307th BW Airmen train at USAFA

Master Sgt. Nordyica Woodfork, a laboratory technician assigned to the 307th Medical Squadron from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., spots several possibly different bacteria growths on an agar media plate in the bio lab at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., Aug. 22, 2011. Woodfork isolated one of the shapes to place on a new plate to store for a 24-hour growth period. She was part of a group of 307th Bomb Wing Airmen who were at the Academy as part of their annual tour training, Aug. 13-26, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo by Betty Stephens/Released)

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307th BW Airmen train at USAFA

Technical Sgt. Kenneth Williams, a health services attendant assigned to the 307th Medical Squadron from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., reviews record folders for the 10th Medical Group at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., Aug. 22, 2011. He was helping to quality check and request members update the more than 400 training records for deployment purposes. Williams was part of a group of 307th Bomb Wing Airmen who were at the Academy as part of their annual tour training, Aug. 13-26, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo by Betty Stephens/Released)

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307th BW Airmen train at USAFA

Technical Sgt. David Walker, a pharmacy technician assigned to the 307th Medical Squadron from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., mixes a three-part compound, while working at the 10th Medical Group pharmacy at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., Aug. 22, 2011. He was part of a group of 307th Bomb Wing Airmen who were at the Academy as part of their annual tour training, Aug. 13-26, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo by Betty Stephens/Released)

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307th BW Airmen train at USAFA

Senior Airman Cynitra Pollard, a medical technician assigned to the 307th Medical Squadron from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., lies on a stretcher during a training exercise at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., Aug. 23, 2011. She was one of the passengers, during a simulated vehicle accident. With possible spinal injuries Pollard was stabilized, removed from the vehicle, secured to a board, and moved on to a stretcher. She was part of a group of 307th Bomb Wing Airmen who were at the Academy as part of their annual tour training, Aug. 13-26, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo by Betty Stephens/Released)

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307th BW Airmen train at USAFA

Maj. Andrea Anderson, a clinical nurse assigned to the 307th Medical Squadron from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., checks on a patient’s progress in the 10th Medical Group’s clinic at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., Aug. 23, 2011. She was part of a group of 307th Bomb Wing Airmen who were at the Academy as part of their annual tour training, Aug. 13-26, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo by Betty Stephens/Released)

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307th BW Airmen train at USAFA

Published Sept. 10, 2011
By Betty Stephens
307th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

Barksdale AFB, La. -- Airman from the 307th Medical Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., took some time out from the three digit temperatures of summer in the South to accomplish annual training in the cooler climate offered up by the United State Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Fourteen members of the 307th MDS joined the 10th Medical Group at the Academy for skill training Aug. 13-26, 2011.

There were numerous opportunities for hands-on-training for the 307th Airmen, who were able to work in the clinic, bio lab and pharmacy. They found themselves getting quite a few signatures for their skills checklists.

In the bio lab, some 307th MDS laboratory technicians labored daily with throat cures, blood samples stool samples, and others. Each sample was spread over several different pre-poured agar plate media and put in cold storage for at least 24-hours for the bacterial to grow for identification. While exploring the growths after the 24-hour period, bacterial was found that was common to the particular samples. When more than one bacterial shape was found, each shape was taken off the original plate and separated each to a new plate and put in cold storage again for another 24-hour period. When all the growth was completed, the samples were sent to the physician to identify the results.

The 307th pharmacy technicians had the opportunity to use their skills in the pharmacy mixing compounds and filling prescriptions according to physician specifications.

The commander of the group, Maj. Jeffery Chatman, the 307th MDS health services administrator, said he was pleased that his people were able to get most of their required training.

"All in all, it was a give and take for both the 307th Medical Squadron and the 10th Medical Group--they gleaned from each other," said Chatman.