Many Dyncorp LOGCAP IV employees disgusted
I can’t even count the number of complaints I’ve received regarding the pay issues and the working and living conditions for Dyncorp LOGCAP IV employees in Kandahar, Afghanistan. All in all it has to be close to 100% that being an new American expat working for Dyncorp sucks. Many are saying it’s worse than working for KBR. But I’m sure if you’re Scott Mount, Jeff Archie or Conrad Cannon your living conditions are premium. Below is an email from a Dyncorp employee.
Friends,
If you are thinking Dyncorp for your job, let me give you some true blue facts. I know everyone at one time or another has ask, “what have you heard about Dyncorp”, well you are hearing it from the horses mouth.
Dyncorp is not what you expect from a company of this size and reputation. The HR is as bad as it gets. The finance (pay) is a hit and a miss. Some people get paid others are not paid for up to three months. The living conditions are as poor as there is. We start out in a circus tent with 300 people double bunked with 2 foot of space between bunks. Then we are moved to an 8 man tent but they have placed bunks in for 20 people. The top bunks are only 2 inches from the top of the tent and the lights. We are given 3 to 4 foot between bunks and this is our permanent living assignment, even for Supervisors. There are CHU’s(Civilian Housing Unit) with TCN’s (Third Country Nationals) running everything. There is no such thing as a waiting list for CHU’s and nobody can explain why most xpats are in tents. I can see most xpats demobing once they all get their clearances.
The laundry goes this way…you turn your laundry in with an issued bag which holds 2 sets of clothes. It takes 72 hours to receive your laundry back. They wash your clothes without removing the clothes from your bag. If you do not put the soap powder in your bag your clothes are washed with dirty water only. When you receive your clothes back they smell, most have dirt stains on them (which were not there to start with) and they are waded up and wrinkled beyond belief.
The chow is bad, C-Rations are better. The working conditions are bad, I will not go into this. Think the worst and then add more bad things to it and you have the work conditions.
There is no safety or any kind of QAQC around the company.
We all share the bathrooms with the TCN’s. These guys are from all over the world. They are doing their laundry in the showers and sinks. Absolutely disgusting people. There is nobody around to enforce rules or regulations in the camps. It looks and smells like a group of animals just spent 24 hours in the showers. Nasty to say the least.
One of the Transportation Managers (name edited out) here just got busted with drugs and having classified material in his computer. Real class act management. I thought KBR was bad until I came here. I found out some supervisors and managers that KBR fired – are here. It’s hard to get away from idiots.
Stay away from DynCorp Intl.
I know this will guarantee some hate emails but I stand by my opinion there are inherent safety issues with American expats living in close quarters with unvetted TCN’s from SE Asia, India etc. At least Americans get a back ground check and you know there are no convicted felons sleeping in the next bunk. With regards to TCN’s you have no idea who the person is sleeping next to you and then there are health issues. Diseases such hepatitis and tuberculosis are near epidemic conditions in some countries and it’s a well known fact that labor contractors lie about getting these people vetted including medical checks.
Ms Sparky
Wednesday, March 31st 2010 at 7:33 pm |
Gee – wasn’t it DIGUY who said that Dyncorp had bid far less than KBR and was saving the Government millions. Maybe this is the type of housing a services employees get when the company bids that low. Substandard Subsistance.
I sure hope they are not doing the Soldiers laundry in that manner if they are they are asking for a CAR big time as they are violating DFAR Clause 252.237-7017 Individual Laundry – which actaully state the number of pieces and how the laundry is to be done.
Wednesday, March 31st 2010 at 7:37 pm |
I am also concerned that DI is not provided the TCN’s with an appropriate means to do their laundry. They should not be washing clothes in the shower.
Wednesday, March 31st 2010 at 7:43 pm |
Deb – just curious – did you take a close look at the ovehead wiring and lights in the second picture – I don’t know a thing about electricity – past turning on the switch – but that does not look like anything I could like to be that close to.
Wednesday, August 18th 2010 at 4:41 am |
Hi,
I can give you a clear picture relating to TCN’s Laundry. We used to take out laundry bags while going for breakfast before resuming our duties but sometimes we used to be let off near the laundry to handover and sometime they wont stop near the laundry (maximum times) citing excuse that they do not have enough escorts for us, therefore in many occassion we had to bring back the laundry with us waiting for them to show some mercy. The supervisors were too busy to think about the TCN, We were forced to wash our socks in the shower. It is not that we are not clean- the siuation made us wash our clothes like that- There was no water pipe in the toilet and we are used to clean by water not bu tissue papers, yes there were many TCN who use to throw bottled inside which was offensive- some people never learn
Wednesday, March 31st 2010 at 8:00 pm |
Yes I did see that. I am also concerned about the occupancy issues. I don’t know what the occupancy is for those tents, but it looks to me that access and egress is very limited. Especially if you are in a top bunk.
Tuesday, April 6th 2010 at 10:58 pm |
The occupancy in the tent pictured to the right is to sleep only eight, But the wonderful leader we have as our dpm angie hamm thinks it should have twenty people. I live in one of these tents and im the only expat living with nineteen other indians i cant even descibe nasty things these people do, if you think the tent is bad you should go to the restrooms.
Tuesday, April 6th 2010 at 11:09 pm |
(I had to edit your comment a bit. You can’t make those types of claims if you don’t have hard evidence. If you do please send it to me because that is a big big big deal!)
Yes but the only the reson people still live in these living conditions is because miss hamm is doing (edited) favors for the dcma personal thats why they dont care to do anything about it.
Wednesday, April 7th 2010 at 7:37 am |
If there is any kind of “quid pro quo” going on between the DCMA or any other DoD organization and Dyncorp management in Afghanistan I would like to know about it. That breaks every kind of rule there is regarding independent oversight. Send me the proof and I will forward it ASAP.
Sunday, July 31st 2011 at 4:12 am |
check to see why they scan you in and make you sign for just a cup of coffee! they are running out of stuff and i see alot of nigerians eating but never se them work,they are just on the payroll to scam the us gov!
Wednesday, April 7th 2010 at 6:16 am |
There is an inherent danger with you being the only expat in this tent. What the hell is wrong with those damn Dyncorp managers. I don’t know how you even sleep.
Friday, October 22nd 2010 at 11:43 am |
Do you know of any specific instances of racial discrimination at the Kanduhar RTC? What about some of the Dyncorp supervisors getting busted for possession of child pornography?
Friday, October 22nd 2010 at 12:06 pm |
I have not heard of any one getting busted for child porn as if it was true a lot of people would know about it because things spread fast here on KAF
Saturday, October 23rd 2010 at 5:54 am |
Thanks.
Thursday, April 1st 2010 at 3:04 am |
Dyncorp has made billions of dollars and this is what the employees get? I think the prisoners at most prisons live better than this. Disgusting and Unacceptable!
I wonder if the Executive leadership at DynCorp (William Ballhaus and Pals) care that the employees live this way? My guess would be NO!
Heres a list of the “elite” – they look pretty comfy dont they?
http://www.dyn-intl.com/executive-leadership.aspx
Thursday, April 1st 2010 at 3:53 am |
Lost for words, see what you get when you hire another contractor trying to save the government money. Yes i hear all of those hater KBR sucks and KBR this and that but when they get the DYncorp and Fluor well fluor will pay you and they have the head guy Mr Reuter former KBR and who started afghanistan at least he will get you in to a tent sooner or later you can forget about CHU’s don’t believe the hype. A lot of folks i know who jumped ship to especially Dyncorp are always calling to see if there any openings with KBR. Remember folks the grass is not always greener on the other side.
Thursday, April 1st 2010 at 4:48 am |
Ksniper, you’re right the grass is not always greener on the other side. But I look at it this way, Dyncorp got the the LOGCAP IV task order for Southern Afghanistan. They are supposed to be supporting 1000′s of US troops. They have at least 1000 (if not more) if not more employees (many are Americans) living in horrible if not unsafe conditions. They can’t seem to get much transitioned. Dyncorp is acting like the DoD just dumped this LOGCAP IV contract on them at the last minute. LOGCAP IV was award June 27, 2007 and Dyncorp’s Task Order 4 was awarded in July 2009. They knew it was coming and apparently they were and still are ill prepared on virtually all fronts. Rumor is a Level IV Corrective Action Request (CAR) has been issued or is in the process of being issued. At this point it’s hard to say what specifically the CAR is/will be written for unless it is just general non-performance.
Wednesday, April 14th 2010 at 12:35 pm |
DynCorp’s bid for Afghanistan was low. They bid low, assuming they would be awarded northern Afghanistan because Fluor was already operating in the south. Their proposal, as budgeted, is inadequate for the scope of work they won. The living conditions, managerial incompetence, over-dependence on SCW/FN labor and every other problem people have reported are the results of that proposal screw-up and DynCorp’s inherent low-bid mentality.
Wednesday, April 14th 2010 at 2:51 pm |
I think a lot of the problems in Afghanistan are also the fault of the DCMA’s incompetence. David Isenberg-Huffington Post wrote a great post on that today.
http://mssparky.com/2010/04/david-isenberg-dcma-and-contractor-oversight/
Wednesday, April 14th 2010 at 6:42 pm |
As for Dyncorp and Fluor the government threw them a curve ball. Fluor already was operating as you stated in the south and they are still there. I have a gut feeling they will have all of Afghanistan and Dyncorp will stick to trying to train the afghan police which they suck at anyway. DCMA decide not to provide oversight and in that article above threw KBR under the bus for there mistakes. Cause of that i have checklist i have to do each week and cannot gun deck them because they are auditable and when you are audited and the checklist were BS then you will win a CAR, not one you can drive but the one that will put you on the bus to BIAP.
