I Quit My Job - Leaving Afghanistan
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- Опубликовано: 18 сен 2024
- Support this channel: / falloffthemap
DeMob is the word we use for quitting the military contracting life. I'm going home and planning new adventures. In this video I get serious and talk about the 17 year war in Afghanistan as well as the difficulties adjusting to normal life and identifying and coping with PTSD.
My flight home takes me from Bagram to Dubai to London to Miami to Quito, Ecuador. American Airlines did a surprisingly good job on this trip due to some really nice flight attendants. And by some miracle they didn't lose or destroy my bags this time.
Now that I'm home, I'll be trying to learn how to live a normal life and also trying to figure out how to live cheaply in Ecuador to stretch the amount of time I can relax at home before I need to find a job or start a business.
Grrr! youtube's faulty demonetization bot strikes again. Apparently it thinks this video in inappropriate for advertisers. Hopefully they will review it and correct their error.
Hey there just caught this, I was there in 2015, it will get better with time and doing normal stuff, just be aware of what you are getting into, fireworks are a trigger, backfires or loud clacks like a dump truck and graphic content in movies an even regular TV.
I was injured in Bagram, that place changed me, glad you are out brother.
Sorry to hear you were injured. IDF? I had a very minor injury in the 2012 vbid at Shank. Cut my tongue somehow in the blast. Thanks for sharing your feedback and experience.
IDF hit my truck, on way to DFAC
Shit. How are you now?
How often is there IDF at Bagram?
@@paintslinger16 your sense of humor is right up my alley. I was scratching my head at first, that is always a true sign.
As an Afghan I am thankfull for doing
great job in our country.
Your a good man. Thank you for sharing your life with us. Hard to believe how much different things were 2 years ago. Hopefully 2021 is a good year for you.
Thanks. So far 2021 is looking pretty good. Found a nice piece of land in Ecuador for my next project.
As a NYer who is of the generation who fortunately missed war, I'm fascinated by someone younger than myself sharing so openly and thoughtfully about where you've been and where you are. Thanks.
Considering moving to Ecuador. My wife is Ecuadorean-born, and much family in Quito. My Spanish is very good. The questions center around being able to continue doing my business remotely there, Earthquakes, rain, and Montanas (Quito, Otavalo, or Cuenca) versus say, Manta or somewhere else on the coast. I know all the variables.
Beautifully done, your honesty will most certainly help others!
Thanks. I don’t really know about it helping others, but sharing it does feel like it helps me.
Just applied to do my first contract. Didn't really want to see this lol but i guess i need to know what im getting into. Thanks for the vid!
How did it went?
Mikel Giustiniani Stay Safe!
How was it??
you're the first person i've heard speak about working there as a contractor that sums up what it's like to try and adjust to normal life, while recognising it's not the same as a combat soldier, but it's definitely something, i was in Iraq Jan 2004-Aug 2005 and Afghanistan Jan 2007- May 2014, mostly in Helmand but the last 2 years in and around Kabul as a UK electrician and comms contractor, even though i lost 6 mates over the years you can easily feel you're being trivial or melodramatic by speaking about it, much respect to you for explaining it so well
Thanks. Man, I’m sorry you lost friends over there.
Yep, thunder storm got me also, relaxing, soaking in the tub, thunder clap over top my house, I jumped out and went prone.
First off, congratulations for surviving. Your one mentally and physically tough hombre.
PTSD sucks, not only limited to military ops.
I have worked on seismic exploration crews for 25 plus years, it’s a really fast paced ever changing dynamic with long stretches apart from all you work and strive for.
I’m a Canadian that lives in Peru, we’re not so different.
Ceviche is better here, look me up and swing by, first leche de Tigre is on me!
Awesome. I’ll try to take you up on that.
USA, Chicago. I was in Afghan working for contractor. Yeah, felt the same. Takes some readjustment time. Sometimes, I hear loud plane or helicopter and it takes me back. It was quite the experience.
Yeah, it's a weird thing. I mean, it's not exactly a good experience, and yet I've done it twice and wouldn't rule out doing another contract in the future. I'm glad I had the experience even though it may have taken a bit of a toll on me.
