An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

332d EMDG Airmen ‘punch above their weight’

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Christopher Parr
  • 332d Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

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

“This 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.”

The 332d EMDG includes three flights, each featuring a unique and tailored skill set focused on the delivery of trusted care.

The Medical Operations Flight consists of clinical operations and specialty services. Clinical operations provides routine and urgent warfighter care while specialty services provides physical therapy, dental and mental health services.

The Medical Support Flight includes support and ancillary services. Support services manage administration, logistics, and biomedical repair. Ancillary services, which includes pharmacy, radiology and laboratory services, provides highly specialized diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities that are critical in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of illness or injury. 

The Preventive and Aerospace Medicine Flight includes public health, bioenvironmental engineering, flight medicine, and aerospace medical support.

“We have true professionals,” said Chief Master Sgt. Erik Robbins, 332d Expeditionary Medical Group senior enlisted leader. “They are 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 by employing 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 employed to expand capabilities and better support the medical needs of the Wing,” said Robbins.  “Having Multi-capable Airmen is important because it is a force multiplier.”

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 healthcare 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 with numerous specialties, whether that be dental, mental health, radiology, or aerospace medicine,” said Col. Peter Kulis, 332d EDMG commander. “By employing the MCA concept we consistently meet our mission objectives.”