JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- U.S. Air Force Col. Kirsten Aguilar, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and 673d Air Base Wing commander, participated in the 673d Contracting Squadron immersion tour at JBER, Alaska, Feb. 5, 2021.
Aguilar’s tour focused on getting to know the Airmen and civilians assigned to the 673d CONS and how they support mission readiness.
The 673d CONS provides acquisition support for units across the installation by managing the purchase of supplies, services and construction.
“Support is the [center] of our world,” said U.S Air Force Staff Sgt. Babatunji Abass, a contracting officer team lead assigned to the 673d CONS. “I would say we are some of the world’s best enablers from behind the scenes. Everything on this base involves our capability within the process to ensure each and every job can function on a day-to-day and 24/7 basis. We manage to indirectly impact every component of each unit here and its support functions.”
During her tour, Aguilar got to hear about and see the impact of the 673d CONS mission, one that lies mostly behind the scenes.
“We play a vital role to the installation which is often invisible,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Matthew Crum, the Construction Flight section supervisor assigned to the 673d CONS. “We have young Airmen and civilians responsible for ensuring the base receives millions of dollars in needed equipment and services. The wing depends on them to provide everything it needs in order to perform its mission, and these contracting professionals never fail to deliver.”
Airmen assigned to the 673d CONS stressed their critical role in keeping the base running smoothly by providing the contracts and acquisition services which are key to maintaining its operability.
“Contract administrators on many different levels ensure the functionality of a base,” Abass said. “It’s important for people to know that everything on this base had to be acquired in some form or another, and nothing shows up out of thin air.”
Throughout the tour, which included briefings on unit partnerships with small businesses, the acquisition process, and the role of each of the 673d CONS’ flights, the squadron outlined their role and highlighted ways they help units on the installation.
“Overall, we are here to enhance the installation’s lethality,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Joseph Berling, the Civil Engineering Services flight commander assigned to the 673d CONS. “Our job is to understand the wants of our clients, translate their needs into actionable solicitations for our industry base, and deliver quality performance at the best price and at the speed of relevance. We want people to feel like they are able to pick up the phone and give us a call. We are your business professionals, and we will help you succeed in your mission.”
After taking the day to see the impact and ability of the squadron, Aguilar was able to get a better understanding of the impact the squadron has on the installation and its joint missions.