Life as a civilian Army / Navy / Air Force employee?

[Lifted]

Has anyone here worked as a civilian employee for the armed forces overseas? I have some questions.

1) Housing.

I've heard you stay off base, but is it subsidized or free? Do they ever keep you on base?

2) Grub.

Can I eat on the base? Do they onyl serve burgers and dogs, or do they get more ethinic based on the locale.

3) Working conditions.

Do you report to officers, or other civilians? How are you treated in general? Are things as slack as the civil service jobs or are they perfectionists? Is it usually 8 hour days / 5 day weeks?

4) Taxes? I've heard that if you work over 300 and some odd days a year overseas, you don't pay federal income tax. Is that true? What about state and local tax?

5) Anyone work in Japan, Singapore or Germany? Which city and how did you like it? Is Japan prohibitively expensive?

I'll add more if I can think of anything else. Please feel free to add anythign you think is relevant which I haven't asked here.

 

[angstsoldat]

Sounds like fun in Japan or Germany.. My brother went to Germany, to Munich, Berlin, Korschembroich(no idea how that is spelled, small city i think), and to Cologne (Koln)

He liked it there, however they have different customs .. Like, if you see someone on the street they won't smile at you. ever. And also they will give you dirty looks if you were a Russian hat (my brother got one and wore it around lol). your supposed to burp after a meal.. to compliment the chef..

Also, everything is pretty small there.. the roads, the houses, the cars, the refrigerators, etc. However, everything is basically "right there" like.. you dont really need to go that far to get to where you want to go.

Also, dont go into a bar and say "i want a stein please" . they will look at you funny.

And think in advance when you go to the McDonalds... most adults there do not speak English even though they are required to take it in school. because they grew up under Soviet or American occupation..

hope that helped you some.. I plan on visiting germany next summer, so if you still havent experienced the place by then I'll let you know my self how it was

 

[angstsoldat]

also they charge you to use their toilets. And they usually do not put ice in your soda.


One last thing.. Dont get on a bus and say "i'd like to go to er-fert" .. pronounce it how they would (air-fert, dont know the spelling of the actual city)

 

[aethandor13]

allot of this depends if you are going to be a goverment emplyee or a contractor. i am going to take it that you are looking to be a Goverment employee. i currently work in Kosovo as a contractor for the Army. as a goverment employee you can report to both., you may have an officcer in charge of you or another civilian. you are treated pretty much just like you would at any other job. i do have to say though it is allot of fun to be able to live overseas. the tax free i thnk only applies contractors. if you work directly for the goverment if i am correct you still pay taxes. i can check as my boss is a goverment employee and she could give me the info on all of your questions. she has lived in Germany for 10+ years. feel free to message me and i will see if she will answer your questions.

 

[Lifted]

Originally posted by: aethandor13
allot of this depends if you are going to be a goverment emplyee or a contractor. i am going to take it that you are looking to be a Goverment employee. i currently work in Kosovo as a contractor for the Army. as a goverment employee you can report to both., you may have an officcer in charge of you or another civilian. you are treated pretty much just like you would at any other job. i do have to say though it is allot of fun to be able to live overseas. the tax free i thnk only applies contractors. if you work directly for the goverment if i am correct you still pay taxes. i can check as my boss is a goverment employee and she could give me the info on all of your questions. she has lived in Germany for 10+ years. feel free to message me and i will see if she will answer your questions.

Thanks, for the info... I'll PM you.

 

[Lifted]

Originally posted by: angstsoldat

He liked it there, however they have different customs .. Like, if you see someone on the street they won't smile at you. ever. And also they will give you dirty looks

That's good to hear, should make it feel it more like home.

Originally posted by: angstsoldat
And think in advance when you go to the McDonalds...

Not gonna happen.

Originally posted by: angstsoldat
hope that helped you some.. I plan on visiting germany next summer, so if you still havent experienced the place by then I'll let you know my self how it was

That would be great. Thanks.

 

[Wapp]

We contractors get the short end of the stick. Go for a GS position. The GS guys that I work with do nothing but BS all day. Last week they were using work computers to setup a trip to Canada and today they are looking up information on building a home-bar.

Also, I grew up in germany so if you want any info let me.

 

[Lifted]

Originally posted by: Wapp
We contractors get the short end of the stick. Go for a GS position. The GS guys that I work with do nothing but BS all day. Last week they were using work computers to setup a trip to Canada and today they are looking up information on building a home-bar.

Also, I grew up in germany so if you want any info let me.

What is GS?

I'm not looking at a contractor position at the moment, only army civilian and navy civilian jobs.

 

[jondercik]

What do you mean civilian? Do you want to be an employee of the government directly, or work for someone else? Its easier to get a contractor position.

 

[Lifted]

Originally posted by: jondercik
What do you mean civilian? Do you want to be an employee of the government directly, or work for someone else? Its easier to get a contractor position.

Whatever you would consider this.

http://acpol.army.mil/employment/

I assume it is as a federal employee.

Edit:

http://acpol.army.mil/employment/about_history.htm

"Throughout our nation?s history, civilians have played a vital role in supporting Soldiers.

Army civilians have skills that are not readily available in the military, but crucial to support military operations.

The Army integrates the talents and skills of its military and civilian members to form a Total Army."

 

[Wapp]

Looks like a GS position. GS is a government employee.

 

[Wapp]

Also, why are you limiting yourself to army or navy?

 

[Lifted]

Originally posted by: Wapp
Also, why are you limiting yourself to army or navy?

Topic Title: Life as a civilian Army / Navy / Air Force employee?

 

[Wapp]

Originally posted by: Lifted

What is GS?

I'm not looking at a contractor position at the moment, only army civilian and navy civilian jobs.

 

[Lifted]

Originally posted by: Wapp

Originally posted by: Lifted

What is GS?

I'm not looking at a contractor position at the moment, only army civilian and navy civilian jobs.

 

[AAman]

thanks for the info, I'm already a gov't employee and I've applied for a few of these jobs, anyone know how long it takes?