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Air Force Medical Service

332d EMDG Airmen ‘punch above their weight’

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Kiersten Wirth, 332d Expeditionary Medical Group medical technician, processes a COVID-19 test in the 332d EMDG laboratory at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, April 6, 2022. Wirth helps in the lab and with X-rays as a multi-capable Airman within the 332d EMDG. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Christopher Parr)

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332d EMDG Airmen ‘punch above their weight’

Published April 21, 2022
By Master Sgt. Christopher Parr
332d Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

The 332d Expeditionary Medical Group is a small group of dedicated medical professionals providing a variety of services to support members of the 332d Air Expeditionary Wing.

“This lean team is consistently punching above their weight,” Brig. Gen. Christopher Sage, 332d Air Expeditionary Wing commander said when asked about the 332d EMDG and its capabilities. “They take care of our human weapon systems to include our sister services and joint partners.”

Three distinct flights are executing the EMDG mission. Each features a unique and tailored skill set focused on the delivery of trusted care to the base population.

U.S. Air Force Maj. Sunil Francis, 332d Expeditionary Medical Group chief nurse, logs onto a computer located in the clinic pharmacy to check for prescriptions in the queue to be filled at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, April 6, 2022. Francis is a multi-capable Airman because he supports the pharmacist, Capt. Asia Sanders, 332d EMDG chief of ancillary services, as the on-call pharmacist. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Christopher Parr) — 332d EMDG Airmen ‘punch above their weight’

U.S. Air Force Maj. Sunil Francis, 332d Expeditionary Medical Group chief nurse, logs onto a computer located in the clinic pharmacy to check for prescriptions in the queue to be filled at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, April 6, 2022. Francis is a multi-capable Airman because he supports the pharmacist, Capt. Asia Sanders, 332d EMDG chief of ancillary services, as the on-call pharmacist. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Christopher Parr)

SLIDESHOW | images | 332d EMDG Airmen ‘punch above their weight’

Image of an Airmen handling prescriptions. — 332d EMDG Airmen ‘punch above their weight’

U.S. Air Force Maj. Sunil Francis, 332d Expeditionary Medical Group chief nurse, fills a prescription at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, April 6, 2022. Francis is a multi-capable Airman because he supports the pharmacist, Capt. Asia Sanders, 332d EMDG chief of ancillary services, as the on-call pharmacist. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Christopher Parr)

SLIDESHOW | images | 332d EMDG Airmen ‘punch above their weight’

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Kiersten Wirth, 332d Expeditionary Medical Group medical technician, processes a COVID-19 test in the 332d EMDG laboratory at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, April 6, 2022. Wirth helps in the lab and with X-rays as a multi-capable Airman within the 332d EMDG. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Christopher Parr) — 332d EMDG Airmen ‘punch above their weight’

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Kiersten Wirth, 332d Expeditionary Medical Group medical technician, processes a COVID-19 test in the 332d EMDG laboratory at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, April 6, 2022. Wirth helps in the lab and with X-rays as a multi-capable Airman within the 332d EMDG. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Christopher Parr)

SLIDESHOW | images | 332d EMDG Airmen ‘punch above their weight’

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Tommy D. Jones, 332d Expeditionary Medical Group laboratory technician, hands a new patient intake questionnaire to a 332d Air Expeditionary Wing Airman at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, April 6, 2022. Jones is the 332d EMDG’s sole laboratory technician and is one of many multi-capable Airmen within the 332d EMDG supporting daily operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Christopher Parr) — 332d EMDG Airmen ‘punch above their weight’

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Tommy D. Jones, 332d Expeditionary Medical Group laboratory technician, hands a new patient intake questionnaire to a 332d Air Expeditionary Wing Airman at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, April 6, 2022. Jones is the 332d EMDG’s sole laboratory technician and is one of many multi-capable Airmen within the 332d EMDG supporting daily operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Christopher Parr)

SLIDESHOW | images | 332d EMDG Airmen ‘punch above their weight’

Senior Airman Michael Herrera, 332d Expeditionary Medical Group X-ray technician, administers a COVID-19 test to a 332d Air Expeditionary Wing Airman at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, April 15, 2022. Herrera supports COVID-19 testing as a multi-capable Airman although his primary job is as an X-ray technician. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Christopher Parr) — 332d EMDG Airmen ‘punch above their weight’

Senior Airman Michael Herrera, 332d Expeditionary Medical Group X-ray technician, administers a COVID-19 test to a 332d Air Expeditionary Wing Airman at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, April 15, 2022. Herrera supports COVID-19 testing as a multi-capable Airman although his primary job is as an X-ray technician. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Christopher Parr)

SLIDESHOW | images | 332d EMDG Airmen ‘punch above their weight’

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Tommy D. Jones, 332d Expeditionary Medical Group laboratory technician, prepares the x-ray room for a patient at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, April 9, 2022. Jones is the 332d EMDG’s only laboratory technician and is one of many multi-capable Airmen within the 332d EMDG supporting daily operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Christopher Parr) — 332d EMDG Airmen ‘punch above their weight’

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Tommy D. Jones, 332d Expeditionary Medical Group laboratory technician, prepares the x-ray room for a patient at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, April 9, 2022. Jones is the 332d EMDG’s only laboratory technician and is one of many multi-capable Airmen within the 332d EMDG supporting daily operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Christopher Parr)

