Maintenance

Soldiers Magazine, March, 2004 by Lisa Gregory

AS military doctors and nurses are learning to use the tools of their trades, Soldiers at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, are learning to maintain and repair those tools.

Learning to identify and repair problems with X-ray machines and dental and laboratory equipment is initially challenging for students enrolled in the 41-week Department of Defense Biomedical Equipment Maintenance Technician Basic Course. By the end of their training, they have the confidence to work on the equipment that saves lives.

The first weeks of the course deal with electronic principles, electrical-current theory, and the skills needed to interpret equipment diagrams and schematics. The course also provides a study skills workshop.

"Students have to be mentally prepared for the long haul--41 weeks is a long time to be here," said SGM Gilbert Rangel, the course's senior enlisted advisor. "For those who've been out of school for a while, sitting through these classes can be difficult."

After two months of studying electronic theory and reviewing basic math skills, students are ready to work on real equipment.

"This is the first hands-on troubleshooting block for them," said instructor SSG Gerald Terrazas. "Here they'll work with sterilizers, one of the biggest pieces of equipment they'll see throughout the course."

During Block 4 students begin to put theory to practical use. They begin to use schematic diagrams to identify problems inside ultrasonic cleaners and sterilizers, and develop ways to repair those problems.

'I'm cross-training from the active Army to the Reserve and my unit needs a medical-equipment repairer," said SPC Jayson Puckett. "It's a challenging school, because we're dealing with the real equipment that hospitals use everyday."

MSG Mark Leach, a course curriculum developer, said it's important for the students to understand the job's real-world applications.

"It's a challenging school. It has to be," he said. "Not only are medical personnel relying on them, but so is the family whose baby is using the incubator they repaired. That's what's important here."

As students progress through the course they hone their maintenance skills on smaller pieces of equipment, such as infusion pumps, incubators, ventilators and anesthesia systems.

"By the time the students reach us in Block 9 they're expected to be able to work on their own," said instructor SSG James Johnson. "We tend to demand more from them here than will probably be demanded of them in the field. Here they work with mobile radiographic units, dental X-ray machines and film processors."

Students get hands-on training with about 40 different pieces of equipment. Army students are also required to go through a challenging field exercise, during which they learn to set up and tear down a field hospital, troubleshoot problems that may arise with the equipment, teach equipment operators basic equipment and focus on basic Soldier skills.

Students arrive at the field site after completing a road march, to find equipment still packed in containers. From there they learn how to unpack and set up equipment to establish a field hospital.

"I thought setting up and breaking down the equipment was very helpful," said SPC Francisco Luengas. "I wish the other services could participate in training like this, especially when you're working in MOPP gear and trying to repair equipment. It's real-world training."

SFC John Campbell, field site NCOIC, said the highlight for students during the field exercise is learning everything they can about a specific piece of equipment and then teaching the operators how to use it properly to help reduce equipment damage.

"The challenging part of being out here is teaching the operators how to use and maintain the equipment," said recent course graduate SPC Nicholas Haak. "If they don't know how to put it together when they get out here, and take it apart, it will get broken."

"The hands-on training we get here is much better than what most colleges offer," said PFC Craig Sudheimer.

Even those with previous training agree.

"I've done calibration work in the private sector before, but the training I've received here will definitely give me more experience in other areas as well," said SPC Timothy Dunlap, another student.

To help students maintain the skills they learn in the basic course, the school offers them the chance to return for more advanced training.

Advanced-course material includes service and repair of radiology, ultrasound and mammography equipment, and fiber-optic repair. Returning students can also get training on computer-based medical systems.

"I have a need for these courses because I have different teams in the field and may not always have an X-ray technician available," said David Alyea, an X-ray class student from Medical Material Center, Europe. "Here I get to hone my X-ray maintenance skills and take back some excellent training for my folks."

The instructors' reward comes from hearing of their students' successes. Leach said that during Operation Iraqi Freedom it hurt to hear that Soldiers were wounded in action, but he was proud to know that graduates of the BMET course were on hand to maintain the equipment that helped save lives.