Staff Sgt. Michael Chiti, 2nd Contracting Squadron contracting officer, reviews a contract on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Sept. 20, 2013. Contracting officers are the only individuals authorized to obligate government funds. (U.S. Air Force photo\Senior Airman Micaiah Anthony)
Staff Sgt. Justin Williamson talks with Airman 1st Class Kristopher Tolar, 2nd Contracting Squadron contracting specialists, about a contract on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Sept. 20, 2013. Contracting specialists conduct market research with various companies to acquire the best deals for the base and ensure proper protocol is followed when securing contracts for services. (U.S. Air Force photo\Senior Airman Micaiah Anthony)
Senior Airman Kent Pendleton, 2nd Contracting Squadron contracting specialist, makes corrections to a contract on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Sept. 20, 2013. Before a contract can be approved by a contracting officer, it must be reviewed by other contracting specialist to ensure all the information is correct and that no items are missing. (U.S. Air Force photo\Senior Airman Micaiah Anthony)
Airmen from the 2nd Contracting Squadron work inside the 2nd CONS building on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Sept. 20, 2013. Contracting Airmen stayed after normal duty hours for the end of fiscal year soft closeout. During the soft closeout, the Airmen allocate funds to provide units around base the equipment and services they need. (U.S. Air Force photo\Senior Airman Micaiah Anthony)
Master Sgt. Tonya Hughes, left, Maj. Garrett Truskett and Tech. Sgt. Steven Huffines, 2nd Contracting Squadron, flight chief, commander and contracting officer, respectively talk about purchase lists requests on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Sept. 20, 2013. The Airmen met to determine which contracts were going to be spent for the end of fiscal year soft closeout. (U.S. Air Force photo\Senior Airman Micaiah Anthony)
Airman 1st Class Justin Carroll, 2nd Contracting Squadron contracting specialist, creates a contract on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Sept. 20, 2013. Carroll, along with other Airmen from the 2nd CONS, stayed after normal duty hours to complete contracts for the end of fiscal year soft closeout. Each year the Air Force receives funding for defense related expenditures that must be allocated by Sept. 30. (U.S. Air Force photo\Senior Airman Micaiah Anthony)