Airmen return from humanitarian, training deployment

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Ben Seidl
  • 21st Medical Group
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFPN) --  A 10-person team of Airmen from the 21st Medical Group at Peterson AFB returned from a two-week medical readiness exercise in San Miguel, El Salvador, July 3.

The El Salvador deployment was part of an ongoing U.S. Southern Command MEDRETEs initiative in Central, South America and the Caribbean. This year, Air Force South will execute 29 MEDRETEs -- enabling vital medical care for more than 100,000 patients. Last year, 106,024 patients were treated and 457 surgeries were performed.

The 21st MDG's involvement in this exercise began in mid-June and ended just in time for the Independence Day holiday.

"It went very well and was a great experience for all involved," said 1st Lt. Denise Miranda, MEDRETE team member. "We served 6,668 patients in a 10-day time frame."
The environment the team worked in was quite different than a clinic at Peterson AFB, but the team adapted to the environment and used various items to provide care, like a school desk chair as a dental chair and hanging up ponchos to darken a room for optometry exam.

"We really pulled together, and everyone realized that it was a team effort," said Lieutenant Miranda. "When providers were not seeing patients, they provided help in the always busy pharmacy. Each night the entire team would help set up medications and supplies for the next day's events or pick up trash in the compound."

Many of the Airmen said It was hard work, but enjoyed seeing the worthwhile nature in the faces of their patients and in the teamwork with the host nation.

Tech. Sgt. Kelli Remmert, an optometry technician with the MEDRETE team, said that during one of the optometry exams, Lt. Col. Richard Eddington, team leader, placed a pair of glasses on a gentleman's face for the first time in his life. She said the look of amazement on his face after gaining the ability to see clearly was one of the most rewarding experiences in her career.

"The locals were very receptive and appreciative to the care provided," Lieutenant Miranda said. "Each day the turn out for each site would increase as word of mouth got out that we were there and able to provide care. On our final full day at our last site, we saw 1,124 patients. We really tried to instill some preventative education to the locals for future care as well as treat their current symptoms." 

"Our team has done a great job on this deployment providing primary medical and dental care to the men, women, and children of El Salvador," said Col. Mark Allen, 21st MDG commander. "This mission has sharpened our team's clinical and expeditionary skills to support the Global War on Terror while allowing us to support an important diplomatic effort for the United States. We're glad to have our teammates back home just in time for them to enjoy a safe Independence Day holiday with their families and friends."

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