Mission spotlight: Life support provisions at a moment's notice

by Airman 1st Class Ryan Conroy
31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

5/15/2014 - AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy  -- The responsibility of stocking, preparing and shipping more than $6 million worth of equipment and supplies falls upon the 31st Medical Support Squadron Airmen tasked with the preservation of medical supplies that might one day - save a life.

Preparation is the key for medical logistics technicians who ship and stock these supplies, which are used to treat patients and shipped out in major catastrophes, both locally and downrange. The war reserve materials warehouse supports the mission through contingent operations.

"We anticipate the unexpected," said Staff Sgt. Prapaporn Wangsuttisomsri, 31st MDSS, medical logistics technician. "Our job consists of processing, packing and maintaining the essential materials that could potentially impact thousands supported through medical relief efforts."

The fruits of their labor may not be seen in the warehouse, but upon arrival at an unforeseen catastrophe. Teams unload aircraft pallets - or assemblages - specifically tailored to assist in the precise type of aid they will be providing. The pallets are organized by priority and the first ones unloaded contain the essentials for the emergency room and surgical tent.

"Once we receive the deployment tasking order, we begin to palletize and prep the cargo," said Staff Sgt. Terissa Cruz, 31st MDSS medical materiel NCO in charge. "Once the assemblage is received in the area of responsibility, the deployed team begins to set up the surgical tent and continue down the priority list until they are fully functional. The teams are literally building the most essential rooms of a hospital out of these deployable medical clinics."

The war reserve material equipment list includes anything that would be in a hardened hospital, conveniently tailored for field use. This includes medication, medical equipment and even fire extinguishers.

"We have it all," said Senior Airman Megan Grose, medical logistics technician. "From x-ray units to air conditioners, plus everything that we would need to support power, water, and oxygen for a field hospital."

Once operational, caregivers have the ability to provide emergency care, surgery, radiology, pharmaceutical needs and more.

"Our job is essential to the ability to provide relief efforts to others," Grose said. "If we don't complete our mission, we lose the ability to treat injuries. Untreated injuries can become casualties, so we do our job accurately and efficiently in order to contribute to humanitarian relief and the healing of those in need."