MDG garners downrange experience Published Sept. 17, 2010 By Capt. Carla Gleason 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Nine Airmen from the 56th Medical Group recently deployed together in support of Operations New Dawn and Enduring Freedom, calling themselves "Team Luke." They make up nearly 10 percent of the 92-member deployed expeditionary medical group. This eclectic team of medical professionals from across the spectrum assembled at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia and picked up operations immediately, including highly visible missions like life flight evacuations and acute clinical care. "The nine all left Arizona in July ready to hit the ground not running, but sprinting," said Lt. Col. Lori Everett. "The past two-and-a-half months have been very busy, especially at a deployed expeditionary location in the process of becoming enduring." Team Luke's expeditionary members include Senior Airman Hector Cardona, public health; Senior Airman Michael Fernau, primary care; Staff Sgts. Aaron Campbell and Michael Rivera, bioenvironmental engineering; Tech. Sgt. Eric Stailing, immunizations; Master Sgt. Christopher Van Zandt, facility management; Capt. Robert Davis, family practice; Maj. Michael Blowers, physical therapy; and Colonel Everett. "[Working at a deployed location is] a very different experience compared to home station," said Airman Cardona who said he enjoys meeting new people and shadowing in other career fields. "I like knowing our job as public health is essential to the health of the base population." Airman Cardona also stepped out of his primary job in public health to help work a sensitive medical issue. "Because of his help and professionalism, I was able to secure placement for this patient while comfortably knowing the patient was in good care," said Airman Cardona's co-healthcare provider. Sergeant Stailing was part of the first-ever local coalition air evacuation exercise at his deployed location where he experienced coalition operations first-hand. "We trained together with the [local] military and civilian life flight helicopter team to ensure that if we evacuate a patient, there would be no delay," said Sergeant Stailing. "The training guaranteed that everyone would know their role in saving a patient's life." As the immunization clinic NCO-in-charge, Sergeant Stailing is responsible for 12,000 individuals on base, responds to 911 emergencies and has experienced expeditionary medicine. "The enormity of the day-to-day mission accomplished as a base here in Southwest Asia has had a huge impact on me," Colonel Everett said. "To be able to converse with individuals who carry out the intricate duties that make this base function in sync with other deployed locations, gives me a sense of awe." Colonel Everett enjoys the focus deployment locations allow her to have; the ability to escape the distraction of additional duties and focus solely on the mission. "My dental team surpassed every single previous production goal during our second month here, seeing double and triple the number of patients normally treated at nondeployed dental clinics. It has been exhausting, but in a good way," she said. Airman Fernau, who works in the primary care clinic at Luke Air Force Base, is a medical technician at his deployed location, and says the experience he is gaining is invaluable. "I'm utilizing skills out here that were taught in tech school but I would not be using back home," he said. "I've gone on 10 9-1-1 calls, eight of those as lead medic, in my first two months being [deployed], which is definitely one of my greatest experiences. Just knowing that I had an impact on an individual's health and well-being is rewarding itself." Team Luke's accomplishments have not gone unnoticed. From the wing commander and higher headquarters' coins to certificates-of-appreciation, their efforts are being rewarded across their deployed location. Sergeant Rivera received a letter of recognition for outstanding support downrange, but he says that's just part of his job. "This is my first deployment and time is going by quickly," he said. "Since I've been here I've cleared more than 4.5 million bottles of water." But it's his off-duty activities, including volunteer work with the individual first-aid kit assemblers and soccer with coalition forces, that he enjoys the most. Captain Davis was recently recognized by his deployed wing commander for his part in an emergency medical air evacuation of a severely ill patient. He was one of five medical group members to receive a coin for his quick response during this event. The team's deployment experience has hit home on a more personal note as well. One meaningful experience, according to Major Blowers, was working with the Intra-Theater Care Program patients. "I had the opportunity to work with one young lady that was a victim of a rocket attack and sustained serious injury to her back and right hip," he said. The medical team in Southwest Asia provided the patient with hands-on care and continued rehabilitation progression over a six-week period, and she was able to regain full range of motion and meet all deployment criteria to return back to her forward operating base unit. "The most memorable experience with this young lady was the day she walked into the clinic wearing her Purple Heart and combat action medal," Major Blowers said. "I will never forget the smile on her face as she stood there in her uniform wearing her medals." Colonel Everett is also moved by the Fallen Warrior ceremonies.