Inside the training that shapes contingency contracting readiness Published April 6, 2026 By Airman 1st Class Xavier Romero 36 Wing ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- Members assigned to the 36th Contracting Squadron completed their annual Contingency Contracting Officer (CCO) training course here, Feb. 25, 2026. The three-day exercise was held to test the members’ capabilities to provide operational support in an austere environment. “The goal of our annual exercise is to ensure that our Airmen are trained and prepared in case of a contingency [operation],” said Master Sgt. Christopher Townsend, a base infrastructure flight superintendent for the 36th CONS. “It is important for them to know how to operate in a contingency environment.” On a day-to-day basis, contracting Airmen support installation operations by acquiring supplies and services that enable warfighter capabilities, developing business arrangements, promoting competition and upholding ethical standards through Air Force regulations. When it comes to working in an environment where base operations are fast paced and dealing becomes a battle of wits, contingency contracting focuses on Airmen executing mission priorities efficiently and quickly. “It is a totally different operation out here,” said Airman 1st Class Jeremy Taber, a contracting specialist with the 36th CONS.“We had to deal with difficult contractors that wouldn’t follow regulations and we had to make purchases with cash rather than an electronic funds transfer.” Approximately 40 scenarios occurred during the exercise, including basic commodity purchases, briefing their commander in an austere environment and a situation where a contractor attempted an armed robbery. After the simulated robbery, Airmen were required to document the description of the person committing the act along with the time, location and if any money was stolen or if any service members were harmed. In addition to challenging injects, some of the participants also had to stay in a “tent city” and face the Guam elements throughout the course. “We were woken up pretty often from the rain, wind and anything else in the environment,” Townsend said. “Even though it was rough, it was a great location and opportunity for us to get through it.” Townsend explained that the contingency contracting exercise is planned and developed at the Air Force level, with scenarios then passed down to planners like himself. He said it took approximately a week to plan the injects and scenarios. This approach allows planners and event leads to adjust beyond the baseline contingencies, depending on how participants choose to carry out the exercise. Once the exercise was completed, the Airmen returned to their squadron with real world operational skills. “I’m coming to the end of my career so I’m just trying to provide that outlook and oversight to my Airmen when they need it in a real contingency,” Townsend said. “I’m happy to see that they came out here with a great attitude, embracing the suck and doing the best they can.” Contracting administrators and officers will be able to use the concepts they learned during the exercise down range when needed. The next CCO training course is scheduled for early 2027.