ALPENA COMBAT READINESS TRAINING CENTER, Mich. — The Alaska Air National Guard 168th Wing Medical Group continues to strengthen its operational edge, proving lethality in today’s battlespace isn’t just about combat power - it’s about readiness and the ability to respond quickly in complex, high-stakes environments.
This was evident during recent training at the Combat Readiness Training Center, or CRTC, in Alpena, Michigan, where the 168th Wing Medical Group demonstrated why it is a vital strategic asset for Alaska as well as the entire northern region of the globe and the Indo-Pacific region.
Tucked in the woods of northern Michigan, the Alpena CRTC serves as a critical hub for joint and integrated training for the Air National Guard and partner forces. During a recent multi-unit exercise, Airmen from the 168th Wing joined units from across the country to train in public health, bioenvironmental response, radiation monitoring and Tactical Combat Casualty Care Tier 2, designed to sharpen their operational readiness for real-world missions.
“The most valuable part of my medical training at Alpena was the opportunity to gain practical experience in my career field,” said Tech. Sgt. Jazzmin Tristan, 168th Wing Public Health technician. “Completing 100% of my Career Medical Readiness Program requirements provided a strong foundation in deployment readiness and preventative medicine.”
The CRTC intensive training met certification goals and prepared the team to operate in harsh, resource-constrained environments. Exposure to varied techniques from across the Air National Guard allowed members to bring new insights and improvements back to their home station.
“Learning from other Air National Guard Public Health technicians exposed me to different approaches and best practices I can apply to my own everyday work,” Tristan said.
As the only Air National Guard wing in interior Alaska, the 168th Wing plays a critical role in defending U.S. interests in the Arctic and Pacific regions. Operating from Eielson Air Force Base, the Wing supports long-range refueling missions, homeland defense and strategic deterrence operations, which are growing in importance as global powers increase their presence in the Indo-Pacific.
The Medical Group’s readiness directly supports these missions. The group members’ ability to ensure force health protection, respond to bio-threats and manage public health crises ensures the Wing remains operationally capable in the high north, one of the most logistically and environmentally challenging theaters. In an era of shifting geopolitical landscapes, the 168th’s role in Arctic and Indo-Pacific operations cannot be overstated.
The public health career field members continued to prepare for real-world missions while training at Alpena, standing ready to defend as a frontline defense.
“This training has directly prepared me for real-world missions by providing relevant scenarios that could take place in a deployed setting,” Tristan said. “The training emphasized teamwork, communication and how to handle high-pressure situations—skills that translate directly to the field.”
A particularly memorable scenario involved managing a simulated foodborne illness outbreak with limited resources and personnel. The team was tasked with identifying the source, conducting patient interviews, collecting samples, controlling the outbreak and implementing prevention measures.
“This exercise highlighted how crucial communication is and how many different agencies are involved when conducting a foodborne illness outbreak investigation,” Tristan said.
The training environment at Alpena simulated a realistic, deployed setting.
“I had to quickly adapt to working with individuals I had never met before,” Tristan said. “Learning to communicate effectively with different personalities and backgrounds, and building trust within a short timeframe. This significantly enhanced my resilience and adaptability if I ever do deploy.”
The unit also conducted Tactical Combat Casualty Care Tier 2 training to enhance battlefield medical readiness.
Such training builds not only technical competence but also the essential skills required for expeditionary operations, whether in the Middle East, the Indo-Pacific or the Arctic Circle.
The 168th Wing Medical Group exemplifies how mission readiness and strategic lethality are closely intertwined. In Alaska, America’s forward edge in Arctic defense, the Wing’s work ensures that U.S. forces remain healthy, deployable and capable of projecting air power anywhere in the world.
At Alpena, the 168th Medical Group strengthened the medical backbone as one of the most strategically vital wings in the Air National Guard.