Wendler applies a red dye solvent used to discover weld imperfections. Over the past 10 months, he has replaced punctured and warped plates, removed cracks and studied a 300-page configuration manual.

Wendler's area displays photos of off-road buggies and a stack of magazines. Buried among issues of 4 Wheel Drive and Sport Utility, 4X4 Garage, Four Wheeler, and Money Sense, a financial magazine, is an edition of Crawl magazine, which he explains is "the number one off-road publication for the hardcore enthusiast."

Wendler is completing his seventh battle-damaged Stryker. During the past 10 months, he has replaced punctured and warped plates, removed cracks and studied a 300-page configuration manual. He has also assisted an 80-vehicle reset project, which refurbished worn-out Strykers. After years of abuse, many of the APCs had bent brackets and suspension mounts, as well as stressed floor plates. Wendler remains mentored by a senior welder, but his supervisor expects him to become self-sufficient soon.

"Tad is the furthest along of our junior welders," said Adam Fosbre, from Olympia, "as far as his desire to improve and remain part of the team." Fosbre started as a Stryker retrofit mechanic at Fort Lewis in February 2006. Nine months later, he had passed the welders certification and traveled to Qatar. He was promoted to weld supervisor after more than two years working on Strykers.

"The tolerance level here is beyond anything I've ever dealt with," said Wendler. "Farm and construction equipment runs fine if you weld close to specifications. With Strykers, structural integrity must reach 100 percent in case the vehicle is hit by an improvised explosive device. Plates have to fit perfectly. There is no such thing as a temporary fix."

"You need to have a strong work ethic," says Wendler, "since ignoring a mistake can cost lives."

"The welders are probably the tightest group here," says Wendler, comparing them to numerous mechanics, warehouse specialists and administrative staff. Aside from a senior welder from London, every other welder is from Washington.

Everyone shares villas and vehicles while living in Doha, Qatar's capital and most populous city. Located along Qatar's eastern shore, Doha is a rapidly expanding venue for education, culture, arts and sports. Shopping malls and restaurants resemble those found in United States. Wendler enjoys watching movies at an IMAX 3D cinema, inside a mall elegantly designed with a Venetian theme.

"There is a lot of good camping in the desert," says Wendler. "All the welders here are outdoorsy."

GDLS contractors at the battle-damage repair facility typically clock 60- to 72-hour workweeks. Earnings from overtime rates are amplified by qualifying for a substantial overseas tax deduction, which reached $91,400 per qualifying person for 2009. The Internal Revenue Service adjusts maximum foreign-earned income exclusion amounts annually for inflation.

As a result, Wendler has paid off all his outstanding debts. He hopes to save enough money to open an off-road buggy fabrication workshop in Washington or Colorado. However, with less than two months left on his contract, he's not ready to return home yet.

"The skills acquired here are good for a welding career," he says. "If you can put 'GDLS battle-damage repair' on your resume, it's a big bonus. This is a pinnacle in welding professions."

Wendler hopes to sign another one-year contract as a Stryker welder in Qatar; two more years, if possible, he says.

"This is the ultimate welding job," said Fosbre. "You learn all the welding positions and joint configurations. This is a way for someone who really cares about their trade to build up their skills and save some money. Any of our welders can jump back into the job market with valuable experience and a strong resume."

This report was prepared and provided by the U.S. Army’s Digital Video and Imagery Distribution System.