AF Surgeon General visits Liberty Airmen

U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Mark A. Ediger, middle, Surgeon General of the Air Force, and Chief Master Sgt. Jason E. Pace, right, Chief, Medical Enlisted Force, examine dental equipment at the 48th Dental Squadron dental lab at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, July 25. Ediger and Pace visited many of the 48th Medical Group’s facilities during their tour to engage with Airmen and see first-hand the capabilities of Liberty medics. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Airman Eli Chevalier)

AF Surgeon General visits Liberty Airmen

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Daniel Dawson (left), 48th Medical Operations Squadron physical therapy assistant, demonstrates the use of a BTE machine as Staff Sgt. Macros Davis, 48th MDOS physical therapy assistant, briefs Lt. Gen. Mark A. Edigar, Surgeon General of the Air Force, and Chief Master Sgt. Jason E. Pace, Chief, Medical Enlisted Force, on the types of equipment in the 48th Medical Group’s Physical and Occupational Therapy Clinic at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, July 25. Ediger and Pace visited many of the 48th MDG’s facilities during their tour to engage with the Airmen and see first-hand the capabilities of the MDG. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Eli Chevalier)

AF Surgeon General visits Liberty Airmen

U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen Mark A. Ediger, Surgeon General of the Air Force, speaks to members of the 48th Medical Group during an all-call at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, July 25. Ediger held the all-call to express the importance of the medical mission and to encourage Airmen to ask questions about upcoming changes to their career field. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Airman Eli Chevalier)

AF Surgeon General visits Liberty Airmen

U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Mark A. Ediger, right, Surgeon General of the Air Force, and Chief Master Sgt. Jason E. Pace, left, Chief, Medical Enlisted Force, observe a newborn simulator at the 48th Medical Group’s simulation center at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, July 25. The newborn simulator allows the 48th MDG to train doctors and nurses on a range of different situations involving newborn children. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Airman Eli Chevalier)

AF Surgeon General visits Liberty Airmen

Published July 28, 2016
By Airman Eli Chevalier
48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- Lt. Gen. Mark A. Ediger, Surgeon General of the Air Force, visited the 48th Medical Group at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, July 25.

Ediger observed various medical sections, ranging from the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Program, to Women’s Health.

“The capability you have here is important to the mission,” Ediger said, during a briefing with 48th MDG leadership.

At an all-call, Ediger addressed Liberty medics to discuss the significance of their mission and how their effort to provide superb quality-of-care directly enhances the well-being of Liberty Airmen and their families.

Ediger emphasized the importance of medical care, reminiscing on the life-saving treatment provided by Air Force medics during the Battle of Mogadishu, the event that inspired the movie, “Black Hawk Down.”

“We do what we do even though it’s hard, and we wear our uniform because we are part of a mission that is extremely important,” Ediger said.

Ediger became Surgeon General in June 2015. As Surgeon General of the Air Force, he manages a healthcare system of 2.6 million beneficiaries and advises the Secretary of the Air Force and Air Force Chief of Staff on the medical and health aspects of the Air Force.