Search and Recovery Exercise furthers TFI at McConnell

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Abigail Klein
  • 931st Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, KAN. --  Airmen of the 931st and 22nd Force Support Squadron teamed for the first time for a Search and Recovery Exercise June 3, 2017.

The exercise is an annual requirement for all FSS Airmen and is part of their Mortuary Affairs training. The class consisted of six Reserve and eight active duty Airmen.

Master. Sgt. Andrew McGhee, 931 Services Flight NCOIC, initiated the idea for a total force training back in January. He saw the blended training as an opportunity for the Reserve Airmen to interact and learn with their active duty counterparts.

“When we train cohesively you see no difference because when we are in uniforms, there really is no difference at all,” he said.

After receiving the support of FSS leadership, McGhee then collaborated with 22 FSS. Capt. Matthew Houser, 22 FSS Operations officer, also saw a great benefit to making the training a total force effort.

“We’re both required to do the same types of training, so this was the perfect opportunity to come out and build a working relationship and a stronger partnership,” he said.

After training in the class room for a few hours, the Airmen performed the Search and Recovery Exercise in an open field. The exercise required them to line up single file and march in unison, one step at a time, to collect debris from a simulated crash site.

The total force training between the 931 and 22 FSS is expected to continue and will include other Force Support job training, said McGhee. The two squadrons are already planning a total force Homestation Readiness Training in August.