The rumor mill is a buzzin’!!! We all know KBR has a hiring freeze on. Rumor has it there are 300 new hires backed up in Iraq (BTC) with no place to go. Has KBR lost the Operations & Maintenance (O&M) contract in Iraq? If so who’s taking over? Has KBR been debarred from bidding on future LOGCAP contracts?
Tell me more….tell me more!! Either leave a comment or send me an email!!
Ms Sparky
the buzz on the internet is that the freeze is on truck drivers not on wiremen. glad to see that mssparky is not part of 112. they are not welcome in most parts of the state. not much love left for them anymore.
Ms Sparky’s Reponse:
I don’t think the freeze will affect electricians too much. But…you have to be “fit for duty”. It is affecting other construction crafts. Carpenters…etc.
Also if you need a passport, get it now. KBR is no longer getting it for you.
I noticed they pulled the ad for sparkys on the KBR web site. Do you think they will be hiring again in the near future? Is the fit for duty drug test?
Ms Sparky’s Response:
I can’t really tell what’s going with them right now. I know they are losing Kuwait and will probably be absorbing people from there. Thee’s something going on in Iraq and Afghanistan. I am trying to figure out what it is. I’ll blog it if I do.
Rumor is KBR will not be hiring anyone for Iraq after 3 months and they will keep the existing “assets” they have as rumors filter down from the top. Everything is unclear except the word “panic.”
Iraq is supposed to get split three ways for DynCorp, Fluor, and KBR. How it gets split, I don’t know for sure.
Rumor has it that only management and supervisor levels will be replaced. The actual working force will stay in place…
That is yet to be seen…
My Husband is in Iraq with KBR for the second time. He has told me that it’s very chaotic over there right now. People getting sent home for minor things. (One gentleman was sent home for not wearing his KBR hat indoors- it was in his hands and not on his head) smh. A girlfriend of mine whose Husband was set to go over there after being sent home from Houston due to KBR medical’s mishap with his glucose test said his recruiter called last night and said she had to “Take back their offer of employment to him due to a hiring freeze”. I spoke with my Husband’s recruiter two days ago. She’s a nice lady but not very bright. She let it slip that they are in fact I quote “Cutting down significantly on personnel and not hiring any new people effective immediately”. She sounded very stressed. Not really sure what is going on over there but my Husband says a lot of the guys are talking and the base is a buzz about things that may/may not be going down.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
That sounds like KBR. Not telling people the truth only breeds rumors which make it worse. I wonder if they know what “Just be honest” means. I’d love to hear to rumors. Keep me posted.
MrsC said,on March 13th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
People getting sent home for minor things. (One gentleman was sent home for not wearing his KBR hat indoors- it was in his hands and not on his head)
Sounds typical of KBR… Ill-mannered, rude, uneducated, and ignorant.
What ever happened to being mannerly?
I was taught as a child and by the military that you remove your hat when indoors.
A lot of KBR managment are former military and you would think the cover off when indoors would apply.
Evidently not as per you MrsC.
Just another example of the low-life management that rules with an iron fist over their “peons”.
They have no education and are afraid of those who do…
Ms Sparky’s Response:
My husband said the same thing!
LuckyMe:
My Dad was retired Army.. My Husband’s Father is a newly retired Command Sergeant Major. When my Husband witnessed the “indoor hat issue” he said the very same things you and Ms Sparky said. He was also raised that it was proper procedure to remove your hat while inside a Military Installation. It was out of respect that you did so. He felt that the incident was merely “knit picking” and totally rude and uncalled for. I think they are trying to FIND things to send folks home for, honestly. Everyone is in an uproar about the possibility of jobs being lost and being sent home.
Ms Sparky I have to say.. Since I was introduced to your site by another KBR wife you have opened up my eyes to SO much. I have read through things here and there only to turn around and discuss it with my Husband. He was a bit shocked after I first came to him telling him all these things going on. Simply because he had heard guys talking about it there. Thanks so much for all you do!! =)
Ms Sparky’s Response:
Thanks. I try to keep it honest. There are other forums out there. If you want to email me I can send you those addresses. I have to stay off of them. “The whole ignorance is bliss” thing just infuriates me.
