Spotlight on … Staff Sgt. Vincent Smith

By Mission and Installation Contracting Command Public Affairs OfficeApril 25, 2014

Spotlight on … Staff Sgt. Vincent Smith
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Staff Sgt. Vincent Smith

918th Contingency Contracting Battalion contracting specialist, Mission and Installation Contracting Command-Fort Carson, Colo.

Describe your current position:

I am currently working in the installation contracting division supporting more than nine major directorates on Fort Carson. My customers range from the directorate of public works, department of emergency services and directorate of plans, training and mobilization to Fort Carson Garrison headquarters.

Describe your passion for the job:

The passion I have for my job is driven by how I directly impact the warfighter. Providing resources that drive training, mission success and improve the way of life for Soldiers, family members and the surrounding communities is very rewarding. I enjoy contracting because it is challenging on a daily basis. Very few days are ever alike. In a fiscally constrained environment, I'm challenged to use creative thinking and ideas to get the warfighter the resources they need. This directly fuels my drive to research better ways to implement and utilize contracting. I can go home at the end of the day knowing that the 918th CCBn and MICC-Fort Carson have made a difference.

Where do you call home; do you have a family?

Gadsden, Ala. Roll Tide! I am married to my beautiful wife, Jenifer, and we have two dogs: Charles "Chuck" Norris and Bama.

How does your job support the Soldier?

Directly impacting Soldiers is what makes this career field very rewarding. I administer contracts for the Soldier Readiness Processing Center, where hundreds of Soldiers go through mobilization and demobilization operations daily in support of contingencies throughout the world. Ensuring that the contractor is providing quality services to our Soldiers is critical and something in which I take pride. I've also worked on the chaplain services contract, which provides services across the installation, giving Soldiers and family members an opportunity to enjoy religious services and chaplain support. Supporting Fort Carson with acquisition support doesn't stop with just supporting the Soldiers. Last summer, I was fortunate enough to work on a procurement that provided sling load water drop operations during the fires in Colorado Springs. It was a very gratifying experience to help our local firefighters and provide our local community with resources to combat the fires that devastated our local area. Working in unison with local governmental agencies, we were able to make a difference in saving lives and homes in our surrounding communities.

What would you like others to know about you?

I'm extremely humble and lucky to be a part of such a great unit. The 918th CCBn is a great place to start your acquisition career. You will be challenged with a demanding workload, but you will learn a lot. The assignment itself is pretty awesome. The outdoor life here is some of the best I have ever come across in my Army career. My wife and I enjoy the outdoor activities such as riding our ATVs and camping in some of the most pristine campgrounds Colorado has to offer.

Related Links:

Mission and Installation Contracting Command

Like us on Facebook

Join us on LinkedIn