LPE and Forensic Tech Positions - CONUS/OCONUS
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wkpetroka
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2005 5:49 am
- Location: Charlottesville, VA
LPE and Forensic Tech Positions - CONUS/OCONUS
***UPDATED 15APR08***
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Ann Horsman
- Posts: 152
- Joined: Thu May 17, 2007 8:01 am
- Location: VERMONT
- Contact:
If I was on the cusp of retirement this would be a consideration for me, but alas....
I wonder though, knowing this is a dangerous assignment, have any previous examiners been amongst those killed? What steps are taken by the employer to ensure the safety of staff?
I wonder though, knowing this is a dangerous assignment, have any previous examiners been amongst those killed? What steps are taken by the employer to ensure the safety of staff?
~Ann
Veritas vos liberabit
"...but no prints can come from fingers
if machines become our hands"
Jack Johnson - The Horizon Has Been Defeated
Veritas vos liberabit
"...but no prints can come from fingers
if machines become our hands"
Jack Johnson - The Horizon Has Been Defeated
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wkpetroka
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2005 5:49 am
- Location: Charlottesville, VA
Ann,
Thank you for your question concerning the OCONUS employment. All support positions are located on a secure military base within Iraq. Currently LPE’s are not utilized outside the base for any purpose. But realize that these positions are located within a theater of war. Currently to date, there are no LPE’s among the contractor casualties.
Wade Petroka, CLPE
Harding Security Associates, Inc.
CEXC Biometrics Lab Director
Baghdad, Iraq
Email: wpetroka@harding-security.com
Thank you for your question concerning the OCONUS employment. All support positions are located on a secure military base within Iraq. Currently LPE’s are not utilized outside the base for any purpose. But realize that these positions are located within a theater of war. Currently to date, there are no LPE’s among the contractor casualties.
Wade Petroka, CLPE
Harding Security Associates, Inc.
CEXC Biometrics Lab Director
Baghdad, Iraq
Email: wpetroka@harding-security.com
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wkpetroka
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2005 5:49 am
- Location: Charlottesville, VA
Sorditol,
Thank you for your interest and questions.
You are not required at all to leave the base complex. All work is done at an on-site lab and evidence is brought to you.
All pre-deployment training and travel is provided. Once on base, you will be given billeting (shared trailer) along with full dining (DFAC), recreation and gym (MWR), post exchange (PX) and laundry privileges. Basically we drop our laundry and it is done for us. Recreation includes gyms, weight rooms, internet cafe, game rooms, movie rooms, fishing, RC car race track, baseball, basketball, soccer, swimming pool, ect. Our PX is Walmart sized and you can purchase 50" flat panel tv's and PS3's for your enjoyment. If you cannot find it at the PX, you can have it shipped to you in a couple of days.
The DFAC food is fantastic. Just ask Kasey Wertheim about the crab legs and lobster. But we also have Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Burger King, Subway, Popeye's Chicken, Cinnabon and Seattle's Best Coffee. We also throw some pretty good BBQ's here at CEXC that include steaks and yes even a full pig.
If you would like to know more or are interested in applying, please contact me at my email below.
Thanks again,
Wade
Wade Petroka, CLPE
Harding Security Associates, Inc.
CEXC Biometrics Lab Director
Baghdad, Iraq
Email: wpetroka@harding-security.com
Thank you for your interest and questions.
You are not required at all to leave the base complex. All work is done at an on-site lab and evidence is brought to you.
All pre-deployment training and travel is provided. Once on base, you will be given billeting (shared trailer) along with full dining (DFAC), recreation and gym (MWR), post exchange (PX) and laundry privileges. Basically we drop our laundry and it is done for us. Recreation includes gyms, weight rooms, internet cafe, game rooms, movie rooms, fishing, RC car race track, baseball, basketball, soccer, swimming pool, ect. Our PX is Walmart sized and you can purchase 50" flat panel tv's and PS3's for your enjoyment. If you cannot find it at the PX, you can have it shipped to you in a couple of days.
The DFAC food is fantastic. Just ask Kasey Wertheim about the crab legs and lobster. But we also have Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Burger King, Subway, Popeye's Chicken, Cinnabon and Seattle's Best Coffee. We also throw some pretty good BBQ's here at CEXC that include steaks and yes even a full pig.
