SEMBACH ARMY BASE, Germany (March 20, 2023) – Building leaders for tomorrow’s Army was the goal as contracting Soldiers from the 409th Contracting Support Brigade and 928th Contracting Battalion were mentored by two seasoned command sergeants major to learn about what it takes to succeed in today’s Army March 9 here.
To inspire Soldiers in the 51C military occupational specialty to “Be All You Can Be,” Command Sgt. Maj. Della Overton of the 409th Contracting Support Brigade here and Command Sgt. Maj. Rachel Harris, the 414th CSB command sergeant major from Vicenza, Italy, shared their knowledge and experience with contracting Soldiers to prepare them for the future.
The contracting Soldiers gathered in person and on Microsoft Teams for an NCO professional development seminar to be mentored on the intricacies of the 51C career field during the Army Contracting Command External Evaluation Feb. 27 through March 10. While the ACC External Evaluation tested the 409th CSB’s proficiency to validate its readiness and provide acquisition support to the European theater, contracting leaders found it a perfect opportunity to improve the abilities and professionalism of the brigade’s NCO corps.
Overton, the brigade command sergeant major, helps lead the 409th CSB to provide enhanced readiness and operational capacity for U.S. forces in the European theater. Harris helps lead the 414th CSB team provide operational contracting support to U.S. Africa Command. Overton and Harris combined their forces to lead the NCO professional development seminar.
“We want to develop our Soldiers to be the best contracting Soldiers they can be,” said Overton, who has 12 years of experience as a 51C. “Command Sgt. Maj. Harris and I wanted to get our NCOs in the mindset that we are in the sustainment community. We are multi-faceted NCOs. We are not just 51 Charlies. We want to teach them about all the NCO attributes and characteristics they should have to be our future leaders.
“I believe 51 Charlies are held to a higher standard because they have to be tactical Soldiers who know how to do warrior tasks and battle skills as well as know the tactical aspects of contracting like obligating funds for the government,” Overton added. “Our contracting NCOs deploy forward and many times have to brief general officers and field-grade officers on the finer aspects of acquisition. That is uncommon for E-6s, and this NCO professional development seminar helped prepare our NCOs for success.”
Contracting NCOs are relied upon to be the experts in purchasing goods and services, conducting market research, determining price fair and reasonableness, and evaluating suppliers. Soldiers in the 51C MOS look for the best value for Army organizations to deliver the power of acquisition that enables warfighters to have all they need to win every day.
“It’s not often that we can come together as a team because Army Contracting Command Soldiers are dispersed around the world,” Harris said. “We want to build future leaders and share best practices as well as our experiences and lessons learned to capitalize on the time we were all together for this External Evaluation. It’s important for our teammates to understand the power a contracting professional Soldier possesses.”
Army contracting activities deliver technology, supplies and services for warfighters through responsive and innovative support. The need for acquisition support is high as ACC Soldiers supported 23 rotational requests for forces and 68 exercises in fiscal 2022. Contracting Soldiers provide continuity and stability for the Army’s military contingency contracting workforce.
“This is a fast paced, high-operations tempo career field that needs professional Soldiers who can balance it all,” Harris added. “Contracting brings value to the Army. Contracting NCOs serve as business advisors to commanders and sergeants major to explain how to define requirements as well as procure supplies and services the warfighters need today. The 51 Charlies help the Army win when we sustain our warfighters. They don’t have to worry about where they will sleep, what they will eat, if they have water to drink, or will they have vehicles to ride in when they are on missions and exercises because our contracting professionals provide all of that seamlessly. We win from a sustainment standpoint. Without contracting it would be hard for the Army to win.”
The NCO corps is the backbone of everything, said Master Sgt. Enes Memic, the 409th CSB support operations division NCO in charge who took part in the NCO professional development seminar. “NCO development is crucial and getting contracting NCOs to the point where they can brief senior leaders – especially in this MOS – is an important responsibility in this career field. Any time we have a chance to mentor NCOs is a great opportunity to help our contracting NCOs progress in their careers.”
“Everywhere the Army goes we have contracting professionals providing the vital goods and services our Soldiers need to win every day,” Overton said. “We put a lot on their shoulders. We have contracting NCOs who are working on the same acquisition actions as their officer counterparts, and NCOs teaching officers how to do this job. I believe contracting NCOs are the best Soldiers in the Army, and I advocate for NCOs who are looking for a new MOS to reclassify into the best job the Army offers."
The 51C MOS is an acquisition, logistics and technology contracting NCO that is a highly critical career field that meets the Army’s continuously increasing need for contracting officers. The Army is currently recruiting NCOs in the ranks of promotable sergeant, staff sergeant or sergeant first class with less than 10 years of service. Soldiers interested in reclassifying into the 51C MOS can visit https://asc.army.mil/web/career-development/military-nco/active-component-reclass-program/ for more information.
About Army Contracting Command
The Army Contracting Command is headquartered at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. From food and clothing to bullets and bombs; from tanks and trucks to boats and aircraft; from Soldiers' weapons to the installations where they work and live with their families, ACC ensures Soldiers have what they need to be successful. As the Army's principal buying agent, ACC supports Army readiness and modernization by using best practices and expert-level oversight to provide warfighters with premier contracting support. The command accomplishes its global operational missions with a professional workforce of Soldiers, Department of the Army civilians, foreign local nationals and contractors at more than 100 locations worldwide.
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