Kuwait EMT job... any advice or information?

[PNWMedic]

Has anyone heard about the postings for Kuwait? I came across the listing, and they are apparently looking for EMT-B's, EMT-I's and Paramedics, with a salary of 64K for EMT-B's. It also goes on to say they will pay for an apartment, travel etc. and that it will be on one of six military bases, operating an ambulance. Does anyone know anything about this? Any advice?

The reason I am asking, is I may be interested in applying, as it would be a great stepping stone, and experience that could lead towards my goal of becoming a remote paramedic... but... Well any advice from any of you International Paramedics or EMT's? If anyone knows about this job, how dangerous is it, it doesn't say anything about combat or warzone activity, but then again the whole area is pretty much a war zone...? Any advice is great advice! Thanks

 

[Scout]

I Kuwait a war zone?

The old geography is a little rough.

 

[akflightmedic]

No Kuwait is not a war zone, your style of living will be comfortable and threat minimal.

I am intimately familiar with this company and the job and I encourage you to ask a LOT of questions.

This job is not a step into remote paramedicine as there is nothing remote about it.

How long do you want your job to last? One question I would ask is when does the contract end? (Hint, you may be looking for work come September mate)

 

[emt1994]

Have you checked out a government website maybe there are lists there for people who want to go over without having to join the military. Best to all who want to do it

 

[PNWMedic]

Thanks for the replies, what i meant by a stepping stone, is it would give me a more unique experience then your atypical US urban EMS, and would be my first EMS work outside of the country, If I choose to work for them. I'm always looking for something new and chalanging.

 

[emt1994]

Well goodluck in whatever you do.

 

[Flight-LP]

No Kuwait is not a war zone, your style of living will be comfortable and threat minimal.

I am intimately familiar with this company and the job and I encourage you to ask a LOT of questions.

This job is not a step into remote paramedicine as there is nothing remote about it.

How long do you want your job to last? One question I would ask is when does the contract end? (Hint, you may be looking for work come September mate)

MAY be looking for work???????? Is the sky blue?????? lol

OP, I echo the previous statement that this is not a remote assignment and also being familiar with the company, I'd bet you will be even more restricted than you currently would be in the U.S.

The assignment, while paying very well and offering a nice international assignment will not offer you much in the way of new experiences. Its US based EMS, for US and allied contractors, under a U.S. medical director with U.S. protocols. If you are single looking to try something internationally, then go for it as EMT-B positions are few and far between. Just don't expect the job of a lifetime.............

 

[Luno]

Why not? Most overseas postings for EMT-Bs if I recall correctly are sick call types. Not exactly remote duty medicine, but you never know when you'll get that contact that will help with your next contract. That all being said, some of the most valuable education I received was on an EMS rig, and without that base I would never have been able to work in the remote/austere environments that I have been able to. There are no real shortcuts to success, if you want to succeed in this field, spend a couple of years on an EMS rig, and get your patient assessments dialed in, your medications down cold, and build from there. IMHO

 

[EMT-G36C]

Link to more info on this?

 

[JCampbell]

Whats the word about their contract in sept.? Is it up and not going to be renewed or what? I have two co-workers who are going through the hiring process with that company, one just came back from FL for 4 days orientation, due to deploy in a week. I haven't paid much attention to the scuttlebutt, since I'm still in school and a long way from being qual'd. They did mention "contract negotiations" in sept, which they took as meaning possibly more $.

 

[oldladymedic]

Advice

I'm there working on that contract...wait for awhile before applying...kinks still being worked out.

 

[mycrofft]

Heed oldladymedic

Can't speak about "now", but historically contractees in similar cases have been stuck with transportation costs, any prerequisite training costs, immunization costs, any local "fees", "taxes" or other "cumshaw", and then the pay may not be good versus the local cost of living.
In the past, Americans had to live in the "American compound" and pay horrendous prices for everyday Western goods.
Even if you are guaranteed stuff like transportation, see what remedies you can pursue if the contractor does not deliver. Maybe try State Department?

