Seriously enough Iraq threads

[ffdave05]

Turnout,

All of those listed in one of your replies is on the DOD site?

I plan on hanging in there until the end. I agree that some can make it bad for others that are already here or put bad images in others heads before they arrive. The only thing that I can say is you have to be here to understand what is happening and what isn't. So it is up to yourself to make it whatever you want it to be, it can be an adventure or you can make it miserable for yourself and everyone else. This base isn't bad, we have issues that I am sure others are having as well. But as I said earlier, make it what you want it to be. I guess decide if the battle is worth fighting or is it something that can be won?

I am heading home very soon on a R&R and can't wait to see my family. It is very important to have the full support of your family or it will be very hard to be here.

Are you at any base here or have you been at any of the other Fire Contract service jobs overseas?

Thanks for the reply

[BSFFwife]

Dave ~ You have it right. Hope you are doing ok. Enjoy your R&R with you family. I will be meeting Todd out of the Country his next R&R. He still says he will do another year. Time will tell. Be safe. Lori

[ffdave05]

I thought that was you Lori, but wasn't sure. Todd already had his 1st R&R didn't he? Things are fine here, just really hot as expected. I normally don't post in here, but I felt that it was needed. You understand that everything isn't rosy over here, but you remember where Todd was at back in the states.

I remember Todd saying that he was going to be doing more than 1 year, wow. Where did he end up after what happened to his last base. You can email me if you don't want to post it here. I haven't heard from him in a while.

Thanks for supporting us over here.

[BSFFwife]

Dave ~ Sent you an email. Lori

[garypoe4454]

Fired fireman sues defense contractor
Man says he was assaulted before he was dismissed
By Bill Myers
Examiner Staff Writer
Published: Tuesday, January 17, 2006 11:22 PM EST
E-mail this story | Print this page

Gary Lovett, a former D.C. firefighter, claims he was fired from his contracting job after being attacked by his supervisor in Iraq. Jay Westcott/Examiner
When the Sept. 11 attacks came, D.C. firefighter Gary Lovett says he "got Pearl Harbor syndrome." He left the District after a 23-year career and shipped off, first to Saudi Arabia, then to Afghanistan and then to Iraq, to "do my thing for God and country."

But he says his willingness to take up the fireman's burden met sloth and heathen folly - and his hopes were brought to naught - when his boss assaulted him and then had him fired.

Last week, Lovett, 51, of Rockville, filed a six-figure breach-of-contract suit in D.C. Superior Court against the boss and Wackenhut Services Inc., the defense contractor that initially had hired him.


The hard-talking, hard-living Lovett says he was doing good work for the Marines in Fallujah. But he says that his supervisor - who "wasn't cut out for the job" and was "under enormous undue pressure" - "wigged out" in separate confrontations over training and procedure.

In the second confrontation, Lovett claims the boss grabbed him by the collar and slammed him into a trailer.



"Now I'm not saying I'm the most efficient manager in the world. I've got foibles - ask my wife. But [Wackenhut officials] had their kangaroo court and they found that I was guilty," Lovett said.

Lovett says he's been unable to find work since his firing last March.

His lawyer, Adele L. Abrams, said the suit should serve as a whiff of grapeshot for scheming defense contractors.



"These contractors are out there exploiting the people they bring over â€- who put themselves on the line," Abrams said.

Wackenhut CEO James L. Long called Lovett's claims "ridiculous."

"I have 550 people over there and you're welcome to call all of them and you'll get 550 people telling you that it's the most absurd thing they've ever heard," he

said.

SEEKING RETRIBUTION

- The suit seeks $10,000 in "actual" damages - back wages, bonuses and the contents of a foot locker allegedly kept by the company.

- It seeks an additional $300,000 in punitive damages.

- Wackenhut's Iraq contract is worth about $80 million.

[fire161]

do you all have nothing better to do then argue over what should be posted that is why i bet you are all just nozle men lets grow up and have some damn respect for the guys over seas and let them post what they want.

[FireKillr]

ff

Okay, I have read through all the postings up to now......I am going to stick out my neck for ya'll to cut off, but here goes...

Does WSI have problems? Hell yes. But what department back home doesn't. I have been in the fire service for 22 years now. I have served all three gambits, volly, part-time and full-time. EVERY department had it good and bad, whiners and criers, troublemakers and yes, HORRIBLE leadership. But the main thing was to make do and do something about it. Here in Iraq, that is what some of us are trying to accomplish. Taking the leadership classes to get the promotions so that we can do the right thing for the guys, the right way, and just toe the company line.

Is WSI getting any better? Not to slam my own company, but that is the only way it can go. Just like any fire department at home.....this is a multi million dollar BUSINESS. Our departments stateside are just the same, BUSINESSES. Anyone out there that has been around when departments start up, new stations and equipment are brought in, there are problems.

Did they hire correctly? HELL NO. How can say that they hired correctly when you have 19 year olds over here. What happened to the 3 years experiance. I'm sorry but Explorer time does not count. Certs are just paper. We have all heard and even seen the fake cards and certs that people have. I agree with the earlier post....TOTJ. It does take experiance, honesty, but above all, MATURITY.

Money? DUH !! I came here for it, and if anyone out there says differant your lying. Yes, it is to pay off debts, aid in my daughters college fund, and buy me a few extra cold ones!

All I'm trying to say, is WE make it what it is. I am a combat firefighter. I am serving my country by providing the fire protection, inspections and sitting on my *** time so that the soldiers can be freed up to do what is really needed over here. Like many others over here, there is incoming, three pieces of our apparatus have motor damage.

KBR is a problem with our gear, parts, etc....but that is what happens in BUSINESS when you have to rely on the parent company to give you what you need. The child is always secondary.

Lastly.........sorry so long...........remember that the Hiarchy in Baghdad reads along with all this. TRUST ME. Some care, some are just like a few of you out there, whinning, crying, but loving every other Friday!

No mater what, take care and be careful, get home, drink a cold one, and hug your better half and kids. They are what's important.