HONOLULU (May 25, 2023) – Leaders from the 413th Contracting Support Brigade joined international military leaders at the 2023 Land Forces Pacific Symposium and Exposition, referred to as LANPAC, May 16 through 18 in Hawaii.
Col. Jason Miles, 413th CSB commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Scheil, 413th CSB command sergeant major based at Fort Shafter, Hawaii, joined delegations from approximately 30 countries to discuss the essential role of land forces in the Indo-Pacific region.
LANPAC served as a platform to exchange ideas, explore emerging technologies, discuss strategies, and enhance land power capabilities. Amidst the diverse range of topics covered at the conference, one facet that often goes unnoticed is the role of U.S. Army contracting required to ensure the success and effectiveness of land operations. As land warfare continues to evolve, the integration of contracting support will become increasingly critical in maintaining operational tempo, flexibility, and effectiveness.
“Army contracting forces are vital to land power success and must stay nested to operate effectively in the theater,” Miles said. “By recognizing the importance of contracting support, Army leaders can ensure ground forces have the commercial resources needed to succeed."
One unique aspect of the 2023 LANPAC was the Commander’s Corner, in which U.S. Army Pacific leaders discussed their units’ roles in land operations. Maj. Gen. Jered Helwig, the 8th Theater Sustainment Command commanding general, spoke on the power of sustainment. During his presentation, Helwig discussed the flexibilities and scalability that contracting support brings to sustainment operations, along with helping to build partner nation capacity. He also stated his organization would utilize the 413th CSB to help execute contested logistics during Talisman Saber 2023.
The men and women of the 413th CSB plan, synchronize and execute theater support contracting across the U.S. Army Pacific region. In addition, brigade members provide expeditionary contracting support to joint forces across the Pacific.
“Army contracting support is pivotal in enhancing operational efficiency and facilitating mission success,” Scheil said. “Army contracting forces in the Indo-Pacific are continuously engaging with external vendors and contractors via Operation Pathways so ground forces can tap into a vast network of resources, such as transportation, infrastructure, and commodities. These partnerships enable units to leverage established commercial contracting networks, thereby facilitating the delivery of critical supplies, equipment, and services. Consequently, contracting support enables ground forces to maintain operational tempo, adapt quickly to changing conditions, and sustain readiness.”
Army contracting forces act as a force multiplier by aiding mission partners to leverage private sector capabilities like those displayed at LANPAC to further enhance operational effectiveness, Miles added.
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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