CONS at FIP forefront

by Senior Airman Jason Wiese
90th Missile Wing Public Affairs

10/3/2014 - F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- Most people know a lot goes on behind the scenes in large organizations to make things happen. Most people also want to know the answer to the million-dollar question: who is handling the money, and where is it going?
For the Mighty Ninety, to answer these questions one must check behind the scenes at the 90th Contracting Squadron.

Contracting Airmen have handled the selection of contractors and awarding of contracts for the Air Force Global Strike Command Force Improvement Program, and over the course of September, have awarded almost $30 million in contracts.

More than half of this year's awards directly funded FIP initiatives to help execute a safe, secure and effective ICBM mission and shape its future.

"This is the most amount of money for a month of September that I've ever seen," said Maj. Katrina Curtis, 90th Contracting Squadron commander.

Air Force contracting squadrons receive project dollars -- money to spend on projects such as repairs and construction -- in September. For comparison, last year, the 90th CONS received $17 million, she said.

Millions of the dollars awarded in the contracts benefitted local businesses, especially small businesses, Curtis said.

"The programs [determining what contracts get awarded and to whom] are specifically laid out to inject money back into the local community," she said. "It's important for us to support the local economy because the community supports the people on base."

Funding funneled through the 90th CONS will support contracts for projects including roofing repair on base, a new skid pad for vehicle training, truck toppers for vehicles used in the missile complex, flooring repair, new mattresses for missile alert facilities and security forces uniform items.

Changes happening as a result of FIP has led to projects and funding that have not been seen in some time, Curtis said.

"It's a unique experience that I might never get in my career again," said 1st Lt. Cassie Fletcher, 90th CONS contract specialist. "I really appreciate the experience."

FIP is about improvement, and it takes money and resources to make improvements, so CONS is at the forefront of making FIP happen, Curtis said.

"Seeing the funding coming down totally validates that our mission here is important," Fletcher said.

Senior Department of Defense and Air Force leadership have long touted the nuclear deterrence mission as a high priority for the U.S.

It is easy to say something is a priority, but it is not until nuclear Airmen get the projects they need funded that they will say, "They really are treating us like a number-one priority now," said Curtis.

Now the command is doing just that, she said.

As a direct result of FIP, the 90th CONS has and will continue to take great strides for the betterment of the nuclear force.