Deployed Contractors / Family

ProudPilot

ProudPilot

Aeronautics Geek
So I have an interview with a UAS contractor next week. Everything I have seen is really top notch and I am really excited about it. However, I am also scared as I have never been in the military and never been deployed. I was aiming for 6-8 months a year, but this position will be 6 months/4 weeks, twice. It's better than a lot, but still stressful.

My wife is on the same page, supportive but worried about what this all means. I'm looking for opinions on QOL for deployed UAS contractors overseas. Are they at the main bases, or FOB's more? How common is internet capable of video skype? How safe are contractors kept? Major downsides besides being away from home?

This job is something I really want to do and opens up a lot of opportunities. However, dropping everything for a year is also a big thing. Any opinions are welcome.
 
ProudPilot said:
My wife is on the same page, supportive but worried about what this all means. I'm looking for opinions on QOL for deployed UAS contractors overseas. Are they at the main bases, or FOB's more? How common is internet capable of video skype? How safe are contractors kept? Major downsides besides being away from home?
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UAV guys are generally at main bases for the types of UAVs you would fly....the larger ones. The tactical UAVs that are at FOBs are flown by soldiers. Internet capability will vary with how good it is, and differs from base to base with capability and/or cost. Some are free. Skype can be on/off depending on connectivity. Contractors are generally in their own compounds and normally don't socially interact with troops....an often restriction on troops side.

Major downside of being away from? Being away from home. :)
 
MikeD said:
UAV guys are generally at main bases for the types of UAVs you would fly....the larger ones. The tactical UAVs that are at FOBs are flown by soldiers. Internet capability will vary with how good it is, and differs from base to base with capability and/or cost. Some are free. Skype can be on/off depending on connectivity. Contractors are generally in their own compounds and normally don't socially interact with troops....an often restriction on troops side.

Major downside of being away from? Being away from home. :)
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Thanks for the response Mike. You never know, we might still do the meet and greet, just in the wrong country.
 
Who did you get hired with?

Make sure you all your personal, and financial affairs are in order. And make sure your relationship is strong before you head out. I left with some small issues that ended up ending things while I was gone. As for QOL, it all depends on the base, anything from sharing a tent with 30 guys, to a CHU where you can be by yourself, if only for a little while. And be prepared to wear your body armor for a few days at a time, and not that sliming and mine made me look pregnant. In all honesty, you make your deployment what it is, you could have a good one, or a bad one based on things like attitude, other people, or lack of basic problem solving. For instance, when someone would drop a nuke in the smurf crappers, and when our Internet would die. I would sneak in and use the fast Internet to talk to the family and the unmentionable one and use the heavenly porcelain crappers at the thunder dome (BIG hangar in Balad). And you would be surprised what candy and fluffy toiler can get you on a fob or even a large base like Balad. Hell, it helped our team get the fuel guy to come on time. We also had the chance to eat and work with a lot of our army support. There where some good ones and then again some bad ones. But if you work hard they see it and respect it. Get in good with your mech’s and tech’s, I have some very fond memories of all the guys I worked with, they helped make my deployment a lot better. All you’ll have out there is each other, remember that…

Be warned! The drone life is not for everyone! With the closing of Iraq and the draw back in Afghanistan, plus the current political environment, UAV sites are getting drawn down and closed. And some companies will disappear in the next few years. Also, you have a lot of military UAV and manned airplane guys getting out and applying for drone jobs that in the past have gone to civilians.

Good luck, you’ll love CRC!
 
I haven't been hired yet, but I have an interview with a contractor that just got a large 3/yr 5/yr contract for a newer system. If you're in the know, you'll know who it is. Actually got the interview from a colleague from JC.

More just looking at the pros and cons. I'm not terribly worried about who I would work with, the company, or the system. More if there are ways to stay sane besides singing 99 bottles of beer. I've been reading up the last 24 hours and feel more at ease with it.

I will agree with you that there will be less combat operations going on. However, civilian applications are really starting to take off. There are great uses to fight wildfires, disaster relief, police enforcement and even firefighting. I need to pay my dues and get my experience in UAS. I think this system will pay off due to the compact nature. I do worry about how fast the military will draw down and how fast civilian will come up. This has a nice long contract though, so looks good.
 
I use to box sit for at GA for all the AAI guys that were building time to deploy in the Grey Eagles. Just be warned, todays awesome contract, could be changed or amended next week. When you get hired, talk to the guys that have been there awhile, they will give you an idea of what to put in a tough box (that will be shipped before you go). Home depot had some really good deals on them awhile ago. Since I've only dealt with MALE and HALE systems, I guess im not in know enough to know about drones fighting wild fires. Although disaster relief and police enforcement was a a big Scan Eagle sale awhile ago, not sure what came of it. Be careful believing the mil draw down and civ stand up statement, I have friends that are looking to put on the street because of that.
 
exerauflyboy5 said:
Be careful believing the mil draw down and civ stand up statement, I have friends that are looking to put on the street because of that.
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While UAS/RPA/UAV (whatever the name of the day is) is indeed the wave of the future, the transition from mill need/use to civilian use (there is the need), isn't necessrily seamless, as you describe above. With the drawdown of combat need for UAVs, I foresee many of the ANG drone units that were stood up for the war, especially ones that don't have their own assigned aircraft....the ones that are only "control" units, looking for something to do with their time and work. Sure, they've got grand plans for Homeland Security work, but there are details about that which aren't solid at all, much less money to do it. The other areas of work that require flying and ops within the National Airspace System are still very much in question by the FAA, though that will slowly start to change. I just would caution people who are anticipating a sort of "one-for-one" type of transition from military UAS use to civil use, as that won't likely be the case in my opinion.
 
I hear all of this strongly. I'm watching my back and I have an exit strategy if needed. It's still an easier career start than the regionals. Benefits and pay non-withstanding. I do know this is a new contract, new airframe, and my job is solid for 3 years. I also have skills for AAI that are non-flying. How is the lifestyle overseas for GA-ASI and AAI guys though?
 
ProudPilot said:
I hear all of this strongly. I'm watching my back and I have an exit strategy if needed. It's still an easier career start than the regionals. Benefits and pay non-withstanding. I do know this is a new contract, new airframe, and my job is solid for 3 years. I also have skills for AAI that are non-flying. How is the lifestyle overseas for GA-ASI and AAI guys though?
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By the same token though, to be fair....and like you allude, that's the nature of contract work: you go where the work is, and you fulfill a contract. It's neither good nor bad, it just is. And like I said, there is a good future for UAS operations, it's just a matter of the timing of certain things here and there, and playing your cards right.
 
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