The military is ready to do business: navigating the Pentagon's bureaucracy is a battle in itself but the spoils of war are worth it.

• Position: Q&A WITH MAJ. GEN. CARL JENSEN - Interview

What do North Carolina businesses seeking military contracts need to know?

They should know their military is as interested in doing business with them as they are with us. We know the government's procurement process can be daunting, whether it's the unexpected amount of paperwork, the bidding process itself or something as simple as, "Who do I ask for help?" Making matters worse, it's not unusual for the rules to change every few years. It's not hard to understand initial frustrations with the system and the apparent incongruity with a military that says, "We welcome business." Our challenge is to find ways to reach out to businesses and help them navigate the maze because ultimately our success depends on their success.

What's the biggest misperception small-business owners have about doing business with the military? What's the truth?

Many small-business owners believe they can't compete with large defense contractors and that there's no room for them at the table. The truth is we're legally required to utilize small and economically disadvantaged businesses as much as possible. There are numerous programs to facilitate small businesses and ensure they have a seat at the table, and frankly, it just makes good sense to actively support the many small businesses that contribute so much to the nation's economy. Besides, we're the Marine Corps. We love underdogs.

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What's the biggest question you hear when you interact with North Carolina business owners?

Well, we certainly field quite a few questions about buying processes and red tape initially, but then the conversation invariably changes to something more along the lines of, "What can we do to help our military?" The second biggest concern we hear is that businesses want access and a fair opportunity to compete. We understand that and intend to deliver.

In what ways is the military, and Marine Corps Installations East in particular, reaching out to North Carolina or local businesses?

An important aspect of my job is to demystify Federal Acquisition Regulation System dictates, as well as Marine Corps buying processes. That's a tall order, but I have professionals dedicated to that task, including members of my contracting offices and my small-business professionals. When they're not hosting outreach events, they're participating in...