I was in Afghan land back in 2012-13 as a soldier. readjusting back to normal life was rough. I felt similar to how you feel. In time it gets better but still on edge I think about that place at least once everyday. Great video by the way!
Thanks. Yeah, it definitely changed who I am and how I react to stress. I’ve been happily surprised by the supportive and sympathetic responses from those that served in the military out there. When we were deployed there was a bit of hostility and resentment towards contractors (much of it justified by the behavior of the companies we worked for and the actions of a few shitty contractors). So it’s nice to see now that we’re out of that shitty place.
For ptsd: have a note pad and pen by the bed, when you wake in the middle of the night from nightmares write them down, dont bother with spelling or understanding its your brain working things thru. Once you do this you can go back to sleep, if not youll have a tough time going back to sleep. Also you can tear up the note the next day. Its just your brain and body working things out.
I'm glad you traveled safely.Never been to combat zone but have seen some ugly shit go down......Your self awareness will def help you move forward.Keep posting Bro
Thanks. Yeah, I’m excited to post videos from Ecuador. Now, if I can just get my drone working.
Great video on demob. Transition is real. Please do another video in a month or so. We all cope different ways.
Thanks. I’ll do my best to keep making and uploading.
Volunteered to be part of the Civilian Expiditionary Workforce. Just got my paperwork started. If you or anyone else has insights into the GS side of things, I'd love to hear it. Want to go in both eyes open. Glad you're home safe!!
My stereo helps me alot with the PTSD .
I know it sounds silly , but I dont watch the news just listen to music with candles.
It really improves my condition.
Maybe this helps .
I'm going to miss your contracting videos but I'm glad you made it home for good. Cheers.
Thanks. Yeah, I’ll miss making contracting videos too. Hopefully my upcoming vids will be interesting too.
I did 3 combat deployment in the USMC, what you’re going through is normal. The fact that you see it shows it won’t be a problem. After decompressing you will be back to normal. Read or audiobook “Tribe” by Sebastian Junger. Really helps organize your thoughts!
Galen W great comment, from what I’m sure is a life experience we can never imagine. This is spot on, exactly what I was thinking!
Thanks, I’ll definitely check out Tribe.
Fall off the Map definitely, I’ve recommended it to all my vet friends. It’s a real short read and explains a lot about how a lot of the problems we have in life these days are the result of us not living in a tribe. Enjoy!
Yeah making a video about committing war crimes is "normal". Dumb. Conditioned. Soldier.
War crimes? What are you talking about? I make videos about my experiences as an electrician working in Afghanistan. You didn’t actually watch the video, did you?
I left Kandahar back in Nov of 2017 and DFS back then was Fly Dubai . I've used the Snooze Cube multiple times and they are clean, quiet, and only $10 an hour.
I dont know if you check this still but I am currently going through the process of deploying to afganistan to do contract work at the Kabul U.S Embassy. I've been watching your videos a lot lately and I have a lot of respect for you and how you got started. I am concerned about the safety and the mental toll it will inevitably take. I have never gone to Afganistan and would have never imagined even thinking this would be my reality. But here I am doing the paperwork and getting ready to go. I try to focus on what I can control and I know nobody can outright say your safety is ensured so I am more wondering about the people. I can put up with a lot but if the people are negative and doom and gloom it can make a situation like this unbearable in my opinion. So my question to you is have you found the people to be uplifting? Not every person obviously buy just generally speaking.
I’m so happy to see you safe.
Thanks, but I’m actually back in Afghanistan. Just returned about 2 weeks ago. Gotta make that $ while I can.
I'm glad you're back home safely.
Me too, amigo, mi too.
hey buddy great videos. about the ptsd im a firefighter. it helps a ton to talk about it with people you trust. also general self care, meditation phisical fitness yoga eating healthy watch tabaco alcohol.
Thanks. It is something I’m continuing to need to work on. I’m fortunate in that I have a very supportive wife.
Loving the more frequent uploads, keep it up brother!
I spent two years in that shithole (Kandahar) It was like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders when DFS went wheels up.
