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Show 2 COMMENTARY I IdItop TIMES July 12, 2012 Contracting officers deploy in Overseas Contingency Operation One of the first initiatives early in the war was to get U.S. currency off the battle field to reduce its impact on the local economy and help stabilize the local currency. As a result policies and directives were put in place to require all contracts to Iraq or Afghan vendors to be awarded and paid in local currency. The second initiative, closely tied to the first, was to support the growth of the local economies with the "Iraq/Afghan First" initiatives. The Regional Contracting Centers (RCCs) throughout the theater worked hard, along with local business advisers, to compete and award as many contracts as possible to Iraq or Afghan vendors, or vendors employing Afghan people to perform the contracts. These efforts have resulted in increased employment and in many cases, have grown small start-up businesses to include some women owned businesses. The most recent initiative supports greater usage of the Northern Distribution Network (NDN) which is a newer supply route (established in 2009) wind- BY TERI BLAKE OO-ALC Contracting Directorate, branch chief Hilltop Times Editorial Staff: Lee Carter ... Standard-Examiner publisher Mary Lou Gorny Hilltop Times Editor Katina L. Ventura Hilltop Times Writer Hilltop Times Krista Starker Correspondent Deadlines: Editorial and news items are due by noon on the Friday prior to the Thursday print date. To submit news items e-mail hilltoptimes@standard.net or call 801- 625-4273. For Classified Advertising, call 801-625-4300. For Retail Advertising, call 801-625-4388. The Hilltop Times is published by Ogden Publishing Corp., a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under, and in compliance with, a Memorandum of Understanding with Hill Air Force Base. The content of the Hilltop Times does not necessarily represent the views of, nor is it endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force or Hill Air Force Base (collectively, the Government). The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Government of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the Standard-Examiner, 332 Standard Way, Ogden, Utah, 84404. Additional editorial content is provided by various military and civilian wire services and Hill Air Force Base public affairs departments. Call 801-625-4273 with story ideas or comments, or contact the editor, Mary Lou Gorny, at mgorny@standard.net . Call 801-625-4300 for Classified Advertising or 801-6254388 for Retail Advertising. M ore and more civilians in the contracting field are volunteering to deploy and work alongside their military counterparts to support contingency operations in the Middle East. The contracting officers gain experience working in a joint contingency environment and bring considerable experience and stability to the theater. Their mission is to provide the war fighter with critical supplies and services to meet the day-today mission. That's what contracting officers do and they are trained well to do just that. But in theater, contracting is part of a larger mission and along with finance we support several initiatives cleverly coined, "Money as a Weapon System." In the process of providing the supplies and services to customers, the goal is to cornpete and award contracts in a manner that positively affects the war efforts and the local economy. @tg ing through several Central Asian States. The route provides an alternative passage in and out of Afghanistan which is a land-locked country. With the pending retrograde of the U.S. out of Afghanistan estimated by 2014, this route plays an important role in our efforts to move equipment and cargo out of Afghanistan. Contracting's role again is to compete and award contracts aimed at vendors in the Central Asian States along that route to increase usage of the road making passage safer for our troops. As a deployed civilian assigned to the CENTCOM Contracting Command, I had the opportunity to work many of the challenges associated with contracting in a deployed environment and using "Money as a Weapon System." The experience was both challenging and rewarding knowing the effect contracting has in supporting the overall strategy for the war. As we draw down operations, civilians from all skill sets who volunteer to deploy will continue to play a key role in Afghanistan. When did Air Education and Training Command (AETC) receive its first T-38C? A. 1999 B. 2000 C. 2001 D. 2002 U.S. Air Force ANSWER A GLIMPSE BACK HAWC Nest Fitness Tip from the Health and Wellness Cantor Up to 12 weeks of FREE tobacco cessation medication is available to federal employees and up to 6 months is available for active duty, dependents and retirees when attending the tobacco cessation series. Call the Health and Wellness Center at 801-777-1215 for further information. THINK SAFETY Hill's Total 2012 DUIs: 10 Hill's Last DUI: fcate 30 Unit Involved: Toce - D On July 8, 1998, an upgraded T-38C Talon advanced trainer aircraft flew for the first time over Mesa, Ariz. To verify improved avionics, the 1 hour 20 minute flight was by Boeing test pilot Ed Wilson in the front seat and U.S. Air Force test pilot Capt John Deems in the rear seat. iiA - 67 44 the T-38C through 2020. The Air Force has about 500 T-38 aircraft in the inventory, used primarily by AETC to prepare student pilots for future training in fighter and bomber aircraft. The avionics upgrade program, along with an ongoing propulsion modernization, an ejection seat upgrade and an improved braking system was to extend the service life of ' 777-7000 action.line.pa@hill.af.mil When you call or send an e-mail, your comments will be recorded and staffed through the agency responsible for action. Report suspicious activity via the AFOSI EAGLE EYES program Dial: 777-3056 / 3057/ 3058. Watch — Report — Protect Force Protection is Our Business — Everyone is a Sensor Please give your supervisor and chain of command the opportunity to work with you in answering questions and solving problems before calling the Action Line. This will help me better serve your interests. Items of basewide interest will be published in the Hilltop Times. 75d t9ftzeizatioad Sufrftent Squad/zoo Airmen Against Drinking and Driving provide rides when designated drivers are unavailable. Call 777-1111 to request a ride anytime. Hours of operation: Fridays-Saturdays 10 p.m.- 6 a.m. Sundays 9 p.m.-midnight. Phone numbers 4 The base agencies listed can be contacted directly if you have a complaint or a problem with their services: 777-3056 Hill Straight Talk 777-9696 Hill Pride Hotline 777-7433 Security Forces 777-5333 777-5305 Public Affairs 777-3056 IG Complaints 24-hr. Crisis Information Vilitary Housing 825-9392 Force Support Squadron 777-4134 (for appointment) 777-2043 IC Complaints Base Restaurants 777-5361 vlaintenance 777-6142 Retirement/Compensation Safety Office 777-3333 (after hours) (civilian) 586-9300 Fraud Waste or Abuse 777-5361 Safety Office Hotline 777-5455 , Equal Opportunity Office 777-1985 Sexual Assault Response (recordi n g) Employer Relations 777 7129 Coordinator (or) 777-1964 1-877-885-9595 Military Pay 777- 1851 Loud Noise Union 777-3257 Civilian Pay 777-6246 (complaints) 777 1852 777-6901 75th Medical Group 777-4918 AFOSI NarcoticsHotline Air Force Suggestion 777-3090 Civil Engineering 777-1856 Family Assistance Center Program (when activated) - - SUICIDE PREVENTION ASSISTANCE Mental Health Clinic 777-7909 Chaplain 777-2106 Military OneSource (800) 342-9647 National Suicide (800) 273-8255 Prevention Line TriWest Crisis Line (866) 284-3743 TriWest Behavioral (866) 651 4970 Health Contact Center EAP (800) 222-0364 Occupational Medicine 777 1163 Services Wingman Advocates 777-2255 - - |