KOTA are you serious? The area wasn’t completely cleared of explosive devices? Was there are an ACL or NTP authorizing this work? Did anyone notify the ethics hotline or try to stop the work as instructed during employee orientation, in Houston?

To Be Continued,
KOTA

Ms Sparky’s Response:
I will be waiting with much anticipation!!

I believe the CAC is FAR more important than a Kevlar jacket and helmet yet we have to sign accountability forms for them every 3 months or so, have not EVER had to do anything for the CAC other than show it to eat, buy things or get back on base but as far as KBR care, they do nothing to ensure we still have it in the holders on our arms as long as they see something of color there from a distance

Ms Sparky’s Response:
That’s because the helmet and kevlar have a GP# that KBR is accountable for or supposed to be. The CAC is by far more important as far as I am concerned. It’s your permission to be in Iraq.

Ms Sparky’s Response:
First of all I didn’t comment on Guy LaBoa’s age. But I will clarify that. His date of birth is 12/09/1939. http://files.usgwarchives.net/tx/harris/vitals/births/1939/harb0939.txt

As far as the other comments about LaBoa, those are the personal experiences of my readers. As far as KBR, my readers make their own comments and I will stand by mine.

The view of KBR is much different when you are at the bottom looking up. Than in Guy’s office looking down.

Went to the GCAC office and spoke with a GSgt up there and this is the latest on the CAC issue.

KBR are allowed to collect the cards but, there should be a chain of custody form filled out so they can ensure it was handed over. They are supposed to bring it to the badging office where they are all destroyed, if they make it that far.

I would insist in a chain of cusody form such as the one we sign for our radios, kevlar and tools in case it is reported lost later and they claim we never handed it in. If they refuse, ask for a member of the badging office or PMO to take reciept of them or simply take out your camera and start video taping yourself handing the card over and make sure to state the time and date for the record.

I am sure these options will cause concern for KBR and hopefully they will start treating this very important piece of security as importantly as they treat our vests which we have to sign for in triplicate and make sure we NEVER lose that damn pink copy or we are in trouble.

The only other option I can think of right now is to refuse to hand over the CAC and get the usual threat of blacklisting and such from them but then you can go to the badging office yourself and hand it in there, they may not give a reciept either but at least you will know that it is in the right hands and not accidentally lost as a way to make sure you do not get to come back in country again.

Ms Sparky’s Response:
You mean to tell me I can still make a grown man blush….right on!!

If that CAC card is so important that they are auditing over it and calling people months later to try to get them, then it’s important enough to sign a receipt for.

I explained the situation and they were a little surprised by it. I think they were under the impression that a system had been set up long ago and was working fine but, they are making calls and will contact me when they have a definitive answer so please hang in there a little while longer and let them find what we need. It may take another day or more but I hope we will soon have a true answer to this question and if KBR had nothing to hide would there not be a statement posted in BIAP stating what was to be done with the cards and where?

As soon as I can get some information I will pass it on, just hang in there a little more folks and proper procedures will be found and made known to all

Ms Sparky’s Response:
You are a “most awesome-ist” contributor!

Give me a little time though, you know how hard it is to get information at times

Ms Sparky’s Response:
That would be awesome!

Ms Sparky’s Response:
Don’t go gettin’ all crazy on us now!! That kinda makes sense. The DoD is not about making sense! At least that’s the way they act.

Big mistake as I wanted to go to work for another contractor.

Ms Sparky’s Response:
At least try to get an email receipt!

Does anyone know the e-mail to the Talk to Guy mailbox so we can send our suggestions to Guy Laboa? I think you can send to it from outside the KBR network and keep it anonymous.

Ms Sparky’s Response:
I think that is a great idea. But KBR will never go for it. When they take it from you at the airport and lose it then the won’t be able to blame you.

Although unproven, there has been some speculation that this is happening. “I’m sorry we can’t issue you a CAC card to go to work for Fluor because you still have one issued when you worked for KBR. We need you to return that.” OMG I would be so freakin’ pissed!! Would this be considered some kind of “industrial sabotage” on KBR’s part? Hmmmm

I have heard from many that they are threatened in BIAP to hand over the cards with NO accountability to prove it was handed over to KBR and not just lost somewhere or the EX-PAT would be black listed from working overseas again. I know the overseas community is small enough for the unofficial black list to get around and the reasons why also but such things are a Federal violation of free work practices through the EEOC acts.

