Airman contracts mission success

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman J.G. Buzanowski
  • Combined Joint Task Force-76 public affairs
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AFPN) --  Like a great magician, if Capt. Jonathan Czarney has done his job right, most people won't see how it was done.

While on their mission here to bring relief supplies to Pakistanis affected by an earthquake last year, as if by magic, Soldiers will have a bed in which to sleep, food to eat, clothes laundered and their aircraft fueled -- all because of Captain Czarney. He is a contingency contracting officer deployed here to help ensure the mission is a success.

"On a mission like this, we needed to travel light," said Captain Czarney, who is deployed from McChord Air Force Base, Wash. "As a contracting officer, I'm able to broker deals with local businesses to provide everything we need that we couldn't bring."

The Soldiers are here as part of Operation Promise Keeping. With their trio of CH-47 Chinook helicopters, they've been bringing building materials to remote parts of the country devastated by last year's 7.6 magnitude earthquake.

While Captain Czarney's role is to support the people, the things he's done behind the scenes to enable the mission has also saved money.

"We're stewards of taxpayer dollars," said Captain Czarney of his profession. "One of the ways we can save money is by combining contracts. For example, with this mission, it was cheaper to have people stay in a hotel rather than building a bare base and paying for all the services we'd need - like sanitation, laundry, meals."

According to Army Lt. Col. Walter Bradley, the mission commander, health and safety were also factors to consider. Again, Captain Czarney's plan came through.

"We were here last year and living conditions at the tent city we created made things pretty tough for our folks," the colonel said. "We had people getting sick and it affected the mission. This time almost everything went off without a hitch."

This is the second deployment for Captain Czarney, a Bellevue, Wash., native who wanted to be a maintenance officer when he earned his commission.

"My father and uncle were both enlisted maintainers, so I thought I would enjoy that," Captain Czareny said. "But I've had some great opportunities as a contracting officer and it's rewarding to come on a mission like this and know that I'm making a difference."

While the Chinook crews were able to deliver 87 tons of cement, iron sheets and rebar, never once were they concerned about where'd they sleep or how fuel would get to the helicopters.

"Like pulling a rabbit out of a hat, all they need to see is that it happens, not necessarily how," Captain Czarney said. "If I've done my job right, the crews don't have to think about anything else other than flying those helicopters."