Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas -- In an effort to provide better, more effective and efficient training, the 47th Medical Group has begun to assign medics to a specific Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training class.
The Airmen in the Class Medic Program will stay with their assigned class for the duration of the training.
The class medic will serve as the liaison to the training class and be available to assist during and outside of duty hours and aid in issues concerning appointments, scheduling conflicts and can direct the students to the proper medical services when needed.
During the yearlong training program, the selected Airman will have the opportunity to learn about what the students go through on more of a personal level by attending flight briefings, stand-ups, simulator appointments, graduation and aircraft drop night.
Senior Airman Cameron Chisholm, 47th Medical Operation Squadron aerospace physiology technician was the first Airman to be integrated into the program starting with SUPT class 17-14, and is impressed with how it is going so far.
“It’s eye opening,” said Chisholm. “I get to see the mission from the students’ perspective. I get to see how busy their schedules really are.”
With Laughlin’s primary mission being pilot production, Col. Thatcher Cardon, 47th MDG commander saw room for improvement after seeing the end of course critiques which seemed to indicate a difficulty in communication. Soon after, he instituted the Class Medic Program.
“A lot of energy comes from this training program. It’s contagious,” said Cardon. “I wanted my Airmen to be able to experience that, while enhancing our service to the classes.”
That is exactly what Cardon made happen. Students now have face-to-face communication with the Airmen and the Airmen get to experience firsthand what their hard work goes toward.
As class 17-15 prepares to start training, a 47th MDG Airman prepares to start his or her yearlong adventure as well - all in an effort to “graduate the world’s best military pilots.”