Page 2 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt 7-31-15

July 31, 2015 COMMENTARY Thunderbolt
http://www.luke.af.mil
2 www.aerotechnews.com/lukeafb

Who’s afraid of a little blood?

by Senior Master Sgt. of these areas sounded pretty good except the latter.
TALISHA VIRGES The section where you test and distribute blood products

56th Medical Support Squadron is called blood banking, where blood and blood products
are banked or stored. You learn early on as a lab tech that
I have been in the Air Force for you can easily kill someone by the stroke of a pen if you
22 years and have been a medical record or distribute the wrong blood type to a patient. That
laboratory technician since the sounded stressful, and I thought to myself, “Who would
beginning of my career. The medi- ever voluntarily work there?”
cal or clinical laboratory is where
specimens are tested to provide For 13 years I managed to steer clear of the blood bank
Senior Master Sgt. information to medical providers until I became the NCO-in-charge of blood banking. I had
Talisha Virges who directly assist in the diagnosis, no choice but to learn very quickly how to conquer my
IHDU )HDU E\ GHÀQLWLRQ LV D GLVWUHVVLQJ HPRWLRQ DURXVHG
treatment and prevention of disease by impending danger, evil, pain or anticipation of the pos-
in patients. After graduating basic training and spending sibility that something unpleasant will occur. Some people
the next 13 months in Phase I and Phase II of technical are able to conquer fear by jumping right in and doing the
training school, I became a “permanent party” lab techni- thing they are most afraid of, while others have to work
cian, ready to conquer the world. their way up, exposing themselves little by little to what
There are several sections to work within the labo- scares them.
ratory: taking blood samples, operating computerized
ACTION LINE instruments, identifying abnormal blood cells, cultur- I needed a plan. How do you conquer fear?
ing and identifying bacteria and viruses, and assuring The first step is to learn as much as you can about
the safe testing and transfusion of blood products. All the subject by doing research. I had technical manu-
56fw.pa@us.af.mil
623-856-7011 See BLOOD, Page 15

