I would definately do it if I didn't have a family. It's allot easier to say but the "money" is good and it's only for a year. I can tell myself that 30 to 60 time a day  but at the end your family come to mind. In my oppinion, you do what's best for not only yourself but for your family. I'm pretty sure your wife is willing to get a job to help with the bills. Where there's a will there is a WAY!

Good Luck!

Thanks for the writeup Karen!  

It certainly is interesting to read the different responses people have made.  It seems like they're either VERY MUCH into it or VERY MUCH against it.  There are only a few people that fall on the grey area of indifference for it.  

The kicker, from what I've seen so far, is family.  Those that have the families are the ones that are sticking at home whereas the single folks are jumping at the chance for the big payoff and you hit it on the head with WriterDads comment -

I can say that the money is great, because I have done it.  The money that I made wasn't close to the amount listed above, however it did help my family get the dream home that we have always wanted.  For those of you who say that you wouldn't do it because family..."I agree with you all 100%"  This separation put a humongous strain on the relationship that my family and I had.  It was terrible, very very terrible.  I had never made that kind of money before, and I was addicted.  I talked my wife into letting me stay another year.  I thought that I was doing us a favor, unknowingly tearing us further apart.  We have since rekindled and are in a much better state, but that was one roller coaster ride that I never want to ride again.  Although our quality of life is significantly better than it once was, I really don't think that pain that all of us felt was worth the drama...

There is a HUGE amount of info missing from this story...far too much to make an informed yes or no judgement.  A 'year commitment"?  Is that a continous year or rotational?  Will the job allow the over seas tax credit on the wages?  He was contacted by the DOD...folks that generally doesnt happen.Unless you work in a VERY specialized area.If that truely is the case, he better do some negotiating because the pay is GROSSLY low.   It is an IT position. Working where. . .doing what....  telecom instalation of a govt office???  What about after the year is up?  What about transfers, promotions, more work with the same company?  The initial story is a comment about someone elses situation, it is not even a first person account. As someone who works 'overseas' (and yes in the mid east at times) the 'stories' that come from the area are often insulting in the extent of lack of information or stories like the ......I have a friend who knows someone that met a guy who.....type.  Kmon people.  300k per year is just over $800 per day.  That is day rate wages for truck drivers in Iraq.  Whatever he would be doing is obviously 'low key'.  Almost ANY overseas position (especially any IT, comp, or electrinic specalist) pays $750+ per day.  In 2004 (the last time I was in Iraq) I was paid $1,500 per day and for a 3 month stay we got 4 months pay.( stay 84 days get 112 days pay)  I by no mean fall into the job description the story submitter claims. And I turned down a slightly different $1,500 per day job, in Iraq, in Feb of this year. Dangerous?  How about commuting to work in his home town....driving at peak times?  How are the traffic deaths in his home city? You don't think he is 'at risk' then....and for $60,000 per year.  This person may have the oppertunity to make close to 300k in a year...possibly almost tax free....pluss unmentioned other benifits. But people focus on the buzz word...IRAQ.  What if he had to do the job offshore in the gulf?Huricane is comming.What if it was in his home town but required him to commute to the far side of the city each day driving a company car?  What if the job was in Washington DC ( a very high crime city) and he could come home on the weekend.   If this person is 'good enough' to be contacted by the DOD for work...there are ALOT of other places in the world he could work for MORE than 300k per year. The down side...even in rotational positions... if you are not used to being away from home..the strain on a relationship can be tremendous.  Both for him and her.  It can destroy a marraige you thought resiliant enought to weather anything.  Any position like this must be looked at in the long term.  It is something that you and your spouse must look at rationaly and set emotion aside.  If you take a job like this for a quick dollar....you will regret it.  Those are dreams of young single men and I have NEVER seen them work out.  What comes next?  Will it benifit you 5 years from now?  What if they 'offer' you an extension? A promotion?  To move your family?  Trust me.  If at the end of the year when you come home with a pocket full of money, no job, and a wife and kid that only knows you from emails....it is not worth it.  Those issues MUST be dealt with BEFORE accepting.  I'm lucky to be one of the 'family' guys.  Yes...you miss alot. But the benefits of being home for extended periods of time, and a comfortable income are wonderfull too.It takes work at work AND work at home to make jobs like this pay off.  But please...do a little bit of job searching.  If you're good enough that the DOD would contact you about a position. . . 300K is fine...for a nice 5 day per week IT job.... on Cyprus.

