Nursing professionals from the 60th Medical Group, the “Golden Bear” medics, enhanced their clinical warfighting skills during a multi-day RN Skills Fair at David Grant USAF Medical Center (DGMC). The event was designed to sustain critical nursing and technical competencies through focused, hands-on training.
The skills fair brought together a diverse team of active-duty service members, civilians, and contractors to practice essential medical tasks in a controlled, low-pressure setting. The training reinforces foundational knowledge and ensures the entire team remains prepared to respond effectively to medical emergencies, both at home and in deployed environments.
Originating from an identified need by frontline nursing staff to maintain proficiency across both clinical and non-clinical roles, the event was developed internally to build confidence and competence.
“The goal is to provide a supportive environment where staff can refresh their skills and gain hands-on experience without the pressure of a real-world emergency,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Katie Larkin, a 60th Inpatient Squadron clinical nurse and one of the event organizers. “It helps ensure our team is ready when it matters most.”
Throughout the fair, participants rotated through multiple stations covering core competencies such as patient assessment, airway management, intravenous access, and wound care. This training directly supports individual deployment readiness and aligns with the Defense Health Agency's Comprehensive Medical Readiness Program, which ensures a medically ready force.
The event also fostered collaboration and knowledge sharing among the multidisciplinary teams. Subject matter experts were on hand to guide participants, answer questions, and refine techniques, strengthening the overall clinical capability of the 60th Medical Group.
By investing in practical training opportunities like the skills fair, the DGMC nursing team is reinforcing a culture of continuous learning and demonstrating their commitment to providing world-class patient care and supporting mission readiness across the Military Health System.