Contracting hosts joint squadron exercise

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Krystal M. Garrett
  • 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
Hurlburt Field, Fla. --  The 1st Special Operations Contracting Squadron teamed up with the Air Force Test Center Eglin Operational Contracting Division to conduct a contingency exercise, Feb. 16-18, here.

Operation Lifeline, a simulated humanitarian relief mission, provided real-world contracting experience for Airmen.

The Airmen spent three days utilizing training and daily job skills to simulate operating in a deployed environment.

The contracting career field’s deployments have reduced from about 400 to 84, annually.

“When I was a captain, we deployed all the time,” said Lt. Col. Richard Dawson, commander of the 1st Special Operations Contracting Squadron. “With the recent drawbacks in deployed locations, newer Airmen don’t get the real-world experience as often.”

During the exercise, Airmen were given the task of simulating a bare-base build-up. This included purchasing items and materials needed for day-to-day operations to ensure the mission is accomplished.

According to Senior Airman Trevor Wilcox, a contract specialist with the 1st SOCONS, Operation Lifeline was a great way for Airmen to see how the tempo would be if tasked to purchase essential items such as food and water.

“Prioritizing is one of the most important things to focus on while handling contracts in a deployed location,” said Dawson. “You will have numerous demands coming at you daily, and you will be left with the decision of which to take care of first.”

While prioritizing contracts is vital, being able to fill and justify them quickly is also important.

“We are putting our Airmen in a better position to recognize that we don't always just ‘buy stuff’, but we do in fact support strategic objectives through deliverance of contracting-based effects on the battlefield,” said Senior Master Sgt. Fred Libby, superintendent with the Air Force Test Center Eglin Operational Contracting Division. “As business advisors, we have to be able to communicate effectively and this exercise is just one way we are able to achieve each of these objectives.”

The exercise gave newer Airmen the chance to experience deployed operations in a controlled environment while working with seasoned NCOs.

“I really enjoyed having the opportunity to use our training hands on,” said Airman 1st Class Savon Thomas, a contract specialist with the Air Force Test Center Eglin Operational Contracting. “Getting pointers from people who have deployed and who have experience was a major takeaway from this exercise.”

Contracting Airmen are making it possible to provide supplies for combat-ready forces through exercises like Operation Lifeline by conducting transformed training that optimizes human performance.

“We are making sure our Airmen are completely ready to deploy downrange,” said Dawson.