Power

nick44 · April 11, 2009

So KBR one of the biggest contractors out here in Iraq and Afganistian is facing some huge law suits due to the fact they killed a soldier. The soldier got out of the shower and was electicuted when he steped into a poudle in the shower trailer. So now a task force has been set up and forcing KBR to change all the cables they used from Turey (to save money) and switch over to american cables.

So today it was our house's turn to get the new cables. They cut the power to the house at noon local time and we just got power back around 530. All they did was chance the main power cable to the breaker box and it took them about 5 hours. There was no digging or anything involved. They had our house done in about 20. I think it was bc the woman who did it was from my home town just north of Evansville, In. The guy doing the house next to us took 5 hours so we were with out power the whole time too! It just really kills me that these guys are over here making 100K plus a year to take their sweet ass time. Honestly I could have done this job in about 30 min with my limited knowledge and I am only getting paid a little over 40k a year. It just really pisses me off to see my tax money waisted and getting spent on all of these contractors!

ATMINF · April 12, 2009

Trust me, their is more going on than what you know. Also if KBR did not do it, who would? FLOR, Dyna Corp etc?? We no long have a 1,000,000 man standing active Army, the days of having laundry units, bakery units, etc are long gone. Personnel cost are about 60% of the Army's budget, think about how much more it would cost in the long run if we had about another 400,000 troops, all the former bases etc, and the other costs that are involved. Overall once the Wars over the money gets truned off to KBR etc, and we still maintain our learner fighting units.

Also if your pissed about your income, you really have to look at why you joined up. Everone knows that the money is not great in the military until you start gaining rank. Also look at your education, skill set and all the benefits you have, and look at your friends that are on the outside and see what they have. The grass is not always greener. And if you want to make more money, become a Officer and stay in and once you make CPT you income will be pretty good.

nick44 · April 12, 2009

I know why I joined and thats why I am on number 3 deployment! I have volunteered for all 3 of them. I am a SGT and busted my ass to get where I am. I am not bitching about my income I just think its crazy how much they pay the contractors. I am proud of my service and wouldnt change anything about it. I came in as a grunt when I had almost every job offered to me. I wanted to be enlisted infantry. I have a college degree but I love being and working with the troops. The Army is talking about cut backs and making a requirement of a 100 GT score to reenlist. That isnt right bc they are taking the money they would be paying dedicated troops to the contractors. The reup thing doesnt effect me but it does some of my troops who bust their ass every day for our country but just bc they cannot score a certian score on a test they cannot reenlist? But some dumb ass can come work for KBR?

bigredmariner · April 12, 2009

Hang in there Nick, I can understand how it burns your ass that contractors are making so much more. It is ridiculous how much they make compared to active units. Keep doing what you're doing we appreciate it back home.

nick44 · April 12, 2009

Thanks Jarrod!

Dukers · April 12, 2009

I find it funny / sad / intreguing that there are so many other companies over there getting their part of the pie while the soldiers barely get crumbs.

cough oil.

cough.

what?

GARB55 · April 12, 2009

I agree Nick, that chaps my A$ as well. However I learned you can only control what you can control and unfortunately that's something that's out of our hands. However it still Sucks.....

Defense has long been notorious for waste, recent government reports suggest the Pentagon's money management woes have reached astronomical proportions. A study by the Defense Department's inspector general found that the Pentagon couldn't properly account for more than a trillion dollars in monies spent. A GAO report found Defense inventory systems so lax that the U.S.

Army lost track of 56 airplanes, 32 tanks, and 36 Javelin missile command launch-units.How the Heck can that Happen!!!

And before the Iraq war, when military leaders were scrambling to find enough chemical and biological warfare suits to protect U.S. troops, the department was caught selling these suits as surplus on the Internet "for pennies on the dollar," a GAO official said.

Given these glaring gaps in the management of a Pentagon budget that is approaching $400 billion, the coming debate is shaping up as a bid to gain the high ground in the battle against waste, fraud and abuse.

"The Congress has increased defense spending from $300 billion to $400 billion over three years at the same time that the Pentagon has failed to address financial problems that dwarf those of Enron," said Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Los Angeles, one of the letter's signatories.

Dukers · April 12, 2009

thats just embarrassing to be honest.

ryan_hermanutz · April 12, 2009

First off Nick thank you for your service and thank you for busting your ass and putting your life on the line for me and my family everyday. Second off you obviously are way better than others, you are doing your job because it's your job and you care, and not to take advantage of a messed up system that rewards inapt individuals for second-rate standards.

alaska511 · April 12, 2009

First off Nick thank you for your service and thank you for busting your ass and putting your life on the line for me and my family everyday. Second off you obviously are way better than others, you are doing your job because it's your job and you care, and not to take advantage of a messed up system that rewards inapt individuals for second-rate standards.

Well said, Ryan!

GARB55 · April 12, 2009

First off Nick thank you for your service and thank you for busting your ass and putting your life on the line for me and my family everyday. Second off you obviously are way better than others, you are doing your job because it's your job and you care, and not to take advantage of a messed up system that rewards inapt individuals for second-rate standards.

Well said, Ryan!

+ Infinity

ATMINF · April 12, 2009

Nick, How did you volunteer for your tours? On all my deployments my unit was tasked and I went. As for having a college degree, that is great, but it takes more than that to be a Officer. I would just say be careful, but I am glad things are alot better than when I was there. Stay safe.

svensk · April 13, 2009

I agree Nick, that chaps my A$ as well. However I learned you can only control what you can control and unfortunately that's something that's out of our hands. However it still Sucks.....

Defense has long been notorious for waste, recent government reports suggest the Pentagon's money management woes have reached astronomical proportions. A study by the Defense Department's inspector general found that the Pentagon couldn't properly account for more than a trillion dollars in monies spent. A GAO report found Defense inventory systems so lax that the U.S.

Army lost track of 56 airplanes, 32 tanks, and 36 Javelin missile command launch-units.How the Heck can that Happen!!!

And before the Iraq war, when military leaders were scrambling to find enough chemical and biological warfare suits to protect U.S. troops, the department was caught selling these suits as surplus on the Internet "for pennies on the dollar," a GAO official said.

Given these glaring gaps in the management of a Pentagon budget that is approaching $400 billion, the coming debate is shaping up as a bid to gain the high ground in the battle against waste, fraud and abuse.

"The Congress has increased defense spending from $300 billion to $400 billion over three years at the same time that the Pentagon has failed to address financial problems that dwarf those of Enron," said Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Los Angeles, one of the letter's signatories.

I don't think Waxman should be the moral authority on government waste. Every year the Dept. of Defense is expected to do more with less than any other piece of the government. This year and into the next 4 they will face heavy cuts just as they did the 90's. No other Federal Government agency, or dept. will see cut backs. Federal payroll keeps growing as the private sector and military will face cuts in everything.