Learning in Kosovo

Middle East District
Published Sept. 26, 2009


WINCHESTER, Va. -- Department of Army Interns in the Contracting Division at the Transatlantic Programs Center (TAC) have a unique opportunity to see how their work directly affects people on the receiving end of a logistics services contract that supports military peacekeeping operations.

The U.S. Army Europe (USAREUR) Support Contract, or USC, is unique to TAC operations for a couple of reasons. Work under the contract is carried out in USAREUR area of operations, whereas the large majority of TAC’s work occurs in U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility, and the contract’s execution in the Balkans classifies it as a contingency contract.

So, while DA Interns are not permitted to work in Iraq or Afghanistan during their internship, those learning contracting and acquisition at TAC can gain actual contingency contract experience while deployed. The Contracting Division has a full-time Administrative Contracting Office in Kosovo that ensures the contractor meets performance and quality standards.

“Other (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) districts can send interns to work in their area offices,” said John Roberts, TAC’s intern coordinator and Chief of Contracting Support Branch. “TAC is unique because our area offices are all overseas, and we have an excellent opportunity for our interns with the USC mission.”


What began as an experiment in the USAREUR support branch quickly became a valuable tool in supporting the mission, according to Leigh Bandy, chief of USAREUR Support Branch.

“The initial idea was to provide interns rotating through my branch with some experience working on a contingency contract,” said Bandy. “It turned out they became extremely important to the mission, even helping out where we had some personnel shortages.” The first intern that traveled to Kosovo was Jennifer Tilden, whose experimental trip turned into a three-month endeavor that found her doing operational work.

“Basically, I was a young woman flying half way around the world to a country filled with strangers,” said Tilden, discussing her initial concerns about the unprecedented trip. “Then, once I got to base the work considerations kicked in.

“I worked in a day-to-day capacity supporting the Administrative Contracting Officer's office on Camp Bondsteel,” continued Tilden. “Most of the work I did involved things like performance evaluation boards, preparing for the award fee board, and writing memorandums to the contractor. I also was involved in office support with our local national staff there, including learning some aspects of quality assurance.”

“Jennifer wasn’t just looking over someone’s shoulder,” added Bandy. “She was doing the work and helping accomplish the mission.” “Working in Kosovo gave me wonderful ‘on-the-ground’ experience, dealing closely with both the contractor and the customer,” said Tilden. “Dealing with problems in a contingency environment is vital to future high-pressure contracting actions.

“Beyond that,” she said, “The people I met in Kosovo were absolutely amazing. It was equally valuable as a cultural experience.” Pete DeMattei was the most recent intern to work in Kosovo, and his 30-day deployment was also extended once they saw what an asset he was on the ground there.

“It was a great experience and a wonderful opportunity to see how the contract actually works,” said DeMattei after returning from his six-week stay in the Balkans. “In that environment, you see the effect a contract has on people. It’s not just the words on the paper. There is a very human element involved.

“I came to work at TAC with a desire to give back to my country and find a career,” continued DeMattei. “I wanted to combine my military and construction backgrounds, so I was very fortunate to be selected for the Department of Army intern program and I’m thrilled to be doing this kind of work. It is a really good fit.”

“It is an extremely valuable experience,” added Bandy. “The Administrative Contracting Officer there ensures they understand the various aspects of the contract. These interns come away with a real working knowledge of the contract.”

TAC began administering logistics services contracts on behalf of USAREUR in December 1995 when U.S. forces were deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina for peacekeeping missions. The current contract is primarily being used to support peacekeeping operations in Kosovo. The contract is TAC’s largest services contract, providing for base camp operations and maintenance associated with troop housing and basic life support. It is also used throughout USAREUR’s area of operations to support military training exercises, such as those in Bulgaria and Romania, and for future contingency operations.

The cost of services has averaged about $50 million per year for the last few years.

According to Roberts, the goal of the intern program is to bring in new talent and grow the acquisition workforce.

“We use formal schooling and on-the-job training, rotating the interns through different branch offices, to educate and develop professionals,” he said. “Most are eager to learn and many have skills they can apply immediately. It is a win-win scenario for the organization and the individual.”

As long as the mission is there – it appears it will be for the foreseeable future – and TAC has contingency work in the Balkans, we will continue sending willing interns as they rotate through the USAREUR Support Branch, according to Bandy.

The next intern in line has expressed an interest in the mission and has been tentatively scheduled to deploy next fall.

The first intern that traveled to Kosovo was Jennifer Tilden, whose experimental trip turned into a three-month endeavor that found her doing operational work.

“Basically, I was a young woman flying half way around the world to a country filled with strangers,” said Tilden, discussing her initial concerns about the unprecedented trip. “Then, once I got to base the work considerations kicked in. “I worked in a day-to-day capacity supporting the Administrative Contracting Officer's office on Camp Bondsteel,” continued Tilden. “Most of the work I did involved things like performance evaluation boards, preparing for the award fee board, and writing memorandums to the contractor. I also was involved in office support with our local national staff there, including learning some aspects of quality assurance.”

“Jennifer wasn’t just looking over someone’s shoulder,” added Bandy. “She was doing the work and helping accomplish the mission.” “Working in Kosovo gave me wonderful ‘on-the-ground’ experience, dealing closely with both the contractor and the customer,” said Tilden. “Dealing with problems in a contingency environment is vital to future high-pressure contracting actions.

“Beyond that,” she said, “The people I met in Kosovo were absolutely amazing. It was equally valuable as a cultural experience.” Pete DeMattei was the most recent intern to work in Kosovo, and his 30-day deployment was also extended once they saw what an asset he was on the ground there.

“It was a great experience and a wonderful opportunity to see how the contract actually works,” said DeMattei after returning from his six-week stay in the Balkans. “In that environment, you see the effect a contract has on people. It’s not just the words on the paper. There is a very human element involved.

“I came to work at TAC with a desire to give back to my country and find a career,” continued DeMattei. “I wanted to combine my military and construction backgrounds, so I was very fortunate to be selected for the Department of Army intern program and I’m thrilled to be doing this kind of work. It is a really good fit.”

“It is an extremely valuable experience,” added Bandy. “The Administrative Contracting Officer there ensures they understand the various aspects of the contract. These interns come away with a real working knowledge of the contract.”

TAC began administering logistics services contracts on behalf of USAREUR in December 1995 when U.S. forces were deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina for peacekeeping missions. The current contract is primarily being used to support peacekeeping operations in Kosovo. The contract is TAC’s largest services contract, providing for base camp operations and maintenance associated with troop housing and basic life support. It is also used throughout USAREUR’s area of operations to support military training exercises, such as those in Bulgaria and Romania, and for future contingency operations.

The cost of services has averaged about $50 million per year for the last few years.

According to Roberts, the goal of the intern program is to bring in new talent and grow the acquisition workforce.

“We use formal schooling and on-the-job training, rotating the interns through different branch offices, to educate and develop professionals,” he said. “Most are eager to learn and many have skills they can apply immediately. It is a win-win scenario for the organization and the individual.”

As long as the mission is there – it appears it will be for the foreseeable future – and TAC has contingency work in the Balkans, we will continue sending willing interns as they rotate through the USAREUR Support Branch, according to Bandy.

The next intern in line has expressed an interest in the mission and has been tentatively scheduled to deploy next fall.