Wednesday, April 14th 2010 at 7:06 pm |
Well let’s not limit the blame there. I seem to recall one of our current President’s adgenda’s was to reduce the contractors role and open up Government positions.
That said – there has been no change in Civil Service hireing. You still have to be a career service employee to get anything other than an entry level job.
As far back as 2003 the Personnel Office was estimating a 40% – 50% unfilled position rate in Government Contracting and Auditing positions. I know a lot of very experience people that would take positions with the Government as Auditors and Contracting Officers – but they can’t even apply.
Are these people currently or former contractor empoyees -you bet they are – but who better to know where to look than those that have been on the side that are being looked at.
If the President was serious – then he needs to make sure that these jobs are opened up to qualified people even if they are not Career Service Civil Service.
Wednesday, April 14th 2010 at 7:09 pm |
BTW just so everyone is aware. DCMA can not just provide oversite on a contract. They have to be asked by the Ordering Office. This is not a free service and the Ordering Office that issues the contract has to pay for the services.
Wednesday, April 14th 2010 at 7:15 pm |
I didn’t know that. That is interesting!
Thursday, April 1st 2010 at 4:49 am |
It would be difficult to bring all the hardshell hooches to a base in Afghanistan as all cargo has to be flown in, BUT each man/woman can have their own tent or share one with another. Make certain that the wiring issue is corrected (I vote Ms Sparky to oversee that project-pay her $650.00 p/hour
. I have seen the Army use a transportable laundry unit, seems like that would be better and cleaner for a corp. that says one thing and does another. Where is the base fire dept? How many would be allowed to sleep in that tent pictured if it were in a tent city in Arizona-the prison where the Sheriff plays tough? Fire Codes? Take one of those tents to the Dyncorp headquarters, set it up, put a sign on it that says – “New living quarters of our Executive Staff- provided by the shareholders, call the media from around the world for this photo op.!
Thursday, April 1st 2010 at 5:08 am |
$650/hour!! I’m all about that! Hell I would probably do it for half that.
We have been in Afghanistan since Spring 2002. If the Military has planes that can fly in heavily armored vehicles, then there are planes that can fly in the material for modular living containers. Even if Dyncorp has to foot the bill for it. Think about it this way. People are not staying. They are incurring the cost of mobilization (unless they are charging that back the employee) but more importantly you are losing the person who is supposed to be doing the job and supporting the Mission. And clearly the mission is not being supported. The smallest things can make a big difference, like the laundry. What the hell is up with that. Laundry is not rocket science! If Dyncorp can’t even get the laundry right, how can they get anything else right.
Thursday, April 1st 2010 at 7:07 am |
Truely these are deplorable living conditions and should not be tollerated. I agree that the good people are not going to put up with this for long – they will just leave.
Each contractor was required to submit a detailed ‘Transition Plan’ for the TO’s that was then suppose to be reviewed and accepted by the Client. Apparently what looked good on paper lost something in the translation to execution.
It may however not be totally the contractors fault that they are not able to bring in hardshell housing or CHU’s right away.
I have been working on North Face Man Camps for the Artic Oil Fields in Canada – and there is such a tremendous requirement for this type of housing all over the world at this time that the back order delivery dates are at least 6 months in the future. This includes units from manufacturers in Romania, Turkey, Denmark and even China. Tents are not an option in the artic area – so the oil contractors are getting priority by paying premium prices for fast delivery and still having to wait months.
I however, don’t see any reason why they can not obtain – at a bare minimum via lease – a sufficient number of tents to house people realistically. There are a dozen large companies in europe that lease, deliver and assemble man camp tents. I have used a few of them and they are excellent. There are even companies that lease out Tractor Tailers that are built out like dorm’s that have privacy curtians, built in electrical, HVAC and operate off of their own generators. I used some of these on Katrina. They were quite nice.
As a good number of the locations in Afghanistan are new camps – taking over the assets of the incumbent is not an option – as there are none.
The TOP priority for every contractor should be the comfort and services provided to the troops (those they serve) so I hope that they are providing better housing, food and other services for them than they are for their employees. If not I am not sure there is enough paper in the whole country to write up the details of the supposed CAR that may be issued.
Monday, April 5th 2010 at 9:12 am |
I served 3 years in Iraq including a brief stint in Afghanistan and the KBR company might have had a lot of faults but they made the living conditions for the American Expats as close to home as possible. I have heard a lot about the metal CHU’s not being an option due to prices etc, but what about wooden housing? Is there a wooded shortage too? Not as nice as the metal hooches but besides dust, its a pretty tolerable option. I for one would be demobbing immediately if I was living like these pictures and testimonials suggests. KBR may have problems and may pay a little less than they should but they have been doing this for decades and you shouldnt bring in a company thats not prepared for the mission, the troops are the ones that suffer in the end.
Monday, April 5th 2010 at 12:12 pm |
If you choose to work in afghanistan or transition for Dyncorp the living conditions SUCK. So if you are offered a job then you are going to be living butthole to belly button with all kinds of folks. Crying and whining is not going to fix anything and nor will Sparky jumping up and down squalling it is all unfair. They will just fire you and hire someone to take your spot. Just that simple, they normally say the living conditions suck so expect the worst. Either you want to work or you don’t. Simple folks very simple.
Monday, April 5th 2010 at 2:46 pm |
Simple my butt!! That’s easy for you to say from your private hooch(trailer) with air conditioning, bathroom and internet! Hang on to it. Becuase KBR is no longer the worst Defense contractor in the Middle East. It’s Dyncorp with CSA being a close second!
The way Dyncorp is treating their employees is nothing short of modern day slavery. You know….when you work people and don’t pay them, make them live in horrid conditions, treat them like crap. If this was happening in the States ANYWHERE….some human rights group would be jumping all over it. But it just happens to be a US Defense contractor who thinks that human decency and common respect is not a part of doing business. I hope Dyncorp gets the crap sued out of them.
Tuesday, April 6th 2010 at 1:21 pm |
I agree that not getting paid on time is a big issue and certainly something to complain about. But how can you make the comparison with modern day slavery? Anyone can leave anytime if they don’t like it or just don’t go if the living conditions are unacceptable to you. That’s just my opinion because all of the companies pretty much warn everyone the same way that living conditions can be very poor and that you might have to take a shower the best you can and maybe with nothing more than the same water bottle you use for drinking. I think the solution is pretty simple….if you don’t like it or can’t handle it either leave or don’t go. Just my opinion. And yes I have paid my dues living in a tent. I spent my first 9 months in Iraq back in 2004 in a very crowded tent and it actually had holes all in it from a rocket attack and they never gave us a new on to replace it. We all just just pulled together and made the best of it. We were usually so tired at the end of the day we could of slept anywhere without much problem. So as I said not much comparison to slavery since you have a choice of being there or not.
Tuesday, April 6th 2010 at 2:18 pm |
Many people who are there including Americans are financially desperate. These companies know that. Yes they can leave anytime they want, but they now have to pay their own way home and there are even threats that some will have to pay their mobilization costs. We have been in Afghanistan almost 10 years and Kandahar, where these photos were taken has been under US control for at least that long. This is not a new camp, this is not a mobile camp. There is no reason for these living conditions.
You can not tell me that none of these issues above apply to American Expats working for Dyncorp at Kandahar. There’s been no deception, no coercion, no threats?
Wednesday, April 14th 2010 at 1:20 pm |
Ironic that part of DynCorp’s mandatory training for all employees includes a section on Human Trafficking.
Wednesday, April 14th 2010 at 1:41 pm |
LOGCAP and many other DoD contractors in the Middle East are some of the biggest Human Traffickers in the history of the world!! And it’s all paid for with US taxpayer dollars!
Wednesday, April 14th 2010 at 1:43 pm |
Mandatory training concerning Human Trafficking is a DoD directive that has been in place since 2006. It is sad that the zero tolerance policy is only lip service and has yet to be enforced.
Monday, July 19th 2010 at 2:45 pm |
I just D-mobed from KAF after being flown to Leatherneck. I took one smell of the tent i had to live in and it almost made me sick.Left immediately. Had to pay for both airfares,getting there and coming home. Money well spent. I learned a lesson the hard way.They even left me stranded at the airstrip back at kaf. Sorry SOB’s
Thursday, April 1st 2010 at 2:23 pm |
I would hope that Dyncorp would also provide separate latrine’s for Americans’, also make the Americans Latrines off limits to anyone other than badge carrying Americans. I remember having no other alternative than to use a latrine that was also used by folks from India, etc., (One hand-One bottle of water-No clean-up – I wanted to Up-Chuck!!!
Wednesday, August 18th 2010 at 4:57 am |
I would like to end this debate forever. Even though we use water with a bottle in one hand and wipe our bum with it, we remain clean, the only fault in some TCN’s are that they do not flush the sit oand they leave the bottle there itself, that does not give you the right to say that you are the only people who are clean and hygienic, what do you do- you wipe with tissue papers and do you wash your bum- you stink man- you stink really bad- now stop offending the TCN’s nand tell your so called world class management to make toilet separately for the TCNs and provide them with the facilities with which they are habituated with and you get your separate toilet- and live in your own nasty dirty world.
