don't know if you are still looking at this opportunity, but I'll share some info anyway,
I'm currently employed by SNC Lavalin PAE as a CANCAP member in KAF...currently home on vacation after 3 months there, I'll try to be as unbiased as possible, each has his/her own experience I'm thinking while there...the hiring process is highly unusual, the HR dept. is really only 3 people, the head office itself in Ottawa is tiny and only has maybe 6 in total working there, not what you would expect with 2 huge parent Co's....anyway, you should just keep at them, they are forgetful and disorganized, perhaps because they are short staffed...once selected you partake in a week long pre-deployment training session at Connaught Range in Ottawa, then if you pass the security clearance and physical exam off you go direct to Kandahar, no going home first..the stressful thing is not really knowing if you will deploy, if you have a record or some health problems you could get disqualified and sent back home, no deployment, end of story, there is no way to do any of this legwork first..but you generally should know of any convictions or serious health problems, if you have some, don't bother, you'll waste a week and get sent home..
as for what to bring..enough of your own seasonally appropriate clothing to last no more than 4-5 days, laundry is done for you, free, and unlimited, average 2 day turnaround, work clothing provided from the waste up (shirts) and footwear is provided, anything else can be purchased very affordably from the US PX...any prescription or over the counter medication should be carried with you and sufficient supply to last until your vacation, usually about 3 months worth, the PX has limited choice and while prescription refills are available thru the CF clinic, choice is limited and they're not really there to serve civvies anyway...I would certainly bring a laptop computer, and expect it to never be the same, it is a very dusty environment, everywhere, forget about sand, it ain't sand, it's moondust, gets into everything...a quality pair of polarized sunglasses area must, the sun is hard to describe, very intense..sunscreen is supplied...there is a huge assortment of DVD's for borrowing, a $20 deposit allows you access to the library..tons of books also, I wouldn't waste any baggage space on those..
accommodations are spartan, but tolerable..you will share a tent with 7 coworkers of the same gender and have a space 8ft by 6ft with a small bed and some storage capability, you are provided with a lockable foot locker, a lamp and a fan, those plastic drawer units are popular as a "dresser" and are available at the PX cheaply...the tents are air conditioned/heated as necessary..two things about where you live...the tents are about 500 ft from the flightline, noisy 24/7, but you DO get used to that, snoring is the biggest possible dilemma there, if you do it loudly, you'll be bounced around tents, if someone else does, plug your ears or ask to move..other than that the tents are really ok...food, there are 4 DEFACS, messhalls, different styles of food, the same contractor operates all 4 and the ingredients are identical, some slightly different sauces and spices differentiate them a bit, there is plenty to choose from, from homestyle cooked meals, to burgers and fries, and each has a very good salad bar...as mentioned, the excercise facilities are outstanding and NATO just opened a new gym, the best one I have ever seen, anywhere...
the hardship premium is 25% of gross pay, only after arriving in KAF, and it is of course a different net amount based on position, we have people earning from 50K up to in excess of 100K, the military seem to think we make huge dollars, not true, I work in a trade where I can easily earn 20K more than with SNC, but I wanted to go there and the pay cut is worth it for the experience and the lack of living expenses..you are also entitled to an 80% reduction in Federal income Tax, so your net will be a bit more, makes the salary a little easier to swallow and you
can apply to have the reduction done upfront, at payroll source, or at tax time and get a big refund
I would have to say the toughest part of living/working there is putting up with the whining and bitching co-workers, it is really terrible, a poor collection of life's misfits with nothing better to do than complain..if you can steer clear of that crap it is an OK place to live simply, very simply, eat well, exercise and bank some dough..there are zero, and I mean zero living expenses...haircuts are even included..the only expense I have is 35/month for internet in my tent space, there are welfare computers and 35 minutes/week on the phone included, but I like to have internet in the tent..brutally slow and unreliable, but it's better than waiting to use a public computer...
that's a lot of writing, almost forgot the best part: you get to work with and support, what General Mackenzie called the best little army in the world, fantastic folks with great equipment doing wonderful things, I doff my hat to you, it is my continuing pleasure to assist them
edit: forgot the rockets
3-4 times/week rockets get lobbed into KAF, most are duds, but some go boom and people have been killed, 2 civvies from our parent Co PAE were killed in March by a rocket attack, I don't lose sleep over it, but some people react very badly and go home shortly after their first attack