I noticed I was very easily agitated at the littlest things, constant noise being a major factor. I felt like I was literally floating for the first three weeks after coming home, what really helped me was going on a road trip, fortunately for me it was for a job where we drove from L.A. all the way up to Eugene OR which gave me a lot of time to reflect and "zen out". For me it's not the pops and bangs around celebration times but the deep booms that always make me uneasy, lol one time I heard someone's phone go off with an alarm sound and I swear it was the incoming alarm . Constantly watching people and what they're doing, it's almost like a depressurization from always being on edge.
Same thing happened to me - A guy at work had the same incoming alarm used at Bagram on his phone and the 1st time I heard it I had a WTF moment.
The change of schedule is what got me. I went from working 6 10 hour shifts a week to basically not having to do a thing. And that can mess you up. That's what got me when I came back. Almost fell into depression because of it, and had to get a new job after a month of being back.
Fortunately for me, my kids are keeping me so busy I don’t have time to get bored or depressed. Im glad to hear you didn’t slip into depression and got yourself back to work.
Nothing wrong with that. I recently turned down and offer to go back out to the middle east. Would have had me working in Afghanistan. The money just wasn't there for me to go vs. staying home and being with my family. So I completely understand wanting to do other things, for sure.
I can relate to this. The unbelievable work pace is hard at first but you'd be surprised at what human beings can get used to. When I came back to a slower pace I kept having anxiety that I was "doing something wrong" and was constantly edgy. It took a while but I eventually went back to normal. It just takes a little time.
I left Iraq in October with the full expectation to take the rest of the year off. By mid-November I had to find a new job, something to give myself structure in my schedule. It was nuts being that bored.
@@murdock94 I felt like a rubber band that had been wound up too tight and was going to snap. It subsided eventually. It just takes time.
Wow, when I left at the end of 2013 I felt much the same. How we kept dragging on, no idea. Things drew down so fast that we couldn't get supplies, so thanks for the metal roofing we grabbed off your abandoned huts at the north end of Shank. (Saw your other video from 2012)
It’s crazy how they abandoned Shank, rebuilt it as Dahlke, then abandoned the whole fiasco in a rush. What a massive waste.
Hi! I hope you are back to ”normal” now. I would say that your experience of coming out have a chance of 99% to disappear by it self, by time. I have been on a couple of combat tours. You share the same feeling a lot of persons in the same situation feels after coming home. Thanks for nice videos. Found your channel recently. Greetings to your family!
I am sure it is great to be back at home, thanks for the video 👍
We want more! We want more! We want more!
I'll be sure to carry on your legacy here at BAF. Without getting into to much detail, this past year was probably one of the most active I have seen in 5. Enjoy your freedom and liberties!
Thanks. Stay safe out there.
Ill be there in a week, hopefully it levels out or lessens and doesnt stay getting worse.
You picked the right season to come.
@@RhyzOrDie I'll be getting the summer too, get the joy of doing a year here. Being from florida hopefully it's not too bad. Over in gamberi now for snap support.
Yah for sure. I think this year should be better than last. I work very closely with SNAP folks. NW side of base.
Hey man love the great vibes keep up the videos!New sub .
Thanks. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
I know that feeling. I've learned to cope with those crazy changes. Persian Gulf War and other hot spots, being on edge, stressed out, coming back to the states and fealing like I lost touch of reality. Drinking at bars were my best friend. I'm still always in my own thoughts and in my own world. I don't go out like I used to because married life changed all that now. Get yourself some good rest and enjoy Quito. Great city to chill out. I would do more Antarctica and less war zones, especially with a family.
Safe travels.
I found myself saying the same thing. I don't want to call it PTSD because well I'm not a Solider and I wasn't kicking down doors. However, it is a high stress environment. Everyone handles it differently, I have a few friends that have really struggled with life at home. What I say now when ppl ask me about it is, “Don’t think you going to spend 5 years in a war zone and walk out the same person you were when you got there.”
I call it PTSD. I’m working up the nerve to record a video about my worst day in Afghanistan. August 7, 2012 at Shank. VBID day.
Military vet here. The feelings you're having will subside. The time it takes is different from person-to-person of course, but it will eventually go away. I know that may not help you at the present time and I'm sure you probably feel like it will last forever, but I'm here to tell you that it doesn't.
It will subside with time. I assure you.
