Behind the scenes

Airman, March, 2004 by Sid Mayeux

Your article in the November 2003 issue ["The Sight Saviors"] was very compelling. Thank you for publicizing the hard work our Air Force professionals accomplish in such austere conditions. I'm afraid, though, the article suffered an omission that should be addressed.

The monumental task of organizing and executing one of these missions is borne by the medical plans and operations branch of the 612th Support Squadron at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. The unit is part of the 612th Theater Operations Group at 12th Air Force. The branch is manned by five medical professionals who source the missions, secure funding, assign individual units to different medical readiness training exercises, work country and diplomatic clearances, schedule missions, conduct site surveys and ensure the teams are properly protected, fed, supplied and housed.

The trip profiled was just one of nearly 40 the team planned during fiscal 2003. More than 150,000 patients were treated last year thanks to the Herculean efforts of those five professionals.

Lt. Col. Sid Mayeux

Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.