Thursday, April 1st 2010 at 6:42 pm |
They say they are bringing in CHU’s yeah right if they come from pakistan they will be blasted before they arrive and furthermore, they don’t give a crap about living conditions and yes Dyncorp has not transition because they won’t. KBR or Fluor will get Southern Afghanistan and everyone will defiantly cry if KBR get the job. The military knows that Dyncorp is garbage but they can’t slam them because they have demonized KBR and if they finally admit they are wrong then hell they are eating there own Dung. Separate bathrooms not going to happen because the TCN and FN will cry discrimination and HR will say no can’t do it that live with it or quit. There are your choices and you can write all you want, The government decide to kick KBR in the balz or ovaries which ever fits and look at what they have in Afghanistan. Contract awarded almost a year ago and the transition still not complete. Unfacking believable.
Monday, April 5th 2010 at 11:55 pm |
What do you expect from people who crap in rice fields
Thursday, April 1st 2010 at 7:25 pm |
Well I will let you know what this is all about as I am heading over there real soon and if it is like this there is no reason why anyone should have to live and work in conditions that are this bad because this is not a start up. I worked for KBR for a little over 5 years and never had an issue with them as the department I was in never had to deal with the Army only within the company. I can handle liveing in a tent as I was a soldier for 13 years but I will not put up with the man next to me not washing or keeping his area clean esp with the area that we are liveing in. The pay issue is another thing which you all know we are there to make money and I will be keeping a very close eye on that. The food is the same almost any where you go at the DFACs over there so not sure what that issue is about. And you all thought BTC was bad
If there liveing like this and the heat is coming thats when the poop will hit the fan because you all know how people act when it starts to warm up over there. I just hope I am on a smaller base when I get there never was a fan of the bigger bases ie Tallil and Tikrit.
Friday, April 2nd 2010 at 3:45 am |
Well J my man i guess you are going to be in for a rude awakening. Yes BTC sucks but at least you had a roof over your head and heat and AC. If you are heading over with Dyncorp maybe you wont’ have a pay issue and if you are bunked with FN or TCN and there culture is not bathing and the worse you smell the more manly well i think you are going to waste your time. This is not working in the states where you have labor laws and other rules that prevent a smelly work enviroment. Either you put up with joe bob smelly feet or just stay home. I demand this and that well get you sent back to your point of orgin and they well say take it up with corporate. Just trying to save you the cost of buying your demob ticket and paying for your mob cost.
Saturday, April 3rd 2010 at 7:02 pm |
Personal experience with Dyncorp comes from those reporting them on Ms. Sparky. Any informattion you send to her remains 100% confidential. No worries.
The pictures here make me so sick and just think that the taxpayers are paying the company (Dyncorp) a lot of money but the living conditions for the actual men and women working is worse than most prisons.
For those who think that “contractors employees” make a lot of money – the fact is that the employees arent the money makers, the corporate greedy executives make the money – take a look at the executives, they look like they are nice and comfortable.
http://www.dyn-intl.com/executive-leadership.aspx
Friday, April 2nd 2010 at 3:43 am |
OMG!!!!! Please believe, it is absolutely insane at KAF in Afghan! I just demobbed last week from this pathetic company due to having to LEAVE my tiny, comfortable container, and move into a tent with 24 other females. The same tent as seen in photo. Please believe, I’ve been in the military, lived in the field, and have lived in tents as a contractor at Anaconda when they started up in 2003. But DynCorp’s version of tent cities is the equivalent of living like rats! I also had to bounce because you do not get paid on a consistant basis with this company! I have never experienced this type of gross conduct from a company in my professional life! And yes, I am former KBR! LOL! I informed the camp manager at KAF, who happens to be a female, that woman cannot be cramped on top of each other like that! She blew me off, and I promply demobbed. Not before getting another position, with another contractor, of course.
DynCorp is not the company you want to be with for LOGCAP IV, I am so serious.
Honeywell is hiring in Iraq.
Saturday, April 3rd 2010 at 10:22 am |
Better think twice before jumping to honeywell, I made that jump from KBR and what a mistake that was!
Saturday, April 3rd 2010 at 6:29 pm |
Well that is the life of LCIV you make your choices and if you are not use to live rough female or male don’t go to afghanistan. You will be blown off if you complain about living space, it is not KBR anymore. Like former dyncorp said i promptly demobbed and hopefully the new job will provide you with a CHU. NOT!!!!!
Friday, April 2nd 2010 at 5:46 am |
I was in A-stan with KBR back in ’03-04 @ Bagram. It was a mess, but we were building up and expanding through the theatre. We started out with 8-10 smelly guys in GP Medium tents, and later went to 8-10 smelly guys in B-huts. No CHU’s, even for Rick Reuter, who was PM at the time.
The latrines were built by some low-level company from Uzbekistan that was sponsored by an Army Engineer Colonel. They were made out of decommissioned shipping containers and had bolts welded on as door handles. The door hinges were welded on and periodically broke off. Most could never figure out exactly how to flush their “deposit” down the toilet in those european-style toilets either. The latrines stank so bad that I used a porta-potty for the entire year.
A-stan funds come out of a totally different bucket of money than those in Iraq though.
After I departed, I took a position with DI in the southern Philippines. Living conditions were great, but as several have mentioned upthread, DI has serious trouble paying people, and their management sux. Except for myself and Safety, ALL the Expats in the PI had been terminated from KBR for cause. DI DID pay my way to the Philippines in Business class though, which was nice. I left DI after 6 months. Never again will I work with DI!
Saturday, April 3rd 2010 at 7:09 pm |
John Supina oversees contract administration, information technology, contract and proposal pricing, purchasing, quality assurance and safety, and facilities management. He has served in executive positions including vice president of contract administration, and senior vice president of Department of State operations, general manager of DIFZ in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and vice president of contract administration for the Government Services division.
Ms. Sparky please call Mr. John Supina and find out WHY in the Hell the living conditions are this horrific.
Tuesday, May 25th 2010 at 12:37 am |
I know Supina. He may be slow to get things resolved but he is a fair man. He worked for DI in 06 when I knew him. I hope he has not changed.
Monday, October 11th 2010 at 1:49 pm |
John Supina
Monday, October 11th 2010 at 1:51 pm |
I happen to know John Supina very well and he is a wonderful and very fair man! Hasn’t changed and never will!
Monday, October 11th 2010 at 2:10 pm |
Would you happen to be a Supina as well?
Monday, October 11th 2010 at 10:47 pm |
L knew Supina in 06. He was a very busy man and slow. He did not do things with the alarcrity that people would like. He was a fair man and saw through the BS and corrected what he could. I have no problems with him and I am not a Supina.
Monday, April 5th 2010 at 11:36 pm |
its heartbreaking to go through all the comments. as i am waiting for the contract letter from DI it makes me feel that am going to a possible hell. being from TCN, how am going to be treated by folks from DN’s concerns me a bit. As mentions in earlier statements, not all TCN s are smelly. Many are there who practice cleanliness. Its heartening to know the facts but some of us has no option but to go for the job. What about the offer they make? Do we get the same position we are offered? Any idea?
Tuesday, April 6th 2010 at 8:08 am |
Ms. Sparky,
Please do not take this as I am defending Dyn-Corp. I guess that what you all do not realize is that those pictures could have been taken anywhere in Afghanistan at any time in the last few years. I am in the Kabul area and I just left that picture on the right, I stayed in a tent that looked exactly like that picture for 4 months. If you would like I can take a picture in the morning and send it. Kandahar has been in tents for years, thats the way it is down there. If you take a close look at those pictures, there is no bedding on the top bunks, no one is sleeping on the top bunk. As for the wiring question brought up earlier, that is exactly the these tents are built. The military has used this system since the gulf war. It is a fact that the living conditions suck in Afghanistan, but it is not just Dyn-Corp, it’s everywhere.
Tuesday, April 6th 2010 at 4:25 pm |
Gone Fishing,
I demobbed from Dyncorp a week ago. I was at KAF (Kandahar.) These pics were taken within the last 2 weeks. And Yes, we were on the top bunks with light fixtures, and electrical wiring touching our bodies! I’m not tripping, I just demobbed. But it’s absolutely horrendous that the expectation is to live like THIS! Yes, it is a field environment, Yes, we knew coming over there would be rough living. But to live like rats???? Insane…
Tuesday, April 6th 2010 at 5:52 pm |
I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you. I think Dyncorp is missing the point that if they can’t keep qualified people they can’t support the mission and therefore they are not in compliance with their contract. A person who is well qualified in a craft or other skill will start looking for companies with better living conditions ASAP or drag up and come back to the States. I am embarassed to say I am referring people to KBR in Iraq instead of Dyncorp and Fluor in Afghanistan.
Keep in mind….that doesn’t mean I think KBR is any less criminal. It just means the living conditions are better.
Tuesday, April 6th 2010 at 6:13 pm |
That’s what I did Ms Sparky. I’ve been contracting for approximately 6 years. Did 15 years in the Army, have a Master’s degree, and a Secret security clearance. My professional experience dictates I do NOT live like a rat to provide my expertise to those troops I work for. Thus, I chose to demob, and find another company who gives a damn about their employees, and their living conditions. Therefore, we could provide the BEST professional expertise to those troops.
