Medical technician completes challenging course - Round The Reserve

A medical technician with the 5th Special Operations Squadron at Duke Field, Fla., is only the second Air Force reservist in more than 30 years to successfully complete the challenging independent duty medical technician course at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas.

Tech. Sgt. Michele Perry graduated from the 58-day training course in July. The first reservist to complete the course was Master Sgt. Bob McCumsey of U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Fla., in 1997.

"The school was very challenging. It has a 50 percent washout rate," Perry said. "I've never studied so hard and long in my life."

Fortunately for Perry, her hard work paid off. She was one of six people to complete the course, which began with 11 students.

Technicians selected for the course receive training in a variety of areas, including medical administration, medical laboratory, pharmacy, public and occupational health, physical examinations, routine and emergency medical care, and emergency dental care. Perry said IDMT responsibilities cover so many areas that there is no equivalent job or career path in the civilian health-care community.

Perry joined fire Air Force in October 1987 to serve as a medical technician. She transferred to the Air Force Reserve in March 1995.

Currently she is assigned to a squadron medical element within the 5th SOS. An element consists of a flight surgeon and two medical technicians. Perry said due to a change in Air Force regulations, medical technicians assigned to an SME should be IDMT qualified.

The course trained Perry for duty in remote and isolated operational environments. She said that when IDMTs deploy to isolated duty locations, they function either by themselves or with another technician in a clinic. IDMTs conduct sick call, do basic lab tests and perform emergency dental care.

To prepare her for this role, Perry and her classmates covered two semesters worth of coursework in human anatomy and physiology. In addition, they learned how to perform physical examinations. While at Sheppard, Perry participated in approximately 84 hours of clinical experience at time family practice clinic and student health clinic.

IDMTs are also charged with maintaining community health at deployed locations. As a result, students received instruction in public health measures and bioenvironmental procedures.

"We are responsible for testing the drinking water and inspecting dining facilities to ensure the proper sanitary measures are being followed when food is prepared," she said.

The next step in Perry's training is to attend a three-week orientation course at Hurlburt Field, Fla. At this school, Perry will work with her preceptor, the physician she is assigned to and whose license she works under.

"This physician is who I will call for advice and guidance," she said.

(2nd Lt. Marnee Carlson, 919th Special Operations Wing Office of Public Affairs at Duke Field.)

COPYRIGHT 2003 Air Force Reserves
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