Actually, it is a pretty sweet deal if you ask me. lol Now I am sure some of you are saying, why is FJ promoting government work? It is true that I tend to lean towards private industry initiatives and reducing the size of government, but I am also into pointing out what works or what is a good deal in government for folks looking for work. In other words, I support personal choice, and if government work is your thing, then here are some ideas.
Below I have posted two articles that deal with government work in the war zones. The first describes the kind of conditions and salary you can expect, and the second is a job description for Security Protective Specialist or SPS with the DoS.
To me, the SPS position is probably the most relevant position to our industry, because these are the guys that command over the motorcade operations. In other words, if you are a WPS certified contractor working for DoS providing diplomatic security, your company boss would be working hand in hand with an SPS for mission planning. The SPS is the guy that insures the State Department gets the type of security service it requires for whatever missions. So this is a very important position.
I guess the other thing to point out is do not get sidetracked by the initial salary. That is the base salary, and the important figure to look at for salary is the uplifts, or overtime and danger pay. There are other uplifts in pay and benefits, but as you can see with both articles and this section from the DoS site, the potential salary for overseas work is not that bad for government work:
SPS Initial salary will generally be at the FP-04, Step 1($57,678) which includes 8.82% overseas comparability payment.
• Post Differential – based upon post of assignment. Afghanistan – 35% of base pay; Iraq – 35% of base pay; Peshawar, Pakistan – 30% of base pay.($77,865)
• Overtime – OT may be expected and is paid at the rate of 1.5 times the hourly rate. May request compensatory time off in lieu of overtime pay.
• Separate Maintenance Allowance (SMA) – while assigned to unaccompanied posts, SPS employees are eligible for SMA. The SMA is an annual grant determined by the number of dependents and ranges from $6,000 for one child to $20,200 for an adult dependent with 4 or more family members. The SMA is non-taxable.
• R&R – Kabul, Peshawar and Baghdad are under a generous leave/R&R allowance program (usually taken at 50-90 day intervals). Kabul and Baghdad allow 2 R&Rs and 3 Regional Rest Breaks (RRBs) or 3 R&Rs and no RRBs. Peshawar allows 2 R&Rs and 1 RRB. R&Rs provide round-trip transportation to any point in the United States. Time usually allowed is approximately two weeks. In addition to the Annual Leave allowance, posts often permit administrative leave to be used while on R&R.
• Annual Leave – federal employees earn Annual Leave (AL) based upon the following formula:
(a) If less than 3 years federal service – 4 hours a pay period (26 pay periods in a calendar year) (b) If between 3 and 15 years federal service – 6 hours a pay period (c) If more than 15 years federal service – 8 hours a pay period.
• Former Military Service – time spent in the US military is credited towards the annual leave allowance unless the employee is retired from the military. If retired and receiving retired pay, then form SF-813 (Verification of a Military Retiree’s Service) must be submitted before a determination can be made as to the amount of creditable service for leave accrual purposes.
• Sick Leave – all employees receive the same allowance – 4 hours per pay period.
• Life Insurance – employees automatically receive basic life insurance unless they waive it. They may also select from a variety of options to include up to a maximum of 5 times base annual salary.
• Health Insurance – employees may choose from a variety of options. Employees have 60 days to elect coverage. Coverage begins the pay period after the application forms are received in the DS HR Office.
• Retirement Plan – all SPS employees are enrolled in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) and contribute to Social Security.
• Thrift Savings Plan – employees may contribute up to the IRS limit ($16,500). USG matches up to 5% of employee’s contribution.
• Tax-free Housing – while SPS may be assigned to any foreign service post abroad, current requirements exist in Kabul, Afghanistan; Peshawar, Pakistan and Baghdad, Iraq. At all posts overseas, housing is provided at no cost to the employee.
• Application for Special Agent (SA) Position: There is no direct transition from the SPS to the SA position.
And just to re-emphasize some of the good deals here, the overtime is one area that you can do really well with. In a war zone, it is not unheard of to work odd and very long hours. With the SPS position, you can make a lot of overtime. Note that if you were to combine all of the benefits up top, to include retirement and medical benefits, then that ‘total benefit package’ starts to look pretty comparable to private industry.
If you would like to apply for an SPS position, you will have to go to USA Jobs or/and sign up with DoS’s email alerts.(currently the SPS positions are closed) I would also suggest getting in shape and working on your shooting game, because there is a pretty extensive train up and vetting process for this position. You should also make sure your background is good to go, so you can actually get the clearance required for this position. As with most government work, there are a ton of hoops to jump through to finally get on the job. But good things come to those who are patient and prepared. –Matt
What’s it like working in Iraq?
By Ed O’Keefe
07/18/2011
Ed O’Keefe is on temporary assignment as The Washington Post’s correspondent in Iraq. In addition to traditional war zone reporting, he is keeping tabs on what it’s like for U.S. troops and government officials living and working in Iraq.
BAGHDAD – Interested in working for the U.S. government in Iraq? Though the dangers are obvious, the pay and perks can be pretty good.