Thanks. It’s already getting a little better
US did a great job in Afghanistan. As an Afghan I am very thankful
Thank you for your feedback. I think the opinions of Afghans that speak English and watch this video on RUclips are a little different from the opinions of the majority of Afghans, but it’s possible I’m wrong. You are the second Afghan to have this opinion. .
Quit the cap
@@bfsbawb lmaoo right, like we aren't the reason Afghanistan is a pit rn
@Alan Carroll Jr well at the very least starting from the 1930s yes we quite literally stole the middle east, starting from saudi arabia we worked our military and oil companies into the region, as did russia. This led to war in Afghanistan between russia and the mujahideen (who was given around 3 billion $$ by the US) who then became the taliban in recent years and then we all know what happened with osama and 9/11 and the so called "war on terror"
So yeah to say the US has done good for them is completely fucking cap
Working with the Afgans was scary, They would look at me with the most hate, I never turned my back on them.
It really seemed to depend on the tribe. I didn’t like it trust many of them at all. There were a couple I trusted like family.
I wish you all the best take care
I was in Iraq from 2007 until 2011, really miss the work, have felt flat ever since I returned to the Uk 🇬🇧
Yeah, it kind of makes normal life feel like watching an old black and white TV, doesn’t it?
John Scalzi was prescient when he wrote “The Forever War”... we will probably stuck in Afghanistan for who knows how long.
Nice bro!!!!
Thanks.
Combat fatigue, Combat stress, PTSD... Your body is stuck on fight or flight just standing in front of the pharmaceutical isle.
Byron Katie has a life changing, easy method of learning how to question stressful thoughts. You can go from despair to joy in a few minutes.
Good luck man
Thanks
I found the rain showers did more, and still do, have a calming effect on the soul.
Odd you mentioned the altitude as Bagram was around 8k feet itself.
Basically another variation on the South Vietnam theme.
Very right about how things change once being in a war zone and going back to normal life. My first R & R coming out of Iraq in 2004, my wife picked me up at the airport and I started to drive home, without realizing it I was doing the back and forth going near overpass like I had got used to in Iraq, to say the least, I had to pull over and let me wife drive. Then there is the effect of just the sound of loud cracks which in theater (usually followed by Big Voice yell Incoming Incoming take Cover) that threw me off more than once and still gets me when fireworks go off, worse was when I was visiting Gettysburg with wife and laws once while on R&R from Iraq, some reenactors where doing there demostration which including musket loading and firing and I was not payin attention, when the first shot went of I immediately started to go to ground, to say the least embarassed, but my wife over of 40 years calmly said I had just came out of Iraq, then you get of thank you for your service which I alwasy reply no need to I went there as a contractor and could leave at any time, thank GI Joe and Jane who did not have that choice, nor made the money I was making for allot less danger. Understand about the PTSD and would be lying to saying nearly 8 years in theater did not leave me with some things I would rather not had, for me luckily I have good friends that I stay in touch with that were with me on a few of the adeventure and in particular a few of my PSD and CBP teams that have become life long friends that we stay in touch with and some of them have had really bad issues due to their line of work combined with their previous service in the military.
Very similar to how I feel. I hit the floor once in a Home Depot when someone dropped a sheet of plywood on the floor. That “crack!” got me.
Armies can be defeated. Ideals cannot.
I am on edge like that without ever being a soldier and in your defense telling those annoying those women to shut the hell up is totally normal
Great to see your in one piece. Maybe being out there has just made a lot more alert and aware to things......maybe sometimes it might trigger panic attacks or similar, it was a very difficult time for working in a war zone, not many folks would do it for any amount of money....it was a sacrifice in itself. You'll pull through. On another note, just back from Vegas & Seattle, only got to Kells and The 5 Points for beers. Needed the last offering of Vitamin D the Sun could give in Vegas before Winter.....nothing compared to the Winter I feel coming this year.....and the rest, while we head into a Maunder type Minimum, low sunspot count etc
Worked all over, served all over. It changes you , all there is to it.
Yeah, I’m already back in Afghanistan again. I didn’t think I’d come back when I made this video, but after one year away I got sucked back in.
I believe 3 soldiers and 1 contractor were killed in a bomb explosion last week up at Bagram.
