Are you a civilian contract specialist who may be looking for a job that is challenging, rewarding, and career enhancing? Or perhaps you are retiring or departing from one of the military services and are looking for a contract specialist position supporting your former members in arms. If so, the JCC-I/A is for you. The JCC-I/A needs experienced contract specialists to work in the highly charged, stimulating environment of Iraq.

In 2004, the Project and Contracting Office was established to support the humanitarian relief efforts in Iraq. In 2006, the various contracting offices operating independently in Iraq were brought under the Multi-National Forces-Iraq (MNF-I) Command, and JCC-I/A was established by a Central Command Fragmentary Order to support Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. The mission was to provide responsive operational contracting support to the Chiefs of Mission, MNF-I, and Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan to efficiently acquire vital supplies, services, and construction in support of coalition forces and the relief and reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan. Additionally, the mission was to build capacity to establish effective contracting and procurement processes within the Iraqi and Afghani Ministries to build and sustain self-sufficient security forces.

Since 2004, more than 70 civilian contract specialists have served in the JCC-I/A, either on detail or temporary assignment. These civilians have come from a variety of backgrounds, including DOD, U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Navy employees, retired annuitants, other federal government agencies, and private industry. The work environment has improved tremendously, and the sense of both personal and professional accomplishment that most employees feel after completing an assignment with the JCC-I/A is extremely rewarding.

Testimonials
Maile Parker, Senior Contracting Officer, now serving in theater says of her tour: "My experience here has been life-altering. The ability to serve and support our military men and women in the combat zone makes me feel like a contributor in our country’s war on terror. The commodities and services I procure are used in direct support of our Soldiers in aircraft and on the roads and help make a difference in the daily lives of our heroes here. I am glad to be a part of it. The most rewarding experience I have had as a contracting officer was when an Army Soldier thanked me for getting an essential piece of military equipment to him in 2 days versus the normal 2 weeks. Being here makes me focus on the big picture of life, duty, and service to country and minimizes my small travails. I am proud to be serving my country."

Ken Nix, now Chief of Staff at the Mission & Installation Contracting Command, Fort Sam Houston, TX, describes his experiences with two tours in Iraq as follows:

"I look back now after two tours in Iraq and realize that these assignments were the most rewarding of my career. Like every other civil servant who made the decision to go, I was worried about being one of the unlucky ones who may never return home. I could have easily thought of a dozen reasons that would prevent me from going and am thankful every day that I did not invoke any of those reasons to stay safely at home.

I was assigned to the [JCC-I/A] in the international zone and got to be a part of a joint military and civil servant team of the most dedicated personnel that [DOD] has to offer. We were not the smartest people in the room. We were not the very best in DOD acquisitions. We were not the bravest people on the battlefield. But we were there, and we gave it everything we had to help make the mission a success.

To all those civil servants who are still on the fence about volunteering to go to Iraq or Afghanistan, I know firsthand that the decision is not easy. What I can tell you is that the feeling you get by genuinely serving your country and your profession in a war zone is something that you will never look back on and regret. There is not a week that goes by that someone does not tell me how they would have gone to support the effort if not for one of the dozen reasons. The feeling of accomplishment that I got from my service in Iraq is incredible and an action that I will never look back on and have to say, 'If only I had.'"

There are additional benefits that go along with the job, other than a feeling of satisfaction in doing work directly supporting the warfighter. Employees are eligible to receive danger pay (35 percent of base salary) and foreign post differential (35 percent of base salary). The workweek is Sunday through Thursday, so Sunday premium pay is a part of the compensation package, as well as overtime and night differential. While you are not expected to serve this great Nation for monetary reasons, it helps to know that you will be well compensated for your service.

If you are interested in pursuing a position in JCC-I/A and would like further information, please contact Carolyn Creamer at carolyn.d.creamer@conus.army.mil.