Army clinic's lone Airman manages pharmacy

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. John Lasky
  • Air Force Print News
KLEBER KASERNE, Germany --  Staff Sgt. Guanina Palermo works in what is, to her, another world -- one colored in Army green. 

The sergeant from Liverpool, N.Y., is a certified pharmacy technician working at the health clinic at this U.S. Army camp just outside Kaiserslautern, Germany.

The camp isn’t exactly another world.  It’s the clinic, she says, where most, if not all, of the staff and patients reply to each other with “hoo-ah!” Her reply: “Hoo-ah! Aim High!”

Sergeant Palermo, an eight-year bluesuiter, is the only Airman working at the Army clinic. She started working at the pharmacy last May, on loan from the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.  Since arriving, she has been the pharmacy’s noncommissioned officer in charge.

“I take pride in helping Soldiers get squared away,” she said. “It’s important to explain what the medicine is and how to take it."

The clinic commander, Maj. Hugh McLean, wants the Airman to fill the slot permanently.

“I was persistent and tenacious getting her over here permanently,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a Soldier or an Airman working here -- I only want the best. And she’s technically proficient, a professional and a leader.”

The major said he’s been pleased with the sergeant's work from the first time he saw her doing her job.

“A patient showed up 25 minutes after closing and Sergeant Palermo was more than accommodating, helping the patient receive and understand their medicine,” he said.

The Airman needed some time to get acclimated and to learn how Soldiers should interact with her. Major McLean believes she’s the only Airman working in any of the Army’s 26 health clinics in the region.

“I’ve never heard anyone say, my Airman this or my Airman that,” the commander said.

For a while, Sergeant Palermo said Soldiers didn’t know how to deal with her.

“They didn’t know if they should stand at parade rest while addressing me or if they had to drop (and do push-ups) if I said so,” Sergeant Palermo said, “I don’t order them to drop, but I’ll drop with them to get ready for the physical fitness test.”

Her work has helped gain her acceptance by her Army brethren. To the clinic staff, Sergeant Palermo is now just one of the troops.

“It’s no different working for an Airman,” said X-ray technician Spc. Michelle Scott. “A good NCO is a good NCO.”