From thermometers to ventilators: 78th BMETs help save Airmen lives, from Robins to front line Published Aug. 7, 2025 By Jerry Foltz 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Amid the beeping monitors and the hurried footsteps of medical personnel, a team of unsung heroes ensures the 78th Medical Group at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, can deliver critical care: The 78th Healthcare Operations Squadron Biomedical Equipment Technicians. These technicians work behind the scenes to keep every piece of medical equipment, from basic thermometers to sophisticated ventilators, fully functional and ready where split second decisions make all the difference in patient care. Often working out of the spotlight, BMETs possess a deep understanding of both the technical and clinical aspects of medical equipment. Their expertise is critical to maintaining the health and readiness of Airmen, at home and abroad. "The primary purpose of BMET and healthcare technology management is the safety of patients inside the medical facility," said Tech. Sgt. Brandon Musgrave, 78th MDG BMET healthcare technology manager. "The primary way that we accomplish that is by maintaining medical equipment from the moment it enters our doors until the day it leaves." BMETs tackle a diverse workload, ranging from routine maintenance and calibration to complex troubleshooting and repair. Their responsibilities include installing and inspecting new equipment to meet stringent medical and technical standards, performing preventive maintenance to prevent breakdowns, calibrating equipment for accurate performance, repairing malfunctions, and conducting safety inspections. Training to become a BMET involves nearly a year of intensive technical instruction that combines classroom learning with hands-on lab work, located at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. "What we learn primarily is clinical applications various types of medical equipment and troubleshooting," Musgrave said. "So it's a ton of practical application, designed to ingrain that much needed muscle memory in order to diagnose, troubleshoot, and repair equipment under crucial deadlines and hectic conditions." 78th BMETs help save Airmen lives, from Robins to front line Stephen Danko, 78th Medical Group Healthcare Operations Squadron Biomedical Equipment Technician medical equipment repair technician, runs diagnostic testing on an electrocardiogram machine, or EKG, at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, July 31, 2025. After testing, a defective internal wire was replaced, restoring the EKG machine to full operational capacity. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jerry Foltz) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res 78th BMETs help save Airmen lives, from Robins to front line Tech. Sgt. Brandon Musgrave, 78th Medical Group Healthcare Operations Squadron Biomedical Equipment Technician healthcare technology manager, supplies oxygen to a ventilator during annual testing at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, July 31, 2025. Annual testing ensured medical equipment is functional, ready and operating within standards for patient care. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jerry Foltz) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res 78th BMETs help save Airmen lives, from Robins to front line Tech. Sgt. Brandon Musgrave, 78th Medical Group Healthcare Operations Squadron Biomedical Equipment Technicians healthcare technology manager, calibrates a ventilator at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, July 31, 2025. Calibration of the ventilator precisely controlled gas mixtures and regulated pressure and volume to deliver customized breaths, preventing lung damage and ensuring adequate blood oxygenation to patients. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jerry Foltz) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res The work of the BMETs demands close coordination with a variety of entities, including medical staff, logistics personnel, medical equipment manufacturers and even other military installations like the 94th Airlift Wing at Dobbins AFB, Georgia. "We try and do as much in house in our shop with our own tools as we can," Musgrave said. "But we frequently have to work with manufacturers across the world." A crucial aspect of their mission is supporting deployed forces. BMETs provide essential support by ensuring equipment used in field hospitals and clinics is fully operational. "We take care of the 94th," Musgrave said. "They've got equipment that is deploying all the time. And the equipment they've got is a lot closer to what we would see in the deployed environment, like ventilators and aspirators." This operational readiness mindset is key at the 78th MDG to getting service members ready to deploy. "If, let's say, the dental clinic’s sterilizers went down, their ability to get deployers ready to go decreases to zero," Musgrave said. The increasing complexity of medical equipment, coupled with difficulties in obtaining proprietary parts, can create challenges for the team. Nevertheless, the 78th HCOS BMETs remain dedicated to their mission, ensuring the 78th MDG is ever ready to provide the best possible care to Airmen, both at home and deployed around the globe. This dedication isn't just a matter of technical proficiency; it's rooted in a profound understanding of the impact their work has on the lives of those they serve. “For me, it’s being able to see the direct results of my actions,” said Stephen Danko, BMET medical equipment repair technician. “Whether it be gaining a new capability from the medical side or getting a piece of equipment back up and running to have their operations still going, is probably the most satisfying aspect of my job.” It is this attention to detail that proved vital to their recent accreditation from The Joint Commission, a non-profit organization that accredits and certifies healthcare organizations. “This happens every three years and ensures that we're delivering healthcare in a safe and legal environment that patients can come in and know that the care they're going to get is consistent and safe,” said Musgrave.