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177th Medics deploy to Germany
Story and photos by Tech. Sgt. Mark Olsen, 177FW/PA

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, GERMANY--Airmen from the 177th Medical Group deployed to Ramstein Air Base, located near Ramstein-Miesenbach, Germany from July 19 to August 1.

The 31 Airmen comprise all the major sections in the Medical group – laboratory, medical logistics, medical technicians, public health, dental, optometry, administration, nursing and flight surgeons. In addition, three members of the 177th Chaplain team deployed to serve the wounded at Landstuhl Army Hospital, which is located near Ramstein.

The 177th Airmen served with the 86th Medical Group, which with 854 medical personnel divided among five squadrons is the largest overseas Air Force clinic. It also has the largest Dental Squadron comprised of 52 dentists who attend to more than 51,000 appointments each year.

“They got a lot of training that is often hard to come by,” said Col. David J. Mellish, 177th Medical Group commander. “In addition they were working alongside their active- duty counterparts.”

The purpose of the deployment was to give the Airmen Readiness Skills Verification training at an overseas medical treatment

Capt. Jessica Bramlette, front, Staff Sgt. Neal Esplin, back left, and Airman 1st Class Elizabeth Cortez-Lozoya, 86th Dental Squadron work on Staff Sgt. Summer Walter.

Public health journeyman Senior Airman Desireé Duffy, left, with the 177th Medical Group examines a strip with Public Health Inspector Staff Sgt. Amy Deboy of the 86th Medical Group that checks the parts per million of chlorine in sanitizing water during an inspection at the Ramstein (Germany) Central Meat Processing Plant on July 29.

facility. These include everything from H1N1 screening, patient loading on aeromedical evacuation flights, to biological warfare testing and even K-9 patient handling.

During their time at Ramstein, they accomplished morethan 80 percent of their RSVs—a rather high accomplishment, given the duration of the deployment.

The Garden State Airmen assigned to the Contingency Aerospace Staging Facility were fully integrated with the active duty Airmen and Marines performing aeromedical patient movement duties.

The doctors—dental, optometry, pediatrics and family practice saw at least one patient per hour. In addition, 23 medical Airmen—74 percent of the group deployed—donated blood.

All in all, a very fulfilling deployment.


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Volume 34 Number 5 Staff / Information
     
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