Lt. Col. Rickey Torres, left, officially assumes command of the Regional Contracting Center-Afghanistan from Lt. Col. Eric Brooks while using COVID-19 safe practices May 22 at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Torres is commander of the 925th Contracting Battalion from Fort Drum, New York. Brooks is commander of the 919th Contracting Battalion from Fort Bliss, Texas. (Courtesy Photo, U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command)
925th Contracting Battalion assumes regional contracting center command
Ryan Mattox
U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (May 26, 2020) – The 925th Contracting Battalion assumed command of the Regional Contracting Center-Afghanistan on May 22 in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel in Afghanistan.
Under the leadership of Lt. Col. Rickey Torres, 925th CBN commander, and Master Sgt. Justin Pellak, 925th CBN senior enlisted adviser, the battalion assumed the mission of providing contracting solutions and support throughout the Combined Joint Operations Area-Afghanistan to enable U.S. and coalition forces to build Afghanistan National Defense Security Forces capacity and legitimacy.
“The 925th Contracting Battalion and RCC-Afghanistan provide precision contract support to support all contingencies and operations … to win in a complex world,” Torres said in a guidance and expectations message. “We are the face of the contracting community (to) forge alliances, synchronize and integrate premier contracting operations and optimize readiness with mission partners.”
Torres credits a team effort by the battalion and contracting office’s Department of the Army civilians, contractors, NCOs and officers as significant and essential in preparing the unit for success during the deployment.
“Our warfighters count on us for the operational contract support needed to accomplish the mission, wherever and whenever they need it,” he said. “Your tireless efforts ensure that our Army remains the best in the world, and every team member is critical to our success.”
The 925th CBN is composed of a headquarters and four contracting teams aligned with the 10th Mountain Division (LI) at Fort Drum, New York. This deployment marks the third time the battalion has deployed with the 10th Mountain Division in the last four years.
The 925th CBN and MICC-Fort Drum contracting offices provide reliable, agile and responsive contract capability and support to the Fort Drum Garrison and 10th Mountain Division. The 925th CBN and MICC-Fort Drum are subordinate to the 419th Contracting Support Brigade headquartered at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.