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Contractors test contingency skills

  • Published
  • By A1C Brian Butkus
  • 375th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  The 375th Airlift Wing Contracting Squadron took part in a contingency exercise to test their skills Friday.

“The purpose of this exercise was to give Airmen who have never deployed an opportunity to experience the pressures and events that take place when overseas,” said Staff Sgt. Robin Mullins, 375 AW/CONS contract specialist.

During the exercise, personnel deployed to a fictional site where they established a contracting office with the bare essentials during the base's initial set-up.

"It is hard to simulate a real contingency environment, but this gave us a window into what we could expect as Contingency Contracting Officers," said 1st Lt. Zack Saban, 375 AW/CONS contracting officer.

The Contingency Contracting Specialists and Officers were given scenarios that included requirements from civil engineering, communications, security forces, services and vehicle maintenance throughout the day.

These scenarios ranged from receiving requirements for body bags, body armor and vehicle repair; generators because the electricity went out in the camp; air conditioning units for deployed troops in 120F temperatures; construction projects and rental vehicles.

“The Contingency Contracting Officers had to figure out the best method and quickest method to procure these items,” said Sergeant Mullins. “They had to research whether it was a supply item, if it should be bought in country or from the U.S., what kind of procurement instrument should be used and whether or not it was legal.”

During the exercise there was a chemical attack and personnel had to conduct business in their chemical gear in MOPP 4 conditions.

Servicemembers were also tested on their reactions to mortar and artillery attacks.

“We had two squadron members who played Iraqi vendors,” said Sergeant Mullins. “They would come in and ask for business or answer Contracting Officers questions on whether they could supply certain items.”

The contingency exercise is conducted during each Aerospace Expeditionary Force cycle when there are individuals who have never deployed.

"This was a sort of right-of-passage for the CCO class members. They are now better prepared to deploy and meet the tough requirements of a multi-service force. I'm proud of the way they pulled together and worked through these scenarios as a team,” said Lt. Col. David Bethany, 375 AW/CONS commander.