March 21, 2011 Improving Afghan lives through women's empowerment Halfway around the world and five months into the deployment has drastically changed my preconceived ideas of what my role would be as the provincial reconstruction team's female medical officer. If you told me last June that I would be in Afghanistan meeting with provincial leaders from the
March 21, 2011 Stay TRICARE eligible: Keep DEERS up-to-date Beneficiaries who have recently experienced a life changing event, such as the birth or adoption of a child, or recent divorce or marriage should immediately record these changes in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, or DEERS. If they wait, their TRICARE benefit coverage could be
March 21, 2011 Mullen urges communities to assist returning troops As the men and women who serve in today's military leave active duty, communities around the country should tap their potential as employees for the benefit of the nation, the top U.S. military officer said March 7.Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, addressed hundreds
March 21, 2011 Chief Roy visits with Airmen at F.E. Warren Air Force Base Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy visited here March 2 and 3, the first of two planned visits to Air Force Global Strike Command bases."Here you man and guard our nation's most lethal weapons," he said. "Likewise, I see our Airmen as the Air Force's most important weapons. We must take
March 16, 2011 Air Force surgeon general details 'Trusted Care Anywhere' and efficiencies for House panel The Air Force Medical Service's simple mantra, "trusted care anywhere," fits what AFMS does today and will continue to do in years ahead, the Air Force surgeon general told Congress March 15.In testimony before the House Armed Services Committee's subcommittee on military personnel with his military
Feb. 24, 2011 AF Medical Service announces 2010 award winners Air Force Medical Service officials have announced individual, team and military treatment facility awards for 2010. According to the award message, the AF Recognition Ribbon is authorized for individual award winners only. Winners of individual awards may take a copy of the attached message to
Feb. 24, 2011 Air Force has new weapon in fight against Spice Air Force officials began drug testing Airmen Feb. 22 to determine whether they are using Spice -- the street term for a range of designer synthetic-cannabinoid products. With the implementation of testing, officials intend to send a very clear message: use Spice, and you may lose your career, end
Feb. 24, 2011 DOD leaders outline health care, family services improvements The Defense Department has taken a number of recent steps to improve health care and family support services for military members and their families, the department's two top leaders told a Senate panel Feb. 17.Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs
Feb. 24, 2011 USAF School of Aerospace Medicine Graduates Final Class from Brooks The USAF School of Aerospace Medicine graduated its final class of aeromedical evacuation crews at Brooks City-Base in San Antonio, TX, Jan. 29. The historic event drew a crowd of more than 300 people, many of whom had deep ties to the school. The graduating class of 28 Flight Nurses and 28
Feb. 24, 2011 DIMO Takes Trauma Training to Tajikistan The Defense Institute for Medical Operations, a unit of the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (USAFSAM) currently based at Brooks City-Base, San Antonio, presented medical professionals in the Central Asian country of Tajikistan a training course focused on regional trauma and disaster
Feb. 24, 2011 DOD leaders outline health care, family services improvements The Defense Department has taken a number of recent steps to improve health care and family support services for military members and their families, the department's two top leaders told a Senate panel Feb. 17.Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs
Feb. 24, 2011 CMSAF discusses need for strengthened resiliency at symposium The Air Force's senior enlisted leader discussed the importance of resiliency and its impact to the service Feb. 17 here during the Air Force Association's Air Warfare Symposium and Technology Exposition.Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy spoke candidly about the repercussions of a
Feb. 24, 2011 375th AES sergeant trains Afghan medics The Afghan soldier was in trouble. With his eyes sitting heavy and glazed-over in their sockets, his condition had worsened. He now had to be removed from the C-27A Spartan aircraft that had been flown to Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, to transport him, and other Afghan National Security Force
Feb. 17, 2011 DOD surgeons general visit Bagram Airfield medics The Department of Defense surgeons general visited the Craig Joint Theater Hospital here Feb. 13.During their brief visit to Afghanistan's most advanced military medical center, Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Charles B. Green, Army Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Eric B. Schoomaker and Navy Vice Adm. (Dr.) Adam M. Robinson Jr.,
Feb. 17, 2011 Air Force officials warn: 'Spice' harmful to health, career A recent spate of incidents involving service members abusing the herbal mixture "spice" has prompted uniformed service leaders to stress the ramifications of using the drug and other prohibited substances, officials said here Feb 11. Marketed and sold as incense, and closely resembling potpourri,
Feb. 17, 2011 Parents of suicide victim share story On May 3, 2010, Joie Gates' boss entered her office and abruptly ordered a co-worker she was chatting with to leave with him. Three uniformed Air Force officers then entered the room and Ms. Gates knew she was about to get some bad news. They told her that her only child, Airman Austin Gates-Benson,
Feb. 17, 2011 DGMC, 615th team up to test EMEDS' 'hospital in box' Three hours after they hit the ground in Trinidad, members of the 60th Medical Group and the 615th Contingency Response Wing at Travis had treated the injured and suffering and delivered a baby. Some 12 hours later, the Expeditionary Medical Support Health Response Team had set up nearly
Feb. 17, 2011 Soldier coaches wife, delivers baby from Afghanistan Alright, listen up all you deployed dads (especially if you're an expectant father): you can take an active role in the birth of your child, even if you're stationed in a combat zone. All it takes is commitment, a little ingenuity, and Skype. Just ask Chaplain (Capt.) Joseph Palermo, who recently
Feb. 17, 2011 Air Force 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' repeal training detailed Air Force officials will soon begin training Airmen in anticipation of the repeal of the law and policy commonly known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." This training will help Airmen understand what is expected in a post-repeal environment, said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz."I know our
Feb. 17, 2011 New, enhanced VA benefits provided to caregivers of veterans Department of Veterans Affairs officials are launching the first of a series of new and enhanced services supporting family caregivers of seriously ill and injured veterans. In May 2010, President Obama signed the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 legislation authorizing VA