Airmen cross into Navy blue

  • Published
  • By Petty Officer Jason McKnight
  • USS Peleliu Public Affairs
PACIFIC OCEAN (AFPN) --  The Philippine segment of Pacific Partnership on the USS Peleliu was completed July 7 with the help of some unlikely "Sailors."

Air Force medical professionals joined the four-month humanitarian mission and according to them, have adjusted well to their new nautical working environment.

"It's very rare for Air Force people to work on ships, as most of our joint operations are on shore," said Air Force Capt. Jerome Crawford, an operating room nurse from Misawa Air Base, Japan. "There are a lot of jealous coworkers back home. This is a coveted assignment."

Captain Crawford's job aboard Peleliu involves many of the same things he does ashore.  He ensures the operating room is ready for surgery, takes care of the patients, and generally facilitates events inside the OR.

But one thing he's learning aboard ship is that he doesn't have the same amount of resources available to shore-side medical personnel.

"When you're out here in the ocean without the ability to simply drive down to the next hospital, you've got to manage your tools and resources (more efficiently)," said Captain Crawford. "That is one difference we've had to adapt to here."

Captain Crawford is joined by seven other Air Force officers and six enlisted, ranks E-4 to O-4.  One of those officers, Capt. James Pfeiffer, a certified registered nurse anesthetist, is responsible for prescreening patients in the areas where the ship is currently operating.

"I see who needs surgery, and who we're able to transport to the ship to receive that care," said Captain Pfeiffer, whose permanent station is Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska. "It's very rewarding, especially when you go out and you see giant signs saying, 'thanks.'"

The cases Captain Pfieffer and the other Air Force medical professionals have helped with range from routine procedures to more advanced, life-changing surgeries.

Those surgeries, such as cleft lip and palate operations, permanently alter the patient's appearance, and are some of the more rewarding results for both patients and the medical staff.

"Some of these patients stay on the ship a few days (recuperating from surgery), so we've seen a lot of people whose body image has changed very much for the better," the captain said. "The patients say they're very thankful." 

The Airmen are making their contributions felt outside of the OR as well.  Tech. Sgt. Rayno Boivin, of the 36th Medical Operations Squadron, Andersen AFB, Guam, is giving the gift of better sight to the Filipino patients he sees.

As one of two optometrist technicians aboard, Sergeant Boivin has deployed to every medical civic action program since the ship began operations near Legaspi, in the Bicol region of the Philippines.

This is Sergeant Boivin's fifth humanitarian mission, and like Captains Crawford and Pfieffer, everything before Pacific Partnership was on shore.

"I've helped people in Granada, Surinam, Peru, and Honduras, and what I did there is very similar to what I'm doing now," Sergeant Boivin said. "Most of the people are extremely pleased here with the free eye exams and glasses we provide them."

According to Sergeant Boivin, the joy these patients express stems from good communication of their needs and the treatment the care providers give.

Regional volunteer translators help bridge the language gap that might make the Airmen and other volunteers unable to help patients, some of whom stand in line under the scorching tropical sun for hours waiting for their chance to be seen.

Sergeant Boivin noted that the assistance the local translators provide his team has proven invaluable.

"Without our translators, some of these people would not be helped," he said. "It's a simple matter of knowing exactly what the patient is saying as opposed to guessing from body language and hand gestures. The translators greatly speed up our treatment of each case, which means that we can help many more people per day than we could without their services."

Sergeant Boivin said that he's noticed many of the translators are eager to return to learn more about how to help their people get the medical help they need.

A similar observation can also be made of the USS Peleliu's newest "Sailors," the men and women of the U.S. Air Force. 

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