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Contractor Jobs In Iraq

Contractor jobs in Iraq is what I have been doing for the past five years.

This page talks about some of the people I worked with at Al Asad. If you are looking for a list of companies hiring, go to

job opportunities in Iraq.

During my work and travels in the Middle East I have had the opportunity to meet and work with a lot of people from different countries.

When I first arrived at one of my contractor jobs in Iraq, Al Asad the military gave us a temporary building to use while we built our store. There were some shelves in there but I needed to add some more. I asked the labor foreman, Chandran for two volunteers since it was Sunday and Sunday was their day off. I told him I would pay them $20 each.

I took an electric saw off the shelf so they could use it to cut the 4 x 8 sheets in half. They arrived and after I explained to them what to do, they got started on the job. I kept waiting to hear the buzz of the saw but never did. So I investigated. They were using a hand saw. They did not know how to use an electric saw. So I taught them how to perform their contractor jobs in Iraq.

In the photo below is Jeff our Logistics Manager. He is prior Navy and this is his first time in the field. He was in charge of setting up the camp. He did a great job for a rookie but he did not tie down his own tent and in the night it blew away with his weapon. It was found.

When they were finished, I paid them the $20 each. Later that night there was a knock on my door. They were returning the $20. They did not think it was right for them to have. I tried to explain to them that this was our agreement but they gave me the money back anyway. I felt bad though. So we came up with a compromise. I used the money to buy them soap, toothpaste and so on. I also got them a couple of pizzas.

While putting up our building I also had to teach the labor crew, which was made up of Indians from India, how to use a table saw, chop saw and chain saw. They really got excited over the chain saw.

Even though they were carpenters, they had never used any power equipment. In their country, since labor is so cheap, it is cheaper to hire 6 guys and have them cut the wood with a hand saw than it is to buy power equipment.

Those working the contractor jobs in Iraq for me at the Al Asad Hardware Store were hard working and honest. Gopal was the name of one. He had a level of integrity that surpasses that of anyone I know to include myself. He did not understand a lot of English but we were able to communicate with hand signals and so on.

Of all the nationalities I have worked with, those from India have been the best. Gopal was the best employee I ever had the privilege of working with.

Gopal had a servant attitude. He would follow my instructions and do the job to the best of his abilities. He was trainable and willing to learn new things.

Gopal claimed that he did not know how to use a computer, but if I charged someone the wrong price or failed to ring up something, he knew it immediately. And he would tell me.

At the end of the day when we were ready to go home, I would go to pick up my computer to take it to my room. If I was not quick enough, Gopal would grab it up and not let me carry it. I would have to fight to carry my own computer. I would always ask him, “Do I look weak and helpless to you?” He would just smile and take the computer from me.

In the picture below is the truck Gopal used to make deliveries at Al Asad. He was delivering a king size bed in this photo.

After a while I just gave up. Without asking he would bring bottled water to my room. On days when I did not get a chance to go eat, he would sneak food out of the dining facility for me.

Contractor jobs in Iraq can sometimes be rough. One time something bit me on the leg. At the time I just thought it was a splinter since we were working around some rough wood.

The next morning I woke up, very sick. So sick I could not even get out of bed. My right leg was swollen to three times its normal size. My head was pounding. I was cold, very cold. I turned the heater on high and climbed under the blankets.

Gopal--left side. The hardest working person I have ever known.

Even today, about every three months, I get the sickness. I guess a spider got me with something good.

There was a knock on the door. It was Gopal checking on me. I told him I was sick and would stay in bed all day. Every hour he would stick his head in the door and see how I was doing.

Gopal made this one of the best contractor jobs in Iraq for me. Go to Home Page from Contractor Jobs In Iraq.