OPERATING OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE
Whether it’s on the job or in our personal lives, stepping outside your comfort zone and navigating something new or unfamiliar can seem intimidating, if not daunting. But for Staff Sgt. Sara Craig, who is with the 418th Contract Support Brigade, 51C, it’s more about the challenge. According to her, there’s no better way to realize your full poten- tial unless you’re at least willing to explore new territory.
STAFF SGT. SARA CRAIG
COMMAND/ORGANIZATION: Mission and Installation Contracting Command, 418th Contract Support Brigade
TITLE: Theater Support Cell noncommissioned officer in charge
YEARS OF SERVICE IN WORKFORCE: 8 YEARS OF MILITARY SERVICE: 19
DAWIA CERTIFICATIONS: DOD contracting professional
EDUCATION: MBA in business administration, Columbia Southern University; Bachelor of Professional Studies in business and management, Excelsior College
AWARDS: Army Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal; Meritorious Unit Citation; National Defense Service Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Korea Defense Service Medal
“I became part of the Army Acquisition Workforce because I wanted a more active role in supporting the warfighter. I have always loved serving in the United States Army, but it was hard for me to see the results of my work in a meaningful way in my previ- ous MOS [military occupational specialties],” she said. “As a 51C, I work directly with my Army requiring activity customers to facilitate the acquisition of goods and services [computers, computer hardware, latrine services, material handling equipment (MHE), chapel musicians, etc.] that are necessary for mission accomplishment and often improve the environment for fellow Soldiers. I am involved in this process from cradle to grave and can see the results of my labor.”
In addition to interfacing with customers, Craig is responsible for mentoring and train- ing contracting professionals and tracking contracting metrics—something else she did not get to do in previous positions. She said this is vital for the Army because it ensures the acquisition of necessary items when they cannot be sourced through other channels.
“By using PALT [Procurement Acquisition Lead Time], we educate and assist our customers with their requirement through each stage of the acquisition process,” she said. Te PALT system tracks the amount of time required to complete actions leading to a contract award and is used to effectively procure the service or supply the customer is requesting. “Effectively using this contracting acquisition process directly contrib- utes to mission accomplishment across the force,” she said about the PALT system and contracting process overall. “It is satisfying to see the end result of my work and the [whole] acquisition process.”
Craig said her greatest satisfaction as part of the acquisition workforce is the opportu- nity to support Soldiers, but she noted the most important points in her career were the training and fellowship she gained over the years. “Training is important because it has prepared me to be a contracting professional able to handle a varied range of contract- ing complexities and given me the ability to hone my business acumen in my everyday professional encounters,” she said. “As a more senior 51C, I can now pay that train- ing forward. I have taken lead in developing training for six noncommissioned officers and four officers after identifying a deficiency in training opportunities that align with METL [Mission Essential Task Lists] tasks. My hope is that the program I am devel- oping can aid the MICC [Mission and Installation Contracting Command] as the master gunner program is fleshed out. METL are the Headquarters, Department of the Army official listings of the fundamental tasks that units are designed to perform
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Army AL&T Magazine Winter 2024
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