Shit. That's terrible to hear. I hope all my friends are ok.
The reason why the Taliban hasn’t been defeat is because they retreat to Pakistan where cross border ops are forbidden.
Which union local sends you into a war zone? And do you get any bonuses for this?
The only union employer I know of out there was Inglett & Stubbs. I think they were out of Georgia but they hired union linemen from wherever. I don’t know exactly what they’re pay/bonus structure is or if they’re still on the contract. During the worst part of the recession several locals gave approval for their unemployed members to go work for non-union companies in Afghanistan and Iraq. Some even invited recruiters to speak to their members. This pattern repeated more recently in northern Canada as the oil sands boom crashed. Though I only met one Canadian union wireman that took the bait.
that was good!!
Thanks
i was one of the first 150 cvilians with KBR there july 2003------sept 2004.....i believe Fluor out of Greenville SC has the contract now......kbr was a crap company to work for.....cut throats all way too the top management.......would not recomend kbr too anyone.........
Fluor has the contract now but they didn’t win the next contract. It will be switching back to KBR soon.
@@FallofftheMap '''politics''''follow the money......kbr ripped the taxpayers off big time.....
@@FallofftheMap i do have a few nephews that i got jobs for in 2004 carried over to Flour still there.....
Hello Sir,
I would like to know the procedure to quit the job in Bagram Airbase , Do they ask deployed employees to pay for their quitting? And also do they ask to pay for deployed employees flight tickets ?
Most employers there will be required to pay for the flight home when employees quit.
Nah they pay for everything, travel there and back, American citizens wouldn’t sign up for these contracts otherwise. If you quit within the first week or something maybe there’s a contract clause detailing some penalty but employers generally have to pay for the trip there and back.
afwaller I have seen exceptions in some locations, such as the base on Kwajalein. The contract I had out there had a clause that said if I didn’t complete a year they wanted to be reimbursed for my ticket to the island and that I had to buy my own ticket home. They also wanted to be reimbursed for all of my recruitment and deployment costs such as medical clearing and background checks. Most of their contract wasn’t legal. I quit after 2 months and they not only paid for everything, but they also asked me to consider them if I ever wanted to work there again. I don’t think they treated most of their employees that well.
@@FallofftheMap fair enough, guess I should have said the reputable companies. I watched your video on how the company told you it was illegal to quit.... there's definitely some very sketchy groups.
@@FallofftheMap by the way, you're going to hit a million subs if you keep telling interesting stories like this - your content is incredible.
Hey man, thank you for making your videos. I was wondering if you had any leads for any IT positions, I'm also a career Army Flight Paramedic-still credentialed. I retire from Active service in July and I am going through a transitioning program offered to Service members and mine is a complete training program starting me off in IT. Enjoy your time back home and thank you again.
I know there’s a lot of IT work in Afghanistan but it’s a little outside my realm of expertise, so I don’t know what employers to point you towards. For work in Antarctica, a company called GHG hires the IT folks. Also, as a paramedic you might be able to work your way into an EMT position. With Fluor in Afghanistan. Those are really good jobs. If what I’ve heard is true, they pay in the 160k range.
Would you go back there for work? Or what are your plans now?
Never say never, right? Yeah, I’d go back if I needed cash bad enough and work was slow in the US. Right now I’m working at a research station at the top of the Greenland ice cap (living on top of 3000 meters of ice) . In a couple weeks I’ll go check out Copenhagen and Amsterdam, then back to Ecuador for the rest of the year. If I manage to sell one of my properties in Ecuador I might spend a year there just relaxing.
@@FallofftheMap Cool, you should make a video update on your current work situation.
Do you get screwed on Afghan Taxes. I signed a tentative offer for $350/day doing security. Any help is appreciated.
If you are on the LOGCAP contract you are not subject to Afghanistan taxes. The way the rules are written, unless they’ve changed in the last year, if your company is primarily supporting the coalition you are not supposed to have to pay the Afghan tax. If your working on the big project at the Kabul Airport, or doing embassy work, you may very well have to pay the Afghan tax.
@@FallofftheMap Thanks for the reply. I will be working at the embassy.
Hey bud thanks for the Info! I’m looking into going to Bagram for work, is there an email or something I can ask you more questions?
