48th Public Health: Protecting the mission

Photo By Airman 1st Class Renee Nicole Finona | U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Keviannia McRoberts, 48th Operational Readiness Squadron deployment health technician, checks individual medical readiness records as part of a Personnel Deployment Function line at RAF Lakenheath, England, Feb. 22, 2024. Public Health technicians examine the medical records of deployers, verifying all individual medical readiness requirements are completed prior to deployment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Renee Nicole SN Finona)  

RAF LAKENHEATH, SFK, UNITED KINGDOM

02.22.2024

Story by Airman 1st Class Renee Nicole Finona 

48th Fighter Wing

RAF LAKENHEATH, England -- Public Health plays a pivotal role in safeguarding the well-being of the entire population, particularly in ensuring the readiness of Airmen for their missions. Their responsibilities encompass monitoring disease conditions, tracking medical readiness, safeguarding food, and monitoring occupational hazards.

In addition to constantly tracking patterns or trends of diseases in the area, Public Health also shoulders the responsibility of ensuring that members are prepared when they are called upon for taskings.

During their site selection process in deployed environments, Public Health determines where to safely place medical assets, food facilities, latrines and bed down facilities. This ensures hazards, such as latrines being upwind from a bed down facility, does not harm our members.

“Our deployment health section is very busy at this installation,” said Capt. Virginia Noblet, 48th Operational Readiness Squadron Public Health Operations Officer. “We are ensuring that people have the right medical requirements to go downrange.”

Deployers have the opportunity to meet with representatives from Military and Family Readiness, the Chapel, Finance and Public Health during Personnel Deployment Function lines.

Public Health meticulously reviews deployers' medical records, ensuring the completion of all individual medical readiness items before deployment.

“We are the head of the medical clearance process for the tri-base area and we make sure that people are able to do their job,” Noblet said. “Any types of medications they may need, proper immunizations, depending on where they are traveling to, and that they have a good idea of what hazards they may be exposed to when they are downrange.”

The unwavering commitment of Public Health extends beyond routine monitoring; they stand as guardians of Airmen's health, ensuring they are not only mission-ready but equipped to face the hazards they may encounter during deployments in support of Liberty Wing and U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa objectives.

• Date Taken: 02.22.2024
• Date Posted: 03.18.2024 04:16
• Story ID: 466288
• Location: RAF LAKENHEATH, SFK, GB