Photo By Lt. Col. Charles An | A dental patient looks at his X-ray with Army dental hygienist at Marion Junior High...... read more read more
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MARION, Ill. – The citizens of southern Illinois were still showing up bright and early Friday morning at the Marion Junior High School. June 27th was the final day and people were outside hoping to be seen during a military exercise that was part of the Department of Defense’s Innovative Readiness Training.
The IRT, as it is known by the military, is a way for military service members to train while serving the underserved communities across the United States, and Southern Care was the name of this particular IRT exercise.
Southern Care brought military medical, dental and optometry providers and professionals to the towns of Marion, Harrisburg and Cairo during the exercise from June 16-27 at no cost to anyone that came.
Community leaders of the three towns, as well as Mounds, Ill., and members of the Delta Regional Authority submitted an application to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, which over watches the IRT missions.
Once Southern Care was approved, months of planning took place to bring approximately 115 uniformed service members of the U.S. Army and Navy from Puerto Rico, North Carolina, Virginia and other states across the country, and have them set up clinics at schools of the three Illinois towns.
“I did a little bit of this downrange in Afghanistan where I would do things on the side, kind of as a humanitarian type of effort,” said Sgt. Damion Hunter, a dental hygienist for the 810th Dental Company out of Cary, N.C. “However, this mission in particular, allows me to do what I really love, which is I am very passionate about people. And I am passionate about our citizens in the States.”
“This allows me to get face-to-face with people, impact them directly, and furthermore, I can give them information that they can carry home to their families,” added Hunter.
Specialist Jeremy Bostwick, a light-wheeled vehicle mechanic from the 810th Medical Company as well, echoed similar sentiments. “The fact that we are able to help out this community has been a major impact on me and the others that I am working this IRT,” he expressed.
Southern Care took more than just military members, but also civilians from the local communities as well.
“As soon as we started it the first day we loved it, so we’ve been here the whole two weeks,” Autumn Basler said of her and four others who volunteered with her.
The most important focus of the exercise were the patients and providing medical care to those in need from the southern region of Illinois.
“People that I have seen here are not fortunate, and (they are) very appreciative of what we are giving to them,” said Bostwick. “Not so much seeing them as a number, but making a relationship with everyone that comes through that door. I like to make them feel warm and welcomed.”
Jennifer Paschal, a community member, received dental care from the military. “It was so infected it caused a tumor,” explained Paschal of the infected teeth she had.
“I had seen two dentists previously. Both of them told me I needed an oral surgeon which I can’t afford,” continued Paschal.
She goes on to explain that the military dentists “were able to get every single tooth that was infected out of my mouth. I’m not sick now, I’m better! I don’t have infection in my jaw.”
Paschal’s dental story was one of many. Over 1,600 patients were seen for dentistry with 750 patients receiving cleaning and more than 1,800 extractions performed.
Another big need was optometry, where nearly 900 patients came in and over 800 glasses were made in an effort to provide to each patient. The quick turn-around time for the glasses was made possible by the Naval Ophthalmic Support and Training Activity based out of Virginia. Those more than 800 glasses were cut and framed by personnel that consisted of three sailors and one soldier from that unit.
Overall, more than 3,000 patients were seen during those two weeks amongst the three communities.
“It’s a shame we are only here for two weeks, but it would be great if we could come back next year and the following year,” said Bostwick.
The mission was led by the 49th Multifunctional Medical Battalion out of Puerto Rico, and is a subordinate unit of the 3rd Medical Command Deployment Support based out of Atlanta, Ga.
For more information on Innovative Readiness Training go to irt.defens.gov and search for each of the units on Facebook.
| Date Taken: | 06.29.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 07.04.2014 01:18 |
| Story ID: | 135302 |
| Location: | MARION, ILLINOIS, US |
| Hometown: | ATLANTA, GEORGIA, US |
| Hometown: | CAIRO, ILLINOIS, US |
| Hometown: | CARY, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Hometown: | HARRISBURG, ILLINOIS, US |
| Hometown: | MARION, ILLINOIS, US |
| Hometown: | MOUNDS, ILLINOIS, US |
| Web Views: | 303 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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