East Central Georgia IRT wraps up medical mission

Photo By Master Sgt. Theanne Tangen | Dentists and dental technicians from the U.S. Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Navy Reserve provide dental treatments for local residents in Millen, Ga., July 15, 2018, during the East Central Georgia Innovative Readiness Training. From left to right, U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Kay Ankerich, of Hartwell, Ga., a dental technician with the Air Force Reserve’s 94th Aeromedical Staging Squadron, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga., takes x-rays of young girl with Navy Reserve Hospital Corpsman Petty Officer Second Class Kiara Schuster, of Stevens Point, Wisc., a general medic with the Expeditionary Medical Facility Great Lakes, Capt. Ben Winston, dentist for the 72nd Dental Squadron, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., provides treatment for a young boy and Col. Clifford Zdanowicz, of Balitmore, Md., a dentist and Tech. Sgt. Jacqueline Maragh, of Felton, Del., a dental technician for the 512th Aerospace Medical Squadron, Dover Air Force Base conduct an extraction for a local resident. An IRT provides hands-on, real-world training to improve readiness and interoperability for service members in complex contingency environments while providing key services for American communities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Theanne Herrmann)  

THOMSON, GA, GEORGIA, UNITED STATES

07.19.2018

Story by Maj. John Stamm 

445th Airlift Wing, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio

WARRENTON, Ga. – More than 130 military medical providers and support staff are packing up their gear and leftover supplies after providing basic medical, dental and optometry care to residents in the cities and surrounding areas of Crawfordville, Thomson, Millen, Warrenton and Washington Georgia July 11-18.

In addition to the military support functions exercised, the ECG IRT serviced over 3200 patients, performing more 4,171 optometry procedures, 5,783 dental procedures, 8,752 medical procedures, 479 nutrition procedures and delivered approximately 1300 pairs of glasses provided by the Naval Ophthalmic Support and Training Activity.

“It’s been amazing,” said Lt. Col. Jennifer Carver, optometrist from the 165th Medical Group, Georgia Air National Guard, reflecting on the East Central Georgia Innovative Readiness Training mission. “As a resident of Savannah, I’ve had the extreme pleasure of helping my fellow residents this past week. The teamwork and comradery has made this mission successful.”

An IRT provides opportunities for servicemembers, particularly Reservists and National Guardsmen, to practice their particular skills in preparation for deployments, natural disasters or crises. As a result, the Department of Defense maintains a capable and ready force and deserving communities benefit from the services provided.

“It’s helped the community by providing a service to the community,” said Maj. Michael McDonald, IRT program manager. “We are getting the training to help us when we deploy and it helps us stay ready in our career fields in whatever spectrum that we work.”

The IRT program also helps facilitate civilian and military partnerships, allowing the community and military to work together toward a common goal. The result is a secure and prosperous America supported by strong civil-military relations.

Kenneth L. Usry, Mayor of Thomson, Georgia, claims that the full effects of the IRT mission here may not be known for a few months, but is certain the teams made a lasting difference.

“All I’m hearing is positive feedback from the community,” he said. “The community salutes you for the superb job you have done here. As mayor of that community, all I can say is thank-you, thank-you, thank-you.”

• Date Taken: 07.19.2018
• Date Posted: 07.19.2018 19:47
• Story ID: 285026
• Location: THOMSON, GA, GEORGIA, US
• Hometown: CRAWFORDVILLE, GEORGIA, US
• Hometown: MILLEN, GEORGIA, US
• Hometown: THOMSON, GEORGIA, US
• Hometown: WARRENTON, GEORGIA, US
• Hometown: WASHINGTON, GEORGIA, US