18th CPTS, CONS make end-of-year look easy

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Christopher Marasky
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  For Kadena's finance and contracting professionals, Sept. 30 every year usually means frenzied workers, moving dollars and nailing down contracts as the fiscal year comes to a close and fallout money is distributed by PACAF.

This year however, the 30th came and went without the usual drama as a result of careful and deliberate planning by the 18th Comptroller Squadron and the 18th Contracting Squadron and a lot of help from 18th Wing units that had their paperwork in order when it counted.

"This end-of-year is atypical of any that I've seen in the past," said Lt. Col. Brett Scrum, 18th Contracting Squadron commander. "We were pretty much completely done at two this afternoon. Normally we're sitting here until midnight, scrambling to get everything on contract. But the planning was so good this year and we didn't get as much money as we'd hoped, so the two came together to create a calm year."

Even with less money to spend this year, Kadena's financial experts worked hard to ensure a number of significant quality of life and mission needs will be funded next year.

"The Hagerstrom Pool requirement was the number one quality of life requirement we had for the wing," said Maj. Ron Devlin, 18th CONS infrastructure flight commander. "Fortunately the wing commander was able to identify the funding need, and CE was able to work with the 18th Force Support Squadron to figure out exactly what was needed. We matched that with the commercial industry and what they could do for us, and it all came together in the end."

Other priorities that got the green light as a result of this year's fallout included contracts for the new marquee located on Kuter Boulevard, the initial stages of procurement for new land mobile radios, and funding to start phase seven of the Post Acquisition Improvement Program for base housing.

In addition to being proud of the planning effort that went into this year's end-of-year closeout, there is a great sense of accomplishment knowing the items and services being procured will enhance the morale at Kadena said Staff Sgt. Gareth Davis, 18th CPTS budget analyst.

"We're going to put smiles on people's faces next fiscal year and for years to come," he said. "It's sometimes a thankless job since people don't know what we do, but it truly pleases us to know and see the projects happen after we fund them."

Brig. Gen. Brett Williams, 18th Wing commander, paid a visit to both squadrons on the eve of the new fiscal year.

"I just wanted to say how much I appreciate the work they've done," he said. "This year sounds like we are even better positioned than last year, with all the work they've done working with all the squadrons throughout the wing to make sure everything was up to speed and ready to execute."