El Pasoans line up for Halliburton jobs in Iraq

Adriana M. Chávez

Eastsider Willie Ocegueda was recently fired from his job at Wal-Mart, and, frustrated with the lack of job options in the area, decided to apply for a job involving something he has always wanted to do -- support America's troops.

"It's tough to get a good-paying job" in El Paso, said Ocegueda, 44, who has three sons. "I got more inspired after our guys got killed in Fallujah."

He decided recently to apply for a job with Houston-based Halliburton subsidiary Kellogg Brown & Root, or KBR. Company representatives were in El Paso on Friday and Saturday hiring people for construction and operations jobs in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan. Three hundred to 400 job seekers attended the job fair at the Airport Marriott, company officials said.

The company has been in the media spotlight recently because of the capturing of Thomas Hamill near Baghdad, Iraq, after a 24-vehicle convoy was attacked April 9. Five civilian contractors and a soldier died, and three others are missing. Hamill escaped from his captors earlier this month.

Chris Ward, senior recruiter for KBR, said the company tries to explain the risks involved in working in a war zone.

"We tell them if they're on the fence, don't go," Ward said. "They're either 100 percent in, or they should wait."

Ocegueda said he's 100 percent willing to go but is a bit worried about the risks of working in a war zone. After graduating from high school, he tried to enlist in the military, but couldn't because of his asthma.

"It worries me, but when it's time for you to go, that's it," Ocegueda said.

Ward said new hires will have to work 12 hours a day, seven days a week, at wages comparable to working two full-time jobs in El Paso. Some of the applicants already had experience working as civilian contractors.

Richard Perales, 44, of Northeast El Paso, said he works with the government supporting construction at the north and south poles, and attended the job fair out of curiosity.

"They did a good job explaining realistically the risks involved," Perales said. "I've heard recruiters sugar-coat things, but (KBR) made it a point to let you know."

Perales said he was surprised at the number of the fair's attendees who had families with them, but he added it was reflective of El Paso's employment situation.

"It's sad that people are even considering going to such a hostile environment, but people got to do what they've got to do," Perales said. "Our city isn't exactly a rich city. It's at the bottom end."

From: http://www.borderlandnews.com/stories/borderland/20040516-118879.shtml