Tuesday, April 6th 2010 at 6:29 pm |
I don’t blame you one bit. I hope you find a company that appreciates the time and effort you’ve put in to gain your expertise. KBR made that mistake when they were hiring electricians. They would hire any Joe who wired houses for a summer with Uncle Bubba. The majority of the good electricians just wouldn’t stay and perform work in that manner. Some like myself stayed, but it was a daily fight to do it right. KBR will pay for that lack of vision because several soldiers have paid with their lives and their health. If people like yourself don’t draw a line in the sand and say “this is BS” and say it loudly then companies like Dyncorp, Fluor and KBR will continue to try to get away with this crap.
I would love to hear about anything you want to share about Dyncorp. Pics, documents etc. You can email me directly if you like.
Tuesday, April 6th 2010 at 6:33 pm |
What year were you with DI? The name DI is appropriate for that company except it needs an e at the end (DIe). I know a guy who did die while working for Dyncorp and it was all about lax security, employee safety and disregard for human life.
Glad you got the employment that you deserve and are there to provide the expertise to the troops.
Thursday, April 8th 2010 at 1:38 am |
Former DynCorp Employee- If you have an MA and a security clearance, why are you doing O&M work?
Look up McNiel Technologies or SOSi. There are many company’s looking for people with active clearances that pay better and provide better living conditions. That’s important, especially in the draw-down phases of an operation like we are seeing in Iraq.
Thursday, April 8th 2010 at 6:46 am |
Thank you Jimbo! McNeil Tech will be my new employer! LOL! I should have checked them out a while ago, with my credentials. But you just don’t know what’s out there until you network a little bit.
Thursday, April 8th 2010 at 7:23 am |
For those considering McNeil Tech be aware that they are controlled by the Big company of VERITAS CAPITAL (Dyncorp, L-3, Kroll)
Please do your research, you will be amazed at how the companies weave an ugly web and this link will show just a little bit of the web.
http://www.american-buddha.com/virginiatech.veritascapital.htm
Thursday, April 8th 2010 at 8:26 am |
J4all,
Thanks for the info. I’ll definitely research who I’m actually working for.
Thursday, April 8th 2010 at 6:51 am |
Thank you Jimbo! McNeil Tech will my my new employer. LOL! I should have checked them out a while ago, with my credentials. However, you just don’t know what’s out there until you network a little bit.
Friday, August 19th 2011 at 8:47 am |
“if DynCorp can’t keep qualified personnel they can’t support the mission”. That’s where you are sadly mistaken Ms Sparky. DynCorp cannot recruit certain tradespeople/operators now, in 2011. So they train them themselves and give them an “in-country ticket”. I’m not joking – anything from fuel truck operators to heavy equipment operators to safety testers. If only OSHA could see what is going on here. It’s wrong, it’s illegal, and it’s downright dangerous.
Tuesday, April 6th 2010 at 8:14 am |
Forgot to add one thing. If you goto Bagram (and probably many other sites) you can find many people, including KBR, living worse, they don’t have beds just cots. There is a KBR site manager (that’s right a site manager) I know sleeping on a cot in a tent with 22 of his best friends right now.
Tuesday, April 6th 2010 at 9:07 am |
I am an Expat that spent 5 years in Iraq working for 2 really good companies.I hired on with DynCorp and just spent 4 months in their gulag of the far east known as Kandahar air field.
The living conditions furnished by site manager Angie Ham are deplorable. The tent cities have nicknames like Angie’s slum alley or welcome to the Sudani refugee camp.
Workers are running around there for over 4 to 5 months without proper badging for KAf and have to be escorted all the time.They have these people’s passports basically locked up. It is human trafficking and I feel sorry for these people.
The only supplies for maintenance that are used are those left over by KBR in the transition.
Some of the senior managers after almost a year of floundering in their ivory palace they call Hicks say things are tough because this is a start up.
They can not even get it right. It is not a start up, it is a transition and DynCorp has fumbled the ball that was handed to them by KBR on every play. They will not spend any money and get off the dime.
That brings to mind if you can not even take care of your own workers then how can you serve the soldiers?
The senior management team has lost its vision of the mission. We were there to support the military.Their focus is always how they can make the Hicks housing and office complex more comfortable for the admin workers.
People working in the craft positions are treated like untouchables and the management team is fair in treating all nationalities the same way, like a piece of garbage.
Most of the senior managers are ex KBR rejects from the Leesville Louisiana mafia that got canned out of Iraq years ago for the same piss poor performance.
Where is the DCMA and DCAA in all of this? Standing around like mr.nobody in the background doing nothing. It is all political and the soldiers are the ones suffering due to a virtually non existant logistic support team known as DynCorp.
They need to get rid of DynCorp and divide the southern half of the contract up with KBR,Honeywell or Fluor. Just get some contractor in logistics that can support our military and get rid of these bums.
I left Kandahar and came home one week ago.On my exit interview I was asked why I was leaving?My response was that maybe I just do not like working for DynCorp and that is reason enough.
I have already received 2 offers with other firms to go back to Iraq. In conclusion I told the workers from other countries that one thing they will learn from this experience is that not all American contract firms are good.
If the DCMA does not throw a level IV car against this company for non performance then they deserve this piss poor company. The whole dam bunch just makes me want to vomit!
Tuesday, April 6th 2010 at 11:59 am |
John, thank you for your comments on the living conditions. How is the security? Did you feel safe while working for Dyncorp? How was the food and how many times did you get food poisoning or the tazmanian sh**s?
Anyone awaiting shipping orders or even thinking about working for Dyncorp needs to carefully read ALL the documents that they send you as well as every word of the the contract – make sure you understand every single word and if you have to take it to a legal professional who can explain the legal jargon that the dyncorp lawyers use to confuse and manipulate then do it.
God Bless and choose your employment carefully.
Justice4all
Tuesday, April 6th 2010 at 3:30 pm |
I agree with you 100%! Nothing like being thousand’s of miles from home and learning that you have made a huge mistake!
Tuesday, April 6th 2010 at 3:25 pm |
Figured I should come and look at your comments regarding the above mentioned article. When I do look at the pictures posted here, I can see that in fact there are mattresses/bedding on most all of the top bunks. So, that would lead one to believe that at some point in time, there are plans that would have somebody sleeping on that top bunk. Surely, the powers that be are not using those top bunks to store mattresses……..
IMHO, this article brings up several things that DI newbies need to really think hard on before signing a contract. Especially the part about being paid. KBR and FLUOR are heaps and bounds above DI with regards to getting paid on a regular basis.
I’d like to see pics of your living quarters! Also, please report on the other issues mentioned in this article, such as HR, PR, Laundry, Chow, lack of safety, conditions of the latrines and showers. It would be interesting to hear what your experiences are on those issues.
Regards,
Nashville
Wednesday, April 7th 2010 at 7:38 am |
As long as there are DI employees and Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines living in worse conditions (and there are), then we have nothing real to whine about.
Wednesday, April 7th 2010 at 7:54 am |
Yes we do. Without complaints there will be no improvement for DI employees or Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines. NO ONE deserves to live this way in a country we have been occupying for 10 years.
Thursday, April 8th 2010 at 4:37 am |
Ms. Sparky:
I do not know your real name. I have read your link for an extended period of time. Often do not agree with a lot of the contents, but do appreciate your desire to make certain personnel within remote warzone locations (Contractors) are treated fairly. I will leave this short and sweet. Please remove my name from your website. I am no longer an employee of DYNCORP INTL. I was only an employee for a short period of time. During my tenure on the project, every individual will tell you that in my position I strived to make certain that ALL personnel where treated with dignity, respect and most importantly equally. Enough said!
Regards,
Jeffery Archie
Thursday, April 8th 2010 at 5:49 am |
Just to be clear, typing someone’s name into a blank space and using an email address that has nothing associated with it via an email search does not constitute being vetted by me. You could be anyone claiming to be Jeff Archie. I know many of us have discussed Jeff Archie’s career with KBR at Camp Victory and Camp Speicher. I did search the comments and posts for “Archie” and there were no results except for your comment here. I have nearly 700 posts and 7000 comments and can’t search them by hand. To the best of my knowlege, any references made to “Jeff Archie” were not done by using his full name. But to clarify, even if I had found something or you find something, I would not delete it. If it is something I posted then it is accurate to the best of my knowledge. If it is something someone else posted as a comment then it is his or her opinions and observations. If you can send me proof that it is not accurate, then I will correct it.
I have recently received confirmation that you do not work for DI in Afghanistan. So who do you work for now?
Wednesday, April 14th 2010 at 2:26 pm |
Forseti is correct – the TIPS training is mandatory – the Government even provides the materials. Apparently, they give the training but have not read the training or even the contract. There are specific minimum sqft. per person housing regulations in the contract. What the pictures show it not compliant.
I find it ironic that one of the first CAR’s KBR received was for one of their Subcontractors having too many TCN’s housed in a location – yet the Government seem to be turning a blind eye to Dyn.
As Mr. Nolan states:
“The living conditions, managerial incompetence, over-dependence on SCW/FN labor and every other problem people have reported are the results of that proposal screw-up and DynCorp’s inherent low-bid mentality.”
Dyn can definately write an A+++ proposal. But what has also been documented is that Dyn has a dismal record of actually being able to perform once they are awarded a contract.
Sunday, April 18th 2010 at 10:53 am |
TIPS training is government-mandated but DynCorp’s ‘Core Values’ are not. ‘We care’ and ‘We do the right thing’ should be more than corporate feel good rhetoric.
