ROCK SOLID WARRIOR Published Feb. 3, 2008 386th Expeditionary Contracting Squadron SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Airman 1st Class Adam Heim Contingency Contracting Officer Home unit/base: 341st Contracting Squadron, Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont. How do you support the mission here? In my job here, I purchase more than $600 thousand in supplies and services for the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron. I also administer six base purchase agreements worth more than $500 thousand that are used to quickly acquire commonly used items for the entire ECES organization. How many times have you deployed and what makes this one unique? This is my first deployment. I believe that being deployed at my location in Southwest Asia is unique for contracting, because of the close interaction we have with the local businesses. We are able to go downtown and locate the items that we need to keep the base operational, rather than just ordering everything from the U.S. How does your job differ in a deployed environment vs. home base? At my home station I am a contract specialist. However, in a deployed environment I am a contracting officer which gives me the authority to obligate government funds. I think working here in a deployed environment gives you much more job satisfaction because you get to work a project from start to finish, and you see how your contributions impact the mission.