Photo By Airman 1st Class Hailey Ziegler | U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Nick Cervantes, NCOIC of project integration with the 1st...... read more read more
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HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- As members of the 1st Special Operations Medical Group continue to work the frontline, providing COVID-19 testing and daily medical care for Airmen and their families, it’s the medical staff who were in need of help to ensure their own safety during the pandemic.
With a 3D printer in hand, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Nick Cervantes, NCOIC of project integration with the 1st Special Operations Wing Innovation Cell, knew they had the capability to help.
Cervantes learned that the medical staff were running low on personal protective equipment, but before they could begin printing, he needed approved face mask design guidance from the Air Force Surgeon General to make sure their product would be within regulations.
On April 5, 2020, the letter they were waiting for was released.
“As soon as the guidance came out that you can print face shields, it was like, ‘let’s go - pedal to the metal,” said Cervantes.
Cervantes then reached out to other organizations on base to assist with the task at hand.
“The face shields were not one organization’s idea,” said Cervantes. “We decided that since we have 3D printers, we would all join forces to meet their needs.”
One organization that assisted in the task is the Air Force Repair Enhancement Program that repairs assets “red-tagged” by the 1st Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron. The money that would have been spent on buying a new part is redistributed into the maintenance group account in order to save an average of $500K-$1M, annually. They develop multitudes of repair skills to fix circuit boards, micro components and modify aircraft parts.
Other organizations included the 1st Special Operations Force Support Squadron that has three, 3D printers available for free to eligible Department of Defense personnel and their families.
Lastly, the 1st Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron operations section utilizes their printer to print CE-specific tools and resources to assist with carpentry and metalworking, and EOD utilizes their printer for training aides that would otherwise cost thousands to purchase.
Two designs were used in the process: one that utilizes a six hole-punched lamination sheet and one designed by Cervantes that uses transparency film held via neodymium magnets.
Together, the 1st SOW Innovation Cell and 1st SOW organizations produced 150 face shields in one week for all four medical squadrons on base, ensuring medical staff’s ability to safely carry out their healthcare mission.
“I absolutely love this job -- it’s the best job I’ve ever had in the Air Force,” said Cervantes. “I love being able to connect industry with academia and other DOD components in order to understand a big project. We create value for the organization; therefore, improving readiness.”
The National Defense Strategy states that to maintain the advantage, the service must out-think, out-maneuver, out-innovate and out-partner rogue regimes and anybody that tries to harm America.
“The innovation cell is meant for just that -- innovation,” said Cervantes.
The 1st SOW Innovation Cell, or “Project 1”, serves the warfighter by empowering Hurlburt Field Airmen with resources including networking and funding to create opportunities and solve problems locally.
“By improving the way Airmen do tasks and their jobs, they can be better trained and more prepared,” said Cervantes. “Innovation, small iterations and improvements better the force and modernize it as a whole.”
Innovative ideas can be submitted at https://usaf.ideascalegov.com/a/ideas/recent/campaigns/80 or through the Air Force Connect app. Questions and information about innovation can be sent to 1SOW.InnovationCell@us.af.mil.
| Date Taken: | 05.05.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 05.07.2020 11:16 |
| Story ID: | 369313 |
| Location: | HURLBURT FIELD, FL, US |
| Hometown: | SIERRA VISTA, AZ, US |
| Web Views: | 342 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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