Citizen Airmen, Soldiers and Sailors provide no-cost medical care to remote communities

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Peter Dean
  • 927th Air Refueling Wing
Mountain Home, Ark. --  Citizen Airmen from the 927th Air Refueling Wing, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, partnered with Service members from throughout the country to provide no-cost medical care to communities in North Central Arkansas, June 5 through 12.

The Ozark Highlands 2017 Innovative Readiness Training team consisted of more than140 Service members all working side-by-side from the Air Force Reserve, Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, active duty Navy and the Air National Guard.

“The IRT program is a unique way to provide real-world training to our medical personnel while helping our fellow Americans by providing them no-cost medical care,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Lisa Haik, immunizations chief, 919th Special Operations Squadron, Duke Air Field, Florida, and Ozark Highlands IRT officer in charge. “The ability to build community relationships and showing them another softer side of the military is invaluable.”

Upon arrival at Mountain Home, Arkansas, the Ozark Highlands IRT 2017 Team was divided into three groups: one traveling to Marshall High School, Marshall, Arkansas, one to Yellville Junior High School, Yellville, Arkansas and the third at the Mountain Home Junior High School.

Community members had multiple no-cost services available to them, including dental exams, cleanings, fillings and extractions. Additional no-cost services included general medical physicals and optometry exams, to include a pair of new glasses.

“I’m a single mom, my husband died eight years ago, and it’s a struggle raising and providing for my two daughters on one income,” said Trisha Diaz. “I think this is amazing, without this I wouldn’t have been able to afford glasses for myself and my kids, we would have to go without.”

With a Naval Ophthalmic Support and Training Activity team on site, patients, such as the Diaz family that took advantage of the optometry services were able to receive a new pair of glasses in just 24 hours after their initial visit.

“We have everything we need to offer a fast turn around. The patients choose a frame, the doctor supplies the prescription, and we knock them out,” said U.S. Navy HM2 Jeffrey James, optician, NOSTRA Naval and Weapons Station, Yorktown Virginia. “We’re not ‘Lens Crafters,’ but if we had to, we could have a pair ready in about an hour.”

As planned the community was not the only beneficiary of the IRT, the military members who volunteered received real-world experience while fulfilling their two-week annual training commitment

“To be able to help others in need is truly humbling, this was my first IRT and it won’t be my last,” said U.S. Army Capt. Deborah Spencer, nurse practitioner, 75th Combat Support Hospital, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. “This was a memorable experience, one I won’t soon forget, my best AT to date!”

Balancing the training requirements, and community needs is no easy task and required input from multiple parties. Planning included organizations such as the Delta Regional Authority, the Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District, local churches and charities.

“During the year-long planning process, we had a team that evaluated every detail. What are the community needs? Are we able to effectively meet those needs? Are hardened facilities available or do we need tents? said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. James Finley, 927th Aeromedical Staging Squadron, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida and Ozark Highlands IRT noncommissioned officer in charge. “We try to leave no stone unturned, the goal is to benefit both the military and the local community.”

After the military has packed up and moved out of town, an essential part of the process is ensuring community members that are still in need are aware of the resources available to them.

“We find that many of our folks that are in need, simply won’t ask for help because they are embarrassed, they are too proud,” said Tina Cole, Community and Economics Development Coordinator, Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District. “Because you [IRT Team] are not local and not from around here, they feel comfortable seeking help and it gets them in the door. Once in the door, we can talk with them, share our available services with them and most importantly let them know we care.”

Regardless of their financial means, the IRT team welcomed and treated all community members the same. No IDs were checked, no names were asked, just a short medical history was all that was required. The goal was to provide no-cost medical care for all.

“This is absolutely a blessing, my husband and I are both retired with good pensions but we still find ourselves struggling financially to take care of teeth and eyes,” said Gayla Terdening. “This is our third day back, the first day we had our teeth cleaned, then yesterday we had fillings and today we are getting a pair of new glasses. This is truly wonderful, it has saved John [husband] and I thousands of dollars. Thank you!”

The community members were not the only ones that felt the love. The gratitude from the community came in many forms, from simple thank you, to hand delivered thank you cards, homemade baked goods and community planned moral events at local attractions in the evening.

“This community has really embraced us,” Haik said. “They are taking great good care of us. Our Service members are really enjoying themselves, thank you!”
During the duration of the Ozark Highlands IRT, medical personnel treated 3,990 patients and performed 8,961 procedures.