FORT LIBERTY, North Carolina (Nov. 29, 2024) -- The 419th Contracting Support Brigade recently launched a groundbreaking Field Ordering Officer program to enhance the XVIII Airborne Corps' rapid-response efficiency worldwide at Fort Liberty, North Carolina.
The 419th CSB, a subordinate unit of the Mission Installation Contracting Command at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, has launched a groundbreaking Field Ordering Officer program led by Staff Sgt. Francisco Noda-Merly-Merly, a 419th CSB operations NCO. The initiative is designed to enhance support for its mission partner, the XVIII Airborne Corps, also known as America’s Contingency Corps. The XVIII Airborne Corps enables the secretary of defense to respond swiftly to global contingencies by augmenting combatant commanders’ capabilities. Recognizing the importance of rapid deployment, the 419th CSB implemented the FOO program to reduce delays and improve operational efficiency.
“The FOO program is another way the MICC and 419th CSB are transforming in contact to ensure Soldiers are receiving contract support at the inflection point; Fast,” Col. Doug Ralph, the 419th CSB commander, said.
The XVIII Airborne Corps recently provided humanitarian aid to communities in western North Carolina affected by Hurricane Helene, including route clearance using engineer equipment. The 419th CSB became the first MICC brigade to utilize FOOs, and the program’s value was quickly demonstrated during the Hurricane Helene relief efforts, just one month after its inception.
Before the relief operations, the XVIII Airborne Corps’ Operational Contracting Support cell and the 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command worked with the 419th CSB to appoint FOOs. Five soldiers from the XVIII Airborne Corps Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion and the 20th Engineer Brigade were selected for the program. Under the leadership of Noda-Merly-Merly, the soldiers received training and were appointed within a compressed timeline.
Maj. Cole Campbell, from the 3rd ESC, highlighted the program’s impact, saying:
“FOOs provided invaluable means to swiftly procure critical resources and capabilities during the Hurricane Helene response. This system supported battalion and brigade commanders by giving them the flexibility to prioritize and allocate resources to meet emerging requirements. Additionally, FOOs complemented the units’ Government Purchase Card program, directed resources at the appropriate operational level, increased staff efficiency, and decreased delay.”
Thanks to Noda-Merly-Merly’s leadership, the FOOs were empowered to make immediate purchases, significantly contributing to the mission’s success. This initiative underscores the 419th CSB’s commitment to mission readiness and its ability to innovate and support its partners.
About the MICC
Headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, the Mission and Installation Contracting Command consists of about 1,500 military and civilian members who are responsible for contracting goods and services in support of Soldiers as well as readying trained contracting units for the operating force and contingency environment when called upon. As part of its mission, MICC contracts are vital in feeding more than 200,000 Soldiers every day, providing many daily base operations support services at installations, facilitating training in the preparation of more than 100,000 conventional force members annually, training more than 500,000 students each year, and maintaining more than 14.4 million acres of land and 170,000 structures.
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