U.S. Virgin Islands --
Members from the Kansas Air National Guard's 184th Medical Group traveled to the U.S. Virgin Islands to provide no-cost medical, dental, and optometry care to more than 2,000 people in the community in support of the Innovation Readiness Training (IRT) program, May 30 to June 11.
The program was led by the Air Force Reserves and was supported by the Air National Guard, Army National Guard, active-duty Air Force, and local agencies within the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Medical care was provided across three different islands including St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix. Over $2.2 million of care was provided and nearly 14,500 procedures were completed.
U.S. Air Force healthcare professionals conduct real-world training out of the gymnasium at Ivanna Eudora Kean High School in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, June 1, 2024. The gymnasium was transformed into a reception, examination and treatment area for patients during Virgin Islands Wellness Innovative Readiness Training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Elora J. McCutcheon)
“Being able to care for those people where they wouldn't otherwise have [received] that care is probably the best feeling,” said Capt. Kaitlyn Short, 184th MDG registered nurse.
Airmen across the 184th MDG recognized the value of the IRT program, not only for its immediate impact on the communities served but also for its long-term benefits to the service members involved.
The dual focus on both service and training ensures Airmen are remaining proficient in their jobs while also fostering a sense of fulfillment through community engagement.
Capt. Lindsay Fawcett, 184th Medical Group clinical nurse, performs a basic vision test on a local child during the 2024 iteration of Innovative Readiness Training in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, June 4, 2024. IRT is a collaborative program that leverages military contributions and community resources to multiply value and cost savings for participants. Communities typically provide materials and basic services (e.g. facilities), while military units contribute personnel and training resources. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Dylan Gentile)
“To me, the IRT mission embodies the perfect mix between service and readiness,” said Senior Airman Jarron Turnbull, 184th MDG medic. “Providing no-cost healthcare to underserved populations not only addresses critical health disparities but also ensures that our skills remain sharp and mission-ready.”
When participating in different projects like IRT, Airmen within the Air National Guard provide a unique perspective. The majority of personnel within the MDG are drill status Guardsmen, so they are able to leverage both their military and civilian experience to provide support.
“One of our dental techs, she drives a forklift on the outside, she doesn’t even do dental, and a lot of our nurses are nurse practitioners on the outside,” said 1st Lt. Tiffany Helm, 184th MDG registered nurse and IRT director of operations. “They didn’t practice outside their AFSC scope, but they brought the wealth of knowledge they have from the [civilian] side.”
Capt. Ben Smith and Capt. Carrie Parmley, 184th Medical Group registered nurses, administer vaccines to a patient at the Maternal and Child Health Clinic in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, June 7, 2024. Nearly 300 active duty, guard and reserve Airmen from more than 40 units across the nation were deployed across St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix to provide no-cost medical services like vaccinations, health screenings, dental and optometry exams, and nutrition advice to local residents. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Elora J. McCutcheon)
The Air National Guard must maintain constant readiness and prepare for future conflicts with the current pacing challenge.
The IRT program enabled airmen to enhance their expeditionary skills, maintain readiness, and improve their situational agility to adjust in austere, degraded environments.
For example, power outages happened frequently which forced the medical teams to adapt quickly during patient care.
“We were able to practice in degraded environments where we were in the middle of dental extractions and we were holding our flashlights from our phones so [the dental team] could complete their extraction,” said Helm.
Col. Patrick Beck, 184th Medical Group flight surgeon, checks a patient's vision during the 2024 iteration of Innovative Readiness Training in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, June 4, 2024. IRT is a Department of Defense military training opportunity, exclusive to the United States and its territories, that delivers joint training opportunities to increase deployment readiness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Dylan Gentile)
The medical teams also learned to work with provisions and gear that they normally wouldn’t use in the United States.
“The supplies and equipment that we used would be similar to supplies and equipment we would have to use in a deployed setting or an austere environment,” stated Short.
According to Helm, other challenges such as local customs, interagency operations, minimal resources, and interregional logistics gave the Airmen valuable experiences in adapting, overcoming, and succeeding in less-than-ideal conditions.
Senior Airman Adeline Stirtz, 184th Medical Group aerospace medical service specialist, takes the temperature of a 13-year-old patient at the Maternal and Child Health Clinic in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, June 7, 2024. Stirtz, who enlisted in the Air National Guard to pursue a career in the medical field, was participating in her first Innovative Readiness Training mission, a military training opportunity exclusive to the United States and its territories that delivers joint training opportunities to increase deployment readiness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Elora J. McCutcheon)
The success of the IRT program in the U.S. Virgin Islands showcases the significant impact these types of initiatives have on both service members and local communities.
“It’s great to know that we’re making a difference in the communities and staying current on our readiness requirements at the same time,” said Turnbull.
U.S. Air Force guard and reserve medical professionals stand for a photo at the Maternal and Child Health Clinic in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, June 7, 2024. Nurses, physicians and aerospace medical service specialists worked in tandem alongside local healthcare providers in the clinic to serve children during Virgin Islands Wellness Innovative Readiness Training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Elora J. McCutcheon)