Medical readiness flight puts 5th MDG on the map Published Nov. 10, 2009 By Airman 1st Class Artemy Shpakovsky Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- There are many medical flights on base - from dental to physical therapy, from mental health to optometry; but one of them stands out among all - this is the medical readiness flight. "We are trained to train others how to respond to any medical event or terrorist act on base - no matter how small or big," said William A. Large, 5th Medical Support Squadron medical readiness flight commander. The medical readiness flight of the 5th Medical Group was inspected here recently. And their work was recognized as one of the best. "We received an 'outstanding'," said Large. "But this is not the first time this has happened. We've retained this score for the last six years." This flight is one of the most important medical flights here. It deals with all medical personnel who go out on deployments as it provides them with the necessary equipment, offers excellent training opportunities and supplies tests for 5th MDG Airmen as they prepare for upcoming deployments. "Whether it is a deployment to Afghanistan or a simple humanitarian mission, it doesn't matter - everybody has to come through us," Large said. This flight not only works for the servicemembers on base, but also provides support for hospitals all across the state of North Dakota. "We are the authors of many medical memorandums of understanding used downtown and all over North Dakota," said Large. "We may even support medical emergencies off base, of course, if requests are filed and processed through wing leadership going through appropriate channels like the chain of command." There are many occupations employed here, fulfilled by a limited staff. The staff consists of a flight commander, a flight noncommissioned officer-in-charge, a unit deployment monitor and a Chemical, Biological, Radiation and Nuclear Equipment planner and analyst. This staff works collectively to get the job done on a day to day basis. "We work together as a team," said Senior Airman Eric Estrada, 5th MDSS medical readiness technician and unit deployment manager. "We know each other's strengths and weaknesses, and we use that knowledge to become a successful team." Airman Estrada was selected for promotion to staff sergeant this year, Large said. He also was selected as 5th MDG Airman of the Quarter. The rest of the team - Staff Sgt. Jesus Olivares, 5th MDSS medical readiness NCOIC and Callie Augustson, 5th MDSS medical CBRNE planner and analyst have received the Air Combat Command Surgeon General excellence award for top performance, Large added. During the inspection, top Air Force inspectors said every job in the flight was performed at an outstanding level. Additionally, the CBRNE program hit chords higher than the rest of the flight could've ever hoped for. "Our CBRNE program was found by inspectors to be the best one seen in today's Air Force," said Large. The medical readiness office works just like any other in the Air Force - consisting of many Airmen and civilians working for the success of Minot's mission. "No one individual can complete what we need to complete," said Large. "And I think everybody in this office is truly a star performer."