148th Medical Group returns from Germany deployment

By Tech. Sgt. Scott G. Herrington, 148th Fighter Wing Public Affairs / Published August 15, 2011

148th Fighter Wing Medical Group members Capt. Aaron Jordan, Staff Sgt. Alex Olson, and Staff Sgt. Amanda Roen attend to a victim during a Mass Casualty Exercise at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany July 29, 2011. The 148th deployed more than 30 members to Spangdahlem Air Base for 13 days of hands-on training.
PHOTO DETAILS  /   DOWNLOAD HI-RES 1 of 2

148th Fighter Wing Medical Group members Capt. Aaron Jordan, Staff Sgt. Alex Olson, and Staff Sgt. Amanda Roen attend to a victim during a Mass Casualty Exercise at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany July 29, 2011. The 148th deployed more than 30 members to Spangdahlem Air Base for 13 days of hands-on training. (U.S. Air Force photo submitted by the 148th Fighter Wing Medical Group.)

148th Fighter Wing Medical Group members Lt. Col. Wayne Gatlin and Master Sgt. Lisa Bergherr perform a detal exam on a patient at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany July 29, 2011. During their 13 day deployment, members of the 148th Fighter Wing Medical Group gained experience working with patients both in clinics and during exercises.
PHOTO DETAILS  /   DOWNLOAD HI-RES 2 of 2

148th Fighter Wing Medical Group members Lt. Col. Wayne Gatlin and Master Sgt. Lisa Bergherr perform a detal exam on a patient at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany July 29, 2011. During their 13 day deployment, members of the 148th Fighter Wing Medical Group gained experience working with patients both in clinics and during exercises. (U.S. Air Force photo submitted by the 148th Fighter Wing Medical Group.)

PRINT | E-MAIL
DULUTH, Minn. -- More than 30 members of the 148th Fighter Wing Medical Group returned from a 13 day deployment to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany Aug. 6, 2011. The primary objective of the deployment, an overseas annual tour (OSAT), was to train and gain experience with patients.

"Many of our members were recognized for the outstanding work they provided while working with the 52nd Medical Group," said Master Sgt. Randy L. Lipscy, the 148th Fighter Wing Medical Group First Sergeant. "We were able to check off various medical training objectives for our doctors, nurses, public health, bio-environmental, bio-medical and dental personnel."

In addition to working in a clinic with patients, Master Sgt. Lipscy said the medical group also completed a mass casualty exercise and assisted with medical support for the base open house.

According to Master Sgt. Lipscy, despite not having any personnel able to go in advance to set up in Germany prior to the deployment, the 52nd Medical Group at Spangdahlem had 148th personnel scheduled for work in their various areas, provided government vehicles, and had a meal waiting on the evening of their arrival.

The trip to Germany was Airman 1st Class Nikki M. Goplin's first deployment. "It was really good--we got a lot of hands-on training," said Airman 1st Class Goplin. Airman 1st class Goplin performed simulated triage on patients in full make-up with artificial wounds--something she doesn't normally do on a drill weekend.

"The deployment built camaraderie," said Airman 1st Class Goplin. "It drew the clinic closer, and that helped a lot."