Sure. There should be an email and fb link on my channel’s home page. I don’t like to type it out here because of spam bots.
healthy relationships socalization. a lot of people use religon.
Journaling helps ALOT.
Yeah, I agree. For me, journaling and also talking about it.
@@FallofftheMap Good. Next a Book: What to say when you talk to yourself" By Shad Helmstetter
Fighting, booze, dope dont help, holding it in dont help...talking to other vets does help!😌
Talking to vets with booze is even better. Go AL or VFW
@@comm2531 aint funmy when the vet is crying and has a knife to his stomach
@@comm2531 my dad was an amphib in ww2 at 17 he started smoking cigarettes to calm his nerves after a battle it later killed him just before his 70th birthday. As for al and vfw he went there to drink n tell war stories with the other vets. My uncle who fought the nazis and liburated jews at a death camp had a flashback and tried to kill his wife, my 14 year old cousin held him down while his 13 year old sister called the doctor he still had a bullet in the back from france 1944. I talked to 2 vets had hiv, one was drug related the other gay, 9 months later they were dead(vietnam vet and a south american drug war vet). I remember as a kid my dad and the ww2 vets getting drunk and going to next town to fight with the mexican vets...
What the hell kind of stress do the afghan civilians deal with? Sheez.
how did you get property in Ecuador?
When I first traveled there in 2013 I started buying properties. I have 3 now.
Fall off the Map thanks! Maybe you could help me out with the process. I’d like to buy some there or a different country.
Not making light of a serious problem after being in a war zone....but having two women yap behind you incessantly on a long flight, any man would want to tell them to shut the hell up. Don't be tough on yourself.
I get your point. I think my point was the magnitude of my internal emotional response to something so inconsequential.
@@FallofftheMap point taken, completely understand your point. How's Africa???
Africa is kind of shitty. If offered the terrible choice, I would take the mortars and rockets of Afghanistan over the oppressive heat, flies, and mosquitoes of Africa.
@@FallofftheMap Sorry to hear that, maybe a change of seasons will make the weather less oppressive? Keep your head up, remember there's a bunch of us that think the places you go for work are really cool! Stay safe and healthy, we look forward to your next video.
vietnam same thing , so history repeats...
Same thing if we’re lucky, at this point. Much more likely the endgame on this one is significantly worse. At least when we got out of Vietnam we were able to move on. Afghanistan looks more like something that just never ends whether we go home or not. The ideology that the west is some sort of evil that must be destroyed has taken root so deeply in the Pashtun portions of Afghanistan that this war will just keep following us around long after we leave.
Did you meet your wife after this?
Time to shut down the 750 bases the MIC has. Then we'll have a lot more peace.
Hey sir, try yoga and meditation.
I hope you are doing great now
💯
Jesus said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 (KJV) I was a Navy Hospital Corpsman with the 3rd Marine Division in Vietnam way back in 1969. I had put my trust in Jesus Christ back in high school, and he has held me in good stead my entire life. Now, as an old man with many chronic health issues, I still look forward to incredible things because Jesus loves me and I'll be with him one day.
why does the military need to be such a pain in the ass?
Because their mission is a pain in the ass.
@@FallofftheMap right but half of the rules and regulations seem to have basically nothing to do with the mission and more about making life unpleasant for everyone.
It often feels like that, and sometimes it’s true, but more often the rules are there for that one idiot that could find a way to screw up anything. They can’t exactly make rules just for that idiot, so we all get some weird dumb rule because of that guy.
@@FallofftheMap sadly they do seem to cater to the least common denominator. it’s easy to forget how young many of the soldiers are, too.
You are making more money but those places are depressing for someone. Look at your eyes and how miserable they are. I deployed two years to Afghanistan and my face was terrible. I am older now and better looking....hahaha
It’s true. It’s a very difficult lifestyle, but it’s also easy to get sort of stuck working there. I keep going back to it. I’d be there right now if I didn’t get stuck on an indefinite R&R due to the virus. I have to wait until the situation stabilizes before I can fly back.
Military industrial complex makes a lot of $ on a "forever war". Case in point: cold war 1945-1991, viet nam 1957-1973/75, afghanastan 2001....🐍