defense contractors

[ShroomSJS]

Do contractors working on military installations receive special pay like housing or COLA?

[Richard Burns]

I believe it all depends on the company that hires you. Every company will have different pay scales, bennies, etc.

[Haru-sa]

highly dependent on the contract. some even get DoDDS schools paid for...

[0341isa]

yup, all contract based. I heard it said that WE got screwed, because even though the Government has a fairly set pay scale for OHA, (the money contactors recieve for housing) our company agreed to accept a fraction of that amount, in order to make sure they got the contract. Thus, the company doesnt see any hit in money, but the individual worker takes a pay cut.

[Carl]

I don't get COLA or OHA or anything like that. Some people get screwed though... They don't get paid the benefits, but the company still bills the gov't out for it and just pockets that money.

[deckplate32]

Do contractors working on military installations receive special pay like housing or COLA?

The top tier companies ( General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Honeywell...to name a few) take care of their employees exceptionally well.
Housing allowance, school expenses for their children, etc.. One real nice perk is the overseas earned income. First $84,000 is exempt from Federal income tax. This has really saved my behind and my wallet these past 5 years...

[Haru-sa]

I see no COLA, but I do see a good housing allowance and some other bennies.

[Haru-sa]

The top tier companies ( General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Honeywell...to name a few) take care of their employees exceptionally well.
Housing allowance, school expenses for their children, etc.. One real nice perk is the overseas earned income. First $84,000 is exempt from Federal income tax. This has really saved my behind and my wallet these past 5 years...

The foreign earned income goes up every year (a good thing for me); it's like 92k this year. It's not just the top tier guys either, some of the mid tier guys take even better care these days.

[Richard Burns]

All while the military members do the SAME job and get paid dog crap and treated like shit. Gotta love it. +^_^+

[Mehi River]

PEPSI all the way

[DougP]

All while the military members do the SAME job and get paid dog crap and treated like shit. Gotta love it. +^_^+

Like? :scratchchin::grin1:

Come on man, lets have some examples. :thumbup: Here's one, cooks. The military can definitely handle that job. :D Now its your turn.

[abonifi1]

All while the military members do the SAME job and get paid dog crap and treated like shit. Gotta love it. +^_^+

One reaps what they sow:grin1:

[Richard Burns]

Like? :scratchchin::grin1:

Come on man, lets have some examples. :thumbup: Here's one, cooks. The military can definitely handle that job. :D Now its your turn.


Admin
Data Network Specialist
Electricians
Construction
Cryogenics

just to name a few

[proudtobnotpc]

Admin
Data Network Specialist
Electricians
Construction
Cryogenics

just to name a few

Cryogenics are you f'in insane can you imagine the little devil hungover pups screwing around with that, holy shit thats insane man:grin1:

[Richard Burns]

^ Insane lol but true. They use it for the aircrafts.

[DoctorP]

Admin
Data Network Specialist
Electricians
Construction
Cryogenics

just to name a few

Is there a cryogenics lab on Okinawa?????:D

Military makes out quite well over here, so I'm not sure what the hell you are complaining about.

[abonifi1]

Like? :scratchchin::grin1:

Come on man, lets have some examples. :thumbup: Here's one, cooks. The military can definitely handle that job. :D Now its your turn.

Barbers..............

[proudtobnotpc]

^ Insane lol but true. They use it for the aircrafts.
ohh OK sorry for the outburst I got different images:w00t:

[DougP]

Is there a cryogenics lab on Okinawa?????:D

Military makes out quite well over here, so I'm not sure what the hell you are complaining about.

Its RB man, stop trying to busy his nuggets. :D

[abonifi1]

Is there a cryogenics lab on Okinawa?????:D

Military makes out quite well over here, so I'm not sure what the hell you are complaining about.

They call it it an ice milk parlor over here, they haven't figured out the Liquid Nitrogen yet.

[proudtobnotpc]

Barbers..............
actually I think that one is under the SOFA that the bases have to employe so many local nationals

[DoctorP]

They call it it an ice milk parlor over here, they haven't figured out the Liquid Nitrogen yet.

Is that code for "baby jizz freezing clinic" or something? :rolleyes:

I can see the Marines handling loads of jizz! lol

[abonifi1]

actually I think that one is under the SOFA that the bases have to employe so many local nationals

OK, then how about using military guys for :scratchchin:

Grass Ninja's

They should have where the little old lady uniform over their cammies too.:thumbup:

[proudtobnotpc]

OK, then how about using military guys for :scratchchin:

Grass Ninja's

They should have where the little old lady uniform over their cammies too.:thumbup:
actually that company makes a shit load off of the bases (Fuji Const.)

[DougP]

OK, then how about using military guys for :scratchchin:

Grass Ninja's

They should have where the little old lady uniform over their cammies too.:thumbup:

Not sure if they still have the troops cutting grass stateside but I remember being on those details. Nothing like mowing rifle ranges, especially after some dipshit company did a weapons-qual' and neglected to clean up their brass. :thumbdown:

[Haru-sa]

All while the military members do the SAME job and get paid dog crap and treated like shit. Gotta love it. +^_^+

not in my case...

GI's are not focused on the job that I am and can be stolen off task for the bidding of local commands, etc. I have no local customers and without a doubt the govt. gets it's moneys worth out of me.

