Of course Large Companies who are in the Stock exchange pay Dividends (Most Do)but the way you worded it sounded like you were saying Contractors in Iraq were getting paid dividends.
By the way-The Military REALLY appreciates EVERYTHING done by KBR for what they do for THEM. I know they Really appreciated our JP8 Fuel deliveries from Base to base because without it they would get shut down or put their own people to do it and take away their ability to concentrate on the Mission at hand and the Meals furnished to them makes them the best fed US Military on record.
MRE's kinda suck day after day after day after day...................
Not trying to lessen the real effects of ambushes but it's just part of the Job that happens all the time.

It's a corporation, it exists to make a profit, it pays dividends or it retains it's earnings to reinvest them. What wasn't clear, unless someone doesn't know what dividends are, and that's not my fault?

Any politics in this was never my intention, I think that trivializes what's happened and what this man has captured on videotape. Our nation has decided to go with a smaller military and have civilians do things soldiers used to do. That's not something thrust upon us, that's the result of decisions we've made. I just think we've gone down a slippery slope when we're having combat service support done by a company established to make a profit and with employees lured, in part, by high wages. But, let me reiterate, a lenghty political debate is not the point. I thought the video was powerful, moving, and I thought some others in the profession might think so as well.

Companies have always been involved in combat zones from the Time I was in Vietnam to the Present. It's not a Recent development.

They pay good i heard, 170K+ w/o tax deductions, but even if they paid me three times that i'd turn it down in a sec....

you heard Wrong

I checked out KBR last January. The pay was about $80,000, tax free only if you stayed the entire year. I seem to remember it was very possible to earn more, they pay 'overtime', believe it or not. But, the work week was like 12 hours a day, 6 days a week, I don't remember how it is you can get in overtime with a schedule like that but you could somehow.

Yes, so, earnings isn't really a good reason to go there. It would have to be patriotism or just a wild sense of adventure. If the pay has increased dramatically I haven't heard.

I am headed over there in January as a mechanic. The workweek is 7 days a week, 12 hours a day. They pay is good. the 1st 80k is tax free, if you stay out of the USA for 330 days out of the year. There is little to spend your money on in Iraq, and room and board is paid for. Therefore, it is easy to save 90% of your pay.

The first $80,000 is Tax Free and then anything over that is Taxed at 20% and the time In Country is correct as stated above. Most take R&R's but they do NOT come back into the U.S and if they do you have to limit your time in the States.

they pay 'overtime', believe it or not

Sorry Cam-hate to bust your Bubble again but there is NO Overtime.

Again? When was the first time? You're not talking about your harsh, unjustified charge that I should get the FACTS and not repeat what I 'heard' in newspaper articles? I've already shown the problem was your command of English, not anything I wrote. :P

I believe you are wrong about the overtime as well though I can only base that upon what the recruiters told me and the fact that you've been away for awhile.

Thanks for the info, Acranger. Did you see the video of the ambush? Care to comment on your inspiration to do this? Driving looks especially dangerous compared to many other jobs they offer like cooking, and I'm guessing mechanics, anything that allows you to stay on base most of the time.