Contracting trains to prepare for anything Published Feb. 3, 2015 By Airman 1st Class Rachel Loftis 99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- The 99th Contracting Squadron conducted contingency contracting and local disaster response training at Camp Cobra here Jan. 20 to 22. The training was provided by retired Chief Master Sgt. Fidel Keranovic, Air Force Training Initiative for contract operations, included many situations Airmen can encounter, as well as interaction with different cultures to prepare them to be successful in these environments. "These Airmen -- contingency contracting officers, or CCOs, enlisted and officers -- can directly and positively affect the outcome of these operations," said Keranovic. "Without contracting, the big war-making capability of the United States of America cannot happen, and that support happens through contracting." The training, with assistance from the 99th Security Forces Squadron, was designed for these officers to develop the skills and techniques necessary for setting up in remote undeveloped locations. The exercise included supporting multiple scenarios, responding to local disaster contingencies and even experiencing contracting in a hostile environment. During the training there were two live-action exercises that depicted dangerous communication barriers as well as the lengths foreign nationals could possibly go to retrieve vital information from military personnel. "This type of training is critical to prepare our Airmen to survive and operate in different contingency operations before they happen," said Master Sgt. Sarah Gordon, 99th CONS contracting specialist. The 99th CONS commander, Lt. Col. Christopher Kay, echoes Gordon's thoughts on training. He says contracting Airmen have proven themselves in austere environments. As contracting officers, they are prepared to deploy anywhere in the world including disasters that may happen in the United States or foreign countries. By being prepared to operate in any environment, contracting officers can help Airmen complete a job quicker and more efficiently. "It has been said that the Air Force Contracting officer is the best force multiplier in the (Department of Defense)," said Gordon. "Have you ever tried to fill security barriers with your bare hands? You can do it, but it will take a long time. Buy a shovel and suddenly you can dig faster and deeper. Hire 100 local nationals with shovels or rent a backhoe and you can fill many containers in a day. The contractors, a shovel and a backhoe are also examples of force multipliers. A force multiplier allows someone to accomplish a task with dramatically greater effectiveness." Contracting officers are responsible for every type of support such as services, supplies and construction in a contingency operation. They also work with their fellow squadrons to ensure the support is exactly what they require to be mission ready. Providing everything from materials to services, turning an open field into a suitable environment for working, sleeping and bathing is the profession of the 99th Contracting Squadron.
