Financial managers play a vital role in sustaining the mission during contingency operations, particularly when units operate with limited resources and degraded infrastructure. The 17th Comptroller Squadron evaluated its ability to sustain mission-essential financial functions during its inaugural Iron Ledger contingency readiness assessment, Aug. 18–20. The three-day exercise simulated a high-stress deployed environment in which members established and maintained funding operations. “Iron Ledger is a SAF/FM (Secretary of the Air Force Financial Management) led certification event where financial management offices can test contingency operations in an austere environment,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Byron Harrison, 17th Comptroller Squadron senior enlisted leader. Unlike a training exercise, Iron Ledger evaluates the team's ability to execute assigned wartime and contingency missions without instruction or coaching. Participants were expected to perform mission-essential tasks as they would in real-world contingency operations. During the assessment, 17th CPTS personnel established and secured processes for emergency procurements, cash disbursements and other financial services while adapting to simulated combat scenarios and communication outages. “Financial management is expected to be on site and pushing with all other mission partners,” said Harrison. “We are no longer static support. Members need to be competent not just in their financial mission but needed to back up their teammates across base.” Iron Ledger participants completed a combat fitness test designed to evaluate their physical strength, endurance, agility and overall physical readiness while simulating physical demands associated with contingency operations. Whether on the battlefield or operating in place, members must work together across specialties to protect and defend the force and continue executing the mission when called upon. “The money keeps the mission going, so we have to be flexible in our roles to step in when needed,” said Staff Sgt. Ashleigh Baker, 17th CPTS financial operations supervisor. “You never know what might happen downrange that will take one of your people out and the rest of the team needs to cover their responsibilities.”