Deadliest civilian job in the world
Now many of us think that we sometimes have a hard time at work…perhaps the coffee machine has run out of coffee, perhaps we can’t get the days off that we wanted or perhaps we got a bit of a paper cut yesterday that still smarts a little. Well during those times when we are a little down, perhaps we should spare a thought for the civilian interpreters that work with the US Army all over Iraq…they work in what has been recognised as one of the deadliest civilian jobs in the world.
They are mostly enticed into the job by (by Iraqi standards) very high rates of pay…usually around $1,400 or £700 per month but they are under constant threat both on and off duty. Whilst on a tour of duty, each of which lasts one month, they are in constant danger of attack and when enjoying one of their 4 days per month inter tour leave with their families, they are under constant threat of murder should their profession be discovered by locals…most of them hide their occupations even from their families.
This is not surprising as even one moment of forgetfulness could prove fatal; civilian interpreters, alongside anyone assisting the western military forces or the civilian regime are often targeted…to date over 200 interpreters have been killed both on and off duty.
The light at the end of the tunnel for these interpreters is that after at least 12 months of duty they might be liable to apply for a special US ‘Green Card’ scheme but these are limited.
The next time I’m tempted to complain about coffee or holidays I don’t think that I’ll feel so hard done by!