Page 3 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt, June 2022

Thunderbolt news June 2022 3 http://www.luke.af.mil Facebook.com/LukeThunderbolt
Members of 56th Medical Group provide defense support for civil authority
By Senior Airman PHYLLiS JiMenez
56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Since the start of the global pandemic that introduced COVID-19 to the world, Airmen assigned to the 56th Medical Group have participated in six missions to combat the disease. The most recent mission took place during a month-long assignment that began in February 2022.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) sent requests for assistance on behalf of hospitals that were suffering from staffing shortages and patient over- crowding due to COVID-19. In response, Air Force medical teams consisting of doctors, nurses, and technicians from several bases provided defense support for civil authority across the country.
“It’s not common for military medical personnel to work with civilians in this capacity,” said U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. Rony Castaneda-Zamora, 56th Operational Readi- ness Squadron flight operational medical technician. “I’ve been in [the Air Force] 12 years and this is the first time I’ve ever got- ten this kind of tasking. It was very unique for sure.”
Members from the 56th MDG traveled to hospitals in New York, Connecticut, and Maine to assist staff and frontline workers. Although each hospital’s needs and opera- tions varied by location, the overall objective remained the same across the board.
“The mission wasn’t only taking care of COVID patients, it was supporting the medical staff,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Col- leen Frohling, 56th MDG chief nurse. “The hospital was overwhelmed so our task was to embed ourselves within the units and take care of patients.”
Despite swapping their camouflage and boots for scrubs and sneakers, these military medical professionals continued to embody
CoNS
the Air Force’s core values: “Integrity First, Service Before Self and Excellence in All We Do.” Castaneda-Zamora recalled the praise they received from the civilian nurses for their ability to adapt and tackle challenges.
“Forty-eight hours after taking the hospi- tal’s training, we were taking our own pa- tients,” said Castaneda-Zamora. “They told us that it was unbelievable how we got our first patients quickly without their help and opened up a whole floor to care for patients.”
Not only did this mission help relieve hospitals in need but it also provided mili- tary and civilian health professionals the
opportunity to learn from one another while combating COVID-19 and its effects on pa- tients and the medical community.
“We take an oath to defend the citizens of the United States from all enemies foreign and domestic.” said Frohling. “COVID-19 is a domestic enemy. Working alongside the
people that we have taken an oath to sup- port and defend in order to care for patients was a gift.”
Since returning from the assignment, it is back to business at the 56th MDG, where staff provide healthcare, promote safety and wellness, and ensure military readiness.
U.S. Army photos by Spc. Khalan Moore
U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. Rony Cas- taneda-Zamora, a medical technician assigned to a military medical team, hands a patient their pillow while sup- porting the COVID-19 response opera- tions at University of Rochester Medi- cal Center, Rochester, New York, March 5, 2022. U.S. Northern Command, through U.S. Army North, remains com- mitted to providing flexible Department of Defense support to the whole-of- government COVID-19 response.
U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. Deundre Bryant, right, a medical administrator, checks up on Tech Sgt. Rony Castaneda-Zamora
a medical technician, while supporting the COVID-19 response operations at University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, Feb.16, 2022.
(from Page 1)
throughout the variety of scenarios and procedures they were exposed to. “In this particular exercise, they’re learning how to contract for items in the U.S. in response to certain crisis and emergencies,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Elizabeth Romero, 56th CONS commander. “Here, they’re learning how to contract for different things and are exposed to diverse scenarios and operational tempos. They’re really building and expand- ing those critical contracting officer skills that are needed to support
the U.S. Air Force.”
Being placed outside of their typical day-to-day duties, some participants
were provided with the opportunity to broaden their horizons as far as leadership, organization and maintaining control over a team of people, all on top of their own workload.
“There’s been a lot of curves and thinking on your feet,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Marshall Chaplinski, 355th CONS senior contract specialist. “There were a lot of aspects in play that we weren’t initially expecting. It’s definitely helping me get experience. Especially as a team lead, getting me to learn every member’s strength and weakness to create a team dynamic.”
The scenarios given throughout the exercise were designed to make the Airmen think outside the box and not allow complacency to occur. The realism created a sense of urgency and encouraged participants to attack problems head-on. It provided contracting Airmen the background and basics when it comes to contracting while also exposing them to high- speed tempos, this gave them the exposure of what to expect under crisis response — training into readiness.
Photo by Staff Sgt. Kristine Legate
Airmen from Luke Air Force Base’s 56th Contracting Squadron and the 355th CONS work together to coordinate simulated contract forms for services needed during an annual contracting exercise at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, April 28, 2022. Contracting Airmen follow strict stan- dards to ensure every detail is covered while preparing and negotiating contracts.