Contracting teams from the Kaiserslautern, Germany-based 409th Contracting Support Brigade, as well as the Fort Bragg, North Carolina-based 419th CSB were on hand to support Exercise Swift Response 15.
Swift Response, held Aug. 18 -- Sept. 13, is a U.S. Army Europe-led multinational training exercise with more than 4,800 participants. The exercise took place across Germany, Romania, Bulgaria and Italy, and was Europe's largest combined airborne training on the continent since the end of the Cold War.
"This is what contracting looks like. It's the ability to assist the warfighter in training and in combat," said Sgt. 1st Class Curtis Toomer, contracting specialist, 903rd Contracting Battalion, and team member supporting SR 15.
During phase one of the exercise, the 419th CSB team was the lead for contracting and was embedded with the 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command supporting the 82nd Airborne.
With support from the 409th CSB's Theater Contracting Center and 903rd Contracting Battalion, the 419th CSB's contracting team conducted various site visits of the Life Support Area - Baumholder, Germany, ensuring contracts were in place to support mission requirements.
LSA-Baumholder was the focal point for living accommodations. The team provided contracting services for various commodities including shower tents, portable latrines, outdoor lighting and turf protection.
They also coordinated with various planners and contracting office representatives from the exercise, who worked with local authorities, leading to a major cost savings for the life support contract.
"David Simmons, a civil engineer, 21st Theater Sustainment, met with U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz Department of Public Works and the Baumholder City Council in order to utilize the local water, sewage, and power sources. This allowed for a significant decrease in the total amount of the contract; 500,000 Euros to 156,000 Euros," said Lt. Col. Gwen Devera-Waden, 903rd Contracting Battalion commander.
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