Military

USAFE News Service  

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (USAFENS) -- Members from the 86th Contingency Response Group medical team here recently deployed to open an airfield in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The CRG, established in February 1999, is a unique team made-up of more than 33 different Air Force specialties including; medical, logistics, civil engineering, security forces, personnel, aerial port, communications, vehicle operations aircraft maintenance, airfield management and air traffic controllers.

"While at our home station, we ensure everyone is medically cleared for deployments," said Master Sgt. Charles Cremeans, 86th CRG independent duty medical technician.  "This includes current Preventive Health Assessments, up-to-date immunizations and dental exams."

While deployed, Cremeans was responsible for treating and stabilizing any injured personnel associated with any airborne operations. Cremeans performed the first combat jump for medical members of the CRG.  Capt. Ronald Allen, 86th CRG flight surgeon, landed afterwards to take charge of the patient care component of the CRG.  Allen provides primary medical care and directly oversees all medical care provided by the IDMTs.

"My task on the jump was to rally with the 173rd Airborne Brigade medics and help with the urgent care of any airborne injuries, and coordinate medical evacuations for casualties on the first planes that landed." Cremeans said. "Even for a small unit like the CRG, stocked with one-deep Air Force specialties, the expense of losing any one member is not acceptable."

Part of CRGs initial response includes establishing aerial port operations, force protection, and construction of living, operational and maintenance areas for coalition military personnel who will support air operations. The CRG assesses the situation and prepares for the arrival of follow-on expeditionary aerospace forces.

"We were brought in to help establish the deployed site for occupation by the 173rd Airborne Brigade," said Master Sgt. Melinda Patrick, 86th CRG, environmental medicine flight NCO in charge.

"Our job isn't always glorious, but it's always important because we are involved in all phases of 86th CRG activities, pre-deployment, deployment, and post-deployment," said Patrick.  "We prescribe the proper preventive medicine measures to keep our forces healthy, because every member is equally valuable to the team, and we don't need people getting sick especially from causes that are preventable." 

Allen prescribed each member the proper anti-malaria medications, while Maj. James Poel, 86th CRG public health officer, flight commander and Tech. Sgt. Heinz Kiefer, public health craftsman educated personnel on the malaria risks and preventive measures. 

Measures included; pre-treatment of uniforms, mosquito bed netting, wearing sleeves down, and utilizing proper bug repellant, said Patrick.

"EMF members are always heavily involved with the food and sanitation programs while deployed," said Patrick. "They ensured MREs (meals ready to eat) were on hand, and the food source is properly stored, and waste is disposed of properly."

The EMF also ensured the proper amount of latrines, showers, hand-washing stations, and garbage collection points were available and maintained appropriately. 

Hand washing is the number one method of preventing food borne illness. "Basically our unit provides the same support you would receive at base level from the local aerospace medicine squadron," said Patrick. 

The Department of Defense is very concerned about providing a healthy work and living environment for all its personnel, whether it be at home station or a deployed location, said Patrick.

-- USAFENS --