Veterans seek work in Bakken (Williston: how much, homes, living)

[fourwinds]

Nice article in Minneapolis paper. Conditions are similar to Irag and Afghistan with weather, loneliness and workplace surprises, veterans are better able to tolerate the Bakken and thrive.

For veterans, North Dakota oil fields have become the next deployment | Star Tribune

[von949]

About 2 years ago an old deployment buddy of mine separated from the military for work in Williston. He was only able to tolerate the environment for about a year. He told me that the money was superb but the conditions sucked big time. So he went back to Afghanistan for contract work as a civilian making about the same amount of money.

I could not believe he left a great paying job in the states for similar pay in a war zone.

We were deployed together twice(Iraq and Afghanistan). He was the type to complain daily about how much of a **** hole our deployment locations were. Always talked about how he could not wait to leave.

Oh well...I guess ND really is that bad.

[Roloff1976]

Yeah, nice try von949...always someone trying to bash ND. I seriously don't believe your story. I have a feeling your "buddy" just couldn't handle the work...not the state. Guess his choice to go back to Afghanistan pretty much tells you North Dakota was the ONLY place he could get a job. Him leaving the United States just opened up a job for someone else. I wish him luck in Afghanistan though.

[mistermix]

I could only take four months of ND myself. Got tired of Wal*Mart running out of toilet paper…LOL

Naah…I just got a better paying job closer to home and I didn't enjoy living out of an RV. I hear that things are better up there now.

[von949]

Originally Posted by Roloff1976

Yeah, nice try von949...always someone trying to bash ND. I seriously don't believe your story. I have a feeling your "buddy" just couldn't handle the work...not the state. Guess his choice to go back to Afghanistan pretty much tells you North Dakota was the ONLY place he could get a job. Him leaving the United States just opened up a job for someone else. I wish him luck in Afghanistan though.

Not bashing ND at all. I may even head that way after I separate. I am sure it was the hard physical work that played a part in my friend's decision to leave.

If I can get his permission, I will post my "buddy's" YouTube channel.



BTW, its good that you defend your state, I see so much bashing over in the Nevada forum, we could use someone like you.

[Roloff1976]

Thanks von949...meant no disrespect to your post. Yeah, I and many others get kind of tired of SOME people who come here for good paying jobs that are saving their homes and families back in their home states, but bash and trash North Dakota as often as they can. But in all honesty, some of us in North Dakota complain about the weather now and then... I'm cursing it today and will be again tomorrow! But for the most part, I think the majority new people moving here are just glad to be working. North Dakota is definitely not for everyone.