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Contingency Contracting - Logistics Force Multipliers

by Spc. Travis Edwards

CAMP STRONGHOLD FREEDOM, Uzbekistan (Army News Service, Oct. 29, 2002) -- Local and international contractors are providing vital support to coalition soldiers planning and executing contingency operations in the war on terrorism being fought by soldiers from many countries around the world.

"In today's operational environment, contracted support is an integral and often transparent part of the military's day-to-day operations during deployments," said Maj. Ruthann Haider, chief of contracting for Coalition Joint Task Force 180. She is one of about 250 uniquely trained Army contingency contracting officers.

Haider is one of seven 1st Corps Support Command contingency contracting officers from Fort Bragg, N.C., currently deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

"We supplement the military supply system by providing deployed commanders a means to obtain needed materials, services and supplies not readily available through normal supply channels," Haider said.

CJTF 180's contingency contracting capability falls under the Joint Logistics Command at Camp Stronghold Freedom, Uzbekistan, and is a vital, integral part of day-to-day support operations across the theater.

Often, the support provided by contracting officers supplements or is a component of other logistics, engineering or base camp Quality-of-Life initiatives.

"If it weren't for our ability to leverage civilian contractors for some goods and services, several hundred more soldiers, airmen and Marines would be required in the CJTF 180 area of operations to make up the difference," said Col. Tom Palmer, JLC commander.

CCOs deploy to support soldiers. They are normally among the first soldiers to deploy into an area of operations and the last to leave.

In addition to procuring supplies not available to deployed units, the contingency contracting mission impacts the physical identity of base camps such as Camp Stronghold Freedom and others throughout the OEF theater.

Camp Stronghold Freedom's contracting office consists of a small and dedicated team of soldiers, mainly from Fort Bragg, N.C., that award and oversee contracts for base infrastructure improvements.

"A common task for this team, consisting of three contracting officers, two host-nation interpreters, two transportation/movements officers and an administrative specialist, is to contract with local construction firms for base camp improvements and new building construction," said Capt. Andy Doniec, a CCO from Rock Island Arsenal, Ill.

In order to accomplish much of the base camp improvements, communication through interpreters is absolutely critical.

CCOs rely heavily on people like Nasiba Alimova, a Uzbeki interpreter who speaks six languages fluently.

"We help the contracting office by doing the market research to find and develop a pool of local vendors who are able to meet the military's requirements," Alimova said.

In addition, Alimova and fellow contracting interpreter Sobir Radjapov said they felt lucky to play a small role that improves their country's economic condition, strengthens ties with the United States, and supports the global war on terrorism.

"It's quite a challenge to deploy 7,000 miles to a remote location and build a base camp from scratch, but it's something we are trained to do," said Haider just before meeting with vendors to discuss a new runway improvement construction project.

Since the JLC took over command and control of the contracting office at Camp Stronghold Freedom, the 1st COSCOM contracting team has awarded over 175 separate contracts with an estimated value of $7.2 million.

"The personnel and projects of the JLC's Contracting Office and its subordinate organizations throughout Afghanistan have had immeasurable, noticeable and highly appreciated effects," said Palmer. "The uniquely trained personnel in the contracting offices are able to make goods and services available to the base camps that ultimately affect morale and combat readiness."

"These contingency contracting officers are truly combat multipliers," Palmer said.