Page 9 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt 6-3-16

Thunderbolt NEWS June, 2016 9
http://www.luke.af.mil Facebook.com/LukeThunderbolt

PEOPLE are up to date and correct,” said Col. on a more regular basis but the to- That’s what Gilchrist aims to do with
FIRST June Cook, the chief of professional tal number of items for which it is students so they can experience their
services within the command’s Medical responsible is in the thousands. The emotional reactions in a classroom
Editor’s Note: The “People First” section is Services Directorate. AFUO products are worn by the newest setting first.
compiled from information from the Air Force Airmen entering the service through
Personnel Center, TRICARE, 56th Force Sup- “Primarily, making sure your medical senior leadership. http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/223/
port Squadron, Airman and Family Readiness records are up to date and correct is a Article/757891/cadaver-training-prepares-af-
Flight, Veterans Affairs, the civilian personnel readiness issue,” Cook continued. http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/223/ medics-for-real-world-encounters.aspx
of ce and armed forces news services. For the Article/775115/af-uniform-office-designs-for-en-
complete story, go to the web address listed at http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/223/ AF Ranger instructors prep
the end of the story. Article/775235/a-prescription-for-problems.aspx tire-force-new-modifications-underway.aspx Airmen for rigorous course

A prescription for problems Air Force uniform Cadaver training preps “If you don’t care about the man to
changes underway AF medics for real-world the left or right of you, get back on
Making sure their medical records the bus and go home,” shouted Air
are up to date and accurate could save When an Airman gets dressed for The study of human anatomy has Force Master Sgt. Gabe Rodriguez, as
Airmen selected for a random drug test his or her job, he or she dons apparel helped further medical science since the he watched 24 pre-Ranger candidates
a lot of trouble. and equipment that were developed, third century. Often reserved for medical struggle to low-crawl up a sandy hill in
produced, deployed, sustained, and students or researchers, cadaver training the New Mexico desert April 20.
In addition to testing for illegal sub- modified by a group of fewer than 20 at the 59th Medical Wing is helping medi-
stances, random drug tests also screen people working at Wright-Patterson cal technicians today build con dence Rodriguez is one of less than 40
for a number of prescription medica- Air Force Base. and hone critical life-saving skills. actively serving Ranger-qualified
tions, including amphetamines and Airmen. While his full-time job is at
opiates, like morphine or oxycodone, The Air Force Uniform Office, Air The new breed of Air Force medics is the Air Force Security Forces Center
among others. Force Life Cycle Management Center, testing the concept by verifying the effec- at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland,
has been at Wright-Patterson AFB tiveness of cadaver training in the Sus- Texas, he has an equally important
“If (an Airman) pops positive for since its inception in 1947. It receives tainment for Trauma and Resuscitation part-time job — selecting the next
one of these prescription medications program requirements and direction Skills Program, according to Staff Sgt. generation of Airmen to attend U.S.
during drug testing, he or she needs from the Air Force’s chief of staff; Man- Reginald Gilchrist, the NCO in charge Army Ranger School. It is a job he and
to have a valid prescription for it in power, Personnel and Services; Logis- of the STARS-P. his fellow Ranger instructors take very
his or her medical records,” said Dr. tics, Engineering and Force Protection; seriously.
Don Jenrette, the Air Force Reserve and combatant commanders. Through “The high delity medical simulators
Command’s Drug Demand Reduction the years the office has designed men’s we utilize during the course are some About 50 to 60 Airmen a year volun-
Program manager. “If not, a determi- and women’s service dress uniforms, of the most advanced on the market, teer to attend the bi-annual AFSFC
nation has to be made if the member utility uniforms, mess dress uniforms, but still do not compare to working on Pre-Ranger Course at Fort Bliss.
is taking the drug illegally or if he or maternity uniforms, sweaters, and cadavers,” Gilchrist said. Passing the course, which mirrors the
she simply does not have the proper physical training uniforms. first two weeks of Ranger School, is a
documentation in his or her medical The training environment is also a requirement to attend the school.
records.” The uniform items and equipment safe place for students to experience
are designed to enhance Airmen’s ap- the gamut of emotions that come from “I love getting out of my office and
Taking the drug illegally can lead pearance, performance and combat being in a situation where someone’s being with guys who volunteer to chal-
to legal action or even discharge from readiness. life may depend on how a medic reacts. lenge themselves,” said Senior Master
the Air Force. Having to prove that Sgt. James Wilfong, a Ranger instruc-
they have a valid prescription can All new designs as well as continuous Unless one has worked in a trauma tor. “It’s nice to get back in the dirt and
lead to a lot of headaches for Airmen, product improvements are developed unit, “most medics don’t get to observe train the next generation of Rangers.”
including possible disciplinary action with user input and involvement in fit and treat patients with life-threatening
for not ensuring their medical records and wear tests. When a technical data injuries until they deploy,” Gilchrist Wilfong, a security forces Airman
are correct, and unnecessary work for package is complete, it is provided to said. “Most will experience it for the at Nellis AFB, Nevada, has served as
the medical squadron. the Defense Logistics Agency or Army an instructor at the Air Force’s pre-
and Air Force Exchange Service for rst time when they get to a combat Ranger school 13 times.
“According to (Air Force Instruction) procurement. The AFUO has techni- environment.”
48-123, (“Medical Examinations and cal responsibility for clothing items Ranger School began in September
Standards”) it’s the members’ respon- until they are retired from the system. Airman 1st Class Edward Robinson, 1950, with the first class graduating
sibility to ensure their medical records Through the Continuous Product Im- a 559th Medical Operations Squadron two months later. Within a few years
provement program the AFUO is able aerospace medical technician, said the the Air Force began sending its person-
to identify, track and resolve issues on hands-on training was very bene cial nel to Ranger School.
sustained uniform products. since she has yet to deploy.
http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/223/
The office manages 500 items used “Now I have a mental picture of what Article/757120/af-ranger-instructors-prep-airmen-
to expect and won’t freeze up from the
shock of seeing something like this for for-rigorous-course.aspx
the rst time,” she said.

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