I can hardly believe it has been ten years since my combat service in Fallujah, Iraq. I was working at the Mujahedin-E Khalq Compound in support of over 27,000 Coalition forces operating within Al Anbar Province. I wrote this article August 18th, 2018, however mentally, I was back in 2008. I began recalling the joys and pains of contingency contracting. Suddenly, I had an idea. Why not share it in a blog!
I made my final and longest deployment as a U.S. Marine on January 16th, 2008 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). The deployment was 13 months in duration. I operated out of Fallujah the first ten months of the tour and Al Asad, Iraq for the final three months. I was a member of the Command Element for Multi-National Forces West (MNF-W) and responsible for all contracting activity within Al Anbar Province. Al Anbar Province is bordered on the west by Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Multi-National Forces West was commanded by I Marine Expeditionary Force (Fwd.) out of Camp Pendleton, California. The MNF-W headquarters was the MEK Compound (Mujahedin-E Khalq), known as Camp Fallujah, and was used as a base by U.S. Marines from 2004 to 2009. Fallujah gained worldwide attention on March 31st, 2004 when Iraqi insurgents ambushed a convoy, killing four military contractors from Blackwater USA. As a result, the U.S. Marines were ordered to launch a major assault on Fallujah less than a week later.
Coincidentally, my rotation was tasked with “closing” down Camp Fallujah and moving the Command Element to Al Asad. At the micro-level it meant I, Master Sergeant Troy Small (along with my Marines, Airmen and Contractors) was charged with closing down Regional Contracting Center- Fallujah (RCC-Fallujah) and opening up RCC- Al Asad, while continuing to support the Warfighter who is truly on the front lines. We had to contract out for construction and repair services to make our assigned building inhabitable for working conditions. Think new toilets, windows, installing doors and running LAN and SIPR cable. I can remember my Contingency Contracting Officers going on site visits to Al Asad and other locations to oversee construction projects. Remember, this is an active war. They can’t jump in a car and drive to the site visit. It entailed a ride in an MRAP (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicle with the looming threat of IEDs (Improvised Explosive Device). Or a helicopter ride with 3 or 4 stops. Helicopters are most at risk to small arms fire when taking off and landing. Scary stuff when you’ve personally experienced and received small arms fire while riding in a helicopter. As their Senior Enlisted Leader, I secretly held the role of mother and father. I balanced my Marines sense of mission, adventure and accomplishment with safety. The number one goal was to return home to our families alive and in one piece. Therefore, we did not leave the compound for frivolous reasons and took every precaution when we did go on a mission outside the wire.
The move to Al Asad didn’t take place until November, but we were preparing to move many months before. What does prepare to move look like, one may ask? Think spring cleaning in the desert! We combed through our ‘stuff’, which was housed in Conex shipping containers, and discarded what wasn’t needed. The Conex boxes are like the attic in your home. Much of the items have been there for years and probably outlived its use or effectiveness. Same situation here, except that all our stuff is from the previous rotations of contracting Marines.
As I continued to reflect, I remembered I underwent a Commanding General’s Inspection (CGI) and a Procurement Performance Management Assessment Program (PPMAP) inspection that same year. Talk about pressure, I touched down in country and was faced with executing a CGI and PPMAP inspection under a Joint Command, close down RCC- Fallujah, establish RCC-Al Asad, promote the Iraqi First Program and support the Warfighter who’s getting shot at every day. I’m happy to say I was trained, equipped and prepared for the task. We successfully transitioned to Al Asad. We had no significant findings during the PPMAP or CGI, and my tour of duty ended on a high note with the personal presentation of a Joint Service Commendation Medal from Commander, HQ, Joint Contracting Command-Iraq/Afghanistan, Baghdad, Iraq.