The 25-year-old now spends her days giving close-cropped haircuts to soldiers at the Canadian Forces' barber shop at Kandahar Airfield. She's only been here four weeks, but has already donned a flak vest and flown to a forward operating base where she gave troops on the front lines a trim.

"It's an adventure," Mead said of her decision to leave New Brunswick for a six-month job in a conflict zone. "I wanted to help, even if it's in a minuscule way."

Mead is one of nearly 4,500 civilians from around the world who have left family and their home countries to work at Kandahar Airfield, the massive NATO military base in this southern province of Afghanistan.

They deliver pizza, work construction and provide a long list of other services that keep the airfield - which is the size of a small city with its population of 20,000 - running smoothly.

For some contractors, money is the motivating factor. Companies are willing to pay people top dollar to put their lives on hold and live in Afghanistan for several months - or longer.

Others say they were looking for a new experience and wanted to do their part to support the soldiers here.

Sandy Keeler was inspired to come to Kandahar after she became friends with Capt. Trevor Greene, the Canadian soldier who was seriously injured in 2006 when he was struck in the head with an axe during a meeting with village elders.

Keeler, who met Greene while she was working in Vancouver with a brain injury organization, now works for the military's personnel and family support services.

"For me, it's not the money at all," Keeler said. "It was Capt. Trevor Greene. I feel honoured I was selected to come."

But leaving worried family and friends behind in Canada is often tough, although civilians who come to Kandahar Airfield quickly realize the base is relatively safe - except for an occasional rocket attack.

Mary Morrow, a grandmother from Kingston, Ont., said her daughter frets about her safety.

"She hears stories on the news and thinks there are all kinds of things going on here," said Morrow, who works as a switchboard operator at the airfield's communications centre.

Morrow admits she was "shocked for about a week" when she first arrived in May. The drab, rocky base with endless rows of tents and shipping containers had none of the greenery she was accustomed to at home.

For the most part, though, Morrow is enjoying her time here.

The noise from fighter jets doesn't disturb her sleep and she spends her free time reading and watching television - just like at home.

Surprisingly, recruiting contractors to work here isn't as difficult as it may seem.

Jan Kwasniewski, who manages part of the Canadian Forces' personnel and family support services, said he has filled the 77 available civilian jobs at Kandahar Airfield until August of next year.

Calgary Herald

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