35-year Guard member accepts dual employment opportunity

by Tech. Sgt. Regina Young
116th Air Control Wing Public Affairs

6/28/2013 - June 28, 2013 -- Since 1977, most of Senior Master Sgt. Maldvina Anderson's career was spent working part-time or in temporary status, but after 23 years, her life has changed. Anderson is now a full-time, civil service, Health Services Management technician for the 116th Air Control Wing. Enriched with two jobs, she explains the life she leads wearing the uniform during the week and one weekend a month.

When you joined the Air National Guard in 2000, did you envision being a dual-status technician? Early in my career, family obligations deterred me from pursuing full-time employment and it wasn't until I was performing temporary work for the 116th Medical Group that I found out about being a civil service technician. I thought "wow" I can serve in a dual role as a civilian and guardsman at the same time.

After I accepted a civil service position in 2009, it made it easier to transition into military status on "drill" weekends and when I deploy.

What is the role of the Health Services Management flight? We perform a myriad of duties that ultimately ensure wing members are medically ready and qualified for duty. The 116th MDG also has a key role in the regional Homeland Response Force (HRF).

The MDG participates in about four disaster preparedness exercises a year, most recently, Vigilant Guard at Camp Blanding in Florida. Can you tell us about the exercises? These exercises test our Homeland Response Force mission, which is to treat patients in a disaster. We are a chemical, biological, radiological/nuclear and explosive enhanced response force package or CERFP. CERFP are the teams that make up the HRF.

The exercises are scenario based; like hurricane preparedness, train derailments and chemical plant explosions. Each scenario is designed to help prepare us for disasters in Georgia and in the southeast region.

For example, during a chemical incident our medical technicians would don their protective chemical suit or "red bags" and respond to the "hot zone" to aid with victim search and rescue. We have doctors, nurses and medical technicians who participate in the exercises.

Being able to practice frequently ensures we provide optimal services to our wing, community, state and region if disaster strikes.

A number of best practices have resulted from HRF exercises.

What is your role in HRF? I manage the Medical Control Center team ensuring accountability of patients and medical personnel by tracking their movements in and out of the site. The MCC accounts for vehicles, provides necessary transportation for victims and personnel, and keeps inventory of all supplies.

You've been in the military 35 years. What are the most significant technological advancements you've seen in Health Services Management? Computers have significantly improved the way we communicate through electronic mail and web based programs.

Web based programs allow us to access patient and personnel information more quickly and provides a better means to organize the information. Patients or personnel are also able to complete necessary forms and send them electronically to us, which has definitely sped up our processes.

What do you enjoy about the Air National Guard? The best part is the camaraderie and the very close ties. We take care of each other; "Wingman" means something. I feel honored and good about what I do for my state, community and other military members.

Anderson transitioned from the Air Force Reserves into the Air National Guard in 2000. Her previous duty assignments include the 165th Airlift Wing in Savannah, Ga., and the 175th Wing in Baltimore, Md.

Maldvina's rank of Senior Master Sergeant is the second highest achievable enlisted rank in the Air Force.