FORT DRUM, New York (Oct. 28, 2014) -- Members of the 605th Contingency Contracting Team at Fort Drum, New York, aligned with the 10th Mountain Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team recently to provide direct contracting support during the annual Mountain Peak exercise.
Officials from the Mission and Installation Contracting Command-Fort Drum said the historic event was a first for the brigade combat team.
"Their priorities were to establish business relationships with the BCT, establish communications that allow them to complete workload while in the field, and to work with logistics and support operations to develop a process map for contracting requirements," said Lt. Col. Wyeth Anderson, commander of the 925th Contingency Contracting Battalion and MICC-Fort Drum. "This process will be tested at the Joint Readiness Training Center this winter and used the next time 1/10 deploys."
The 605th CCT supported the 1st BCT as it trained for 10 days in the field in preparation for the upcoming JRTC rotation. Contracting support included portable chemical toilets, refrigeration trailers and generated light sets.
"A definite combat multiplier," added Maj. Paul Belmont III, the 1st Brigade officer in charge of supplies. "Having the support of a contract adviser was a win in the field."
Proving that they are just as much in the fight as the Soldier, team members performed contracting workload during the day and slept in the field at night.
The 605th CCT was prepared to conduct contracting operations in the field but when the secure communicaitons ability was degraded, the team became mobile. Heading to the USO for wireless support during the day, the team completed the mission and acquired an understanding of conducting contingency operations.
"I have realized during this exercise that things are going to go wrong, and it is not possible to prepare for every situation. This means that we as contingency contracting personnel must be able to improvise and sometimes use non-traditional methods to meet the needs of the warfighter," said Staff Sgt. Emily Gunter, a 605th CCT contract specialist.
Mountain Peak is an annual event executed by the 10th Mountain Division that allows the BCTs to sync all support and execute combat scenarios based on relevant theater operations.
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