The 181st Force Support Squadron expanded its skills and trained on lesser used aspects of their career field during the squadron's annual training June 14-19, 2026, at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Michigan. The 181st FSS is responsible for human resources, personnel management, morale programs, and sustainment efforts that support Airmen.
“The squadron picked Alpena because it's a combat readiness training center, so it has all the equipment that we need to accomplish our training,” said Master Sgt. Dalton Hatcher, the 181st FSS personnel readiness noncommissioned officer in charge. “We try to accomplish this training at the wing, but we don't have the items that we need.”
Last year, personnel and administration career fields combined into a single Human resources and administration career field. While this merger supported the concept of multi-capable Airmen, it created difficulties within the squadron to provide united training for all of the career fields within its scope of responsibility..
“When we merged last year, everyone had the same readiness requirements,” said Hatcher. “In order for us to get everybody spun up and on the same page, we had to find a location where we can do all the training, but also ensure quality.”
As part of its annual training requirements, the 181st FSS practiced search and recovery. This required Airmen to assemble a small shelter system before conducting a grid-like search to recover, document, and respectfully handle the remains of simulated fallen personnel and personal effects.
“Command and support staff and personnel members of FSS could be pulled to do search and recovery as an augmentee,” said Staff Sgt. Miranda Hayne, a member of the 181st FSS. “They don't get the opportunity to get outside their offices often to get hands-on training. This exercise rounds out their training that they're not able to get at home.”
The training enhanced service members' readiness for real-world operations and laid the groundwork for more advanced and complex training opportunities in the near future.
“We'll go out to disasters, whether it's hurricanes, major accidents, hazardous spills, anywhere there's fatalities involved, and we'll get tasked to go and search," said Senior Airman Ndege Ogega, a service member of the 181st FSS, when asked about real-world application of these skills.