If you would like to know more or are interested in applying, please contact me at my email below.
Thanks again,
Wade
Wade Petroka, CLPE
Harding Security Associates, Inc.
CEXC Biometrics Lab Director
Baghdad, Iraq
Email: wpetroka@harding-security.com
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Thomas Taylor
- Posts: 98
- Joined: Mon Jan 15, 2007 7:38 am
- Location: USA
Okay, let me see if I’ve got this straight. I can work in the US trying to find the fingerprints of high school boys on baggies of marijuana, with an occasional CD/stereo system ripped out of some rich guy’s car.
Or I can go overseas with free travel, earn three times as much money as I get here, and tax free on top of it, eat better food for free than I could ever dream of getting here, and have all those other perks, too.
Is that about it?
Sweet!
Or I can go overseas with free travel, earn three times as much money as I get here, and tax free on top of it, eat better food for free than I could ever dream of getting here, and have all those other perks, too.
Is that about it?
Sweet!
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Lab Rat
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Tue May 02, 2006 9:28 pm
No, you forgot the IEDs, mortar attacks, and the occasional car bombing...Thomas Taylor wrote:Okay, let me see if I’ve got this straight. I can work in the US trying to find the fingerprints of high school boys on baggies of marijuana, with an occasional CD/stereo system ripped out of some rich guy’s car.
Or I can go overseas with free travel, earn three times as much money as I get here, and tax free on top of it, eat better food for free than I could ever dream of getting here, and have all those other perks, too.
Is that about it?
Sweet!
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Graham F
- Posts: 66
- Joined: Mon Mar 27, 2006 8:53 am
OCONUS
In addition to the posts in this thread, there are forensic positions in other areas of Iraq with other service providers, not just on base in the vicinity of Baghdad. Some of these may occasionally require you to travel outside of base, say to other bases in Iraq. Like in all “war” type environments the situation is never static, with the changing military emphasis, coupled with an integrated “Coalition” group.
As for the food, it is great considering your location, but I am sure you will not think the same after 18 months. Yes you can on occasion get a T-bone steak and Lobster Tails, but cooked in advance in bulk cafeteria style, ensures that they are frequently akin to Michelin. You will forget which day it is, but as soon as you see the DFAC menu you will immediately know the day of the week you are on.
The Army bases function in a different manner to the Marine bases and so does the Dept of State arena in the Green Zone. All having differing rules & regs to abide by.
It must be remembered, that no matter how many concrete “T” walls you place as your perimeter protection to any base/zone, it does not limit the incoming RPG’s and rockets over the top of the barriers. Obviously you will be much safer inside a base/zone, than outside on military patrol in a Humvee.
I do not wish to rain on anyone’s parade, but you need to get it all in perspective. You will be doing a great job in support of the Coalition, in a sub standard environment (you can’t just go to Wal-Mart to replace the fuse that has blown in your converter as it is all 220v and you have been sent standard 110v equipment), with risks, reasonable salary, extremely long hours (what else is there to do!) and earn yourself a sense of pride and fulfillment in what you achieve. The military system will frequently make you want to pull your hair out, if you have any left of course. The bonus is that you will return home knowing all the 101 uses of Duct Tape and that is amazing. How the effort could survive without this product, I do not know, but it did hold the CA chamber together for 9 months as a request to supply a new door locking handle was continually refused. All this without staying at a Holiday Express last night!
Been there, seen it, done it, got the T-shirt and if you can avoid traveling by convoy – do so, even if you are in up-armored vehicles wearing full body armor an Kevlar. Treat it like a vacation with all the sun and sand you could dream for, but unfortunately no sea to waggle your toes in, go and enjoy.
Graham Ford
As for the food, it is great considering your location, but I am sure you will not think the same after 18 months. Yes you can on occasion get a T-bone steak and Lobster Tails, but cooked in advance in bulk cafeteria style, ensures that they are frequently akin to Michelin. You will forget which day it is, but as soon as you see the DFAC menu you will immediately know the day of the week you are on.
