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Ok here is the deal, I work for Customs & Border Protection. Every year we send officers to Iraq to train the Iraq Department of Border Enforcement, I volunteered last time around for a 90 day rotation, management in their wisdom didn't forward my name to HQ (claimed we were too short handed to lose an experienced officer for that long). So now its announced again but this time its SIX months, but they are trying to offset that by increasing my pay during those 6 months by 35% hazardous duty and an additional 35% locality pay not to mention the enormous amounts of OT(money was never my motivation for this--I'm virtually debt free not counting my mortgage). I seriously doubt management would stand in my way again if I volunteer...should I do it?
My wife was OK with me going for 3 months but she really isn't comfortable with me going for 6. I do think its important for some personal reasons. But since nowhere in Iraq is truly safe they can't guarantee my safety but at the same time its not like I will be going out on patrol or looking for action. Its a training mission, I am expected to prepare Iraqis to police their own borders not do the enforcement for them.
Eventually I plan to move to teaching at the academy in Georgia and I think experience like this will stand out on my resume. I also think its a historic mission, first time our department has been asked to help create a whole new agency in another country and the contacts I could make would be invaluable further along in my career.
Then weighing the bad....being away from my wife for that long and the danger of getting hurt or killed(however slight).
Is the experience, contacts and money worth it? Please give your opinions but also please leave politics out of this.
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For the career path of your choosing, an experience like that (especially because you volunteered your services) would be a phenomenal addition to your resume.
As you say your goal is to teach at the academy.
But six months is a long time.
Is this term anything similary to the military where you are sent for a period of time and they can keep you around longer than you were prepared for?
It really sucks over there. Just be prepared for that. And another question you have to ask your self is when does this 6 months start? Is it during football season? Because if it is then HELL NO.
__________________ "I carry a gun because a cop is too heavy".
How much money are we talking about here? I mean is it make life comfy from here on out money or I can buy a new truck when I get back money.
Its not great money, its good money, more than I would get paid otherwise by about $30-40K. But money isn't the deciding factor, my wife and I are doing pretty well financially, more money is always good but we don't need it.
Quote:
Louis
Is this term anything similary to the military where you are sent for a period of time and they can keep you around longer than you were prepared for?
No they can't involuntarily extend you, since I am a civilian government employee. They do regularly ask for volunteers to extend, it doesn't happen too often though.
The government does prepare us for the trip as best they can. We get some tactical training at the Border Patrol Tactical school in El Paso, we get issued different weapons (right now we carry Glock 9mm), we get issued additional protective gear and they send us to training in Washington DC given by the State Department concerning culture and a basic language class.
I've talked to 2 other officers who have served in this detail, albeit for only 3 months. They both said it was worth it but also explained to me the type of work expected and the level of danger they faced. It does give me a lot to think about.
Thank you everyone for your advice. I have a week to decide if I will submit my name or not.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Heucrazy
It really sucks over there. Just be prepared for that. And another question you have to ask your self is when does this 6 months start? Is it during football season? Because if it is then HELL NO.
This is a very good point. At that point it would depend on how much extra money you are talking about.
It really sucks over there. Just be prepared for that. And another question you have to ask your self is when does this 6 months start? Is it during football season? Because if it is then HELL NO.
It would very likely be during football season. The first deployment is in July and like I mentioned before its 6 month rotations.
Right now I am gonna be at 3 Cardinal games, 2 on the road but if this comes about then I will miss them all...and it will probably be their best season ever just my luck
It would very likely be during football season. The first deployment is in July and like I mentioned before its 6 month rotations.
Right now I am gonna be at 3 Cardinal games, 2 on the road but if this comes about then I will miss them all...and it will probably be their best season ever just my luck
Well what are you waiting for?? Get your ass to Iraq! Daddy needs a Cards championship!
Have you ever served your country? Do you think its unimportant to do so?
DO you feel comfortable having others be in harms way and not contributing?
If you said no to these questions do it. Personally, my parents could have afforded to send me to any college in the country and I had the grads to make it into most. I did 7 years. Then did college afterwards. I was going to be a lifer but the cutbacks go tto be too much.
However, for the rest of my life I can take pride that I chipped in. IF you feel that that is iimportant than go. If it isnt important than dont do it. The money isnt worth it. Its not about the money.
__________________
Goal for 2008: Half as many penalties.
Recruitment and training centers for Iraqi police seem to be prime targets for bombers these days. Just saying...
__________________ Hoping for Audacity
Well, in truth I'm actually not a total hawk, but I'm not a dove either -- I'm more like an angry pigeon flying over the political arena after a really big meal. -Abba Gav
Have you ever served your country? Do you think its unimportant to do so?
DO you feel comfortable having others be in harms way and not contributing?
If you said no to these questions do it. Personally, my parents could have afforded to send me to any college in the country and I had the grads to make it into most. I did 7 years. Then did college afterwards. I was going to be a lifer but the cutbacks go tto be too much.
However, for the rest of my life I can take pride that I chipped in. IF you feel that that is iimportant than go. If it isnt important than dont do it. The money isnt worth it. Its not about the money.
dreamcastrocks--My Hero!!
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