BAGRAM AIRFIELD, AFGHANISTAN (Oct. 2, 2016) -- In a ceremony held here today , the Expeditionary Contracting Command -- Afghanistan (ECC-A) ceremonially transferred mission authority for the Regional Contracting Center -- Afghanistan from the 925th Contracting Battalion, Fort Drum, N.Y., to the 901st Contracting Battalion, Fort Hood, Texas.
U.S. Army Col. Carol M. Tschida, ECC-A commander, said farewell to the departing 925th team and spoke about a few of their accomplishments: "they oversaw $17 million worth of contract administration on several key contracts and they executed more than 1,400 contract actions worth more than $296 million this year."
The contracting actions included requirements such as: base life support, information technology, fuel, and development of the Afghan personnel pay system that supported U.S. and Coalition Forces, the Afghanistan National Defense Security Forces, and the offices of the Ministries of Interior and Defense.
"None of this would have happened successfully without the leadership of Lt. Col. Anderson and Sgt. Maj. Hairston," she said.
Tschida welcomed the 901st Contracting Battalion, "This team comes with remarkable resumes and tons of accolades, as well as, a reputation of always treating others with dignity, honor, and respect."
"I am certain the transition between these battalions will be seamless. The 901st will do great things for the USFOR-A [U.S. Forces -- Afghanistan] and Resolute Support missions," she said.
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Wyeth S. Anderson and Sgt. Maj. Rachelle E. Hairston, commander and command sergeant major, 925th Contracting Battalion, cased the unit colors signifying the end of the unit's mission here in Afghanistan.
"Contracting units take care of our military and civilian personnel," said Anderson. "We feed them, we house them, we equip them, move them, and protect them. We impact their quality of life."
"There is no greater honor than to support them," he said.
The 925th Contracting Battalion will soon redeploy to Fort Drum, where they will continue to provide support to the installation and the 10th Mountain Division (Light).
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Nathanael D. Bryant and Command Sgt. Maj. Darnyell C. Parker, 901st Contracting Battalion commander and command sergeant major, unfurled their unit colors signifying their assumption of mission authority of the regional contracting center.
"Thank you all for time out of your busy schedules, today, to join us for this unprecedented, historic uncasing of the 901st Contracting Battalion's colors," said Bryant.
"Today signifies not only the battalion's first combat deployment to Afghanistan, but also the first time this battalion has deployed alongside our operationally aligned division -- the 1st Cavalry Division," he said.
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