The 633rd Medical Group at JB Langley-Eustis, Va., tested their rapid support capabilities Oct. 17-21 by setting up a 25-bed field hospital on base and caring for simulated and real patients. The global response force training mission focused on what can be encountered during humanitarian missions, including basic medical needs, according to a 633d Air Base Wing release. The field hospital, which becomes operational within 60 hours of touching down, can provide care for up to 6,500 people. “A lot of times, this is the first sort of definitive care these people are seeing,” said Col. Susan Pietrykowski, 633rd Medical Group commander, according to the release. “What we see as basic needs is a higher level of care for them.” The real-life care of Active Duty service members allowed the team to catch hiccups that could have disrupted actual humanitarian missions, said Maj. Aleacha Philson, 633rd Medical Operations Squadron pediatrics flight commander, according to the release.
The Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness revised the Defense Department’s COVID-19 guidelines. The new rules clarify what’s meant by being “up to date” on vaccinations and when personnel must wear masks in vehicles, among other changes.