1. International living is exciting and exotic: It can be, but it can also be boring, especially if you're working in a conflict zone. After eating a few local dishes and attending a few cultural events, the novelty of a new culture can wear off. Many expatriates complain about the lack of recreation, movies, television, radio, and, especially, long-time friends and family. Part of being prepared for overseas work is being creative with your leisure time and learning to appreciate the subtleties of your host country’s culture, not just its overt cultural manifestations of song, dance, and food.

2. I need international work experience to find an overseas job: Not necessarily, but it certainly helps. With or without experience, however, what you need is experience in the jobs you are qualifying for. Luck is, of course, a factor. Persistence is vital!

3. Living and working abroad is dangerous and involves substantial health risks: While it’s true that terrorism and anti-American or anti-Western sentiments have increased in some parts of the world, actual occurrences of violence against foreigners remain localized and relatively uncommon. Learning to take precautions while traveling and refusing to be socially paralyzed by the threat of theft or accident is often required for successful adaptation in developing countries. As for illness, using common sense hygiene overcomes most health risks.

4. The work I find frustrating at home will be more interesting abroad: Whatever the view from the office window, work is work. The frustrations of an international working environment are usually even greater than those you find at home. Some contractors work up to 84 hours per week.

5. All I need to do is to show employers that I am willing to sacrifice myself to help the poor of the world: Sorry, international work is no longer a place for do-gooders, as it may have been in the 1960s. If you want to contribute to improving the world, develop a skill and build your experience.

6. I need connections to break into the international job market: Not necessarily. What you need is to network and have a solid job search plan. Then, you must stick to it tenaciously and simply.

7. It is easier to find an overseas job when you are already overseas: No, don't think just because you are already deployed, it will be easier to get to your next contract. Most contracts only last 1 - 2 years, and there is always someone waiting to fill your job. Stay up to date on what's going on in the contracting industry and keep yourself ahead of the game.

 💼 Your overseas job search starts here

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Despite its isolation, Kwajalein remains an important hub for civilian contractors supporting U.S. national security operations.

💼 Check job board for available positions

U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA)

The installation is operated by the U.S. Army Garrison – Kwajalein Atoll, which provides infrastructure and logistical support to the Reagan Test Site and other mission partners.

Recent organizational changes merged range operations and installation support into a unified command known as U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA) to streamline operations and improve mission readiness.

The base supports a multinational workforce consisting of:

• U.S. military personnel
• Civilian government employees
• Defense contractors
• Local Marshallese workers

Together, they maintain one of the most remote but technologically sophisticated military installations in the Pacific.

Civilian Contractors on Kwajalein

Because of its location and mission complexity, Kwajalein relies heavily on civilian contractors.

Contractors support a wide range of operations, including:

• Radar and missile tracking systems
• Engineering and technical services
• Range instrumentation and telemetry
• Communications networks
• Aviation support
• Marine operations
• Construction and infrastructure maintenance
• Housing, dining, and logistics services

Major contracts supporting the range have historically involved companies responsible for engineering, range operations, and base operations support for the missile testing facility.

Future contract opportunities continue to emerge, with long-term range support requirements potentially extending into the late 2020s and beyond.

Life on a Remote Pacific Installation

Kwajalein is classified by the U.S. government as a remote and isolated military installation, reflecting the logistical challenges of operating in such a distant location.

Life on the atoll is unlike most overseas bases:

• Limited travel off the island
• Tight-knit contractor and military community
• Tropical climate and ocean surroundings
• Heavy reliance on imported supplies

Most workers rotate in on multi-year contracts, while some positions operate on shorter deployment cycles.

Growing Importance in the Indo-Pacific

As the United States focuses more heavily on the Indo-Pacific region, Kwajalein’s strategic value continues to increase.

The atoll is now involved in:

• Ballistic missile defense testing
• Hypersonic weapon development
• Space tracking and surveillance
• Radar and sensor experimentation
• Joint U.S. and allied defense testing

These missions make Kwajalein one of the most important remote testing ranges supporting U.S. missile defense and space operations today.

Opportunities for Overseas Contractors

For civilian contractors seeking overseas work, Kwajalein remains one of the more unique assignments available.

Jobs regularly appear in fields such as:

• Engineering
• Electronics and radar systems
• Communications and IT
• Aviation maintenance
• Logistics and transportation
• Construction and heavy equipment
• Security and force protection
• Food service and facility management

Because of the island’s location and mission, many positions offer competitive compensation packages along with housing and logistical support.

💼 Your overseas job search starts here