Thursday, April 15th 2010 at 7:35 pm |
Ok here it goes you get a call from someone in Fort Worth who says are you interested in working for Dyncorp and they send a packet to fill out but what happens is they end up losing the SF 85 and you have to scan it back again. Well you finally get a ticket to Marriot in Dallas nice hotel I will say. You get there and go thru 4 quick days to inprocess and take a first aid and IED class. You also do another unrinealysis test this is the second one because you have to do one at your home of record before you get down there. You usually get on a flight on Thursday to Kuwait and stay there one night and head to Kandahar where you are picked up on the flight line by some one who does not speak very good english and you are trying to understand what they are saying to you. The next thing is you get a vistors badge which means you can not go anywhere without an escort and you turn your Passport in to the Canadians. I got mine back which was something I did not like giving it up. Then you go to a tent or a hooch if you are one of the lucky ones. Usually the tents are for people in transit to other FOBs and the hoochs are for the people here on the base which looks like about 600 live in them so no not all people are living in tents like some are saying. You then go to work here and the third day you get a newcomers briefing which lasts about 3 hours and when the HR rep here was talking he cursed two times which shocked me really because I have never heard an HR person curse before in front of a lot of folks this guy was from Boston also no names as I will not do that
The other thing is there is no TIPS class here and drivers training that does not happen also you just jump in one and go and I will tell you this base is jumping with people and rides also much more than Baghdad. The food is not to bad here to be honest as there are a few DFACs here. That is about it for right now.
Friday, October 1st 2010 at 1:05 pm |
Thanks for the play by play.
Friday, October 22nd 2010 at 4:44 pm |
Hey, just wanted to chime in again. I have been in KAF for 4 months. Funny how I keep reading on here that people are not getting paid on time. Not once has mine been late. Or any of the guys I see on a daily basis that have been here for close to a year now. We all knew that this would not be like being in the States. But really, did you expect it to be? The food is certainly not wonderful by any means, but you will not starve here unless you choose to. Housing could always be better, but think about all the SF guys that are out inn the field for 13 or more days, outside the fence on a regular basis. Do you still want to complain? If you do not like this life, you should look for something else that suits you better. We were forewarned, and knew what to expect. Anyone that says they didn’t, did not pay attention. Truly some of us are here for more than money. We believe in what we do, and what Dyncorp is trying to accomplish in this mission, and we believe in doing our part to back Our Military.
Saturday, October 23rd 2010 at 5:46 am |
The pay issues tend to be affecting the employees in the more remote locations.
Friday, April 16th 2010 at 11:42 pm |
Oh cmon, you guys sucks.. what you expect? 1st class accommodation? We all know your in War Zone and dont expect 1st class accommodation, as long you have a bed to sleep on and food to eat then you are good as long its a good pay I can live with that!
Saturday, April 17th 2010 at 5:59 am |
There is news that dyncorp is being investigated in India on human trafficking charges
1.recruitment from India by false recruiters putting lives of Indian citizens at stake
2. recruiting from India by false and misleading advertisements stating that recruitment is for middle east and gulf
3.recruiting from india by false and misleading advertisements stating that recruitment is for AMEICAN ARMY( is pentagon aware of this)
if the accusation is proved dyncorp could become criminally liable and could be indicted in India .
Hritesh rathan
Saturday, April 17th 2010 at 6:23 am |
Hritesh
I believe that this investigation was actually iniatited by Dyn due to multiple companies using their name in fradulant recruiting scams. Just because a company has been using Dyn, KBR, Fluor or anyother company in their advertising does not mean that they are in any way associated with them.
Many in America have also been subject to these scams. You can follow the discussions on this on this site – where people have even posted copies of fradulent offer letters.
Dyn uses a certified labor borker to obtain all of their employees from places like India and the Phillipines – as do the majority of all of the US contractors. These people are actually employeed by the labor broker’s and not by the prime contractor.
Additionally, a US firm would never advertise that you would be working for the ‘American Army’ that is not a term that is used as there is no such thing as the ‘American Army.’
This is nothing new – these types of underhanded recruiters have been attempting to benefit from the buildup in the Middle East almost since day one.
In the end many have been found and stopped. Unfortunately since to date they have not been in anyway associated with US companies and the countries in which they operate do not have laws violating such activities – they have not been prosecuted.
Once all the facts are known from your ‘news’ I believe that it will be found that neither Dyn or any other US company had any thing to do with these people.
Saturday, April 17th 2010 at 6:35 am |
sail-
I’m not entirely convince this statement is true. I believe the Dyncorp, KBR, Flour and the others know exactly what is going on, promote, pay for it. They just have enough attorney’s on the payroll to keep their slave owning selves out of prison….for now.
I have asked him for more information, links, emails, docs whatever he has. I wouldn’t even be surprised if Dyncorp hadn’t already set up a recruiting office in India and called it the “Shanghai Division”.
Saturday, April 17th 2010 at 1:02 pm |
Ms.
Glad that you have requested further varification for the story.
I can not speak for Dyn but I know for a fact that both Fluor and KBR use Labor Brokers that are actually US companies and would never place such and advertisement.
That said – one never can be sure regarding the behavior of thrid country subcontractors. That is what originally got KBR into trouble. One of the major failings seems to be that although the Prime Contractors include the required FAR Clauses in their subcontracts – that is just not enough. This stuff is like speaking Martian to most of the companies in these countries. The contractors have to go further and make sure that the companies really understand what these things mean and what they have to do to comply with the laws. Then the Primes need to monitor them to make sure they do comply.
Unfortunately, TIP is not unusual in many of the countries where these employees originate – and is not even illegal there. This in no way suggests that I condone or even tollerate TIP – unfortunately, the laws of one country can not change the behavior and beliefs of another.
I have seen this type of false recruiting since the beginning of LC when the large use of foreign Subcontractors started. These recruiters generally use language that would never pass in the US. If you look back at the wording in the offer letters that came to Expats – supposedly from a solicitor in the UK – you will find that they also used the term ‘American Army’. Which by the way can not be stated in an advertisment for employment under a contract. The statement must be “under XXX Contract for the U.S. XXXX”.
I would like to see copies of the back up as well. Based on the overabundance of fake recruiting that has been going on for expats lately – I stongly suspect that these types of people have extended their pray pool. Kind of like you can’t open your email now days with out getting a scam email from someone who says they are in the Army, Marines, Air Force and have ‘found’ millions in $$ no one knows about and wants you to help them get it out of the country. – Yea Right!
It should be interesting to see how this plays out.
Saturday, April 17th 2010 at 1:46 pm |
I recommend using caution when using the “N” word (NEVER) when referring to these any of these companies. Everyone of these companies has done things that I would NEVER have imagined any US company would do. Dyncorp is as dirty as any of them.
Saturday, April 17th 2010 at 6:48 pm |
LOL point conceded. So true – just when you think you have seen it all – the next thing out of your mouth is ‘what were they thinking – or not’ thinking that is.
Sunday, April 18th 2010 at 11:10 am |
DynCorp has a recruiting office in India; in Delhi. It is part of DI’s DIDC.
Thursday, April 22nd 2010 at 4:31 pm |
DynCorp will not have to worry about recruiting anybody in the near future for Log Cap because the hand writing is on the wall and this company is definitely going to lose this contract.
The core values exemplified by the likes of Scott Mount, Hank Miller, Conrad Cannon and last but not least Angie Hamm are the ultimate success story in how to be a failure and still maintain your job.
The contracting agency that awarded this contract just thought KBR was doing a bad job until these dirt bags and their Leesville mafia cronies all decided to camp out at KAF.
I am no fan of KBR but I am willing to bet that KBR looks mighty good to the government considering the stellar job of non performance this management team has accomplished.
I will have to give them credit where it is due and one thing this Motley Crue of misfits does excel at is in creating a hostile work environment.
Nobody working under their leadership has anything good to say about the company. Morale is at an all time low if there is such a thing as morale at Dyn Corp.
There is a silver lining to all of this and that is when Dyn Corp loses this contract these bums will be out of a job.
The word is out in the contractor community to stay away from going to work for Dyn Corp. Other contracting firms are well aware of how this management team has a knack for taking a wrecking ball to a project and ruining it.
They are also disliked by the U.S. military for failing to offer the logistical support to our soldiers.
In conclusion if I was a betting man I would be willing to say that the above mentioned individuals would be lucky to find one person on KAF that would piss on them if they were on fire.
Thursday, April 22nd 2010 at 6:08 pm |
I couldn’t have said that better myself!! Rumor has that the DoD has issued Dyncorp at least one level iv CAR. In information on the CARs that have been issued to Dyncorp would be appreciated.
Hang in there. It will be over soon.
Sunday, April 25th 2010 at 4:02 am |
How about DynCorp employees being paid less than CH2MHILL and being their boss. You cant fire them or if you give them counseling they get more chances than the DynCorp employee because they have to be terminated by CH2MHILL, and since my boss is one of them it is impossible to keep control of your people. There is something to be said about KBR they took care of these dead beats and took care of their people with deaths in the faimly R&R and travel even on DEMOB DynCorp is on the border between TIPS Violations and slavery leaving freedom at the gate in Dubai or Kuwait if you can get there on your own. This is a scary time and I hope the defense department look into TIPS on the Expats as well over crowding in violation of federal man camp laws no showers it is bad.
Sunday, May 23rd 2010 at 12:24 am |
Are saying DynCorp employees make less than CH2M-HILL and yet DynCorp is their boss. Correct me if I’m wrong, I thought CH2M-Hill was providing only providing engineering services.
