JB Charleston Airman overseas in support of OUA

by Eric Sesit
628th Air Base Wing public affairs

11/18/2014 - JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C.  -- Although the number of Ebola cases is beginning to decline and the American population is learning to live with the fear of a world in which Ebola is a real danger, American service members are still deployed near the front lines of the infection, battling the disease overseas before it can invade our shores.

Staff Sgt. Brett Randall from the 628th Medical Group at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., is just one service member currently deployed to Liberia as part of Operation United Assistance, working to support the mission to end the scourge of Ebola. An independent duty medical technician, Randall has been at an undisclosed location in Liberia for almost six weeks.

"My primary mission is to provide basic medical/trauma support for the Joint Task Force - Port Opening team to include public health, bio-environmental inspections of food and water sources and sanitation education to mitigate any non-battle related illnesses," Randall said.

The JTF-PO is a joint operation and consists mainly of Air Force and Army personnel who set up a bare base in country and initiate cargo flow from aircraft delivering supplies to the storage facilities where the supplies will ultimately end up in the hands of various agencies like USAID to fight Ebola.

And although Randall and his team are near the front lines of the epidemic, they have no interaction with the locals so the risk of contracting the disease is minimal. He and his team are confined to their living quarters and duty locations only, tasked with taking care of the service members who are themselves supporting the health organizations fighting the outbreak.

"Our living conditions are what anyone would expect at a bare base during monsoon season ... hot and humid all day and night," Randall said. "We have limited access to the internet or communications back home, but we all take turns to ensure we get to communicate with our families. Some team members have put their creative skills together and made a make shift gym to stay physically fit when we have down time. In the evenings if we can, we get together to watch movies, play cards or play catch with a football or a Frisbee.  We live in a tent city with rocks and mud everywhere so we have to make our own entertainment."

But due to mission requirements, entertainment is a low priority.

"My shift is 36 hours on, eight hours off," Randall said. "My night starts with temperature screenings per DOD mandate, then two hours of clinical time to evaluate and treat anyone that is needed to be seen by a medical provider. If there are no patients, I start my water and MRE testing to ensure the resources provided are safe for consumption by our military members."

Working as a medical technician also takes a back seat when aircraft arrive.

"When a cargo plane arrives, I assist Security Forces with force protection measures to ensure the safety of the aircraft and air crew," Randall said.

Prior to leaving at the end of his shift, Randall must again screen his team and himself to verify they are non-symptomatic and without a fever.

"Staff Sgt. Randall is the right Airman at the right time for this mission," said Lt. Col. Raymond Clydesdale, JB Charleston's 628th Aerospace Medical Squadron commander. "He lives to be out on the front lines, supporting our Airmen and leading the way by example."

According to Randall, the JTF -PO normally will stay in a country for 45 to 60 days. However, he doesn't currently know when he will be redeploying to JB Charleston, but remains steadfast to see the mission through no matter how long it takes.