To MrsC,
The CSM is absolutely correct! That was KBR policy in all Dinning Facilities in Afghanistan.
Ms. Sparky,
After reading posts here, I am getting the picture that KBR is a troubled company on many levels, but alas, I have a friend who is a welder (15+ yrs. experience) and trying hard to get a LOGCAP position in Afghanistan (much to my chagrin). After going through the usual application process he is in hold mode, waiting for a response, but since he’s so intent on making this a reality, I am just as intent on helping him make it so. Any ideas on whom to contact in HR to get things moving? Is it par for the course to wait 3 months before getting a response from them?? Any help is welcome, and on an unrelated, but important page; congratulations to your daughter for turning her life around (and kudos to you for raising your grandson!)!!
Thank you in advance for any input.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
Unfortunately right now KBR is at risk of losing more OGCAP work. Rumor has it that if they don’t get these electrical issues resolved they could lose all of LOGCAP IV. So KBR’s hiring has slowed down. He might try LSI Lear Siegler. But from what I understand they are no better than KBR….but it’s a job.
Thanks for the input Ms. Sparky, I appreciate it!
I just saw a Blue Border alert today that due to the military pulling out KBR will also be cutting it’s workforce and moving people around. I will have to e-mail my friend as he has a lot of contacts and knows where to get reliable info. I am an electrician and I have heard that they stopped hiring electricians a few weeks ago. I also heard that the DPC in Houston has shut down and a lot of the recruiters have been given the heave ho. I’ve also heard several times now that when KBR starts cutting back and/or another contractor takes over the cuts will start at the head of the snake. That means piss pore managers, superintendents, etc. I haven’t heard much about O&M or Construction though, I could see us being kept on for any disassembly that will take place once camps start closing down. I’ll repost with some new info when I get it. If anyone is looking for a LOGCAP job right now I wouldn’t bother with KBR. Try DynCorp, ITT, Fluor, Agility or CSA to name a few.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
YES!!! Cut the head off the snake!!! We are always looking for info!! Keep us posted. Thanks!
Hi all, I have just come across ur site whilst looking on kbr’s site etc. and came upon this site,I to have applied for tanker work etc,recieved the questionar etc but then nothing,At first i thought being so far away[australia] may have something to do with it,But it,s not just me,Sounds like somethings happening[maybe hiring locals etc CHEAP]maybe the GFC has something to do with it,Anyhow i’ll keep on chasing.
Thanks regards
Badger.
Hi there….I am to be in Huston on May 4th as a Master Electrician I believe they are looking to make strong improvements and corrections in a positive way and learned from past mistakes…there are always problems and differences etc at any company and not one is perfect etc what is important is what you and I can learn and grow from the situation for we can move on in our path in life to help others not to make the same mistakes again.
Stan
Ms Sparky’s Response:
OK Stan…..just hand on to that positive attitude for as long as you can. Be safe.
KBR is closing LOGCAP III. They lost their contract. They are getting rid of employees left and right with less then a days notice. We know, we were on of them. No one is safe with their job there.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
Keep me posted. Shoot me an email when you get home. Are you talking Iraq? Which camp?
zzzzap said it all….do not bother…LOGCAP 3 is done. Logcap 4 as you will hear is also called ITT.
the emails i’m getting from over there is that o&m people are leaving by the loads. not so much for the truck drivers (yet)but its coming.. and k.b.r. is letting some drivers back in country.. they ask a friend of mine if he was still wanting to go back..
Ms Sparky’s Response:
Evidently they didn’t anticipate the big “drag up”!!
Talked to a KBR recruiter today and he said that logcap III is continuing and that they continue to have work. He said all new work is logcap IV and all existing work is still logcap III. Who knows what the truth is but this is the info I got today.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
All existing work for KBR is LOGCAP III. I don’t think KBR has gotten any LOGCAP IV task orders. KBR recruiters are known to……not tell you quite everything. That whole “dishonesty by omission” thing. Trust but verify. Good Luck
Ok folks I will try to clear some confussion so everyone will get a clearer picture, Ms Sparky if you don’t mind…
LOGCAP III is divided into multiple TASK ORDER’s or T.O. so, half of the story is right when someone said that LCIII is done…only T.O.’s that are out of funding and have been phased into LC4 would be considered as done. Now depending where this T.O is the transfer can be to Fluor (AFGHAN) DynCorp (KWT) or KBR (IRAQ), so as you can see KBR still have some T.O.’s on LC3. Recent LC4 T.O.’s for KBR in Kuwait supports the 5R and 5J project. That’s fuel distribution and storage.
