IDMT, JTAC integrate for RED FLAG-Alaska 16-2

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Shawn Nickel
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  An individual medical technician deployed from Misawa Air Base, Japan, left the usual “comfort” of the clinic June 8 to integrate with battlefield Airmen during RED FLAG 16-2.

The IDMT requested to imbed during the exercise to familiarize himself with the mission of the fighter pilots he provides care for while learning more about the joint terminal attack controllers he often treats during deployments.

“This has been a real eye-opening experience to see first hand how Airmen integrate with the Army to find, fix and finish targets that are threats to the safety of service members,” said Staff Sgt. Eugene Tabita, a 14th Fighter Squadron IDMT.

Tabita said the most important thing he learned from the operation was the first-hand knowledge of the JTAC mission.

“After being embedded with special tactics Airmen twice in my medical career, you find that not only the physical health of these warriors is important, but the mental health and what they experience is imperative,” Tabita explained. “Learning how they operate will give me the ability to better assess their mental health and injuries to keep them mission ready.”

Staff Sgt. Jacob Rinker, a 13th Air Special Operations Squadron JTAC out of Fort Carson, Colo., who hosted Tabita, said minor injuries are common in the career field, but they don’t need to stop the mission.

“We’re always a critically-manned mission and that creates a sense of urgency to keep Airmen in the field,” Rinker said. “In the event of a mishap, having medical staff knowledgeable about how we need to be treated and heal can be exponential in the process of getting back in the game.”

Rinker explained that injuries could push operators out of the field and into duties outside primary tasks. Not consistently training in primary duties could put JTACs behind the power curve in training compared to peers.

“A simple cast or being behind a desk can make someone lose the physical ability we need to maintain,” Rinker said. “We are trained to push through physically and mentally because of the nature of our missions.”

After traversing difficult terrain, wearing stiff body armor for the day and observing several close air support missions, Tabita said he can appreciate the difference between the difficulties faced by non-battlefield Airmen, and the dangers pilots and Airmen on the ground experience.

“This is the end result of what hundreds of Airmen are working toward on the flight line and base,” Tabita said. “It takes everyone staying in top shape to complete these tasks, bringing the fight to the enemy. I feel I’m better prepared because of this experience to provide the care needed and I understand the best way to keep everyone possible in the fight.”