 

[citizensoldierny]

I don't know how good that money is. KBR in Afghanistan from what I heard was paying their Firefighters over $100,000, though we didnt have any civilian contract medical where we were. Anyway you slice though a certain amount of that income is non-taxable. From people I know that have seen more of Kuwait then me say its pretty nice. My experience is getting off a plane there , and getting on another one after a few days. That and it can get pretty damn hot.

 

[Jeremy89]

This thread is old but I wanted to bring it back up after recently hearing of a job offer through George Washington University

Is Kuwait still as unstable as it was a few years back? I hear the pay is $25/hr for Basics, $35 for medics with benefits and overtime. You can sign anywhere from 2mo's to a year. If you don't like it, I hear they will let you off, no questions asked. Also I heard it was in a pretty good part of the city...

What are everyone's thoughts on this? Seems like an interesting summer gig to make some good money, but I'd like to know if I'll ever get the chance to spend it if IED's are exploding left and right.

 

[akflightmedic]

This thread is old but I wanted to bring it back up after recently hearing of a job offer through George Washington University

Is Kuwait still as unstable as it was a few years back? I hear the pay is $25/hr for Basics, $35 for medics with benefits and overtime. You can sign anywhere from 2mo's to a year. If you don't like it, I hear they will let you off, no questions asked. Also I heard it was in a pretty good part of the city...

What are everyone's thoughts on this? Seems like an interesting summer gig to make some good money, but I'd like to know if I'll ever get the chance to spend it if IED's are exploding left and right.

IEDS????

Do you know anything about Kuwait, have you read any of my posts? There is NOTHING going on in Kuwait other than a presence and training. It is modern city where it is safe to walk or drive anywhere with no terrorist threat or insurgent activity. The only real threat are the drivers...tons of car crashes, tons of bad drivers at high speeds. That is your only concern.

Good part of the city?? It is all "good" because it is all the same.

The pay scales are inflated....good luck!

 

[oldladymedic]

Been there

Pay for medics is about $8500 monthly. Not sure about the EMTs. GWU hasn't been doing the contract long enough to evaluate if they are any better than CHS, so can't advise you there. Kuwait is amazingly stable for the middle east. If you don't mind paying your own way home, it would be an easy summer job. You have to complete a contract to get them to pay to send you home again. They have moved folks into a better neighborhood - and no, not every neighborhood is good, where we were there before was a slum. Building was great, neighborhood wasn't. I haven't heard anything bad about the new company yet. I'd say go for it.

 

[ExpatMedic0]

Hey Oldladymedic is that $8500 a month across the board or based on years of experience pay scale? Have you been getting paid on time in the amount as agreed? I am working over here in Saudi just seeing what else is out there. Feel free to pm or reply here either way. thanks

 

[TreySpooner65]

I think it would be interesting. You wouldnt be like a field medic, or even see much combat wounds. Its mostly rehabilitating the infrastructure.

 

[oldladymedic]

It's 8500 for everyone. Everyone gets paid on time. You'll be bored, since there aren't a ton of calls, depending on the base you are assigned to, but it's easy money. Just beware that spending in Kuwait is REALLY easy, so it's harder to save money if you don't keep that in mind.

 

[Tommerag]

IEDS????

Do you know anything about Kuwait, have you read any of my posts? There is NOTHING going on in Kuwait other than a presence and training. It is modern city where it is safe to walk or drive anywhere with no terrorist threat or insurgent activity. The only real threat are the drivers...tons of car crashes, tons of bad drivers at high speeds. That is your only concern.

Good part of the city?? It is all "good" because it is all the same.

The pay scales are inflated....good luck!

After spending a year there I can agree with that for the most part. He is not kidding about drivers. THEY ARE TERRIBLE! Most days your going about 85-90 to keep with the flow of traffic, sometimes even faster.

Kuwait City isn't so bad I got to go there once.

There are a couple of towns though that Americans contractor/military are advised to stay away from.

Pollution is terrible though. If you get assigned to the SPOD/E which is where I was at, it's really bad. 2 oil refineries right next door, plus 3 more within 10 miles, a cement plant, plus chemicals getting unloaded off of ships. And no air regulations.

Other then that its not to bad of place. If you go to Camp Arifjan, its not that bad movie theater, swimming pool, starbucks, etc.