The Commander’s Action Pursue education for career’s sake

Line is your direct line to me

with questions or suggestions

about subjects of concern to the by Staff Sgt.
MICHAEL GORSKE
entire Luke Air Force Base com- programs and computer skills includ-
56th Equipment Maintenance Squadron ing Access, Excel, Word, Power Point
munity. and how to type.
Everyone knows education can be a
I appreciate your feedback. good bullet on an enlisted performance By the time an individual completes
report, but few know the true value of an education, the time management
Your ideas and concerns help an education in regard to a military balancing act and computer use has
career. become second nature, and the indi-
build a stronger foundation on vidual is instinctively applying this to
The pursuit of an education can be all aspects of life to include a military
which we can successfully com- just as valuable as the degree acquired career.
at the end. The knowledge acquired in
plete our mission and take care the pursuit of an education can shape No matter what education one pur-
the way one does business. The piece sues, the knowledge learned is going
of our people. Brig. Gen. Scott Pleus of paper we call a degree has a number to affect the person’s perception of the
To receive a response, leave 56th FW commander of implications that can set you apart world. This new perspective can posi-
from the rest. tively change how business is done. If
your name and telephone num- one pursues management or business,
Pursuing an education may be they can directly apply that informa-
ber. Action Lines of general interest are printed in the D FKDOOHQJH DW ÀUVW $IWHU WDNLQJ D tion to how things should be run and
couple classes, they gradually become DWWHPSWWRLPSOHPHQWDV\VWHPRIHIÀ-
7KXQGHUEROW5HPHPEHUWKHTXLFNHVWDQGPRVWHIÀFLHQW easier. The reality of the situation is, ciency. If the education pursued is not
the classes did not become easier, but related to what one does in a career,
way to resolve a problem is to talk directly to the respon- the individual taking the classes has the unique perspective given by that
become better at time management or education is still valuable.
sible agency or through your chain of command. has acquired skills to pass the class. when it comes to packages and career
Turning in papers on time, doing Ideas and improvements can take opportunities both in and out of the
The Action Line isn’t just for complaints. Send along assignments, or progressively work- shape and stem from things unrelated military. A bachelor’s degree can pro-
ing on projects all while balancing a or not yet connected. vide an enlisted person with the oppor-
your kudos when someone provides exceptional service, military career and social life takes tunity to acquire a commission. This
practice and dedication. In order to Depending on the type of education SDSHUPD\DOVRERRVWWKHFRQÀGHQFHRI
goes out of their way to help or deserves a kind word. complete many of the assignments, pursued, one may be rewarded with its holder or provide the holder special
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symbol of hard work and dedication One can use education as a bullet for
Airman and Family Readiness Center ....................... 623-856-6550 and can be used to boost one’s footing an enlisted performance report, but do
Chapel ................................................................... 623-856-6211 not forget the true value of having an
Child Care Center ...................................................623-856-6339 education. The skills acquired pursu-
Community Center ............................................... 623-856-7152 ing an education are priceless. Chang-
Computer IT service desk .................................. DSN 945-2900 ing one’s perspective through educa-
Eye Clinic ............................................................. 623-856-7965 tion can change the way things are
Fitness Center ....................................................... 623-856-6241 done and the ideas that are formed.
Flight Medicine .................................................... 623-856-2273 /DVWO\DFTXLULQJDGHJUHHFHUWLÀFDWH
Fraud, waste and abuse hotline ............................ 623-856-6149 or license can be a door to opportuni-
Hobby shop .......................................................... 623-856-6722 ties in and out of the military.
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Law enforcement desk ......................................... 623-856-5970 Luke Editorial Staff 7KH7KXQGHUEROWXVHVPDWHULDOIURPWKH$UPHG)RUFHV,QIRUPDWLRQ6HUYLFH$LU
Legal assistance .................................................... 623-856-6901 )RUFH1HZV6HUYLFH$(7&1HZV6HUYLFHDQGRWKHUVRXUFHV$OODGYHUWLVLQJLVKDQGOHG
Library .................................................................. 623-856-7191 Commander.......................................................... Brig. Gen. Scott Pleus E\$HURWHFK1HZVDQG5HYLHZ7KH\FDQEHUHDFKHGE\FDOOLQJ
Marketing ............................................................. 623-856-3245 Public Affairs chief ...................................................... Maj. Matt Hasson
Military Equal Opportunity ................................. 623-856-7711 Public Affairs deputy chief .................................... Capt. Ryan DeCamp 7KH7KXQGHUEROWLVSXEOLVKHGE\$HURWHFK1HZVDQG5HYLHZDSULYDWH¿UPLQQR
Military pay .......................................................... 623-856-7028 Internal information........................................ Staff Sgt. Luther Mitchell ZD\FRQQHFWHGZLWKWKH86$LU)RUFHXQGHUH[FOXVLYHZULWWHQFRQWUDFWZLWKWKHWK
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Outdoor Recreation .............................................. 623-856-6267 Designer .................................................................................Tinna Sellie LVDQDXWKRUL]HGSXEOLFDWLRQIRUPHPEHUVRIWKH86PLOLWDU\VHUYLFHV&RQWHQWVRIWKH
Pass and registration ............................................. 623-856-4880 7KXQGHUEROWDUHQRWQHFHVVDULO\WKHRI¿FLDOYLHZVRIRUHQGRUVHGE\WKH86JRYHUQ
Patient advocate ................................................... 623-856-8968 Editorial Information PHQWWKH'HSDUWPHQWRI'HIHQVHRUWKH'HSDUWPHQWRIWKH$LU)RUFH
Public Affairs ........................................................ 623-856-5853
Security Forces ..................................................... 623-856-5970 For past issues of the Thunderbolt, go to 7KHDSSHDUDQFHRIDGYHUWLVLQJLQWKLVSXEOLFDWLRQLQFOXGLQJLQVHUWVRUVXSSOHPHQWV
Straight Talk Line ................................................. 623-856-7064 www.aerotechnews.com/lukeafb/ and click on PDF edition GRHVQRWFRQVWLWXWHHQGRUVHPHQWRIWKHSURGXFWVRUVHUYLFHVDGYHUWLVHGE\WKH'2'
Sexual Assault Prevention/Response .................. 623-856-4878 7KHWK)LJKWHU:LQJ3XEOLF$IIDLUV2I¿FHSUHSDUHVDOOHGLWRULDOFRQWHQWIRUWKH WKH'HSDUWPHQWRIWKH$LU)RUFHRU$HURWHFK1HZVDQG5HYLHZ
Vehicle Maintenance ............................................ 623-935-6576 7KXQGHUEROW7KHHGLWRUZLOOHGLWRUUHZULWHPDWHULDOIRUFODULW\EUHYLW\RUWRFRQIRUPZLWK
Veterinary services ............................................... 623-856-6354 $LU)RUFHVW\OHDVUHTXLUHGE\$LU)RUFH,QVWUXFWLRQ6XEPLVVLRQGHDGOLQHLVDW (YHU\WKLQJDGYHUWLVHGLQWKLVSXEOLFDWLRQVKDOOEHPDGHDYDLODEOHIRUSXUFKDVH
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