Joint force medic support on the Dakota Dunes levee

Photo By Tech. Sgt. Quinton Young | Airmen from the South Dakota Air National Guard's 114th Fighter Wing continue on their way after receiving water from the Task Force 114 medic staff here June 28,2011. The airmen and soldiers of the South Dakota National Guard are currently activated to perform several duties in support of the southeast South Dakota flood incident.  

DAKOTA DUNES, SD, UNITED STATES

06.28.2011

Story by Senior Master Sgt. Don McLeer and Tech. Sgt. Quinton Young

114th Fighter Wing

DAKOTA DUNES, S.D. – Medical support staff from the South Dakota National Guard are providing medical support to the soldiers and airmen on the levee patrols here June 28, 2011.

Both the Army Guard and Air Guard have medical staff deployed to Dakota Dunes in support of the southeast South Dakota flood incident.

The medics are not only delivering water and supplies to the levee patrols, they are also ensuring the overall well being of the troops, said Master Sgt. Angela Pesicka from Parker, a Task Force 114 medic and a member of the 114th Fighter Wing Medical Group.

“We are here for first aid response, and we respond to emergency medical situations that occur within the unit,” said Pesicka. “We make sure that everyone is well hydrated … we also handle sick call for the shift we are assigned to.”

Although the medics are not patrolling or placing sandbags they have a demanding mission of their own, said Sgt. Stephanie Johnson from Jasper, Minn., task force 114 medic and a member of the South Dakota Army National Guard’s Medical Command, Rapid City.

“We know we are out here doing a lot of hard work. It’s a long day in this heat but we try to have a little bit of fun and that makes it ok out here,” said Johnson.

The joint force experience of this mission has been positive for both the soldiers and airmen, said Pesicka.

“It is great that we are intermingling,” said Pesicka. “We are learning a lot about each other’s services, I think it is just great that we are all working together.”

“We do things a lot different, not better or worse, just different,” said Johnson, “But it is nice to get a dual point of view on things. It helps us both see where we can improve.”

• Date Taken: 06.28.2011
• Date Posted: 07.07.2011 23:32
• Story ID: 73413
• Location: DAKOTA DUNES, SD, US