Federal employees and contractors serving here face an almost-daily barrage of rocket attacks, the inability to travel freely, scorching hot temperatures and other cultural and linguistic limitations. But workers with the State Department, U.S. Agency for International Development and other federal agencies keep on coming, especially as the U.S. presence here becomes more of a civilian affair.
Despite the violence, harsh temperatures and separation from family, serving the U.S. government in a war zone often guarantees promotions and ultimately can lead to assignments at the most coveted diplomatic outposts, according to current and former officials who’ve served time in Iraq.
So how much can a typical federal worker in Iraq anticipate earning?
Let’s use a current State Department job posting as an example: Foggy Bottom is seeking a new “monitoring and evaluation advisor” to oversee Iraq-based projects of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs – the entity responsible for conducting high-level Iraqi police training (more on this in the coming weeks).
For our purposes, let’s say the eventual job winner (we’ll call him “Frank the Foreign Service Officer”) earns an annual salary of $100,000 plus traditional federal benefits (annual leave, sick leave, federal health and life insurance plans, 10 paid federal holidays and normal vacation accrual.)
Frank’s Iraq assignment includes danger pay and “post differential pay” (the global equivalent of locality pay), each equaling 35 percent of his base salary. This means Frank will earn an additional $70,000 for working in Iraq. ($100,000 base salary x .70 = $70,000 more.)
If Frank speaks Arabic, he can also earn a prorated language credit, ranging from 5 to 15 percent of base pay depending on his level of skill. ($100,000 x .15 = $15,000 more.)
Though the compensation can add up fast, no pay package in Iraq this year will exceed $227,300 annually, according to State Department rules.
Once hired, Frank is expected to work in Iraq for one year and isn’t officially guaranteed two-day weekends. (After all, diplomacy doesn’t stop on Saturdays and Sundays.) To make up for seven-day work weeks, less experienced Foreign Service officers earn overtime pay for working nights, holidays and Sundays, while senior FSOs earn a 20 percent pay bump over the course of the year (based on the assumption that they work at least 55 hours per week).
Once he’s ready to recharge his batteries, Frank will be eligible for “rest and recuperation breaks” back in the U.S., or “regional rest breaks” in other Middle Eastern countries.
Each “R&R” lasts 22 days, including travel to and from Baghdad (which the State Department pays for.) Depending on Frank’s orders, he might be required to visit headquarters in Washington during an R&R.
“RRBs” last for seven days, including travel time. The State Department pays for round-trip air travel to Amman or Kuwait, but Frank will have to pay to get to his final Mideast destination. (The Eye heartily recommends going north to Istanbul.)
Over the course of his year-long assignment, Frank can take either three “R&Rs” or a combination of two “R&Rs” and three “RRBs.”
Though the pay and benefits for working in Iraq seem nice, remember that unlike other diplomatic assignments, Frank’s family cannot come with him. And while the embassy in London or the consulate in Osaka might be located near choice pubs and hibachi tables, most meals in Baghdad come from the embassy cafeteria, the embassy coffee shop, or Subway and Pizza Hut.
Still, working in Iraq and Afghanistan comes with long-term career benefits. Employees who apply early enough in the process can sign up for “linked assignments” that require one year of service in a war zone followed by a guaranteed posting in the city of their choice.
So if Frank is willing to do time in Baghdad, his dream assignment in Rome could conceivably become a reality.
The scenario above is just one example of what Americans working in a war zone might expect. By no means will all of the 17,000 State Department and USAID workers, contractors and private security guards assigned to Iraq in the coming months be paid the same way.
And, of course, no payment or perk could match the sacrifice made by workers who choose to serve in harm’s way and never make it home.
Story here.
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Security Protective Specialist
Security Protective Specialists of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) supplement DS Special Agents in the supervision of contractor personnel at certain U.S. Embassies, Consulates and regional offices abroad. SPS’s are deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Israel, and possibly other Foreign Service posts.
SPSs work with DS Special Agents to ensure that a DS SPS or Special Agent is always present and involved with every protective motorcade element. The SPS or SA may act as the Detail Leader and may supervise other DS or contractor personnel.
As members of a diplomatic team, Security Protective Specialists not only help to accomplish the mission of the Department of State, but also represent the United States to the people of other nations.
SPS positions are non-career appointments and are renewable annually up to a maximum of five years. Extensions beyond five years are not permitted.
Federal retirement benefits accrue during time spent as a DS Security Protective Specialist.
Qualifications:
• U.S. Citizenship.
• Willing and able to travel extensively throughout the world.
• FOR THE FP-4 (Non-Supervisory) LEVEL – At least three years of general experience in domestic or overseas security operations within the last five years. At least one of the three years must have specialized in conducting protective security operations overseas. Experience in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan or Israel is particularly desirable.
• At least 21 years of age and must not have reached 37th birthday at the time of appointment OR be a preference eligible veteran.
• Successfully complete all written and oral selection examinations.
