Government Contractors

Holy Cow, it was a long week of working nights. I was at the hospital this past week something like 100 hours. I am not exaggerating. We were very busy. Last night I admitted 9 patients to the ward. Anyone in medicine knows that's a lot. Then, I had to turn around and see them all in the morning again. It's all kind of all a blur. The bottom line is that another week is done here. I'd rather write about something other than medicine.

So, let's talk about government contractors. Yep, you've heard of this. Does Blackwater or Halliburton ring a bell? I have always been intrigued by these government contractors. What motivates someone to voluntarily come to a combat zone without any means of self defense? Just like many things in life the answer is simple - MONEY!

Tonight I sat and ate dinner with a contractor. He was one of the biggest characters that I have met in a long time. His name is Zaki. Picture an Indian guy with long hair and a goatee. That's Zaki. Are you having a hard time picturing this guy??? Yeah, I would have to send you a picture of him. He's short, stocky, and has glasses too. Most importantly, Zaki is a talker. He's a virtual chatter box. He struck up a conversation out of left field when I met him 2 weeks ago. Tonight myself and my friend Mike Greene ran into him for a second time at the pizza parlor. Zaki was in rare form again. Actually, I think his borderline manic behavior, which includes making sound effects to excentuate his stories, is probably his baseline normal self. In short, the guy is hilarious. Zaki is well travelled having been raised in India and then subsequently living in places like Kuwait and the windy city of Chicago. Most recently he has lived in Afghanistan for 3 years working for company called KBR. He is in charge of public works here at Bagram. He finds the work interesting. Mostly though, he loves the money. Yeap, without a doubt it is all about the money. Government contractors often make 3 times what they would make in the same job in the states or on active duty in the military. Zaki is probably making 150K per year easy. He's actually getting rich off the U.S. government.

There are tons of people just like him. They come from all over the world. They are of all ages and races. They walk around our military bases in the middle of war zone in jeans and North Face jackets. Some work in food service. Others are doing construction. Some are doing the exact job they used to do in the military, but now they are wearing civilian clothes and are making 3 times that. It's big business to say the least.

Bagram Air Field is loaded with contractors. The price tag is huge. Tonight Zaki confirmed for me what drives all of this, the almighty dollar.