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The Wasp-class multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) is the primary casualty receiving ship for the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG).
Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Williams is the key person in charge of keeping the ship’s medical equipment operational.
Williams, the Bataan’s only biomedical equipment technician, is responsible for assembling, maintaining, troubleshooting, aligning and calibrating the medical and dental equipment onboard. Williams assembles and maintains equipment like dental chairs and x-ray machines.
Williams, a native of Denmark, S.C., and graduate of Blackville High School, didn’t know this specialty existed in the Navy when he enlisted at the age of 23.
“For my first command I was assigned to the 2nd Dental Battalion in Camp Lejune, said Williams. Due to the biomedical equipment shop being undermanned at that time, Williams did a lot of on the job training. “On my first day in the shop, I was then given a brand new dental chair to put together. It took me two days, but I finally finised.. After that, I decided I wanted to do this for the rest of the time I am in the Navy.”
After his first deployment with the Marines, he put in a request for biomedical repair school.
The school was 14 months long and can be pretty challenging for many of the students in the beginning but Williams pushed through the trials and headed back into the fleet as an official biomedical equipment technician.
“The most challenging part of my job is that this is my first ship,” said Williams. “At a shore command, we actually have a whole shop and we have certain people doing the equipment management side, and the technicians do the maintenance”.
When Williams first joined the Navy the only rate option offered to him at that time was Hospital Corpsman.
“Now I’m glad that’s all they had,” said Williams. “I can’t imagine myself anywhere else. This specialty allows me to combine my pleasure of helping people and my love of working with my hands.”
Williams said the biomedical equipment technician field is a promising career both in and out of the NavyHis work ethic, professionalism and leadership has inspired other Sailors within his department to pursue advance training within their specialties.
“I am currently working on certifications so I can continue in this career field once I get out of the Navy,” said Williams. “I love it”
| Date Taken: | 12.12.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 12.13.2016 11:18 |
| Story ID: | 217494 |
| Location: | ATLANTIC OCEAN |
| Web Views: | 29 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Who Am I? Biomedical Equipment Technicians, by PO2 Mutis A Capizzi, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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