Fighting vision problems: 131st Field Hospital supports IRT

Photo By 1st Lt. Jonathan Padish | U.S. Army Spc. Christopher Jones, an optometry technician, and U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Cameron Henderson, an eye specialist, both assigned to the 507th Optometry Detachment, 131st Field Hospital, perform vision screenings at a temporary medical clinic at the Miner Baptist Church in Sikeston, Mo., June 17, 2019. Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corporation Tri-State Innovative Readiness Training 2019 is a joint service medical exercise that provides training to service members and quality medical care to the surrounding community. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Jonathan W. Padish)  

SIKESTON, MO, UNITED STATES

06.17.2019

Story by Senior Airman Jonathan Padish 

175th Wing, Maryland Air National Guard

SIKESTON, Mo. (June 17, 2019) — Soldiers assigned to the 507th Optometry Detachment, 131st Field Hospital at Fort Bliss, Tex. deployed to Sikeston in support of Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corporation Tri-State Innovative Readiness Training 2019.

The Soldiers are performing optometry services for community members at a temporary medical clinic in Sikeston.

“We are doing vision screening examinations for the underserved populations of Missouri,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Cameron Henderson, an eye specialist and detachment non-commissioned officer for the 507th. “IRT is a good opportunity to get experience that we cannot get in the day-to-day garrison environment.”

The nature of the mission enhances the Soldiers’ optometry experience, especially since the Soldiers are operating in a joint-service environment.

“We are gaining a lot of tri-service experience during IRT,” said Henderson. “For example, we are training Air Force personnel who are not specialized in optometry.”

The commander of the Soldiers similarly saw the value of their support of DAEOC Tri-State IRT 2019.

“IRT allows training on all mission-essential tasks in a single mission,” said U.S. Army Capt. James Twitchell, the officer-in-charge of optometry services at the DAEOC Tri-State IRT 2019 Sikeston site.

Additionally, the Soldiers appreciated the unique nature of the IRT mission.

“The bonus of IRT missions is being able to serve an underserved community and provide high quality access to care,” said Twitchell.

Henderson echoed similar sentiments regarding the IRT mission.

“It’s nice being able to help a patient who tells you they haven’t had a pair of glasses in six years and help them take steps toward fixing that problem,” said Henderson.

DAEOC Tri-State IRT 2019 is a joint service medical training exercise that leverages military and community resources to provide military training to service members and, as an added benefit, no-cost vision services to community members.

• Date Taken: 06.17.2019
• Date Posted: 06.17.2019 21:47
• Story ID: 328024
• Location: SIKESTON, MO, US