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460th MDG celebrates massing of medics completion

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Madison J. Ratley
  • 460th Space Wing Public Affairs
Many gathered for the official celebration of the grand opening of the 460th Medical Group June 13, 2018, on Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado.

After the posting of the colors and the singing of the national anthem by Senior Airman Karlie Johnson, 460th Security Forces Squadron, Col. Matthew Hanson, 460th MDG commander, began by thanking all the members of the Buckley AFB community for celebrating what he called a “critical milestone for the 460th MDG, the 140th MDG and everyone that will be served by the newest military treatment facility in the Department of Defense.”

Hanson continued with the historical importance of having the medical treatment facilities in one centralized location on base. He explained that on April 25, 1942, a first-aid tent was set up on Buckley AFB and quickly expanded to a 900-bed hospital by September of that year. After WWII the hospital closed and the medics served in 90 different buildings around the base and city.

In 2017, Buckley AFB became home to a state-of the-art dental clinic. The medical readiness of the base improved by almost 20 percent in the first year. In November of the same year, the mental health, aerospace medicine and 310th Aerospace Medical Flight clinics opened at Medical Group South.

Before the transition, service members and their families needed to travel to the clinic on Colfax Avenue in Aurora, Colorado.

“This is a momentous occasion for our mighty medics,” said Col. Troy L. Endicott, 460th Space Wing commander. “We strive to provide the best care we can for our military community. The consolidation of our medics on Buckley is not only a historic move, but a stride toward the most trusted care for our personnel and their families."

This occasion marks the completion of the massing of the medics initiative.

The ceremony concluded with the cutting of the ribbon and the attendees toured the new facilities, which deliver health services to 8,000 enrolled patients, 3,600 joint and allied warriors, and 93 mission partners.