Sunday, April 25th 2010 at 6:34 am |
All this happens in the states as well when a new contractor takes over. At Ft Leonard Wood Missouri the government couldn’t wait for RUST Consructors to lose there contract and when LB&B Associates took over they couldn’t wait for them to leave. This new contractor lost 2 other contracts Ft Riley and Ft Carson but they were still awarded the O&M contract for Ft Wood. Now after 6 years they are not allowed to bid on the contract for Ft Wood because of performance but they got another O&M contract at another base. Just google LB&B!! You think Dyncorp and KBR are bad????? But the government still lets these contractors get away with it.
Saturday, May 22nd 2010 at 8:32 pm |
I think most of this needs to be taken with a grain of salt. People posting here generally have an ax to grind, including our hostess.
That being said, I enjoy my experience working for the US Military in Iraq. Working for KBR was an extremely poor experience. Most of the people working for KBR were not experienced in the jobs they were hired for. The either outright faked their credentials or skated on KBR’s ‘you got a pulse and a passport? Your hired!’ way of getting bodies out in the field to get paid for. Management and supervisors from Guy LaBoa on down were even less qualified to be in their positions then the field workers. On a positive note (the only positive note for KBR), I have worked a lot overseas including the oil fields of Russian Siberian, the KBR Camp at JBB was without a doubt the finest accommodations I ever stayed at outside a hotel.
Ksniper, we know you are thankful for your job and income with KBR. KBR and LOGCAP III gave quite an opportunity and income level for people who really weren’t qualified but KBR sucks. They already proved from their prior performance in LOGCAP III that unless they are closely monitored and threatened they will lie, cheat and steal as much money as they possibly can. Most of the great things you tout about KBR came about because KBR was caught doing them earlier in LOGCAP III – human trafficking, gross massive and systematic safety violations, HR violations.
But regardless, you all have to remember one extremely important thing – you are a US CITIZEN. Regardless of whatever the ass clowns you work for tell you have some heavy duty rights. Know who your Congress persons are and have their phone number and call them. If I was living with TCN’s I’d make a beeline for the military ASAP. Let them know you plan on calling your Congress people, nothing makes even the most battle hardened 4 star general sweat more than the words Congress person and complaint in the same sentence. Chances are good you’ll be on the next plane home but living in these alleged conditions is unacceptable – grow a pair.
Sunday, May 23rd 2010 at 5:41 am |
LOL
Sunday, May 23rd 2010 at 12:07 am |
I missed a Ksniper post about Dyncorp. It shows he does not know of where or what he speaks. I say this considering he says he only speak of FACTS! The fact is that the Civ Pol program operated by Dyncorp is good if not great. In two years in the Balkans one would see the Bosnian cops stop people for seat belt violations. It seems that the disconnect here is one of culture. Not one of of company policy. Again, Ksniper is the site’s resolute A@@ and a KBR C@@K Sucker!!!
Sunday, May 23rd 2010 at 10:50 am |
I bet if Ksniper was Charles M. Smith, he would be moderated. I guess Mrs Crawford will let anyone disrespect anybody oh well. I can’t wait to hear what Ksniper says to that.
Sunday, May 23rd 2010 at 10:58 am |
You can just ask him when he gets back from the “boondocks” maybe over dinner at the DFAC.
Sunday, May 23rd 2010 at 10:59 am |
Well hell, i guess i am all of that well Ear just keep your ear to ground and your butt in the air if you ear is truly to the ground. D Money i think feeling were hurt because i took a day off just to delete you sorry ass post. Of course i figured you would run to Ms Sparky and cry about something or anything. If my memory is correct you are headed to work for a company in afghanistan. I wonder which one? Fluor is currently backed up processing folks and Dyncorp is doing there own thing. Hmmm i guess it will be awhile before you get there. Anyway, i am glad you made it here and no i will not get down in the dirt with you and ear i guess you too are happy together and 1 other thing D427 if you make it to Afghanistan you will be bunking with the rest of the lot and if you don’t like just demob or grow a pair as you say. Complain to the military? Yeah rigth your narrow ass will be on the first jet home, call your congressman the president CIA or whoever. I am really getting a kick out of this. I am sure i will be moderated.
happy anniversary sparky may you have a another 15 more
Sunday, May 23rd 2010 at 3:51 pm |
Thank you! I hope so. I got me a keeper!
Sunday, May 23rd 2010 at 2:07 pm |
Ksniper is the typical a@@wipe who likes to shoot off arrows yet cannot sustain a base for his comment unless it is to cast aspersions. He did not comment on DI and their Kosovo mission. I reported that it went well in 2 years there. I also used there correctly whereas Ksniper uses inferior spelling.Ksniper is one who equates happiness with success but fails to point out that there are many more successful people out there but are they truly a happy lot? If he is a fair minded person and does not fear words why then does he delete opposition points of view? It just shows how he has a paradigm that is extremely myopic. He probably truly believes he works for KBR. Ha Ha! I bet his contract states otherwise in the first or second sentence. A true sign of a delusional, dysfunctional, obese person bordering on being psychotic.
Sunday, May 23rd 2010 at 5:55 pm |
KBR must have really hurt your butt Ear. I will have to check out this blog you all say he runs. I am sure if he delete post it is for a good reason. Debating with you is like trying to milk a bull.
Monday, May 24th 2010 at 9:52 am |
Ultra… KBR did not hurt me. You must be Ksniper’s twin. You also failed to address issues specifically. You speak in general terms. You cannot have a decent civil discourse based on academic subjects jus like Ksniper. Lastly, for one to debate one should use facts and not supposition or feelings. Ksniper still has not rebuked what I said about DI Kosovo Mission now has he. He likes to shoot arrows but cannot take it. He started with aspersions so I decided to go in the trenches with him to see if he can handle it. He cannot so he let’s his flunkies do his bidding. So KBR like as they say in Valley Speak!
Monday, May 24th 2010 at 11:15 am |
MUTED
Sunday, May 23rd 2010 at 3:02 pm |
What the heck has happened to this place? Boys will be boys I suppose, mines bigger than yours and all of that.
Sunday, May 23rd 2010 at 3:29 pm |
Baboo Remembers. nope they are in many different areas. I had a guy who was making aprox 225k and his skill levels were not very high I had SCW’s who were more qualified and they were only making 3000 a month. Also they require you to work more than 12 hours a day but will not approve the overtime that they require. They are doing just like KBR in the beginning the good old boy process is alive and well but this time many know what can and cant be done. I myself am in the process of having a governemnt investigation on their hiring practices as they dont pay you for the time your at DFW and they use discrimination in their practices one person will be required to comply with the BMI and many others do not because they know people, same with the High Blood pressure, or they send you back to get your doctor to write a NOTE saying you can be deployed and then they dont pay you for the time you were required to be at the in-processing center in DFW. I even watched as the Director reviewed medical records with three other perspective employees right there and he went over the records with everyone right there … Can anyone say HIPA? That is nothing to the fact that many have been sitting there on camps which have not been turned on recording 12 hours a day to get their pay and when the reality is that they were sleeping all day in the tents this is common practice for the employees of DynCorp from what I had wittnessed in person.Many other tings which will be addressed in the investigation by the DOJ as I can not stand for the company whom people trust taking my pay because of illegal acts of others. thus I believe since I am also a tax payer I will make sure my tax money is doing something good for the Soliders on the ground and not lining the pocketts of the CH2MHILL managment that is running the show over there.
Sunday, May 23rd 2010 at 11:57 pm |
My understanding was CH2M-HILL sent over some an in house design team instead of outside hires to start the project. I have no idea what this CH2M guy did for that kind of money if a TCN could do the same for 3000K. What type of work did guy do?
Sunday, May 23rd 2010 at 3:57 pm |
I got paid for the time I was in DFW so not sure why you did not get paid. Also the 12 hour thing if I or anyone else that works over 12 hours we do get paid OT do not think that if I have to work 13 or 14 hours and do not get paid because if that was the case I would not be working here right now that would make no sense. I was with KBR for 6 years and enjoyed it and also am enjoying with with DI and I have my own hooch and I am not a manager or supervisor. The way it is if you work on Hicks you live in a hooch if you work on KAF like in the trades and areas around there your going to share a tent most are 8 man tents. If you are waiting to move to another camp that is where it sucks your going to be in a big tent with a lot of people which is like BTC except its not in a hooch. I have gotten paid on time since I have been here. You make the most of where you work. I have a TCN that works in my department and we treat him like one of us we dont make him do anything that we would not do also. In fact he leaves for R+R tomorrow for a month.
Monday, July 12th 2010 at 6:42 pm |
I have to say that I have a good buddy that has been working for DynCorp for close to two years. He has been paid on time, and generally likes what he does and who he works for.
I will be leaving this month to work for them as well in Afghanistan. Having served in the military myself many years ago, and a brother-in-law that was 2nd Recon, I realize what conditions I am going in to. I believe that this is not what everyone is cut out for. But, you will have people complain, no matter where, or what the job entails.
Sometimes you just have to work with that end goal in mind, remembering why you are there and knowing that you for one, do your part.
