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The US Army Corp of Engineers and numerous private companies are still looking for people to help rebuild Iraq’s infrastructure. In fact, one Web site reports that there are currently 60,000 jobs available in Iraq for US citizens. And the pay can be very good. Some civilian contractor jobs start at $80,000. Others pay even more. A truck driver earning $30,000 in the US may be able to get a job in Iraq paying $70,000, $80,000 or even $90,000 a year.

Just as important, housing and meals are usually provided, and if you work overseas for a year, $80,000 of your income is excluded from US income taxes. (Note: For complete details on this tax exclusion, see Section 13.3 of the IRS Tax Code, “Aliens and U.S. Citizens Living Abroad: Foreign Income & Foreign Income Exclusion”).

Iraq job postings are usually available online and, in many cases, you can apply for these jobs online. Sites you might want to check out include dangerzonejobs.com, jobline.net, and jobsearch.about.com.

As of this writing (early May, 2005), there were jobs available in the areas of intelligence, linguists, engineering, construction, mechanical, transportation, as well as in non-technical areas.

In the oil industry alone, there were 26 major oil projects hiring. Companies with jobs in Iraq include Halliburton, KBR (a Halliburton subsidiary) Dyncorp, Parsons Project Iraq, CIS (Critical Intervention Services), Titan Corp., Bechtel, Fluor, Koll, Wackenhut, General Dynamics, EG&G Technical Services, and many others.

The US Foreign Service is also looking for employees. Its Iraq Reconstruction Management Office (IRMO) wants to hire highly skilled and motivated United States citizens to serve our nation at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. IRMO’s mission is to support the sovereign, democratic rights of the Iraqi people to govern themselves, defend their country, and rebuild their economy. These jobs fall under Civil Service and, as such, offer excellent benefits, including generous health plans, thrift savings plans, life insurance, annual leave, sick leave, and a student loan repayment plan.

There are a number of positions posted as of this writing that require duty in Iraq. A partial list of these jobs include: Advisor ($62,000 to $97,000), Logistics Program Coordinator ($62,886 TO $97,213), Contract Specialist ($62,886 to $97,213), and Field Services Officer ($62,886 to $97,213).

Another branch of the US Government, the US Agency for International Development (USAID), is currently spending $3.3 billion on contracts with consulting firms that help promote entrepreneurism, improve agriculture and manufacturing efficiency, stimulate investment and develop information technology skills.

That’s the good news. Here’s the worse news. In an article on the Web site www.dangerzonejobs.com dated Feb. 14, 2005, one recruiter says “you’ll be working eight- to 12-hour days in a 120-degree desert populated by scorpions, camel spiders and people looking to kill you. You’ll be dusty and dirty most of the time. You’re shown slides of what your residence — a prefab metal container — looks like when it’s blown apart by mortar fire. You learn that about 60 other company employees or subcontractors have been killed — and one is missing.

Still, 1 in 10 applicants for jobs with the Halliburton subsidiary Kellogg Brown & Root, based in Houston, remain willing to take those well-paying truck driver, food service, laundry and maintenance positions in Iraq. This despite extensive media coverage of the kidnappings, beheadings and suicide attacks on civilian workers there. And there’s no doubt that civilians are prime targets. Besides the roughly 1,500 U.S. military casualties so far, there have been 232 casualties among civilians working for U.S. contractors, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.”

Two of the largest contractors staffing for jobs in Iraq, Halliburton and KBR, claim to have thousands of resumes in their database … and are still holding job fares around the country. Why is this? It’s because they’re still looking for qualified, experienced applicants.

So, is a job in Iraq right for you? If you have a sense of adventure, are not afraid to take a risk and would like to double or even triple your wages for a year, the answer just might be yes.

Here’s another good tip. If you’re looking for a great place to vacation, choose Denver. Denver is pretty unique in that it offers the bes of two worlds — the fun things to do and see that you find only in a big, sophisticated city, and the breathtaking scenery, unforgettable vistas and amazing wildlife you find only in our nearly Rocky Mount ans. To learn more about the best Denver vacation, just go to Just go to http://www.best-denver-vacation.com

Douglas Hanna has lived in the Denver area for nearly 35 years and is an expert on both Denver and Colorado. He is also the author of more than 120 articles on Denver and Internet marketing.

