WORKFORCE


FASHIONABLE IN ORANGE Stokes performs an on-site visit with a contractor at Fort Riley. (Photo by 923rd Contracting Battalion/MICC)


ended up doing a virtual board,” she said “and submitting our physical fitness test scores” rather than competing in person. Again, her unit came to her aid. “Te MICC supported me and helped me prac- tice for the competition.” She made and studied hundreds of flashcards, and her teammates at MICC held mock inter- views to help her practice her presence and confidence with public speaking. “Teir support was instrumental to my success,” she said.


Stokes shared the most valuable lesson she has learned in her career so far. “Just have the courage to show up and try,” she said. “Most of the time, it will work out and, if it doesn’t, at least you know you gave it your best shot.” She advises junior acquisi- tion personnel to always ask “Why?” when


completing contracting tasks. “When people first switch to contracting, we jump into a fast-paced environment with no experience,” she said. “It’s like drinking from a fire hose.” Rather than just copy- ing what was done before, she encourages everyone to learn by asking questions. “You have to know why to really under- stand the process.”


Today, her biggest challenge at work is trying to find a way to get to yes when acquisition challenges arise. “It can be hard to meet customer expectations while still


following contracting rules and


the FAR [Federal Acquisition Regula- tion],” she said. “We try to solve problems instead of just saying, ‘We can’t do that.’ A better way is to figure out how you can do it.” She feels it is important to


help customers understand the acquisi- tion process through proactive and clear communication, and she strives to create mutually beneficial solutions. Apt advice from the Soldier who says to just “show up and try.”


For her next challenge, Stokes is taking on the world of special operations. “My unit at Fort Riley encouraged me to apply for a contracting position with a special oper- ations unit,” she said. She was accepted and is now in the middle of moving to her new duty assignment with the U.S. Army Special Operations Command. If this new challenge is anything like her last, Stokes is sure to succeed. At least she’ll show up and try.


—ELLEN SUMMEY


https://asc.ar my.mil


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