Good Luck
Sunday, May 23rd 2010 at 4:35 pm |
Well I would say your one of the ones who must know someone or you were lucky, I worked for a CH2MHILL manager who recently got fired not sure why but I did leave because they were not allowing me to record the overtime I was made to work. I averaged 13 to 14 hours a day and was only allowed to record 12 which as all good KBR employees know is timesheet fraud. I worked a few rimes over 26 hours straight travel in country and all and was only allowed to record 12 so I guess I am the only one in the country who had experienced this type of management. I doubt that! I submitted this to HR prior to my leaving and nothing has been done specially about the DFW incidents which I have written documents to prove these acts. I can appreciate loyalty and for those who are writing saying there are no issues at Hicks or KAF or with DI then God Bless your ability to live in denial. I will say that living in an environment with air born ecoli is not good and they are doing nothing to help this but push antibiotics which will only mess you up in the long run. I will not even go into the lack of orientation and the lack of travel all I can say is Go KBR in this area as they were great and the company actually took care of their employees with Pay and Travel issues
Sunday, May 23rd 2010 at 4:38 pm |
I will say that DI is also defrauding the Government in many ways which in the future will come to light by the filling which has just been submitted to the federal government for fraud waste and abuse by DI and CH2MHILL employees and management which as we all know means there will be those who end up as the pawns in this great big fraud machine
Monday, May 24th 2010 at 8:06 am |
What is wrong with you guys??? Since when did this forum turn into a bashing board against individuals???? I don’t know what Sniper has done to anyone on here. He has posted his opinion just like everyone else. Just because he likes what he does and who he works for doesn’t mean that he should be put down for it. I must have missed something along the way to bring on the comments that were directed at him over the weekend. Some of that crap was totally uncalled for. You might also want to remember when you are name calling and bashing away you don’t know who the person might be you are tearing down. There is a wealth of information here but this kind of BS is not helpful to anyone. Get a grip!!!
Tuesday, July 13th 2010 at 11:53 am |
Hello Ex KBR Wife,
I agree wholeheartedly with your opinion. I used to have a voice on here and comment quite a bit but when I disagreed with THESE people they took their attacks to new levels.
One of these jackasses even took it so far as to track down my username (not this one obviously) and look through hundreds of comments I had made on different forums to take things I had said COMPLETELY out of context. I STILL cannot believe what these assholes stooped too considering I am one with a hellofa lot more grievance with these companies than 99% of these other people, including Ms. “Sparky” who is only looking for internet “fame”. I have life long problems now with my health and have been so depressed I have put a gun in my mouth. To me that is a lot more important a reason to dislike these companies than being upset about a strangers horrible death (I am sorry for Ryan Maseth (sp.?), I was at D-9 just prior to his electrocution, and yes, I was shocked several times in the shower myself).
Jackasses that ATTACK you personally just because you DO NOT agree with them are the bane of the internet.
The anonymity of the Internet allows some heinous acts of cowardice that if they tried to perpetrate in person would result in physical violence.
This is all I am saying on this forum…these people are not intelligent enough to have a civil discourse with people who have opposing views without reverting to anonymous trolling…
Tuesday, July 13th 2010 at 12:08 pm |
As for personal attacks…you just attacked me personally. Internet fame?? Really?? You don’t know me or my agenda. How is that attack any different? And I am always amazed at how people feel their injuries, deaths, lawsuits are more important than anyone else’s.
Lot’s of people disagree with each other on Ms Sparky. I just expect people to keep it civil in their disagreement.
As for the anonymity of the internet….you are commenting anonymously here. I’m not anonymous at all.
Anon-I do hope you are being treated from your chronic depression and suicidal tendencies.
Tuesday, July 13th 2010 at 10:35 pm |
Ms.Sparky,
YOU have written articles about how many “neat” people and experiences you have gotten out of this blog. I remember vividly you going on an Air Force jaunt that is way beyond anything I have done (besides flying in Blackhawks over Baghdad). YOU have appeared on Rachel Maddow (silly woman who is waaaay too far left).
I DO respect your skill , talent, and perseverance when it comes to this blog. Questioning your motives does not seem to me to be a personal attack, whereas going to other websites and tracking down posts and using them out of context seems more like cyber-bullying…don’t ya think?
As I said in my posts…99% of the people on here have not gone through ONE SINGLE IOTA of what I have gone through, including yourself. I would wish my physical and emotional trauma of the last two years on NO ONE! The worst thing is KNOWING that my problems are LIFELONG! ANYONE who is suffering the way I am , good luck to you and my prayers are with you, but you CANNOT possibly compare what I am going through with people healthy enough to STILL be employed…I’m just saying.
I started this journey just about the time you got started in June of 08. While your candle is burning bright…mine, and a lot of other contractors being abused by the DOL, AIG, KBR, the BRB, the OALJ, and those g-damn defense scum bag lawyers is not…we daily hope and pray for the light of good fortune (in this case medical attention) to shine upon us! Oh Yeah, I am going to have to sue my first lawyer for malpractice because he did not even turn in a final brief, would not give me any paperwork, and completely ignored all of my instructions and evidence! My second lawyer was arrested for felony fraud 10 days after I hired him. My third lawyer is in contempt of Congress and is not bothering to do anything for months on end despite my pleas for help!!!
How about them apples?
Tuesday, July 13th 2010 at 10:54 pm |
I almost forgot…
I remain as anonymous as possible thanks to being 100% paranoid about everything I do or say. The scumbag defense lawyers are known for their dirty tricks and will take anything they can out of context, to win, or in my case just delay, so they can rack up their fees. I have to believe that someday I will prevail as I would not want to go on in the condition that I am in….constant pain is the mind-killer.
Monday, May 24th 2010 at 10:39 am |
Thanks for the comment, it’s tough to be objective when you have been or are currently employed with any of these contractors. I was absolutely bitter for a couple years after but remained grateful for the opportunity. I have never lost my appreciation of I why went in the first place or the ultimate sacrifice others have made. I would have to agree in general complaining to management will more than likely put you on a plane and politics and who you know is a major issue regarding any type of promotion.
Monday, May 24th 2010 at 11:13 am |
EX KBR Wife, some people tend to act as hateful as they can to try and silence a person. You have to expect that from folks who tent to try and bully people especially in cyber space best way to deal with people like that is to just hit the mute button.
Monday, May 24th 2010 at 9:38 pm |
I actually laugh at you Ultra. You presume I live in a tent, ha ,ha. You presume the best way I deal with situations is to use cyberspace, ha,ha.
I used the KBR system to file legitamite complaints. When the powers that be decided not to anything but look the other way I took it to a different level. This was on several occassions. This was for documented fraud, waste and abuse. Why did the powers that be look in a different direction? For several reasons as we all understand here. When I took it to a different level in a formal manner with facts that were documented a investigation was done in a very short time. These individuals are no longer in the mid east and from what I hear KBR “had to” to give then a no re-hire code. One is still crying today and it is one year later. He spent three years with KBR. He also thought he had clout to run over people. That is until he tried to run me over. You should have seen his mockery of the system after he was interviewed. He was fired a few days later complaining as he went to the plane. That was one and there are several more “dictators” who are gone. They all forgot why we are here. It is to support the troops and not their pockets with time not worked, LDD items and then sell them, etc, etc.
Monday, May 24th 2010 at 11:12 pm |
From the sound of your posts you sound like someone who scorns KBR. You must be one of those “NOT FOR REHIRE” folks. I have been sitting back and reading your posts for weeks now. You seem to bash anyone and everyone that still works for KBR and says they like it. Everyone there is just trying to make a living and make the best of the situations in which they live and work. It doesn’t make them bad people because they choose to work for KBR. When I started reading and posting on this forum I was an EX-KBR Wife…that is not the case anymore. My husband spent almost a year at home. After just a little while at home he was ready to go back but could not get rehired. Why??? Because his record said “NOT FOR REHIRE”. He was sent home after a disgruntled worker under his supervision told a series of lies to cover his own ass. Did not matter that he had been there three years and that the guy had been written up several times and transfered in an out of several departments because he would not do his job and thought he knew more than anyone there even though he had just gotten there. In the end he told a lie to cover his own ass or so he though and cost my husband his job..but in the end he lost his also because in the course of trying to get him to do his job there were words passed between them. No altercations..that is the rule. The problem with it was that nobody took the time to really look into the whole big situation. That has since been done and he was reinstated and immediately returned to the project. Decisions such as these can be overturned when an investigation is really made into the allegations against someone. Sometimes all the facts are not reported accurately or things are totally misrepresented by someone who is just out to get someone no matter what. Hope that was not the case with you..but you do sound very bitter about something. I think there is a little more to the story. I am a KBR WIFE again and am proud to say my husband works for them again. It puts a paycheck in our bank account every month and we can pay our bills. He is just like everyone else over there regardless of what the name of the company on the check stub is. KBR, Fluor, DynCorp…does it really matter??? All of them have had issues of late and I don’t really feel one is any better than the other. We just feel lucky for him to be working over there no matter who it is with.
Friday, May 28th 2010 at 8:03 am |
After reading the various blogs it is apparent that there is lots of hostility among contractors out there.
I can not speak for others ,but only for myself. How can anybody enjoy working for a piece of garbage outfit like DynCorp with the biggest shit bag management team ever put together at KAF.
If you ever had the chance to work for a good company you would see what a joke this DynCorp outfit is.
I guess the old saying holds true that misery loves company.From the last reports I obtained the DynCorp management team is still standing on its tip toes trying to find bottom.
