WSI, KBR Middle East Fire & Rescue

**Loco** · Jan 16th, 2009, 06:08 PM

Now, I'm kinda thinking out loud here, thats all.

Happy where I am just now, work with a bunch of guys that are more family than just colleagues. Every single one of them I would trust with my life, indeed I have done on many an occasion.

And there's the rub - Not trying to be selfish, but my career path is being held back because of the perfect working environment I have at the moment with these guys. I simply don't want to move on and up the ladder because I would find it difficult to break with them and move elsewhere.

I've done a 6 month temp stint as a J.O. ( Junior Officer ) so I know I am more than capable of it.

The other thing is that what was once my "part time" business that earned a little extra cash every month has now snowballed into a bit of a monster to be honest. I find I'm working even more now on my days off from my "real" job. It's great, the money is appreciated, but I just feel like I'm getting nowhere fast despite the success. More so in my full time job as a firefighter.

Sooooooo........as I said, thinking out loud. Maybe a complete change of scenery is required.

I've been looking at various places online for info on this. The Firehouse forums are very informative.

Looking at possible relocation options. WSI and KBR are still crying out for contract fire and rescue trained personel. Downside is that its Iraq and Afghanistan that they need to deploy them to.

Upside is the change of lifestyle and the pay is pretty good. Danger money you could say?. I notice that WSI also have openings in the USA, there were a few last month as fire rescue technicians with NASA.

I'm waiting for some further info as to how my UK training will hold up, qualifications wise against the specified US training benchmarks.

The ace in my pack could be that I'm pretty highly trained in specialised areas such as USAR, line rescue and swift water rescue as well as your bread & butter firefighting.

Watch this space. This could all come to nothing, but you just never know.

**Shade-of-Grey** · Jan 16th, 2009, 07:10 PM

-what is your 'other job'?

-how would going to iraq help you get out of the stagnant fireman industry?

**Loco** · Jan 16th, 2009, 07:22 PM

Originally Posted by Shade-of-Grey

-what is your 'other job'?

-how would going to iraq help you get out of the stagnant fireman industry?

Part time ( or it used to be ) job/business is web design and dev.

Making the jump to a fire and rescue contract abroad wouldn't get me out of a stagnant industry.

That's not what I meant. It's not stagnant. It's just ticking along nicely and I have had this urge to do something more with my skills for some time now.

I just think that instead of staying where I am, a complete change of scenery ( but not career ) would maybe be an idea.

I just don't know. I've never really felt like this before in my 20 years as an FF. Guess I might be thinking "Christ.....I've got 10 years to go till I retire....am I where I want to be just now"??.

**Ginger Lord** · Jan 16th, 2009, 07:26 PM

I don't know whether its relevant for your career but we were told in Uni that these days to get into the US to work you need to have a degree.

**Burris** · Jan 16th, 2009, 07:35 PM

I would look into US firefighting maybe?

Iraq is a little extreme, and you'll have to deal with oil well fires and that bullshit. Granted, the pay is way nicer over there.

**Invig** · Jan 16th, 2009, 08:19 PM

KBR is a pretty sweet gig. I recommend it to pretty much everyone I know that complains about how they cant find a job. They offer pretty much everything you can do back home but for a lot more money. I wouldn't recommend doing it for someone looking for something new in their life though because you'll pretty much be doing the same thing you do now only doing it a lot less and getting paid more to do it. If its a challenge you want, you wont find it on a military base in the middle east, the only thing firefighters did at the FOB I was at was hand out new fire extinguishers when the old ones expired or someone accidentally set one off... and by someone I mean me.

**The Scatman** · Jan 16th, 2009, 10:33 PM

I still feel like I'm banging my head against a wall trying to get into one of the Fire Services in the North East.

passed all of the recruitment tets and interviews and I've been put on a waiting list that covers Tyne and Wear (which would be ideal) Northumberland (would be pretty good) and Durham-Cleavland fire and rescue (not as ideal) :)

What's pissing me off is that they're being very cloak and dagger about it all, I know that I got a fairly high pass mark but I also know that they've ran two training courses since I passed, so that;s about 40 people who've went through (won't have been 40 jobs, the physical tests weer so easy and I'm told off a few fire fighters that they drop like flys off them). All sorts of rumours going round about when the training courses are, the amount of retirements coming up... etc, they won't even tell us how many people are on the waiting list... let alone how many people are above or below me on the list.

I wouldn't mind, it's my 2nd time trying to get in, the last time was when I was 19 and they didn't even reply to my application, I was 21 this time when they had a recruitment drive and although they say as long as your 18 when a course is starting they'll consider you... I think that's a load of shite... under 21 and I don't think you'll get a look in.

it only pisses me off because I have NOTHING at the moment... except for a shit part time job in subway and an ever increasing over draft.

22 now... need to get things going... the arse has fallen out of the gym industry other wise I'd still be doing that (want to do a bit personal training on one of my days off as a fire fighter... they've all got to have an 'other job' don't they :p) but its not going to go anywhere as a career... I want my own place, I don't want to have to save for weeks and weeks to get my girlfriend a fraction of the things I want to give her. I just wish they'd let me know what's going on, the waiting list will run out in December and I'll probably end up applying a 3rd time and getting in then (with the feedback I got from my interview I don't think I can fail cos I can fill in the few gaps I had this time round) I just wish they could give me some idea (IE you're number 30 on the list and we have no courses planned until march or what ever)

/rant

**Loco** · Jan 16th, 2009, 10:42 PM

Understand the /rant Adam.

I'm tired and need to sleep but I'll post back tomorrow with a few thoughts.

For the record, my lot now "Joint Recruit" with Lothian & Borders and Fife.

The last openings we had were for 4 firefighters.

We had over 6000 applicants.

**The Scatman** · Jan 16th, 2009, 10:49 PM

Cool, got to get off to sleep myself :)

I let you know more tomorow, we had I think about 8000. I know it's probably going to be a case of persavering, probably for a few years... it'd just be whole lot easier if I actually had a 'real' job in the mean time.