Rock Solid Warrior Published April 13, 2007 386 ECS SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Staff Sgt. Todd E. Pappas Staff Sgt. Todd E. Pappas 386th Expeditionary Contracting Squadron Home unit: 20th Contracting Squadron Shaw AFB, SC How do you support the mission here? ECONS supports the mission in a couple of different ways. First ECONS provides quality customer service in all phases of the acquisition process. ECONS also procures mission critical commodities, services, and construction items in a timely manner at the lowest possible cost, not only for the customer, but for the taxpayers, as well. How many times have you deployed and what makes this one unique? This deployment to "The Rock" is unique in itself because it is my first deployment as a Contracting Officer. I have had a very humbling, yet fulfilling experience - meeting new people and visiting another part of the world. I even had the rewarding experience of participating in an Angel Flight ceremony honoring our fallen American heroes. How does your job differ in a deployed environment vs. home base? Home base contracting provides a sense of security as the process is usually understood by customers and vendors. The deployed environment, while streamlined for quick delivery, provides some obstacles to the Contracting Officer. Sources of supply, language barriers, Host Nation customs and courtesies, local pricing, unfamiliar payment processes, and base pass procedures are all factors that cause delay in product delivery to the customer.