Info on Iraq

[FIRESKEITH]

90% of plugs are 220. You can get a adapter for 110 to 220 in Iraq cheap. I paid $2.00 for mine. The 220 surge protector was $10.99. If you buy this in U.S. you are only hurting your back. Pack Lite.

[FOULBOWEL]

What type of laptops are people buying and taking over. Iam flying out on the 11th of July to Houston and Iam trying to get all my gear together.

[weulz1396]

Just wondering if anyone over there has gotten a tattoo to remember their time in Iraq? Post a picture if you can.

[CorreeyW]

About laptops...Can you buy them overthere or do you have to buy them here and take that with you? I though I read somewhere that the PX/BX has a whole bunch of stuff and one thing were laptops?

Waiting for the mail so I can get over there
Corey

[rscamaro73]

How many peeps we got headed out for July 11th ?

Someone had set up a yahoo groups for it : http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WSI_July_11ers/

Just go there and sign up and all.

Its been almost a month since I sent in my application. I'm waiting til the end of the week to call (I sent Monique an email Monday asking about my paperwork).

Sad to see the old post shut down....but it was getting wild, wasn't it ?

Rock on peeps....

[combatffwife04]

BUMP!!!

Tracy

[Capo168]

It seems as though the information that the "ol' guy" was provided was 100% correct...but only applicable to himself and any of you other guys who have IFSAC or ProBoard certs....

The rest of us poor unfortunate souls will be delayed in getting in country by at least a week, as they will be sending us to "refresher" training so that we can challenge the exam and get our DoD reciprosity BEFORE going over. The process as it WAS allowed you to get in country and THEN take the course in order to challenge...thereby you would be PAID while taking this refresher training. As it is NOW, we will NOT BE PAID for this required training and will again, not start our official one year until wheels up to Dubai.

So, where does that leave us ? Depends on your level of training. If you have IFSAC, ProBoard or are currently DoD certified, then apparently you are going over as originally scheduled. If not, then it looks like we are STILL in a holding pattern over the airstrip my friends.

t1j1c1, any idea how expeditious the process for "transferring" over the certs through that process you told me about is ? Any chance I could get it done in a week-and-a-half ?

[Capo168]

BUMP - BUMP - STICKY - STICKY - BUMP - BUMP

[weulz1396]

[i]Originally posted by Capo168

The rest of us poor unfortunate souls will be delayed in getting in country by at least a week, as they will be sending us to "refresher" training so that we can challenge the exam and get our DoD reciprosity BEFORE going over.

The process as it WAS allowed you to get in country and THEN take the course in order to challenge...thereby you would be PAID while taking this refresher training. As it is NOW, we will NOT BE PAID for this required training and will again, not start our official one year until wheels up to Dubai.


t1j1c1, any idea how expeditious the process for "transferring" over the certs through that process you told me about is ? Any chance I could get it done in a week-and-a-half ? [/B]

Capo I have been in contact with Pro Board and ISFAC about this. Their first replies to me were that they are not affiliated with the organization that issued my certification (The Michigan Fire Fighters Training Council) and therefore my certs do not qualify to their standards (even though the MFFTC assures me that my certs are above and beyond what Pro Board and ISFAC require). I have since emailed them back and asked about refresher courses or challenging their tests but have not heard back yet. I will post whatever they tell me. I wonder how long we may have to wait to be hired because of this.
Monique from WSI told me that my interview date is still 6/2/05 and that any other questions I had I could ask then. Till then I'm in the dark.

[mattox127]

One of reasons I'm going (July 11th) is this forum. A number of you have taken the time and shown great patience in answering our questions. I appreciate the information and the humor. If I want to hear people complaining about the fire service, I simply have to walk out to the apparatus floor and join a discussion. Where did I put my psyc meds?

[bmwfire246]

Capo thanks for the advice dude. I called today and they set up my interview for tommorow. They said b/c i have DoD IFSAC certs i wouldn't have to wait long. What type of questions should i expect from the interview? thanks again dude i owe you a beer.

[bullwinkle35]

well lets see if we can keep it semi-light around here. i did enjoy it before it reminded me of being a short-timer in the marine corps where as a fact of life everything about you and where you came from was open to the harshest ridicule imaginable. it was all in fun and it passed the time. anywho that was then i need to thank tracy again for "the list" and to those on the july 18 wagon -prepare to mount-

[mattox127]

BMW, I had my interview with Col. Tom Keller on 16th. It is very straight forward. He will ask about your current employment, if you are aware of what is happening in Iraq. He asked about my family and the support I have at home. Will you be able to handle being away? He will also brief you about your departure date, pay schedule, benefits, your week in houston and how and where you will arrive overseas. Based on your interview your recommendation will get kicked up to Astrid and you should receive your hire packet fed-exed four days later.

[rscamaro73]

Good deal Mattox....thanks for the good scoop.

And Bullwinkle....been there done that, got a few green (and brown) tshirts....lol. I know EXACTLY what you mean.....

Good memories though.....good memories.....

[ladyauxillary]

Hello All

Yes you can buy laptops at the px. My husband bought one. It has worked really well. As I've found out you can buy just about anything there. LOL So remember pack light LOL as you've been told.
Digital cameras can also be bought. All of you going over be safe and take care !!!!!!!

R

[rescue542]

For anyone looking to get their state certifications converted to IFSAC, Proboard, or DOD, let me offer some helpful information.

First is to go to www.IFSAC.org www.proboard.org or www.dodffcert.com by looking on these sites you can find out if your state is an affiliated state.

If it is it may be as simple as sending your certification into the respective agency with a form and fee to have it converted.

If your state is not, you may be able to send in a copy of your certification along with the course curriculum asking for reciprocity based on the course you took.

Another way is to find a challenge course where you can challenge the test for the respective certification. You can look online for locations at different fire academies to take challenge tests for IFSAC or Proboard certification. I am doing mine through Bucks County when I am home at the end of my contract during June.

The final way is to find and take a course at an accredited academy.

If anyone has any questions just email and I'll be happy to help.

Scott Van Boerum
WSI Fire & Emergency Services
Acting Ast Chief
Camp Speicher
Tikrit, Iraq

[bmwfire246]

Got my interview today at 1 edt. Will post and advise on outcome

cory

[mccollum78]

Does anyone have an address and/or phone number to contact someone with the dodffcert office. I had a long time ago and can't find it. I am looking to come to Iraq with you guys. I already have DOD FF1, FF2, Airport FF, Driver/Operator-ARFF & Driver/Operator-Pumper. I have Hazmat Tech 1 & 2 through the Mississippi Fire Academy. I want to try and get them converted to DOD if possible. Any info would be appreciated.e-mail me at: buildinginspector@panola.com

[rscamaro73]

http://www.dodffcert.com/ is a good link as posted. I used it to get my cert dates and #'s off of. I couldn't print off my certs from there, but I did get the list of them (I still have my original certs).

Anyhows....if they're converting stuff over, I might as well contact them too. Who knows what I can get (if anything) out of it....

[weulz1396]

Originally posted by mccollum78
Does anyone have an address and/or phone number to contact someone with the dodffcert office. I had a long time ago and can't find it. I am looking to come to Iraq with you guys. I already have DOD FF1, FF2, Airport FF, Driver/Operator-ARFF & Driver/Operator-Pumper. I have Hazmat Tech 1 & 2 through the Mississippi Fire Academy. I want to try and get them converted to DOD if possible. Any info would be appreciated.e-mail me at: buildinginspector@panola.com

Try this. http://www.dodffcert.com/impliedcerts.htm