Would you do it?

[Koop]

I have been struggling with this for a few months now.  I did 3 deployments to Iraq (7mo deployments) each over the course of 5 years.  I had several close calls including being hit by a road side bomb on the my 3rd tour.  I am now getting paid by the government to attend school full time.  The money is enough to pay my mortgage, have food, provide for my wife in a modest life style.  I have an opportunity that I was offered... to change my life but I have been struggling to make the decision.

I could choose to deploy to Iraq or Afghanistan doing the same type things I did while in the USMC but as a private contractor... but I would get paid like this:

1 years pay @ 85k

6 months deployed - 6 months doing whatever I want at home

Ontop of that 85k there is a 180k combat deployment bonus, though it is taxed 45% by uncle sam.

So basically I could deploy for 6 months and make roughly 110-120k then make the remaining 42.5k over the next 6 months of doing nothing.  Pay off the little debt I have... buy a new truck and bass boat and be much better off.

I know I'm the only one who can make the choice, but it is  definitely a tough one I've been thinking about.  

What do you all think?

[Tin]

I think you should continue to live your "modest" lifestyle. 6 months in either of those two countries is not worth "paying off a little debt, a new truck and new bass boat." Better to be together and just getting by then take that risk.

[bmadd]

I'm sure the money and time off are tempting but I agree with Tin. If you're getting by now with a modest lifestyle, it's a no-brainer to me. I'd stay. Having not been over in either place, the friends and family I've talked to that have been there have all said they won't go back.

[Koop]

Good to have some reinforcement... I really do not want to go back again... but it would be nice to have the money of course.  I'm just struggling with the point of view that... hell I did it 3 times for next to nothing... once more to capitalize on some profit, just so much I could do with the money... but I suppose like my wife keeps telling me... nothing I can do with the money if my luck ran out last time I went.

[daviscw]

I think you know more about what it's like over there than we do. That'd be a tough choice for anybody though.

[cart7t]

In late 1978 I was working for McDonnell Douglas (Boeing now). They were in desperate need of flight line electronics people or just about anyone for that matter, to care for the Irans F-4 fighter fleet. It seems the Americans that were there wanted out as things were becoming too hostile.

The company offered double your salary with a $50k bonus. That amounted to nearly $90,000, a lot of money in 1978. I envisioned getting off the plane in Iran while worried looking Americans, the guys I was taking the place of, got on the plane to go back home. I decided the money wasn't worth that scene.

The Shah's regime was toppled months later. The hostages were taken not long after that. I'm glad I chose not to go.

[Dan:]

I honestly have no idea what I would chose if I were in that situation. The money would make caring for your families needs easier, but there is always that risk...I guess I would just do what the wife says. Don't forget that she is the one who will be at home worrying about you for those six months and she will be the one who will be most affected if God forbid something happens to you.

[fourbizz]

I think you know more about what it's like over there than we do. That'd be a tough choice for anybody though.

x2

[Bassn Blvd]

What will happen after you spend the money you make?  Exactly....  Stay home.

[SirSnookalot]

Don't press your luck anymore.  Money is an easy commodity to replace as compared to.................

[tutle]

A nephew of mine is sargent in the Army .He just started his fourth hitch.He didn't deploy on his first hitch.Then he did two 15 month tours in the sandbox. The hummer he was manning the 50 cal. on got hit with an RPG during his first tour. He spent a few weeks in a hospital and a month working light duty at the post office before he went back to Striker.He said he would get out when than hitch was up, but re-upped when the time came. Second tour went O.K. although he said one of his buddies killed himself one night.  He will be going to Afghanistan in a couple of months .He plans to stay in the Army until he can retire .He likes it.

  But dude,go ahead and go blackwater.Like you said the money is a whole lot more than they pay G.I.'s .Your fire power will be superior to what regular soldiers get as they will give you the best of everything and you will be safer than the guys who are out doing routine patrols following orders.  Half of the U.S. paid soldiers in the middle east are mercenaries.  Grab all that dough while you can and then kick back and spend the rest of your life fishing.