SLIDESHOW | images | 332d EMDG Airmen ‘punch above their weight’

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Tommy D. Jones, 332d Expeditionary Medical Group laboratory technician, prepares the x-ray room for a patient at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, April 9, 2022. Jones is the 332d EMDG’s only laboratory technician and is one of many multi-capable Airmen within the 332d EMDG supporting daily operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Christopher Parr) — 332d EMDG Airmen ‘punch above their weight’

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Tommy D. Jones, 332d Expeditionary Medical Group laboratory technician, prepares the x-ray room for a patient at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, April 9, 2022. Jones is the 332d EMDG’s only laboratory technician and is one of many multi-capable Airmen within the 332d EMDG supporting daily operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Christopher Parr)

SLIDESHOW | images | 332d EMDG Airmen ‘punch above their weight’

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Kiersten Wirth, 332d Expeditionary Medical Group medical technician, processes a COVID-19 test in the 332d EMDG laboratory at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, April 6, 2022. Wirth helps in the lab and with X-rays as a multi-capable Airman within the 332d EMDG. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Christopher Parr) — 332d EMDG Airmen ‘punch above their weight’

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Kiersten Wirth, 332d Expeditionary Medical Group medical technician, processes a COVID-19 test in the 332d EMDG laboratory at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, April 6, 2022. Wirth helps in the lab and with X-rays as a multi-capable Airman within the 332d EMDG. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Christopher Parr)

SLIDESHOW | images | 332d EMDG Airmen ‘punch above their weight’

The Medical Operations Flight consists of Clinical Operations and Specialty Services. The Clinical Operations element provides routine and urgent warfighter care including immunizations while the Specialty Services element provides Mental Health, Physical Therapy, and Dental services.

The Medical Support Flight consists of Support Services and Ancillary Services. The Support Services element consists of Medical Administration, Medical Logistics, and Biomedical Repair. The Ancillary Services element consists of Pharmacy, Radiology, and Laboratory Services. This element provides highly specialized diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities that are critical in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of illness or injury.

The Preventive/Aerospace Medicine Flight consists of Public Health, Bioenvironmental Engineering, Flight Medicine, and Aerospace Medical Support.

When asked how the EMDG can accomplish so much with so few, Chief Master Sgt. Erik Robbins, 332d Expeditionary Medical Group senior enlisted leader, had this to say, “We have true professionals all part of a team supporting one another to work outside their career fields to lend a hand and get the mission accomplished.”

332d EMDG is able to provide many services because they employ the multi-capable Airman concept, teaching personnel how to complete tasks outside of their assigned primary duties. Being an MCA is the ability of an individual to adapt to their surroundings to accomplish tasks that are outside of their main job, all to achieve mission success.

“Within the 322d EMDG this concept is being employed to expand capabilities to better support the medical needs of the Wing,” said Robbins. “Having multi-capable Airmen is important because it is a force multiplier, creating options for leaders to accomplish operational objectives. MCA is employed throughout the Air Force to meet the needs of the warfighting landscape.”

Airmen throughout the 332d EMDG embrace the MCA way of life as a key component to mission success. One such person is Senior Airman Tommy D. Jones, 332d EMDG medical laboratory technician who supports X-ray imagining requests and helps in the front reception area checking in new patients.

“These are not jobs typically filled by a medical lab technician, but I know it ensures that the mission can continue smoothly with no delays or hiccups,” said Jones. “Gaining experience in other areas is valuable and I might consider cross-training into another medical career field in the future to expand my knowledge.”

Staff Sgt. Kiersten Wirth, 332d EMDG medical technician, assists Jones in the lab by helping process COVID-19 tests and blood samples, in addition to augmenting radiology with X-ray imaging.

“Being a multi-capable Airman means helping out where needed and ensuring that we are well-rounded individuals and always growing,” said Wirth. “My favorite quote is ‘You are never failing until you are stagnant.’ I’ve always tried to branch out and be a sponge for learning in my career field.”

Maj. Sunil Francis, 332d EDMG chief nurse, fills in as an on-call pharmacist during the week and manages the pharmacy most Saturdays.

“The 332d AEW’s mission has a wide scope,” said Francis. “The support that I, along with medics of the 332d EMDG provide, enables 24/7 operation sustainability within this [area of responsibility].”

The 332d EMDG’s practice of developing MCAs does more than just maintain the mission, it ensures that medical staff have balance in work and personal time. Francis’ support of the pharmacy allows 332d EMDG pharmacist, Capt. Asia Sanders, much-needed time off.

“Having an experienced health care professional like Maj. Francis available to provide pharmacy services has allowed me to responsibly take personal time without causing any delays in patient care,” said Sanders. “Flexibility is the key to airpower and the multi-capable Airman is the embodiment of that.”

By increasing the capabilities of 332d AEW Red Tails, the wing is postured to meet current and future mission demands.

“We are a lean force yet a diverse medical group that has numerous specialties, whether that be dental, mental health, radiology, or aerospace medicine, at the same because we are so lean we employ MCA enabling us to meet the mission objectives and support the base population,” said Col. Peter Kulis, 332d EDMG commander.

Punching above their weight class is how the 332d EMDG ensures the human weapon system is ready for the next agile combat employment engagement.