Thursday, July 8th 2010 at 5:12 am |
Dear KBR LOGCAP III Employees:
Due to the current situation caused by the LOGCAP IV Transition, Management has decided to implement a scheme to put workers of 40 years of age and above on early retirement. This scheme will be known as RAPE (Retire Aged People Early).
Persons selected to be RAPED can apply to management to be considered for the SHAFT scheme (Special Help After Forced Termination).
Persons who have been RAPED and SHAFTED will be reviewed under the SCREW program (Scheme Covering Retired-Early Workers).
A person may be RAPED once, SHAFTED twice and SCREWED as many times as Management deems ap propriate. Persons who have been RAPED could get AIDS (Additional Income for Dependants & Spouse) or HERPES (Half Earnings for Retired Personnel Early Severance).
Obviously persons who have AIDS or HERPES will not be SHAFTED or SCREWED any further by Management.
Persons who are not RAPED and are staying on will receive as much SHIT (Special High Intensity Training) as possible. Management has always prided itself on the amount of SHIT it gives employees. Should you feel that you do not receive enough SHIT, please bring this to the attention of your Supervisor, who has been trained to give you all the SHIT you can handle.
Sincerely,
Management
PS Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas and oil, as well as current market conditions, the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off.
Tuesday, July 13th 2010 at 10:48 pm |
LOL…that’s funny!
Friday, September 3rd 2010 at 9:21 pm |
I just want to clear things, we are the same homosapianes(animals)by medical terminology.
there is no VVIP in war man, your still lucky your expot!
“We all share the bathrooms with the TCN’s. These guys are from all over the world. They are doing their laundry in the showers and sinks. Absolutely disgusting people. There is nobody around to enforce rules or regulations in the camps. It looks and smells like a group of animals just spent 24 hours in the showers. Nasty to say the least.”
Monday, October 11th 2010 at 4:38 pm |
Just a comment to add. I work for the company that so many of you seem to dislike. I am based at KAF at this moment. Yes, we share our living space with TCN’s, and though it is a learning experience, in this we have no choice. We have all chosen to be here, and no matter what everyone seems to be thinking and saying, we do not have to be here. We chose to be (this being the key word). We are payed, on time, and paid well for the comforts that we have given up for the time being. For some of is, it is a matter of more than just money. We are here to support Our Military. Many of us haved served previously, and have once again, chosen to leave our families and comforts behind, to do what we believe is the right thing. Anyone here has the ability to leave whenever they wish. We are not slaves. Maybe some of you that have never done this, should think about what type of contribution you can make, instead of sitting there complaining to Miss Sparky
Friday, December 31st 2010 at 2:03 pm |
Cherokee-I have served as well as did most in my family.
You are there for the money period. Lets not delude ourselves as that is the only reason someone would work in a war zone.
Spare us your “patriotic” and “for the troops” nonsense.
Saturday, January 1st 2011 at 2:04 pm |
hey asswipe I made more money working in the states than I do working in Iraq so dont make an asinine blanket statement like that when I can assure you that I am not here for the money!
Saturday, January 1st 2011 at 4:14 pm |
I have to agree with that one. I made much less for KBR as an electrician in Iraq than I could have made in the States. That’s not why I went over. I sincerely thought I had something to contribute to support our soldiers.
Wednesday, January 5th 2011 at 9:02 pm |
@iraqiteuker
Hey dipshit if they paid you $7 dollars an hour would you be over there?
No you wouldn’t so yet again spare us all your BS.
You can help the troops and their families plenty of ways at home but I bet you don’t do that either. It usually doesn’t pay anything.
Idiots.
Wednesday, January 5th 2011 at 9:08 pm |
@iraqitrucker – By the way I served twice (re-upped after 9/11) and I wonder if you would be kind enough to call me an asswipe to my face.
I bet not.
Keep your attitude at home and away from us on the FOB’s.
How is that ASSWIPE?
Tuesday, October 12th 2010 at 2:25 am |
I feel you’re pain as I sit here in Manas.
Friday, October 29th 2010 at 6:44 am |
Please can you answer this question for me since Dyncorp recruiter is not 100% sure.
On Dyncorp suggested items to bring with us while going to work in Afghanistan are following items: cell phone, digital camera & memory stick. I have read somewhere on the internet that those items are prohibited on the base camps in Afghanistan due to security reasons. So who is correct in this case: Dyncorp list or some source on the internet?
Thank you for your time and effort helping me with this issue.
Friday, October 29th 2010 at 8:17 am |
Edvin – I moved this comment to an active Dyncorp post in hopes you will get your answer. KBR banned cell phones, digital cameras and the like in Iraq. I think primarily because people were documenting evidence against them. They claimed that cell phones were a security risk but that is just ridiculous. Just another KBR effort to control information flow out of Iraq.
I will send out some emails for you as well.
Sunday, December 26th 2010 at 9:57 pm |
YES, THE CELL PHONE (IF IT CONTAINS A CAMERA) CANNOT BE USED BY TCN’S OR FN’S. YOU CANNOT BRING DIGITAL CAMERA UNLESS IT IS SPECIFIED FOR YOUR JOB. THE MEMORY STICK IS OK.
Sunday, December 26th 2010 at 10:06 pm |
Ok, another comment on all this. The camera’s and cells with camera’s are only not allowed for FN’s and TCN’s. Ex Pats can have them. This IS NOT a Dyncorp policy, it is the NATO policy. It is sad that everything anyone does not like, or agree with, always seems to fall in DynCorps lap. If you guys were actually here, you would know that all this is deemed through Force Protection, and had absolutely nothing to do with any one company. Wow, too sad.
Friday, October 29th 2010 at 9:26 am |
It depends on what camp you might end up at and being at KAF almost everyone here has a cellphone,camera and memory sticks. We have cellphones due to not useing handheld radios here. We use them to communicate during the work day also also if there is attacks. I also heard at some camps you can not pick up a signal.
Saturday, December 11th 2010 at 12:39 pm |
All interesting reading. I have been offered a job in Afghan with DI. Am ex Army with lots of experience of ruffing it so I am expecting that. What I have not been told by the recruiter is the Annual Leave (R&R) you get. Does anybody know? Dont think I can handle too long in these conditions without a decent break. Ha!
Wednesday, December 15th 2010 at 5:44 am |
DI gives 30 days leave, taken in 2 or 3 trips, and paid at 8 hours/day. R&R travel allowance is $3,100.
Wednesday, December 15th 2010 at 6:11 am |
Philip….Long time no hear from!! How have you been?
Saturday, December 25th 2010 at 9:59 am |
Same ole shit, different day. Just sitting back, watching as DI slowly loses LOGCAP IV piece by piece.
Saturday, December 25th 2010 at 5:45 pm |
I had heard they were losing parts of the contract but i did not think it was that bad or maybe i was wrong about DI troubles.
Sunday, December 26th 2010 at 10:09 pm |
You get 30 days of R&R per contract yr. Minimum of 2 leaves, max 3. You can also take 15 days LWOP on top of that. And seriously, it is not that bad. You gotta stop listening to only the whiners
Sunday, December 26th 2010 at 7:20 am |
Afghanistan ROUMOR, some are claiming Dyn corp is out, and KBR is in the process of being back in…any truth? guess it wil take some time to develope. Happy New Year to all
Sunday, December 26th 2010 at 10:35 am |
Only a rumor buddy
Sunday, December 26th 2010 at 6:45 pm |
maybe it is a rumour and maybe it is not. KBR is asking people via emails to come back and work down south. So why is this? The pay is somewhat less than what Fluor pays for a similiar position but the offers are there! This is for a Marrch start up.
Sunday, December 26th 2010 at 7:15 pm |
Can you post a copy of one of the KBR emails?
Sunday, December 26th 2010 at 9:35 pm |
I imagine it’s either one of those e-mail scams or it could be the confusion that KBR does have a presence in KAF (south) unrelated to LCIV and out of their British Subsidiary; nothing to do with LCIV. As one Senior Commander out of the contract office in Baghdad mentioned “KBR was unceremoniously thrown out of the country and will not be invited back.” If need be they would bring Fluor in from the North. I would also like to see one of these e-letters.
Monday, December 27th 2010 at 10:41 am |
Fluor is having the same problems What, i guess you must be in the north with Fluor oh well we shall see.
Wednesday, January 5th 2011 at 9:05 pm |
You know I still cannot believe how many people take these jobs and then WHINE about how awful living conditions are and how there is not a five star red carpet treatment.
This blog needs to be shut down. Waste of bandwidth.
Wednesday, January 5th 2011 at 9:29 pm |
There is a difference between whining and expecting to be treated like US Citizens are by law expected to be treated. These contractors use the “It’s a war zone” excuse for everything. Been there done that.
Thursday, January 6th 2011 at 7:46 am |
BAF is getting serious, wel; the MP now seem to watch the badges and if you do not have a badge issued in baf for cell phone or laptop, it is troubl if you are caught with ne, even if you have a badge from the FOB your stationed if your an OCN and have a cel phone even as you only travel through BAF it could get you in trouble , NO one seems to answer the question if it is packed in your bags or on your person, it wil be treated like active if the MP find it and thay have relly been watching now more so than the years past.If you a CAC card holder or an ex pat, not really an issue
Thursday, February 3rd 2011 at 4:51 am |
How is life for a Regional Manager at KAF with Dyncorp on the LOGCAP contract? I appreciate any input…thank you.
Thursday, February 3rd 2011 at 8:18 pm |
Don’t do it! Dyncorp LOGCAP IV is a sinking ship in my opinion.