48th AMDS participates in training, broadens mission capabilities

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Erin O'Shea
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  In the medical field, hands-on training can serve as a valuable asset when learning how to properly take care of patients and personnel in deployed environments.

The 48th Aerospace Medicine Squadron held their second biannual preventative environmental sustainment training as a two-day hands-on participation course, here, July 24-25.

"[This] allows us to get away from our desks, and out of the office, and utilize those hands-on skills that sometimes we need to brush up on," said Capt. Megan Martin, 48th AMDS chief of public health operations.

Members from various units within the 48th AMDS, to include optometry, the health and wellness center, bioenvironmental, aerospace physiology and public health are encouraged to attend the training.

"[The importance is] to let other sections know what we do," said Senior Airman Brandy Allen, 48th AMDS public health technician. "Even though we are in the same squadron, we don't really know the depth of each other's job."

As the unit is made up of several career fields, having knowledge and understanding about how other medical groups function is crucial when these members are in a deployed environment. In this setting, they may not have the resources available to perform a specific job.

According to Martin, learning other Air Force specialty jobs within the medical career field enhances overall knowledge and ensures those who are deployed can operate to the best of their ability.

During the training, members are required to work closely with one another, as well as give presentations to encourage learning and further knowledge about their specific roles within their occupation.

"Communication and teamwork is a big part of it, because if you don't have that communication and that person willing to help you out and work with you, then it's not going to be any help," Allen said. "Teamwork is a big part of it."

Although work relations don't always intersect during duty hours, the 48th AMDS emphasizes the importance of teamwork to ensure the mission is sustained throughout the unit.

"[This training] enhances camaraderie and morale," Martin said. "It brings us together as a squadron and we learn from each other."

In the medical career field, each member trains to successfully perform tasks like water testing and food inspections.

"Some of the things I have learned in the past two days are things I didn't know, and wouldn't have known if I didn't actually deploy," Allen stated. "Doing this does help and opens my eyes to things that go on downrange."