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Episode 41: My Job in Kuwait
October 11, 2007 12:00 p.m. (Kuwait Time)
Mahboula, Kuwait
By Louiery R. Sincioco
"Man is so made that he can only find relaxation from one kind of labor by
taking up another."
—Anatole France (1844 - 1924)
Introduction
Two years ago, if you predicted my future and told me I would be working in the Middle East as a contractor for ITT I would have said you were out of your mind.
Opportunity Knocking
Back in 2005 when I was the DSID Site Chief in Al Asad as a Lance Corporal (E-3), Larry Bishop who was (and still is) the ITT Site Lead in Al Asad wanted to pitch ITT as a possible place for me to work for when I get out of the Marine Corps.
"Hey Sin, how much time do you have left?" Larry asked.
"About two years," I replied.
"You want to work in Iraq when you get out?"
"Hell, no!"
In hindsight, I may have been a little naive or arrogant. I didn't realize at the time that when Larry took an interest in me about a job in ITT it was pretty much a done deal. He holds the highest position in ITT within Al Asad, so his recommendation would not have been taken lightly.
How I Got a Job in ITT
Fast forward to 2007, two of the ITT guys in Al Asad gave me and Cpl Diagle a 40-minute sales pitch on why we should work for ITT. I was reluctant. But given some pressure from the wife that I had no job lined-up and I was about to get out of the Marine Corps I was more open to the idea the second time around.
The first person I came to find was Larry Bishop who works in TechCon and was just right next door to the DSID Shop (my shop). Much to my dismay, I learned he was on vacation and I wouldn't be able see him before I had to leave Al Asad.
Not to be deterred, I asked other ITT employees who kindly guided me through the procedure. I submitted my resume on ITT's web site and waited for a week. A week came by...
Nada.
No phone call, no email, no nothing. That kind of bruised my pride a little. I'm not used to not getting any response back. I decided it just wasn't meant to be. So I figured I'd better stick to my original plan of going back to the States and looking for a job in North Carolina in the Research Triangle Park (North Carolina's little Silicon Valley).
John Stokes (ITT)
I met John back in 2005 but I really couldn't remember how he look like until I came back to Iraq in 2007.
When I was in France, in 2006 for Operation Brilliant Midas, I helped John out of a bind. They wanted to transfer MCEL (the electronic log book I had written for the Marine Corps) to a more powerful server. I corresponded with John numerous times and walked him through the process step-by-step via email. The level of service, support and professionalism I provided him really made a big impression on him. And Karma is a good thing, because in 2007 I was going to need his help—little did I know it at the time.
One day I was walking up to the TCF (TeleCommunication Facility) where I worked in Al Asad, Iraq. John saw me and he rolled down his window.
"Hey Sin, you want a ride?"
Believe it or not, I usually feel awkward accepting such offers of kindness. Even though I like to do favors for people, I hate owing people favors. But the summer heat was unbearable at times. So I hopped in his SUV.
He drove my life in a different direction.
"I didn't know you had a vehicle now?", I asked.
"Larry's on vacation. I'm the acting site lead while he's gone. So I get to drive his car."
I can't remember the other things we talked about, but John had something else in mind.
"Hey Sgt Sin, I heard you're getting out of the Marine Corps. Have you considered working for ITT?" he asked.
"As a matter of fact, I have. I posted my resume on ITT's web site."
"Did you get an offer letter yet?" he asked with much enthusiam.
I chuckled out of embarassment.
"Actually, I haven't heard anything back," I reported, sadly.
"You're kidding right?" he asked gravely.
"No," I replied while shaking my head left and right.
John couldn't believe what he had just heard. He was, after all, speaking to the Legendary Sin. John was fairly convinced that if people whose only qualifications are that they have a pulse can get a job in ITT surely there must have been some kind of mistake here.
"When I get back to my desk, I'll make some phone calls and send some emails. You'll hear back from someone soon," John assured me.
"I hope so. Otherwise, it's no big deal," I replied, nursing my pride.
"You remember Mary?"
"I think so."
"She was here in 2005."
"Yeah I remember the name, but not the face though."
"Anyway, she really liked you. And she works at HR now. I'll submit your resume directly to her. Give me a copy of your resume."
"Which one? I have two of them. One for networking and one for programming."
"Both of them."
"Will do."
Opportunity Knocking...Knocking Down the Door this Time
John made true of his promise. He CCed me on a recommendation email he wrote to some folks in ITT. Within 48 hours I had two different groups of people from ITT calling me about a job. The first job is a networking job; the second job a programming job.
I kept an open mind this time and didn't just jump at an opportunity to be a programmer again. After all, I did 4 years of networking in the Marine Corps so I've learned a thing or two about networking.
Herb Schreib (ITT)
My mind wasn't completely made up until Mr. Herb Schreib gave me a nudge.
"Don't even talk to the network guys because whatever they're offering you I'll pay you more," Herb delivered with a persuasive tone. "You'll be in the engineering side of the house and engineers always get paid more than the network guys," he added.
I knew next to nothing about Herb at that point and I certainly didn't know the weight of his position within ITT. But there was something about Herb. He is very persuasive, like a salesperson. And yet, caring and warm at the same time like a father-figure.
As it turned out, Herb is the Operations Manager of the TACSWAACA contract in the Middle East (military contract) which spans to Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, Quatar and a few other countries. He pretty much gets whatever he wants given his position in the company. TACSWAACA is the most profitable business unit in ITT.
After I agreed to work for him, he made certain that no one else in ITT called me about any more job offers. He was so happy and enthusiastic that I agreed to join his newly formed Team. He told me my web site made a good impression on him.
"Have you seen my web site yet?," I asked modestly.
