Photo: Main Command Post and Rear Command Post Office of the Staff Judge Advocate members after 25th Infantry Division Command Post Exercise 3 from 16-22 November 2024; Judge Advocates left to right, 1LT Dillion Springer, CPT Lawrence Robbins, SSG Joshua Mass, CPT David Kim, SPC Amy Howard, CPT Nicholas Krueger, MAJ Dustin Myre, MAJ Daryl Delap

It’s early morning before sunrise. Fully packed rucksacks rest on the dew laden field training exercise (FTX) staging point ground. Soldiers gather and chatter about their preparations, the upcoming battle drills, and past experiences as conversations fill the crisp morning air. The first rays of sunshine soon begin to illuminate the horizon as tactical military vehicles pull forward for ground infiltration, bringing Soldiers and their equipment to a full week of field training. While anxious, the Soldiers are energetic and ready to test their skillsets and assess their capabilities.

The anecdote above should be familiar to all warfighters - 51C contracting professionals and Judge Advocate (JA) lawyers alike. Whether the exercise is conducted by a warfighting unit or a contracting unit, training exercises are critical to validate knowledge, refine core competencies, and improve skill levels. Army contracting teams typically provide operational contract support for these training exercises by contracting for real world exercise requirements. Such requirements include Basic Life Support (shelter, showers, laundry, etc…), food, and transportation for the exercise training audience. The 413th Contracting Support Brigade (CSB) sought additional ways Army contracting could enhance their support to the warfighter by building stronger relationships between the warfighter and the contracting activity while also bringing valuable insights back to the 413th CSB.

Between 16 and 22 November 2024, the 413th CSB expanded the scope of its support to its Pacific warfighting partners through integration of one of its attorneys with the 25th Infantry Division (ID) legal office. The 413th CSB contracts attorney embedded with and assisted the 25th ID during their end of year command post exercise (CPX). The event enhanced the capabilities and knowledge of the 25th ID and the attorneys that participated while simultaneously demonstrating the value a contracts attorney brings to the fight. During the CPX, 25th ID JAs provided the 25th ID staff legal support including advice on targeting operations, combat engagements, sustainment, and contracting measures.

The 25th ID CPX included a near peer adversary scenario that led to creative notional contracting and operational solutions. Reaching appropriate solutions necessitated perspectives from both contracting and legal. Because the 413th CSB’s JA was on the ground working hand in hand with the 25th ID, there was seamless support to the warfighter to reach novel and unique contracting courses of action that were both tenable and legal. The 25th ID Operational Contracting Support Integration Cell (OCSIC) worked with the 413th CSB JA to understand 25th ID contracting requirements and plan for inevitabilities in combat operations. Due to the integration of the 413th JA at the 25th ID CPX, the 25th ID OCSIC was also able to gain useful knowledge about contracting processes and abilities and take them back to the division G4, G8, and various staff sections. 25th ID staff and the 413th attorney discussed various procurement tools available to the warfighter including: Acquisition and Cross-Service Agreements, field ordering officer, government purchase cards, and a variety of contract types available in contracting.

Participating in the 25th ID CPX importantly provided additional insights into how warfighters view contracting operations, what Army contracting vehicles will be requested, and how those requirements can be executed in combat operations. This in turn sparked discussions between the requiring activity, contracting personnel, and resource managers. Ultimately, the 413th JA carried over the insights and lessons learned into a contracting battalion command training exercise (CTX) just two weeks later.

The 413th CSB’s JA brought their recently gained knowledge and experience of warfighter needs from the division level CPX to the contracting professional during the 921st Contracting Battalion’s (CBn) weeklong CTX which took place from 9-13 December 2024. JA participation in the CTX facilitated additional conversations and trainings which included, but were not limited to, rules of engagement for contracting professionals in a near peer conflict, issues 413th CSB contracting teams would be facing and asked to work through to support warfighter units in large scale combat operations, and how the 25th ID OCSIC was functioning during the 25th ID CPX.

Engaging in both 25th ID’s CPX3 and the 921st CBn’s CTX allowed 413th JAs to support both the warfighter and contracting officers outside of traditional contracting vehicles. Working together facilitated an expanded understanding of the needs and capabilities between the supporting unit and the supported unit for the exercise participants. Future CPX/CTX participation by contracting JAs will enable continued enhancement and aid in building additional support between the supported warfighter and contracting teams. JAs have a unique place within the CSBs that can be leveraged to provide commanders and contracting professionals with increased insight, perspective, and legal advice, while simultaneously building relationships and assisting with contract planning efforts.