FORT KNOX, KY - Kentuckians who have civilian jobs on post at Fort Knox are taking yearlong deployments overseas, where they're working in war zones.

Brenda Bynum spent a year managing a retail store at Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan in 2009. She says the pay was good but the hours were long and insurgents could attack at any time.

She said the air field was frequently hit by rocket-propelled grenades.

The U.S. Army Civilian Human Resource Agency says there are about 2,750 civilians currently deployed overseas, helping to keep the lights on, toilets flushing and shelves stocked with goods.

Pat Appelman is currently in Afghanistan at the air field leading a team that does public works projects. He says the job is the hardest thing he's ever done.