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115th Medical Group completes Medical Facility Annual Training

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Mary Greenwood
  • 115th Fighter Wing

HONOLULU  --  U.S. Air National Guard members assigned to the 115th Fighter Wing Medical Group (MDG) returned to Truax Field, Madison, Wisconsin Aug. 5, 2024, after completing a two-week Medical Facility Annual Training (MFAT) on the island of Oahu, Hawaii.

Oahu offers three locations for the Airmen to gain more experience and complete necessary training requirements they otherwise wouldn’t be able to accomplish in Wisconsin. 

“Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC) was our top choice for an MFAT because of the training opportunities it could provide as a level II trauma center and the large number of patients it provides care to,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Jessica Sullivan, the 115 MDG commander. “Medical group Airmen have been able to obtain training in the emergency department, intensive care, labor and delivery, administration, patient movement and respiratory therapy sections.”

In addition to TAMC, Airmen were able to obtain various training opportunities with Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH) personnel to include the 154 MDG, Schofield Barracks’ dental and urgent care clinics, Critical Care Air Transport Team (CCATT) and En Route Patient Staging System (ERPSS).

In March, the 115 MDG received a CCATT mission tasking. Training at JBPHH enabled Airmen selected for the unit’s CCATT to create a solid foundation for this new mission tasking.

“The Hickam CCATT had an abundance of information to share while being very helpful explaining how they prepare and operate their mission,” said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sergeant Kyle Halek, a 115 MDG respiratory care practitioner who was selected to be a part of the 115 FW CCATT. “I learned a lot about my part in the CCATT mission and plan to utilize this information when I start my training.”

The 115 MDG was chosen to attend the Hawaii MFAT after earning the first place rank on the Official National Guard Bureau - Office of the Air Surgeon Guard Medical Unit Readiness Placemat. 

Unit MFAT locations are selected based on each unit’s CAT I/II metrics. There were 18 MFAT opportunities available in fiscal year 2024 and only four available at TAMC in Honolulu, Hawaii.

“Our team was awarded the MFAT for being recognized as No. 1 in the nation for Individual Medical Readiness (IMR) and Occupational Health Exams,” said Master Sgt. Eileen Johnsen, a public health technician assigned to the 115 MDG. “I believe that our team unity and the ability to take on any challenge, generate a solution, and run with it speaks volumes to our dedication and knowledge of what our role is and how we affect mission readiness. Remaining flexible and focusing on the safety of the base, our members, and the mission has always been our top priority.”

The 115 MDG hasn’t conducted an MFAT since 2006. These training sessions are essential for Airmen to obtain necessary trauma training in the field and in the emergency room.

“This training allows us to advance our skills together in a rigorous environment and strengthen our medical capabilities as a team,” said Lt. Col Jacqueline Wheeler, the deputy commander for the 115 MDG. “Training sessions like the MFAT directly impact our Airmen’s readiness for world-wide deployment making opportunities such as this so important.”