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Video by Senior Master Sgt. Vincent De Groot

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Iowa Air National Guard clinicians provide healing waves of hope

185th Air Refueling Wing, Iowa Air National Guard

April 29, 2019 | 3:21

B-roll video showing 2019 Innovative Readiness Training medical team members working in Ponce, Puerto Rico on April 29, 2019.

This iteration of the IRT is hosting nearly 500 Airman, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines. The bulk of the group is made up of clinicians from the Iowa Air National Guard based in Sioux City, Iowa the Minnesota Air National Guard from Minneapolis, Minn. the Alabama Air National Guard from Montgomery, Alabama, the Delaware Army National Guard in Wilmington, Delaware as well as groups from the Navy and Marine Corps Reserve.

Doctors and clinicians from the U.S. Military organizations are providing no cost medical care to civilians in Puerto Rico during a two week training exercise as part of the Air National Guard Innovative Readiness Training program. The goal of the training program is to provide realistic training while at the same time providing no cost medical care for people in areas of the island territory that are medically underserved.

Clinicians have set up areas to perform medical examinations as well as dental and optometry care in community centers in six different locations on the island territory; Ponce, Jayuya, Maricao, Mayagüez, Yauco, Lares.
Events that are a part of the IRT program like the one in Puerto Rico this week also aim to provide a critical link between the military and members of the civilian community where the services are provided.

Staff Sgt. Kassandra Bain works as a medical technician in the Iowa Air National Guard’s 185th Air Refueling Wing based in Sioux City, Iowa. Normally, she works as a lab technician during training weekends. During her time in Puerto Rico, she is assisting with optometry and said that this is a great opportunity to learn something new. Bain graduated from Woodbury Central High School in Moville, Iowa and is studying at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Lower thirds:
Staff Sgt. Kassandra Bain
185th Air Refueling Wing Medical Technician
Iowa Air National Guard