The Army bases function in a different manner to the Marine bases and so does the Dept of State arena in the Green Zone. All having differing rules & regs to abide by.
It must be remembered, that no matter how many concrete “T” walls you place as your perimeter protection to any base/zone, it does not limit the incoming RPG’s and rockets over the top of the barriers. Obviously you will be much safer inside a base/zone, than outside on military patrol in a Humvee.
I do not wish to rain on anyone’s parade, but you need to get it all in perspective. You will be doing a great job in support of the Coalition, in a sub standard environment (you can’t just go to Wal-Mart to replace the fuse that has blown in your converter as it is all 220v and you have been sent standard 110v equipment), with risks, reasonable salary, extremely long hours (what else is there to do!) and earn yourself a sense of pride and fulfillment in what you achieve. The military system will frequently make you want to pull your hair out, if you have any left of course. The bonus is that you will return home knowing all the 101 uses of Duct Tape and that is amazing. How the effort could survive without this product, I do not know, but it did hold the CA chamber together for 9 months as a request to supply a new door locking handle was continually refused. All this without staying at a Holiday Express last night!
Been there, seen it, done it, got the T-shirt and if you can avoid traveling by convoy – do so, even if you are in up-armored vehicles wearing full body armor an Kevlar. Treat it like a vacation with all the sun and sand you could dream for, but unfortunately no sea to waggle your toes in, go and enjoy.
Graham Ford
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wkpetroka
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2005 5:49 am
- Location: Charlottesville, VA
Thomas Taylor,
You are correct on most of your questions. We provide a vital service to the war fighter and the global war on terror. For the sacrifices that we make for a period of 6 months to a year, we do get paid well, the food is not hat bad and the lifestyle on this base is great. The money is not all tax free. You get a tax break if you are employed out of the CONUS area for more than 330 days in a 365 day period.
Lab Rat,
We are in a war zone. Mortars and rockets occasionally find there way in, IED's and car bombs, no. Outside the wire these things are a menace to our coalition forces troops. Inside our base complex it is fairly safe.
Graham Ford,
You have a pretty good perspective and a lot of insight, thank you for sharing your experiences. My references are to the specific contracted work we are providing. We do not contract our LPE's for labs in Fallujah or elsewhere. Once they land in Baghdad, our LPE's do not ever travel outside the wire. That is one thing for anyone to consider if they decide to head over here. When it comes to equipment, our lab is on par with most labs in the US. If one of our (6) CA6000 units goes down, Misonix will provide parts within 7 days. We have a very supportive military logistical team that expedite supplies in a very timely manner.
Thanks again for all of your questions and comments,
Wade Petroka, CLPE
Harding Security Associates, Inc.
CEXC Biometrics Lab Director
Baghdad, Iraq
Email: wpetroka@harding-security.com
You are correct on most of your questions. We provide a vital service to the war fighter and the global war on terror. For the sacrifices that we make for a period of 6 months to a year, we do get paid well, the food is not hat bad and the lifestyle on this base is great. The money is not all tax free. You get a tax break if you are employed out of the CONUS area for more than 330 days in a 365 day period.
Lab Rat,
We are in a war zone. Mortars and rockets occasionally find there way in, IED's and car bombs, no. Outside the wire these things are a menace to our coalition forces troops. Inside our base complex it is fairly safe.
Graham Ford,
You have a pretty good perspective and a lot of insight, thank you for sharing your experiences. My references are to the specific contracted work we are providing. We do not contract our LPE's for labs in Fallujah or elsewhere. Once they land in Baghdad, our LPE's do not ever travel outside the wire. That is one thing for anyone to consider if they decide to head over here. When it comes to equipment, our lab is on par with most labs in the US. If one of our (6) CA6000 units goes down, Misonix will provide parts within 7 days. We have a very supportive military logistical team that expedite supplies in a very timely manner.
Thanks again for all of your questions and comments,
Wade Petroka, CLPE
Harding Security Associates, Inc.
