Nato Airbase Kandahar

[EdmWagon]

Hey just wondering if any one out there had any info on the job as a firefighter on the Airbase in Kandahar. I'm interested in applying with a company looking for firefighters. Just wondering about contarcts, pay, training and conditions\life on the base... Anyone with any info would be appreciated

[firewalker2]

What is the company name ?

[JRandall]

I believe its either PROTEC or ATCO Frontec

[Scratch]

I believe its either PROTEC or ATCO Frontec


Its Atco Frontec

[pocfire]

I was there for 6 months. Hot and dusty. Reached +60F in the shade over the summer. Would be great experience. The company, ATCO...well that's something else. They won't offer you a good contract and the training and maintenance is scarey. They have people in charge, head office, that don't have a clue or any knowledge of firefighting at all. They will want you to have all the proper certs for structure and ARFF firefighting but won't want to pay you for it. You most likely be offer a 6 month contract at $60k (a year). You will work 24 on 24 off. Holidays at the end of your contract. The majority of the staff are NOT properly trained or qualified. But look into it...like I said it is a once in a life time experience.
Good luck.

[Rooks]

Im at KAF right now and everything pocfire said is true, Im on a 3 month on 1 month off, 24hours on 24 hours off, 2 year contract, its the lowest pay for contract but the best roation. They'll send you home 4 times a year if your not a TCN. If your from the states you have can only be in your country for 30 days a calendar year If you want no taxes deducted I believe. If your Canadian there are no restrictions other then you have to hold a minimum 6 month contract you still pay provincial tax and once you get your OETC your Federal taxes get reduced 80%. It is hot, 50 degrees is normal but theres lots of AC to cool you off if your not forced to be outside.

[YoungFire]

Are they looking to hire anytime soon? It looks like it would be great experience.

[Rooks]

there only hiring TCN's for positions below crew chief.

[pocfire]

Hey Rooks are you still in KAF? What are TCN's? How is it in the hall there now?

[Rooks]

Yeh I'm here TCN's are Third Country Nationals. Life here is fine, dusty and really hot in the summer, with rocket attacks all the time. If you like saving money ( for the main reason there is literally nothing to spend it on ) its good. Stack a harddrive full of movies and shows to keep you busy will make the time go by fast. We need a crew chief do you have everything up to fire officer 1?

[pocfire]

I do have Fire Officer I. Anyone in particular to talk to there?

[Rooks]

go to dodfire.com and apply to the crew commander position for afghanistan. It will have a million certs and experience you need but really officer 1 and arff are the main ones. You have to get screened by some random recruiting company first, theres not much anyone can do here to help you untill you get screened.

[pocfire]

Thanks for the tip rooks. I did send off an email but never heard back. Hope all is going good there. Be safe.

[Rooks]

On Atco's website there recruiting firefighters, try applying directly soon.

[TheBatman]

Hey Guys! This seems like a pretty neat opportunity! I was wondering what kind of experience they look for other then the typical certs (Firefighter level 1 and 2 and ARFF)???

What kind of calls do you get at the base? How many do you average?


Hope all is going well for you over there!

[pocfire]

Hey Batman,

Check out atcofrontec website for details on what they are looking for. Yes the certs they need. Any type of experience will help you out. The call are the same as anywhere else...alarm calls, medical calls, although they do have an ambulance service there also, the odd structure fire vehicle fire. Not to mention what they do on the air field and the when rocket attacks happen. Lots of the same that any other department would face plus the unusual with being where they are. As for number of calls....its just like anywhere else, some days are busier then others. 24 on 24 off. Plus training. It is a very cool and once in a life time experience. Apply and see what happens. Good luck. You never know until you try.

[Rooks]

We don't respond to medical calls. Taliban always surprise u.. You really never know what is going to happen.. which is why its always interesting...Flightline get there fare share of calls to...good variety of stuff... theres busy times / slow times. all in the nature of the buisness

[TheBatman]

Thanks for the info! I will check out the website and possibly bug you with some more questions!

[pocfire]

You don't do medical calls? Has that changed? I know FR III was being taught for that reason. Do you guys train with FR III still? Learn something new every day.

[Rooks]

Yeh we all have first responder 3, technically you have to be for ff1/2... but no we dont run medical calls... we go to mvi's and if we need to we will do first aid but there's RMSI medics contracted to run Ambulance's not us.

[pocfire]

Hey Rooks,

Have the position of crew chief been filled?

[Rooks]

Yeh I think we did, but theres so much turnover that it's not going to be long before we will need another one. We seem to be on a Ex-RAF hiring spree for some reason hiring mostly guys from the UK but it doesn't hurt keeping an eye on their website. Lots of rumors about this company getting a contract in Fort Mac by the end of the year.