Rock Solid Warrior Published July 7, 2007 386th Expeditionary Contracting Squadron SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Senior Airman Steven Flores Senior Airman Steven Flores 386th Expeditionary Contracting Squadron Contracting Officer, Al Mubarak Air Base Home Unit Base: 48th Contracting Squadron, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom How do you support the mission here? Currently attached to Abdullah-Al-Mubarak Air Base, my primary responsibility is to resourcefully, inimitably, and quickly acquire a multitude of various supplies and services for Air Force, Army, and Marine personnel. As a contracting officer, I also provide integral support for the seamless stand up of the new 387th Air Expeditionary Group. How many times have you deployed and what makes this one unique? With this being my first deployment, it is unique because I am working in a joint environment and I am able to provide contracting support to a diverse set of organizations, all of which are integral to this installation's major contributions to Operation Iraqi Freedom. How does your job differ in a deployed environment vs. home base? In this environment, I find that my efforts more directly support the war-fighter on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan by providing the contracting support it takes to move personnel, cargo and supplies into the theater. It is fulfilling to see the results of my contributions and I am proud to be doing my part.