Photo By Jerry Hewitt | Members of the 104th Fighter Wing participated in the 34th year of a program called...... read more read more
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Henderson, Ky. – Members from the 104th Fighter Wing Medical Group joined more than 30 other military units from around the world for the 34th year annual Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) Exercise. Residents of Henderson, Dixon and Union County took advantage of the medical, dental, optical and veterinary services the military provided during the nearly two-week mission from June 11 to 21.
IRT began in 1992 as the Department of Defense’s reply to the “Rebuild America” Initiative under President George H. W. Bush. With the express purpose of strengthening deployment readiness while also offering various needed services to underserved communities in the United States and its territories. From the beginning of communities submitting applications to the final months when units “deploy” for their missions, the entire process generally takes two fiscal years. The mission season runs from April to September in the second fiscal year of the timeline. During the six months, units from across the globe travel to their designated sites in a mass effort to ensure accomplishment of the missions.
For many residents in the communities, receiving medical and dental services often means going without other necessities, due to the struggle of finding affordable healthcare in the area.
Despite being a landlocked, rural state, a diverse population arrived to receive services. Military members provided translations for many languages, including Spanish, French and Vietnamese.
One Airman from the 104th spoke about her experience providing translations in the front end of the medical services and how much it affected her.
“Participating in this mission surprised me with how close to home it hit for me,” Senior Airman Jacqueline Celata-Gonzalez said. “I wasn’t aware of how big the Hispanic community was in this area of Kentucky. Translation became overwhelming at some point, but I had the right people having my back for support in triage.”
By the end of the 11 days, the totals were as follows: Patients: 2,344 human; 441 animal TotalProcedures received: 19,926 with a Fair Market Value (FMV) of more than $1.5 million Procedures by Type: Medical – 4,123 with an FMV of $190,213; Dental – 6,013 with an FMV of $780,423; and Optical – 6,287 with an FMV of $441,032
IRT missions provide hands-on training to service members that traditional classroom and simulation exercises can’t duplicate. Standing up operational clinics at the main and satellite sites in local schools, running a mobile dental clinic, triaging and treating patients with limited supplies, and maintaining equipment in field conditions offers its military participants experience that can then be transferred into combat support roles. The mission showcases how military members could function in a deployed environment while providing multiple services at a time.
Senior Airman Jhon Chochotte, a public health specialist with the 104FW, filled several roles during the mission. “I provided support and education to patients,” Chochotte said. “Sometimes I played interpreter for Spanish, French, and Creole patients in the dental clinic. I also worked at the satellite sites.”
Chochotte said the experience was a way to give back to the public.
“It was very meaningful for me,” Chochotte said. “I felt I was able to help a large community in need and was returning service to the community.”
Celata-Gonzalez had the opportunity to bridge gaps between patients and the service providers with her translation services.
“Hearing all the different stories and struggles for each [patient] and being able to be their voice for any of the services they needed was meaningful,” Celata-Gonzalez said. “Every single one was thankful to have someone to talk to and be understood. I would definitely do this again knowing how much of a difference this all makes.”
| Date Taken: | 12.31.1969 |
| Date Posted: | 07.01.2026 14:21 |
| Story ID: | 569029 |
| Location: | HENDERSON, KENTUCKY, US |
| Web Views: | 5 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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