And a note to all drivers in Iraq; I recently attended a conference with some “key” folks in the room. In summary, it will take over 168,000 truck loads to get 90% of the equipment out of Iraq. Think about it. I don’t believe the US Army will drive them all back to Kuwait by themselves. Note that I didn’t say Turkey or another location, because there are other substitute delivery locations. Keep your ears open, if you see a company looking for truck drivers, the move is on!!!
Ms Sparky’s Response:
I absolutely do not mind at all. I welcome it. Thank you.
O&M is dead. TTM will keep trucking for a bit in Iraq – probably till the last load is loaded. Look for the US to hold on to JBB, Talil and Spicier – the bases with the 10k+ runways. And of course the area around the Embassy. I wouldn’t be surprised to see KBR go belly up to duck all the lawsuits.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
Good to know! Thanks
Has anyone heard about KBR Construction? The FOB I’m at right basically has an ACL to rewire the entire camp up to NEC/BS Standards, which seems odd since the military is supposed to be pulling out of all the cities. The EOC is early next year but there is no way that will happen with the amount of stuff we have to redo/fix.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
KBR Construction?? Are you talking about a different company than the regular KBR that we all love to hate? And yes….that is a very valid point. What about all these work orders and ACL’s to rewire camps we are moving out of? Although it doesn’t matter how long the camp is going to be there. Grounding and Bonding still has to be done. And this is just my personal opinion.
No, I was referring to the construction department of KBR. I know there were a bunch of Carpenters let go from F2 a couple weeks ago. Things seem incredibly slow with KBR not getting new contracts, I was just wondering if anyone had heard anything about the future of the construction department theater wide.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
I am going make a “psychic” NOT “psycho” (ha ha beat ya to it) prediction here. KBR construction is going to become as extinct as the “two bit beer”. Hopefully the DoD is not in the mood to endure the wrath of Congress and the general public to award KBR anymore contracts. KBR mangement is responsible for their own undoing. Of course this is all unofficial psychic predicting, so if anyone has the official word let us know.
So if I want to get a job as a licensed Pest/Vector Control Technician who do I contact?
Ms Sparky’s Response:
Ksniper777? any thoughts?
examu said,
contact Fluor they are hiring Vector
by they way they are bidding stuff in Iraq now
submit your resume to KBRJOBS.com or if Ms Sparky will give you my email address send me your resume and i will submit it to the manager to see if they can get you on. KBR is hiring Vectors. Last time i looked at the Fluor site they were not mentioning Vectors at this time. Yes they are bidding on the mail mission, Transportation mission and some equipement maint positions. examu you can submit your resume to Fluor as well. Thank you for your interest.
I just was offered a position with KBR as a Logistics Analyst I think. I’m suppose to report to Houston end of November. I’m Leary now after reading all this negative stuff, do they still have the contract and is Fluor actively hiring. I was just on their site and it seemed like all upper management positions. If so can someone point me to a recruiter.
Thanks
Hey Ms Sparky …long time no sandwidge
Spoke to a senior recruiter the other day, a friend of mine when I went through 3years ago, only 4 recruiters left,which will be moved to travel in dubai for massive cutbacks, hiring freeze indefinate. Only truck drivers and recovery will be replaced for fuel supplys and recoveries. There is an Attrition rate so thats the heads up.
My deal is going Gangbusters and I`ll keep you posted on outcome. Hope all is well with you and keep up the good work.
Cordially
Johno
I went through houston as a rehire at the end of Nov 09 and they had more than 4 recruiters there! I am a truckdriver and there where less of us than of other jobs that people where there for. They had lots of food service workers there. We are busy now with the drawdown begining but they are holding us all to 84 a week so if we get overtime one day we get time off the next day to get back to 84 for the week
looking for truck driving job in iraq please notify me if there are any openings