Operation Enduring Freedom

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Michael Davidson, a combat medical technician with the Paktya Provincial Reconstruction Team, administers a routine vaccination to Master Sgt. Alexander Bryant, NCO in charge of the vehicle maintenance team for the Paktya PRT, April 14, 2009, at Forward Operating Base Gardez. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Shawn Weismiller)

Operation Enduring Freedom

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Michael Davidson, a medical technician with the Paktya Provincial Reconstruction Team, prepares to give a routine vaccination to Staff Sgt. Nestor Sosa, a vehicle maintainer with the Paktya PRT, April 14, 2009, at Forward Operating Base Gardez. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Shawn Weismiller)

Operation Enduring Freedom

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Michael Davidson, medical technician, Paktya Provincial Reconstruction Team, talks to Tech. Sgt. John Tong, medical NCO in charge, as he cleans his weapon after participating in combat operations, April 14, 2009, Forward Operating Base Gardez, Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Shawn Weismiller)

United Fight: Combat medics provide aid, support to PRT mission

Published May 1, 2009
By Staff Sgt. Stacia Zachary
USAFCENT Combat Camera News Team

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GARDEZ, Afghanistan -- Air Force medical technicians deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom have been thrown into a situation completely outside of their comfort zone and into the forefront of war.

In their new role as combat medics, these Airmen must set aside their clinical care mindset and learn how to administer care in a less sterile environment.

"I am working in a completely opposite spectrum of my career field," said Senior Airman Michael Davidson, Paktya Provincial Reconstruction Team medic. "Here I am a hands-on medic who is solely responsible for the care of my team."

While at stateside bases, a medical technician typically has a structured workweek. Yet in a war zone, combat medics are expected to respond to life or death situations, diagnose problems or prescribe medications - anything but routine.

"This deployment has tested me and opened my eyes to another element of medical care," the Airman said. "Here people look to me for more than just taking their temperature. Here, they trust me with their life and I trust them with mine."

In order to deploy as a combat medic, medical technicians must go through two weeks of training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, as well as combat casualty training and advanced medical training for three months at Fort Bragg, N.C.

"This training really opened my eyes to the difference in medical care that I would be responsible for," the Airman said.

The expectation of a combat medic assigned to a PRT is to provide a medical presence on convoys.

"Whenever there is a mission that requires going outside the wire, we gear up and ride along," said Airman Davidson. "We need to be ready to respond to any situation and sometimes that means deciding who gets medical attention and who dies."

On one mission traveling to Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, the medics and security forces element were traveling in mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles for a supply run. It was the dead of night, visibility was limited and travel was slow. With temperatures dipping below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, the convoy began taking fire.

"Our gunner dropped straight down out of the turret," said Tech. Sgt. John Tong, Paktya PRT medical NCO in charge. "It turned out that he was just taking cover but I learned that I needed bags geared for specific situations, like one for a gunshot wound. That situation prepared me for the time when it's real."

As combat medics, deployed Airmen are bringing a new face to the medical technician career field.

"It's whole new game when you deploy," said Airman Davidson. "As a combat medic, I fight alongside the people I am (tasked) to save."