[roadwarrior]

Well, that's a lot of money and you don't have to spend it!

One opportunity probably leads to another and I suspect you

will be offered another high pay position that is somewhat

safer down the road (e.g. oil pipeline security in Kuwait).

I don't have a "recommendation", you have been there and I

have not. However, getting paid big bucks for the same service

you gave your country for little pay seems like "payback" to me.

The prospect of making this a career appeals to some, but it still

boils down to you and your wife.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

8-)

[=Matt 5.0=]

Stay home and take care of the wife. Uncle Sam isn't going to.

[Grey Wolf]

"Do you feel lucky ?"

What does your wife want you to do ?

Last but not least , do you want to ?

Dodging bullets and bombs wouldn't be worth any amount of money to me.                   This is just one persons opinion.

Follow your feelings on this and don't bring into the mix what some stranger on a forum tells you. Your life hangs in the balance on what you decide.

Hope you make the right choice for yourself. God bless and good luck.

[tyrius.]

Would I do it?

Nope.  I've already passed on jobs that pay more so that I could travel less for work.  I'd also take a pay cut if I could eliminate my current travel schedule (gone about 1 week per month).  I'd rather be home with the family.

And my travel doesn't include getting shot at!!!!!

BUT, that's just me.  Other people think differently and make different choices.

[Uncle Leo]

Listen to your wife, you can leave one to many times and she will be gone.

[BassDeaton01]

Well if I was going to be put on a base with a lot of iminent danger then no. I've been to Iraq twice and Afghanistan once...USMC. But if I were going to a base like Al Asad or somewhere that there isn't a lot of action it would be hard to pass up. I mean it is still dangerous anywhere in that country but I've been to Al Asad and there's not much danger you have to worry about around there. Tough choice.

[bigtimfish]

I did 3 deployments in the N. Arabian gulf. My ship USS Ponce actually dropped off the first marines in that war and did minesweeping countermeasures. We had RPG's shot at us when we were pulling into Jordan. Spent a lot of time off the coast of Iraq and kuwait. A lot of time in Bahrain. Anyway, did they mention anything about family seperation pay? What about tax free zones? Would I do it again? No chance.

[Siebert Outdoors]

Honestly,  I was going to say "Go for it".  Then I saw the wife comment and backpeddled.  I dont think I would risk it for round 4.  I dont think its worth the risk of your family.

The above poster on the comment on Uncle Sam taking care of your wife is dead on.  I would pass.

[BadKarma42]

First, thank you for your service.

I can't say what I would do because I have never experienced anything remotely close to what you are going through.

I think I would start with my family's needs when considering the decision.

Someone mentioned Blackwater earlier.  I don't think you did.  However if it is Blackwater, I would be concerned with the company and reputation in that area of the world.

Good Luck to you.

[tutle]

" Going blackwater " is a generic term used by soldiers these days that means getting out of active duty service so they can sign up with one of the private contractors like Blackwater Corporation.There are many others.  

[done]

  I personally could not take 6 months away from my fam. That alone would nearly kill me. Doing occasional 5 days away is worse enough.

You have already done more than your share for our country. so you do not owe it to anyone.

 Like others here, the money would tempt me. Personally, talk to your wife and make the decision together. I can honestly say even my worst day would not compare to the best days you had over there.

Good luck!

[vanquish]

If it were me and I enjoyed my job I would do it. I am an adrenaline junky anyway and would rather die doing something I love than Alzheimer's or cancer. I don't think I could do it if I had kids though.

[Sfritr]

You can't spend money if you are DEAD.  Kiss your wife, thank GOD you made it back alive before and enjoy life.  Money is not whats important.   Good luck with your decision.  

[Sfritr]

BTW  

THANK YOU FOR PROTECTING THE FREEDOMS THAT MOST TAKE FOR GRANTED!!!!!!