CEXC Biometrics Lab Director
Baghdad, Iraq
Email: wpetroka@harding-security.com
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Graham F
- Posts: 66
- Joined: Mon Mar 27, 2006 8:53 am
[You have a pretty good perspective and a lot of insight, thank you for sharing your experiences. My references are to the specific contracted work we are providing. We do not contract our LPE's for labs in Fallujah or elsewhere. Once they land in Baghdad, our LPE's do not ever travel outside the wire. That is one thing for anyone to consider if they decide to head over here.]
This is why I made reference to other forensic service providers.
[When it comes to equipment, our lab is on par with most labs in the US. If one of our (6) CA6000 units goes down, Misonix will provide parts within 7 days.]
When I arrived in the summer of 2005 the chamber was already broken and through to late spring of 2006 your company along with the CONUS logistical team refused to embrace the standard health & safety concepts of a laboratory by not allowing for the chamber door to be repaired. All fumes escaping into the minute lab facility for the analysts to inhale 12 hours per day 7 days a week, but being limited as much as possible by Duct Tape. This also impaired the processing effectivity of the chamber and the IED evidence. It is great to see that they have now moved on and have finally implemented a correct service.
My comment were made to fully enlighten CONUS analysts, so they can be clear before making decisions to travel overseas.
Things have improved and rightly so and analysts are now in a better posistion to process evidence in a manner befitting the crime. It is a such a shame that we could not have reached this position 2 years ago.
This is why I made reference to other forensic service providers.
[When it comes to equipment, our lab is on par with most labs in the US. If one of our (6) CA6000 units goes down, Misonix will provide parts within 7 days.]
When I arrived in the summer of 2005 the chamber was already broken and through to late spring of 2006 your company along with the CONUS logistical team refused to embrace the standard health & safety concepts of a laboratory by not allowing for the chamber door to be repaired. All fumes escaping into the minute lab facility for the analysts to inhale 12 hours per day 7 days a week, but being limited as much as possible by Duct Tape. This also impaired the processing effectivity of the chamber and the IED evidence. It is great to see that they have now moved on and have finally implemented a correct service.
My comment were made to fully enlighten CONUS analysts, so they can be clear before making decisions to travel overseas.
Things have improved and rightly so and analysts are now in a better posistion to process evidence in a manner befitting the crime. It is a such a shame that we could not have reached this position 2 years ago.
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Patrick Warrick
- Posts: 37
- Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2005 7:46 am
- Location: Minnesota BCA-Northern Minnesota
Latent Print Examiner-Iraq
I don't know about you, but car bombs, IEDs, mortars.....kinda sounds like another Saturday night in LAPD Rampart Division.
"Rather leave the crime of the guilty unpunished than condemn the innocent."-Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman statesman (106–43 B.C.)
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Pat A. Wertheim
- Posts: 872
- Joined: Thu Jul 07, 2005 6:48 am
- Location: Fort Worth, Texas
I haven't been there, BUT . . . . .
When Kasey was in the Green Zone earlier this year, we swapped a lot of emails. I honestly think my chances of survival in the Green Zone for a year are a helluva lot better than walking down a street in certain parts of Tucson after dark.
When Kasey was in the Green Zone earlier this year, we swapped a lot of emails. I honestly think my chances of survival in the Green Zone for a year are a helluva lot better than walking down a street in certain parts of Tucson after dark.
Pat A. Wertheim
P. O. Box 150492
Arlington, TX 76015
P. O. Box 150492
Arlington, TX 76015
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wkpetroka
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2005 5:49 am
- Location: Charlottesville, VA
Pat Warrick,
Since coming here, my stress level is very low. It has been a refreshing change.
Pat Wertheim,
Kasey and I had some great times here. I have never seen someone eat so much crab. Thank you also for the care packages that Kasey shared with the team.
Wade...
Wade Petroka, CLPE
Harding Security Associates, Inc.
CEXC Biometrics Lab Director
Baghdad, Iraq
Email: wpetroka@harding-security.com
Since coming here, my stress level is very low. It has been a refreshing change.
Pat Wertheim,
Kasey and I had some great times here. I have never seen someone eat so much crab. Thank you also for the care packages that Kasey shared with the team.
Wade...
Wade Petroka, CLPE
Harding Security Associates, Inc.
CEXC Biometrics Lab Director
Baghdad, Iraq
Email: wpetroka@harding-security.com