Ecrofirt said:
Be very careful. Don't find yourself in a position where you're the only American in an area.
And get the fuck out of there if you do find yourself in that position. I don't want to have to hear about you on CNN.
Good luck man, and keep safe.
I will never be in a place when I am not in an American controlled area (not that mortors care what "area" I'm in). I have technical knowledge about several military systems a solider is assigned to me at all times. I am not one of these contractors that will be out there in the mix with the Iraqi people (I would never do that. That to me is nuts). To be honest with you I doubt very seriously I'll even meet an Iraqi.
Haddonfield said:
some of these posts for a man going away to iraq are just wrong, and completely distasteful and disrepectful to many who have already gone over there and died.
This is GA if you don't expect to get your balls busted on any life experience you decide to post on here then you shouldn't come. As for those that have already died they knew the risks. This isn't Disney Land, you are going into an area with barbarians and animals that think you are a barbarian and animal.
radioheadrule83 said:
There've been a few people from the branch of the MoD that I work in who have been over to Basra airport, in non military personell roles. They don't/didn't leave their base either... apparently it's like a prison/fortress (obviously), the hours are rediculously long, there's not much to do and the sound of mortars takes getting used to. But I assume the money you will be getting will be fantastic.
How long is your contract?
Good luck and stay safe.
Bingo. 6 months with options for 6 month extensions. There are guys there now that have been there since the beginning of the war.
bionic77 said:
If you are not helping the Iraqi people what the hell is the point of the whole occupation? Or are you just talking about yourself as a software engineer and not for the mission as a whole?
Personal opinion: I never bought or subscribed to the idea that we are there to "help" the Iraqis. I'm not there to help them I'm there to make sure that the software that my customer purchased works to spec and allows them to execute their duties.
At anyrate I'm not allowed to carry any weapons but, again we are assigned soldiers to be with us at all times. If I am ever in a situation where I would have to arm myself we would be looking at some sort of Zerg rush.