"Yeah, I saw the Darth Vadar thing. That is really creative. How did you do that?" he asked
"Photoshop. It took me about an hour, actually."
"When I saw that I knew you were the guy we were looking for. Anyone with that much technical skill...as you...who can still show creativity is exactly what our team needs. Coupled with your corporate and military experience...you're perfect!"
Herb has a way of making you feel the most important person in the world.
I like that about him.
The Offer Letter
Within two days, I received an offer letter from ITT, as Herb promised.
"Once your wife gets here we'll give you a car/housing allowance," Herb told me.
"Oh yeah?" I was surpised by it.
"It's not much but it'll help."
The definition of "not much" of course is relative compared to my meager pay in the military.
Ultimately, what governed my decision to accept the job with ITT were the following:
- My Commander and Chief, my wife Mary, okayed it providing she's able to come to Kuwait too.
- Herb seemed like the kind of boss I could work for.
- The first $85,000 is tax free. Never underestimate the power of tax-free earning!
First Day in ITT Kuwait
Herb came by to my ITT brief in ITT's MEO (Middle Eastern Office), about 30 minutes from Camp Arifjan. I must say it was good to see him. We shook hands and we chatted about development projects in the works and future projects in the pipeline.
He pointed at the cars parked in the parking lot and told me which type of vehicle I would be driving as a member of the ETST team. Suffice to say, we are a privileged bunch as I'll get to drive an SUV at company expense. Your typical ITT vehicle is a car which is cheaper for ITT to rent.
The Mareena Towers (my apartment)
I was separated from the other newly arrived ITT employees. Lance, my direct supervisor, and Stacey picked me up from ITT's downtown processing center. The other ITT employees would be staying in an apartment complex nearby, but just not as nice as the one I'll be staying in.
"This is where the important people are at," Lance remarked as he pulled into the parking lot of the Mareena Towers.
I didn't realize just how privileged my arragement was with ITT until I started hearing about other ITT employee's arrangements. Herb, with the help of Lance, pulled all the strings to make it happen. The ITT person in charge of housing did not even know Herb got me the apartment I would be staying in.
The Perks
I'll get to drive a company SUV. I'll get a company cell phone. I'll get a brand-spanking new DELL super-thin laptop (already on order). I can plug-in my laptop to the several unused plasma screens on the wall at work (if I want to). I have flexible work schedule. I get to work off-base on some days. I have access to Microsoft's latest and greatest software collection through the MSDN Universal Subscription (times 3). I get to stay in the Mareena Towers, one of the nicest apartment complex ITT has with an ocean view!
Nathan Haley (ITT)
I worked with Nathan Haley in Al Asad Iraq in 2005 and in 2007. When I found out that Herb and Lance had extended him an offer I was jumping with joy inside. Nathan is a networking geek, and I'm a programming geek. As geeks we share a lot of things in common, such as our love for computers, video games and technology. Luckily, he lives just the next tower over (in a Mareena Tower as well, though not as nice as the one I'm staying in).
"You have a cake job," Nathan said.
"What does that mean?" I asked.
"You got the nicest job possible in ITT."
"I did? Really?"
"Y-e-a-h," Nathan said slowly, as if stating the obvious.
"When I accepted this job I honestly didn't know it was going to be like this."
I told Nathan some of the perks I have which he did not have himself.
"Oh man, I wish I got accepted in your team," Nathan thought out-loud.
My First Dinner in Kuwait
Before Herb left when he saw me earlier in the day, he invited me to a dinner party that our Kuwait sponsor, KRH, hosts once or twice a year. I was already exceedingly tired for barely getting any sleep in the last few days, but I agreed anyway.
It was worth it. The reception was like that of a movie set—it was inside a wooden boat lavishly decorated. There were about 300 guests from the various companies that KRH sponsors. The food was free and, more importantly, it was good! And best of all, it was buffet style!
For my first night with ITT, I thought it was impressive.
I got to meet everyone all in one setting, including their spouse and/or significant other. Everyone was very nice, polite and courteous—traits I value highly.
What a First Day on the Job
As the evening rolled around, my tiredness caught up with me. Phil, Herb's assistant, gave me a ride back to the Mareena Towers.
Before I left, Lance and Herb gave me the next day off to catch up on my sleep. Lance even told me he'll get my apartment wired up, if I want to, so we can play Halo 3 on the XBox 360 between our rooms.
"This is my kind of team. They work hard and play hard," I thought to myself.
Lance also told me all the perks in my room. Twice a week housekeeping will come and clean my room. There's free internet service (both wired and wireless). If I pay extra, I can have the housekeeper do my laundry twice a week. They fold and iron them too! If I call downstairs I can have someone fetch me anything from the nearby stores or restaurants (I just have to tip them).
Living the Dream
Sometimes the American Dream is best experienced outside of America—even if it is only for a short while. When I was in the Marine Corps, I kept telling the Marines how awesome it was to work for Corporate America. And I hope I have inspired some of them to give it a try.
The best part about my whole compensation package with ITT is I am getting paid for doing something I love: programming. I wake up each day and look forward to coming to work. To learn something new, to solve people's problems, to make a difference. If that's not living a dream, I don't know what is.
—Louiery R. Sincioco
Programmer/Database SME,
ITT ETST, Kuwait
"You've achieved success in your field when you don't know whether what you're doing is work or play."
—Warren Beatty
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NOTE: All opinions expressed on this writing are personal in nature and not necessarily those of ITT and its subsidiaries. The dialogues have been modified but it's original intent has been preserved as much as possible.
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Special thanks to Mary Sincioco for profreading and Vincent Kwan for validating that all the hyperlinks works.
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