• Successfully undergo a background investigation, qualify for a Top Secret/SCI security clearance, and pass a suitability review.
• Pass a stringent medical examination.
• Pass physical fitness tests (a timed 1-1/2 mile run and gender and age-specific repetitions of push-ups and sit-ups) and be fit for strenuous physical exertion.
• Possess a valid U.S. driver’s license.
• Be willing to carry and, if necessary, use firearms. Qualify with firearms throughout the period of appointment.
• Successfully complete required training, including all aspects of the 13-week initial training program.
• Must not have been convicted of any felony charge, a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, or any other violation that prohibits possession of firearms.
• Be willing and able to meet these physical demands in high-stress, life and death situations.
• Must be able to perform protective security assignments with physical demands that may include, but are not limited to, intermittent and prolonged periods of running, walking, standing, sitting, squatting, kneeling, climbing stairs, quickly entering and exiting various vehicles, enduring inclement weather which may include excessive heat.
• Must perform other functions that may require jumping, dodging, lying prone, as well as wrestling, restraining and subduing attackers, or detainees.
• Must be able to conduct security inspections that may require crawling under vehicles and other low clearances or in tight spaces such as attics and crawl spaces.
• Must be able to assist with installing or maintaining security countermeasures, which might involve lifting heavy objects and working on ladders or rooftops.
• Must be skilled at driving and maneuvering a motor vehicle defensively or evasively in a variety of situations at various speeds.
• Foreign language ability is desirable but not mandatory.
• Incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
Training
All Security Protective Specialists must complete approximately 13 weeks of initial training/orientation at the Diplomatic Security Training Center (DSTC), the Foreign Service Institute and/or some other facility in the Washington, DC area.
The training program develops and tests proficiency in job-related subjects that include use of firearms, physical fitness, personal defensive tactics, driving skills, emergency medical procedures, and protective security techniques. Proficiency is measured through a series of scored practical exercises as well as written subject matter-specific and comprehensive written examinations.
Failure to successfully complete any aspect of the training program is grounds for separation.
Salary And Benefits:
Initial salary will generally be at the FP-04, Step 1($57,678) which includes 8.82% overseas comparability payment. Salary is not negotiable.
The following are some of the more significant benefits to employment in the Foreign Service:
• Danger Pay – based upon post of assignment. Afghanistan – 35% of base pay; Iraq – 35% of base pay; Peshawar, Pakistan – 35% of base pay.
• Post Differential – based upon post of assignment. Afghanistan – 35% of base pay; Iraq – 35% of base pay; Peshawar, Pakistan – 30% of base pay.
• Overtime – OT may be expected and is paid at the rate of 1.5 times the hourly rate. May request compensatory time off in lieu of overtime pay.
• Separate Maintenance Allowance (SMA) – while assigned to unaccompanied posts, SPS employees are eligible for SMA. The SMA is an annual grant determined by the number of dependents and ranges from $6,000 for one child to $20,200 for an adult dependent with 4 or more family members. The SMA is non-taxable.
• R&R – Kabul, Peshawar and Baghdad are under a generous leave/R&R allowance program (usually taken at 50-90 day intervals). Kabul and Baghdad allow 2 R&Rs and 3 Regional Rest Breaks (RRBs) or 3 R&Rs and no RRBs. Peshawar allows 2 R&Rs and 1 RRB. R&Rs provide round-trip transportation to any point in the United States. Time usually allowed is approximately two weeks. In addition to the Annual Leave allowance, posts often permit administrative leave to be used while on R&R.
• Annual Leave – federal employees earn Annual Leave (AL) based upon the following formula:
(a) If less than 3 years federal service – 4 hours a pay period (26 pay periods in a calendar year);?(b) If between 3 and 15 years federal service – 6 hours a pay period;?(c) If more than 15 years federal service – 8 hours a pay period.
• Former Military Service – time spent in the US military is credited towards the annual leave allowance unless the employee is retired from the military. If retired and receiving retired pay, then form SF-813 (Verification of a Military Retiree’s Service) must be submitted before a determination can be made as to the amount of creditable service for leave accrual purposes.
• Sick Leave – all employees receive the same allowance – 4 hours per pay period.
• Life Insurance – employees automatically receive basic life insurance unless they waive it. They may also select from a variety of options to include up to a maximum of 5 times base annual salary.
• Health Insurance – employees may choose from a variety of options. Employees have 60 days to elect coverage. Coverage begins the pay period after the application forms are received in the DS HR Office.
• Retirement Plan – all SPS employees are enrolled in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) and contribute to Social Security.
• Thrift Savings Plan – employees may contribute up to the IRS limit ($16,500). USG matches up to 5% of employee’s contribution.
• Tax-free Housing – while SPS may be assigned to any foreign service post abroad, current requirements exist in Kabul, Afghanistan; Peshawar, Pakistan and Baghdad, Iraq. At all posts overseas, housing is provided at no cost to the employee.
• Application for Special Agent (SA) Position: There is no direct transition from the SPS to the SA position.
Link to SPS here.