Sergeant named Air Force Ophthalmic Technician of Year

  • Published
  • By Tony Perez
  • 37th Training Wing Public Affairs
LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) --  An NCO here has been named the 2007 Air Force Ophthalmic Technician of the Year.

Staff Sgt. Adam Smith, who currently works at the Reid Clinic, is a member of the 37th Aerospace Medicine Squadron.

Sergeant Smith has been stationed at Lackland for five and a half years and has seen patients for a wide range of reasons, he said. 

"Every day is a little different," Sergeant Smith said. "We see people that have eye problems or infections, and people who are deploying. We see active duty and technical school students."

Before his current assignment, Sergeant Smith was screening all of the basic military training flights. Sergeant Smith viewed two to four flights a day, with an average of 55 trainees per flight.

"We had to determine if students were meeting the visual requirements for their career field," Sergeant Smith said. "We were handing out about 75 glasses per flight."

Sergeant Smith saw a wide variety of scenarios from trainees who would come in for their eye exams, he said. 

"Recruiters will tell trainees not to bring their contacts because they could get an eye infection, so instead of bringing their glasses, they bring nothing," Sergeant Smith said. "Others come in with over-the-counter glasses when they need prescription glasses. I've also had trainees show up with their mom's glasses, while others have needed glasses for a long time but they have never gotten a pair."

Sergeant Smith said one of the most rewarding assignments of his career was a two-week humanitarian mission to Colombia in September of 2006.

"It was very interesting. I had a great time and it was a great crew," Sergeant Smith said. "I remember one girl in particular was so happy because she could finally see shadows, like the outlines of people's bodies. You know you are making a difference when you see people crying out of happiness."

Sergeant Smith is now preparing to become a recruiter, a job he has always wanted, he said.

"I've seen a lot and accomplished a lot. I want to give people that same option and let people see that they don't have to do what's expected of them and they can accomplish anything,"  Sergeant Smith said.

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