SOUTHWEST ASIA -- I’m Senior Airman Alan Villegas, a 386th Expeditionary Medical Group aerospace medical technician. I am deployed from the 75th Medical Operations Squadron at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. I joined the Air Force to serve my country, and it has given me so many great opportunities.
As an aerospace medical technician, my job is to provide emergency and routine medical care. The best part of my mission is to provide effective care to our patients and make them feel better.
The main difference being in a deployed environment versus being at home station is having your critical thinking skills put to the test. Being in a deployed environment can test you because of the variety of conditions that can occur.
The biggest challenge I face is preparing for emergencies. I overcome this challenge by working with the excellent group of people we have and the knowledge and training that allows us to keep our skills up.
My professional goal is to hopefully become an orthopedic physician assistant, and use the medical experience I have as a stepping stone. Some of my personal goals are to receive my degree in the near future and to travel the world.
Some of my hobbies in my off time are drawing, reading, and when I’m not at the gym going hiking in the mountains.