During my employment there I witnessed and documented many Cost Avoidance Measures (CAMs) – all of them reviewed all the way to the Pentagon – that had only one purpose, save the GOVERNMENT money and then share the knowledge and work practice with all the others (TACOM). We were the first ones to discover the body cracks on the new M1114 HMMWV and find the best way to repair them (no need to ship them to US). Local welders DID IT.

Moving to Afghanistan. We had around 27% turnover rate. Can you imagine what these figures are for a 5000 strong workforce? Houston couldn’t keep up with it (recruiting qualified/certified/willing to die Expats). Expats on the ground were demob-ing for the most ridiculous reasons. AWOL in Thailand, Drinking, Family Reasons, “I’m not ready to die” – the morning following a Rocket Attack you’d have 10-15 Expats waiting at the HR door for a ticket home. The situation was critic. We had to produce a report that showed that the highest turnover rate was amongst Expats (proportionally). Remember that the cost of hiring an employee (from his hometown to Bagram, incl. training, travel etc) is approx. USD 11,000). Add to that the trouble created by him leaving the position empty for at least a month (as per contract, you didn’t have to notify your employer in advance)

All these numbers went to the DCMA a.k.a THE US GOVERNMENT.

Now guess who recommends the next step…

Kind Regards

B

“V I V A … A M E R I C A”

Pardon Babo I translated it differently,about keep head down. And I know you were right about the war in Bosnia, that there was no American war should never stop, to the truth but unfortunately the genocide occurred because Europe did not want to help in time.About paying taxes and you are right but everyone goes for a better life,
I just was felt bad when someone says that they do not deserve a good salary and we have not trained enough and I gave full support to 12 years the US- army,
this honestly say that I love America more than Europe europe really do not like no way
and I know what some Bosnian are constantly not satisfied and say that deserve more, and have never asked who gives them a salary and who gives food in Iraq someone all that paid I mean American citizens, this is my last comment and you’re right, the first need to get a job American citizens and then if there is a place to help friendly countries, because the economic situation is not good anywhere in the world. I hope that you understand me and that I did not think nothing bad

Keep your head down is American slang for “Stay Safe” from incoming weapons fire from insurgents who like to kill us!

Most of the Bosnians were more American than half of the Americans I’ve worked with. You’re a great people and some of you are my brothers for life. In several cases I decided to work with the Bosnian people instead because of the institutional and cultural racism by my fellow Americans brought to project by others. ”

Thank you and that you know, to me it means a lot.my parents have learned me, If you want to be respected you have to respect different culture and traditions and you will only then to be respected, so that should be forget those who say that you are uneducated,because I just came from Bosnia.my head was straight and it was a war and my head will be straight in the future and i never keep my head down.
Thanks again Jimbo

To Admir, this is my last comment on the subject:

I understand your position, but please realize anytime an American company downsizes its labor force and brings in foreign workers there is always going to be a problem.

America intervened on behalf of the Muslims to stop the genocide created by the so-called Christian Serbs. That is one right decision we made as a nation. With this being said I wish you the best of luck and keep your head down.