IRAQ –
Name: Capt. Jeremy "Diesel" Babb
Home Unit: Air Combat Command Installation and Mission Support Directorate
Location: International Zone, Baghdad, Iraq
What do you do? I'm a Contingency Contracting Officer for the Joint Contracting Command - Iraq (JCC-I) specifically supporting the Multi-National Security Transition Command.
What's a day in the life like ... while in Iraq? The majority of my day is spent procuring requirements (vehicles, equipment, etc.) for the rapid build-up of the Iraqi Army and security forces to enable a smooth transition of duties from Coalition Forces to the Iraqi units & allow them to stand on their own. The rest of the time is spent teaching our Iraqi counterparts on acquisition practices and positive business relationships.
What will you remember about your deployment 20 years from now? The people. Seeing people taking charge of their own lives and being proactive in it is one of the beautiful and poignant things I will remember.
What's the most useful item you packed? That's a toss-up between my ballistic sun goggles and multipurpose tool. The goggles for their protection from the sun & sandstorms; the multipurpose tool...well, I never leave home without one because I use it for so many things.
When did you realize you "weren't in Kansas anymore;" aka your "Dorothy" moment? The "O-Dark Thirty" ride in the Rhino (Up-armored bus) from the Airport through the IZ after no sleep during the previous 36+ hours. Too surreal.
What has been the highlight of your tour? Successfully negotiating a contract award to supply the Iraqi Navy with critical engine parts to bring several ships back into service to protect their borders from insurgents and their natural resources. They'd been unable to procure these for over a year; it felt good to come through in the clutch to help them get back on their feet.
What's the best part of the deployment? Besides going home? I'd have to say further expanding my contracting knowledge through the interaction of so many top-notch acquisition professionals in all branches of the military.
The worst part? Relying on poor telecommunication networks that are always going down due to the elements and other issues. Really makes communications with vendors, agencies, customers & family difficult at best.
What new survival skill have you learned? Learning the languages of our Sister Services: lingo, acronyms, organization structures and other idiosyncrasies. Knowing them made it easier to get the job done.
What do you do during down time? Exercise and practice my saber fencing techniques
What is the first thing you will do when you return? Get my daughter from my folks who have been watching her while I'm deployed.
What is the first thing you will eat when you return? Makes some homemade chili for the family.
What insight/experience will you take away from your time over there? That no matter what the situation, you can always learn and grow from every experience you encounter. The minute we stop is the minute we fail.
What do you miss the most? Spending time with my daughter & friends on weekends.
How is your job that you are doing now different from the job back stateside? Except for the end customer, mission and the occasional mortar or rocket shelling, it is pretty much the same. Folks in our profession are problem-solvers, at home and deployed.
Have you tried the local cuisine? Yes. I enjoy trying the local cuisines wherever I go.
What do you think about what you hear on the news from what is going on stateside? Honestly, I do not spend much time pondering what is going on stateside. My focus right now is on accomplishing the mission at hand and staying in touch with my daughter and keeping up our father daughter relationship.
Do you have plans for any extra money that you might be making from this deployment? Yes.
If so, what will you buy? Most of it will go towards the usual expenses associated with deployments as a single parent and squirreling a little away for my daughter's future education.