[Bones]

All while the military members do the SAME job and get paid dog crap and treated like shit. Gotta love it. +^_^+

I beg to differ with you on that one. Military members certainly do the same jobs, but they do them less well. It all depends on the career field I suppose, but let's look at Jet Engine Maintenance, and the people running that particular section. Feel free to name any base that you've ever been stationed at.

Contractors are well suited for handling the jet engine side of the house. I was a contractor for Lockheed over here a few years ago, and we pretty much put the G.I. side of the house to shame. Why? When we showed up, the G.I. side of the house stopped working. Or to be more accurate, they were pretty much forced to supply bodies for a multitude of base taskings. Picking up "Garbage", was deemed more of a "Mission Critical" task than maintenance. Also high on the list, were the sales at the BX, as well as non-existent appointments.

There were some people that needed to be gotten rid of, but they had political connections. I'm pretty sure that's case in other contracting fields as well. We all have our "Wally's (of Dilbert fame).

[Blues]

I was a contractor for Lockheed over here a few years ago, and we pretty much put the G.I. side of the house to shame. Why? When we showed up, the G.I. side of the house stopped working. Or to be more accurate, they were pretty much forced to supply bodies for a multitude of base taskings. Picking up "Garbage", was deemed more of a "Mission Critical" task than maintenance. Also high on the list, were the sales at the BX, as well as non-existent appointments.

Agreed, unfortunately the AF has sized down its numbers greatly thus enforcing the notion of "move people around all the time." Personally, it feels like no one stays in a position long enough to become exceptionally proficient at it, and if they do, its PCS time. Most of the PCS-itis kicks in and continuity turnover is almost always LACKLUSTER.

The couterargument though is that when people have had a job they're good at for too long, over time they tend to get a little sloppy. But I'd rather have the experienced guy over the newb who doesnt know all of the ins-and-outs.

[AFuel567]

All while the military members do the SAME job and get paid dog crap and treated like shit. Gotta love it. +^_^+
The rich contractor is great mythology, but its just that a myth. I get no COLA, OHA or utilities.

[cammiepimp]

All while the military members do the SAME job and get paid dog crap and treated like shit. Gotta love it. +^_^+
Volunteering to sign a contract with the DoD to join the military is not negotiating a contract with civilian employer. Same job does not equal same pay - it equal different employeers! I retired from the military and now a civilain working the same job without a uniform - I make more money----yea!

stay in our get out...Is luck on your side?

[Spadesy]

All while the military members do the SAME job and get paid dog crap and treated like shit. Gotta love it. +^_^+

Contractors get paid a lot in part for their experience, as well...not just anybody can up and be a contractor...usually you need college, military experience, or both. Plus, if you show up late once, or do substandard work, you can very easily get fired. Military guys can be completely incompetent or incapable and they'll still have a job, and still get paid, because they have to be there once they've signed their contract.

At my old unit, I worked hand-in-hand with contractors a lot. I pretty much had the same job as some of them, and more, but there was no way I could do half the crap they were able to do. We had some top-notch guys working with us.

It's all weights and measures mang...

[Haru-sa]

Contractors get paid a lot in part for their experience, as well...not just anybody can up and be a contractor...usually you need college, military experience, or both. Plus, if you show up late once, or do substandard work, you can very easily get fired. Military guys can be completely incompetent or incapable and they'll still have a job, and still get paid, because they have to be there once they've signed their contract.

At my old unit, I worked hand-in-hand with contractors a lot. I pretty much had the same job as some of them, and more, but there was no way I could do half the crap they were able to do. We had some top-notch guys working with us.

It's all weights and measures mang...

true, very true. I was happy to retire and move to a completely different service too. My job is MUCH more specialized now and keeping up with my field of work isn't cheap. I've had to drop substantial cash to stay on top of my game. Often I've sat in classes as a paying student next to GIs that get the class for free and then don't apply themselves to the material because they don't want to be there. Not many, but a few. If you want the pay, you gotta work for it and be the person with the answers when nobody else has one that works. risk of losing a job quickly vs. reward of making a good income. Half of what makes it worth being a contractor here is the income exclusion come tax time. What sucks for many contractors is the $22k per year per child for DoDDS that GIs get for free. I can't say much since it's only made me more committed to ensuring that my kids get the most of their schooling opportunity.

[Okiman]

What sucks for many contractors is the $22k per year per child for DoDDS that GIs get for free. I can't say much since it's only made me more committed to ensuring that my kids get the most of their schooling opportunity.

Haru-Sa, check into a few of the offbase schools that are American acredited. OCSI is one and it is about $7k/year per child. That is where my daughter goes and it works good. I was always shocked at the price for DODDS, and then I found out that it is the average back in the states for kids in public schools.

[Haru-sa]

Haru-Sa, check into a few of the offbase schools that are American acredited. OCSI is one and it is about $7k/year per child. That is where my daughter goes and it works good. I was always shocked at the price for DODDS, and then I found out that it is the average back in the states for kids in public schools.

right now, it's company paid but that "income" pushes me over the limit for exclusion and i pay taxes on that at an elevated percentage. I'll keep OCSI in mind. i got mixed reviews from ppl though, got thoughts on that?

[ShroomSJS]

I didn't realize this thread picked back up. I'll respond since I am the OP.

I did get the defense contractor job (vs a NAF job). My company is paying me COLA, and I had no clue about the tax exemption until after I started on the job and a fellow contractor mentioned it. I am not paid housing or DoDDs school, but I am a military spouse, so no room to complain there.