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VIGNETTE

There was no shortage of civilian trucks or drivers in Panama. Ordering officers had all of the appropriate forms to negotiate a contract and the local contractors had no problem doing business with them. Every battalion in the 7th Inf Div (L) had both an ordering officer and a class A agent with cash.

KEY POINTS

Eventually, the U.S. government will pay for whatever our units use whether it is formally arranged or not. Business is business and when a unit accepts food or services, in most cases, it has established a contract. If there is any suspicion that a bill could be forthcoming for a service being rendered, then a contract should be negotiated.

LESSONS LEARNED

• Specify proper procedures in unit SOPs for the local requisition and use of equipment during contingency operations. Minimal requirements such as receipts and a field-ordering officer should be outlined. Every battalion-size unit should maintain a field-ordering officer and a disbursing officer.

• View offers of voluntary use of any facilities or commodities as a contract and specify terms. An offer to occupy a building as a position even if it is beneficial to the owner can be billed back to the U.S. later if terms are not specified at the time of occupation.

• Use available local transport. Pooling assets in a battalion support organization or even at brigade level is the most efficient method.

• Place local civilian telephones off limits, due to OPSEC and contracting liability. Even though offices and houses are vacant, charges will be billed to the U.S. government.

Table of Contents, Volume III
Unit Logistics
Lessons Learned - Logistics & Equipment: Displaced Civilians (DC) Camp Operations