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Being a commercial pilot is not as hard as you might think, and the demand for pilot’s due to the growth of regional airlines and corporate aviation travel is making this a great aviation opportunity. And the demand for aviation education focused flight instructors is about to get very good.

Until I visited my local airport and just started hanging around, I never knew that this was something I could do someday. And even more important was that by working at something that was fun I actually enjoyed studying and looked forward to every day.

To me there is something really special about learning to fly and being a student pilot was the most special time of my life. What I was looking for was a new mountain to climb and something that would make me feel good about my life, and I found it in aviation training. So much so that instead of going to an airline career as a pilot, my goal was to be a flight instructor and help other people change their lives and reach new goals.

When I first thought about a career in aviation the price really scared me away as a flight education was expensive, at least to me. However with the student loans that are available and the fact that flying lessons were just so much fun it all started to make sense.

In order to look into the idea of being a commercial pilot there are some things you will need to research however there are over 1200 flight schools that can help you. So what’s the first step? Well the first step is to learn some terms.

Student Pilot

A pilot that is learning how to fly, at the stage in your aviation training you fly with a flight instructor until you are skilled enough to fly on your own. Usually in 15-20 hours. After about 65 hours then you become a Private Pilot.

Private Pilot

This means that you can fly with passengers and go places. The great thing about being a private pilot is that “the world will become a smaller place” as my first flight instructor told me. To become a Private pilot it will cost anywhere from $4500 to $9000.

Instrument Rating

The instrument rating will allow you to fly in the clouds and when visibility is not that good. The instrument rating will cost about $4000 to $5000.

Commercial Pilot

This takes the most time and cost the most money. You will need some specialized training and it will cost about $10,000, however there are many ways to reduce this cost to make it much more affordable. In fact a great deal more.
What now? Now that you are a Commercial Pilot you will need to build some experience and most people do this by becoming a Flight Instructor and teaching others how to fly. Not only will you make money while you learn more, but you will have so much fun.

Commercial pilots start at about $18,000 per year then rapidly rise to $60,000 and then up to $100,000. This depends on many factors. Notice I keep saying “it depends” - there are many options and variables on the road to being an airline pilot. In fact I tell people at my Learn to Fly seminars that the hardest part of learning to fly is trying to figure out how the process works!

Visit your local airport and flight school to learn more, it truly a career that will make a difference in your life.

About the Author
Gary Bradshaw is a Commercial Pilot, Flight Instructor that has earned the FAA’s “Gold Seal” for flight training success. He speaks around the country at flight schools on flight training. In his spare time he runs one of the largest aviation websites on the internet at http://www.pilotjourney.com

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If you plan to obtain a car loan and you have a history of bad credit, you may find that getting approved is more hassle–and expensive–than you realized. Here are three things you should know about bad credit car loans:

1. YOU’LL PAY MORE

Because you have bad credit–which usually means a history of late or missed payments on other loans–lenders will consider you a riskier borrower. To offset this risk, they’ll charge you a higher interest rate. In some cases, you may get charged extra fees, too, because of the additional paperwork associated with your loan. In general, expect to pay about 3% more on your interest rate, depending on your credit history, but be wary of any lender that wants to charge you an exorbitant rate. Compare quotes from various loan companies to ensure you’re getting a decent deal.

2. YOU’LL HAVE TO BORROW LESS

Because you’re a bad credit borrower, most lenders won’t want to take the risk of lending you a large sum of money. In many cases, they’ll put a “cap” on the amount you can borrow, and it’s likely to be less than the average cost of a new car. Chances are you’ll only qualify for enough to buy a small economy car or a used vehicle. The amount you can borrow may also be based on your current income.

3. YOU’LL HAVE TO FILL OUT MORE PAPERWORK

Not every lender is willing to work with a bad credit borrower, and those that do often require additional paperwork. You’ll have to demonstrate solid proof of your employment history and your income so the lender knows you’re financially capable of paying back the loan. Your loan terms may be stricter than usual, too, which means you’ll have to sign agreements about the terms. Here is a list of recommended Bad Credit Car Lenders online. It’s important to use a reputable lender online to make sure your personal information is secure.

You may find that most lenders don’t want to work with you because of your bad credit history, but it is possible to find a loan company that will approve you for a car loan. Try searching online to find a lender that meets your special needs.

ABC Loan Guide, a loan information website, can help you in your research with Bad Credit or No Credit Car Loans, as well as provide lists of lenders that offer Vehicle Financing in general.

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