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A Rock Solid Warrior: 2nd Lt. Joshua Bullock

  • Published
  • By Public Affairs staff
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  This week's Rock Solid Warrior is 2nd Lt. Joshua Bullock. Bullock is the flight commander of the Infrastructure Flight, 386th Expeditionary Contracting Squadron. The Shreveport, La. native is deployed from the 49th Contracting Squadron, Holloman Air Force Base, N.M.
 
In his own words:

Q:  What is your mission here?
A:   Responsibility to procure commodities, services, construction, and Government Purchase Card (GPC) accounts for both large and small dollar, within the flight, ranging in excess of $10 Million. Essentially to support the base in whatever needs/requirements as well as other areas that lie within the AOR.

Q:  What are some of the best parts of your mission?
A:   Some of the most rewarding parts are working in conjunction with our host nation, learning their customs and culture, providing stimulus to the local economy, and above all taking care of the installation and providing them with the buildings, items, and services that they need to get their mission carried out.

Q:  What are some of the challenges you face while conducting your mission and how do you overcome them?
A:  Some of the biggest challenges I have faced so far have been the language barrier in working with various contractors in the area of responsibility. Usually I tell them, "send me an email" just so I know that I understand them completely. Hard suspenses by upper leadership are also another challenge that I and my flight face day-to-day. At the end of the day we want to be sure we do our job correctly and efficiently and in order to do that we have to follow our protocol and federal laws in order to do so. Most individuals who don't know contracting think we can just buy something right away but it's so much more intricate than that!

Q:  How does your job differ in a deployed environment vs. home base?
A:  Contracting in the states versus contracting here does not differ much. Versus in the states, the timeframes to get tasks done in the AOR are extremely short, we have more flexibility to make our own decisions out here and we have a very visible impact on the actions that we obligate. Being deployed you have very high level of satisfaction because the things we procure are imperative for the mission to be executed, for our Airmen to be fed, have somewhere to sleep, and the equipment they need to hit the ground running and save lives. It is extremely rewarding to see a project come to completion out here and realize that you had a vital role in ensuring the project was carried out.

Q:  How many times have you deployed?
A:  This is my first deployment.

Q:  What makes this deployment unique?
A:  The fact that I am a 2nd Lt. and deployed makes it extremely unique. I'm getting a firsthand look into how we do contracting in the overseas arena, which is something most of my peers will not get to do at this point in their career. Most officers in contracting do not deploy until they are early Captains and I am grateful that I was selected based off of my credentials to come represent for the young Company Grade Officers, my home station, and my Alma Mater - Texas Christian University!

Q:  Why did you join the Air Force?
A:  I joined the Air Force because I really wanted to serve my country in the face to face and personable aspect of things. I saw this show "JAG" growing up and that inspired me to want to do the same in the Air Force and that is something that I am still striving for once I return to the States. I feel like contracting has been and is an amazing career field to be in and I highly recommend it; however, I also feel what better way for me to serve than to be in the courtroom as a military laywer. I have no complaints either way. I also joined the Air Force to better develop my leadership skills and to set the pace of leaving a great legacy behind in whatever comes my way. My family was proud of me before the Air Force and I can't even begin to touch on how proud and supportive of me they are now. It's truly a blessing.

(The Rock Solid Warrior is a weekly spotlight focused on an outstanding member of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing. These unsung heroes have been nominated by their unit leadership to be recognized for their efforts while deployed.)