For a married person, this type of job would take a rock solid commitment from both partners.  The marriage has to be strong and secure enough to keep things in perspective and cope with the impact on life.  

I have seen the effects of military deployments on marriage and it seems like many couples are just not able to handle the strain.  They are usually good people but its is a hard way to live.  Maybe these contractor jobs are different.

Your family can be happy with less money. Can they happy without you?

I wouldn't do it, single or married! We would have to make due on beans and rice for now, bring in a border do whatever it is we have to do to make it. But go into another country and put myself at high risk for money, although a lot of it NO! I've always been told all money is not good money and this is a prime example of that to me.

When I was growing up I had several friends who had dads that "worked" in Saudi Arabia for tax free funds amounting to approx (back in the late 70's) $100,000/year while the wives stayed at home and kept the home fires burning.

They planned to quit after they had amassed a million dollars.

Personally, I'm glad my dad was home.  I think that my friends were too, as they spent a lot of time at my house specifically to hang with my old man.  (he taught most of us to drive).

If I was a young single man without the responsibilities of a wife and family, I would consider it seriously.  But that is not the most stable part of the world.  Great money and the possibility of being killed each day.  I'm now too happy, married, and old to give this notion any serious thought.

I did it for less to  another undesirable country.  One year is shorter than you might think.  Negotiate at least 2 trips back company paid and budget for at least one more out of pocket.    You will need to watch how long you're in the US over the course of the year because you can lose your tax free status over a certain number of weeks.  Look this up. One way around can be to meet your family in another less risky country.  Since you're still out of the US it does not count against your time. Verify anything I write here about tax info as I am not an accountant.  This was my experience only.

Your wages up to 87k are tax free. (please verify this)   sit down and put together a budget ensuring your savings goals are met.  find an accountant with expat tax return experience.  

Look over your agreement with the company carefully..what is the penalty if you decide to leave at 6 months?  Is there one?  If you do it, you must know how much you would normally pay in taxes each paycheck and put this aside, not to be touched.  If you leave before the year or are in the US too long you are responsible to pay that back and that could put you in a bigger hole than you're in now.  

As one who also has a family it was a sacrfice made for the greater good of our family and our future.   I was able to make contributions to my children's college funds, my own retirement , savings and pay down our debt to zero while adding valuable experience to my resume that has added to my earning power moving forward. I did in one year what would have taken 5 or more.    I'm a woman.  Trust me, it was a challenge to be in the country I was in, but I focused on the goals I set and made it through.    

We have people in service to our country facing greater risks and considerably less gains who do this and more.  God bless them.

Your marriage will be sorely tested.  It is a lonely, lonely existance.  You, as a person will be sorely tested and NO ONE other than those in that country with you and in the same boat will have any understanding of your experience.  If your marriage is in any way in trouble now, I can tell you it will probably not survive. Even many of the  marriages that go together on expat assignments do not survive.  Do your research.  There are plenty of expat forums on the web that can give you plenty of insight on how this impacts a relationship.  It's usually not good.

The financial rewards and benefits to your career can be tremendous.  I understand where you're coming from.  The money is real and you know what it can do for you.  Just understand it will NOT be the easiest money you will make.  Why do you think they pay so much for these assignments? You need to be incredibly focused and even then there will be plenty of despair and days when you just know you can't take another minute...

Excessive drinking and substance abuse is not uncommon among expats.  If you have issues in these areas, it will not get better while you're away.  Chances are these issues will escalate.  There is a whole lot to consider and a whole lot I did not know when I took the assignment.  Do your research and understand you will not only feel the pain of missing your family there' are other stressors involved.   Again, it won't be the easiest money you ever make..

This was not a popular move outside of my husband and I.  Family and friends were dead set against it.  It was not their decision to make as my bills are not theirs to pay.  

Would I do it again knowing what I know now?

In a heartbeat.  

I know what it did for us financially when everyone I know is struggling.  

Hah. I am definitely taking a job in Iraq/Afghanistan. Will I know the start date in advance? Err... A few months. High paying? Maybe for a recent college grad, but $290,000?! Wow, don't I wish. I could pay my husband's entire tuition in one fell swoop and put away enough for a house! Hmm, how about $40,000 or so with entitlements/bonuses? I'm a lieutenant (former enlisted). My soldiers and country are totally worth it.