It's a unique place and they just can't catch a break. Ever.
Something interesting is the amount of money China is investing into Caribbean nations. Not sure what they are up to but, they've helped build a lot of infrastructure.
PS - I'm no serviceman. Just a guy who fell into an interesting job. Then left, and now charges "consulting" rates.
When you said they recommended you bring your own side arm, I had flashbacks to when I was interviewing for a contract job with one of Haliburton's subsidiaries. for QA work Northern Iraq in the Kurd held area after the fall of Baghdad.
We had already come to an agreement on salary and beni package, but hadn't signed the contract. I was discussing a few things with one of the logistic guys. I brought up the subject of arms. I asked if I needed to bring my own and how to get them over there. He laughed and said I couldn't carry a weapon and would have a security contingent with me.
I laughed at him and asked if he had looked at my resume. He nonchalantly said no. I went back to HR department to discuss this matter. The person I was working with was just your regular pencil pusher. I came out and told her we have a huge problem. I told her the problem and she came back with the same answer of having a security detail with me. I told her to get the division head I was working with in here.
Not wanting to burn possible bridges, after the division head confirmed this and showed me the DOD memo/rule about contractors not being armed. I told him that there would be no way I could rely on others for my security. He even offered quite a bit more money. I could see he really didn't understand. I told him it wasn't a money issue, it was a ton of money, especially after the last bump. I tried to keep it positive and sorta chuckled when I told him, "If you have fully read my resume, then you should understand why it's pretty much impossible for me to go to that are and worked unarmed. I understand the DOD rules you have to go by, but i just can't rely of others for my safety and if my life depended on it, I would be picking up a weapon and taking care of business.
He was relentless! He then offered me a security detail position. I just chuckled and said "And follow more sillyass DOD rules, SOP and a very restrictive ROE?"
I just had to turn it down............sure as hell hated to miss out the $$$$$!!!!