The CAC card just being handed over and put in a little unlocked box is not enough, if they are going to issue me a materials receipt for my Kevlar and Helmet then they ae damn sure going to issue one for my CAC card and take the responsibility of it on themselves if they lose it after it is handed in. My name is on it and I am the one who owns it as far as the military is concerned so why ds the DOD not have someone meet the bus when it arrives at BIAP and take the cards from the De-Mobs? Am I being too logical again? My card does not say KBR or SEII anywhere on it and unless there is a paper trail regarding it, I am keeping it until I return to the US and the handing it in on a military base where I know it will be treated right and dealt with as required. KBR do not care about the cards or access, they don’t even care enough to make sure electrical work is done well enough not to kill the troops so why would they bother with controlling access to the bases by treating the CAC cards properly instead of just taking them and not letting anyone know where they end up after we hand them over?

Ms Sparky’s Response:
Black lists are illegal. And KBR is the only contractor that I have heard of that officially threatens to have you blacklisted. Take the news articles with you if the DoD gives you a problem about the CAC card. The DoS doesn’t require a CAC to work at US Embassies. The whole black list think is just another one of KBR’s threats and intimidation tactics.

I think it would have been a very good idea if someone from the DoD showed up to give a 20 minute briefing about your rights and responsibilites regarding the CAC card during processing in Houston. Heck, even a DoD video directed at KBR/SEII employees would have done the trick.

Ms Sparky’s Response:
One of the biggest problems is that a huge majority of the people have turned in their CAC cards and KBR lost them.

The big problem with CACs is that KBR has screwed up the whole process, as has most contracting companies in Iraq. Go find the story on the CAC audit that happened and made headlines a few months ago. KBR has so many CACs unaccounted for in the states by people who quit while on RR that it wouldnt surprise me if they collect them when you leave on RR and give them back when you return.

Ms Sparky’s Response:
If they do that there will be more lost cards.

Ms Sparky’s Response:
Like I’ve said before…KBR has proven they are not competent to manage anything that requires accountability.

http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20081016_9851.php

I would have felt a lot better if the military had issued/collected my CAC card instead of KBR. But the DoD’s heavy reliance on contractors is one of the major problems with LOGCAP III

Ms Sparky’s Response:
Yes it is the straight scoop and yes you are right. The military is contracting everything out.

For them to tell the government that it was lost or stolen is fraud.
It is a punishible offense for whoever made the policy on down to those who implement it!
All that has to be done is to ask for the military representative who is responsible for issuing the CAC cards.
This will not only get their attention, but will make them nervous. They do not want the military knowing what they are doing and they only want the card so you can’t turn around in the states and come back to work for another contractor.

Ms Sparky’s Response:
Although unproven, there has been some speculation that this is happening. “I’m sorry we can’t issue you a CAC card to go to work for Fluor because you still have one issued when you worked for KBR. We need you to return that.” OMG I would be so freakin’ pissed!! Would this be considered some kind of “industrial sabotage” on KBR’s part? Hmmmm

Like I said before. I don’t believe that KBR is capable of managing anything that requires accountability!

In the early days there was no time given to employees to review the contract. They (KBR) used the $500.00 cash advance as a carrot to get your signature and load you on the bus. I am guessing the review and classroom questions and answers was implemented after the hearings in December of 2007 when it was disclosed that KBR was not informing employees of what they were signing.

You stated in an earlier post “you guys ever read your contract.” I did read my contract and cited paragraphs to management during after an incident. This was after the managers (country level not site or regional) kept trying to intimidate me by stating “it is in your contract.” When I corrected them and cited the passages in the contract. Their response was “Oh you have actually read your contract.” When I left and they went to shake my hand their palms were literally sweating.

Ms Sparky’s Response:
I had two questions while signing my contract in 2004.
1. They hired me as a Electrical Foreman so I asked “Why does my job description just say electrician?”
Their response: “Don’t worry about that. That’s just a typo. They’ll fix that in country.” LIARS!! That was the first lie.
2. On the last page I asked them who Service Employees International was? “Oh they just take care of our payroll.” LIARS!! That was the second lie.

So whatever questions you asked back then did not necessarily get an honest answer. They just wanted you on that charter from Houston to Dubai.