Texas contracting battalion prepares to deploy

By Ryan Mattox, Mission and Installation Contracting Command Public Affairs OfficeFebruary 11, 2015

Contracting battalion prepares to deploy
Lt. Col. Jeffrey Caldwell and Master Sgt. Jason Hughes case the 916th Contingency Contracting Battalion organizational colors during a ceremony Feb. 5, 2015, at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas as part of the unit's preparations for its... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas -- Soldiers, civilians, and friends gathered for a ceremony Feb. 5 to case the colors of the 916th Contingency Contracting Battalion prior to their deployment to Southwest Asia.

The 916th CCBn is deploying to support Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL, terrorist group and the threat they pose to Iraq, Syria, the region, and the wider international community.

During the casing ceremony, Col. Rick Harger, 410th Contracting Support Brigade commander, told the audience the 916th CCBn has a rich tradition of providing contract support to its customers--U.S. Army South at Fort Sam Houston and other units within the U.S. Southern Command area of operations--and is prepared for this mission.

"Today the 916th is casing its colors to assist in the fight against oppression in the Middle East and will play a key role in the region," Harger said. "I have absolute confidence that the Soldiers in the 916th will accomplish every mission it is given and ensure every contract action, no matter the dollar values of its obligation, will be worth every cent."

Harger also made clear to the families and friends of the 916th CCBn that while they may not be wearing our nation's uniform, they too are sacrificing much for the country.

"You are true partners in this noble mission, and we pay tribute to you for your service to our country," Harger said. "Even though your loved ones will be thousands of miles from home, you will remain with us in our thoughts and hearts and prayers until we gather together again."

Lt. Col. Jeffrey Caldwell, 916th CCBn commander, told his Soldiers that the 916th is prepared for this moment.

"You have been trained, you have been flexible in preparing for this deployment, you are capable of accomplishing any mission in the world, no matter how big or small, you are resilient in your efforts to serve the profession of arms, but most importantly you are ready," Caldwell said. "It is my opinion you are a capability we cannot do without."

The 916th CCBn is a subordinate unit to the 410th Contracting Support Brigade located at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston and is composed of the battalion headquarters, five contingency contracting teams located at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and one contingency contracting team in Miami. The mission of the 916th CCBn is performed by these six contingency contracting teams working together with their civilian counterparts.