Warriors - Summer 2011

Airmen Serve in Rural Alabama Free Medical Clinic
By Captain John Callahan,
176th Wing Public Affairs
HAYNEVILLE, Ala. ... The 70 service
members, including 35 members of the
Alaska Air National Guard, who deployed
to this tiny, rural town to host a free
medical clinic wrapped up their mission
in early May.
For this mission, officially titled “Town
of Hayneville 2011,” the 70 deployers
opened a temporary, free clinic for area
residents. Using Haynesville’s small town
hall as a base of operations, clinic personnel
offered a wide range of services from medical
and dental care to optometry services.
Unofficial numbers indicate that, in just
seven and a half days, more than 1,000
residents of this historically underserved
area had signed up for the free services.
Most days, military personnel who arrived
in the morning were greeted by a line of
people, many with no health insurance,
waiting to enter the clinic.
Medical Check-Up. Master Sergeant Jessica
Alvarez, top, a medical service technician from the 176th
Medical Group, Alaska Air National Guard, and Airman
First Class Megan McCarthy, a medical service technician
from the 673d Medical Group, Joint Base Elmendorf-
Richardson, check a patient’s blood pressure during an
Innovative Readiness Training mission in Alabama. Photo:
Master Sergeant Shannon Oleson, 176th Wing Public Affairs
“I am amazed by the number of patients
the staff members here were able to care
for,” said Lieutenant Colonel Sharolyn
Lange, chief nurse for the 176th Medical
Group and the mission commander. “Once
the word got out in the community, the
response was overwhelming. Our success
in seeing and treating so many is really a
testament to the professionalism of our
joint-force partners – the Army, Navy and
Marines, whether active duty, Guard or
Reserve. I can’t say enough about the
quality of their work.”
10 Securing the State, Defending the Nation WARRIORS • Summer 2011