MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- The Air and Space Forces’ top medical leaders toured Maxwell to learn of the 42nd Medical Group’s mission of caring for a diverse community of military and military connected personnel across Air University and the installations, July 19, 2023.
Lt. Gen. Robert I. Miller, Air and Space Forces surgeon general, and Chief Master Sgt. Dawn M. Kolczynski, medical enlisted force and enlisted corps chief for the Office of the Air Force Surgeon General, visited the 42nd Medical Group, Officer Training School and Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps headquarters to learn about the criticality of the medical support programs available to Maxwell’s large and transitory student population.
“We’ve worked hard at the 42nd Medical Group to connect our daily operations with the critical Air Force readiness mission we support,” said Col. Andrea Maya, 42nd Medical Group commander. “Our team got to hear about the importance of combat medics from our senior leaders, and we got to showcase our very talented team.”
Miller and Kolcynski also spent time talking and sharing experiences with some of Maxwell’s Airmen.
“The Maxwell community offers an incredibly unique opportunity,” said Kolczynski, who also serves as the first chief, medical enlisted force of the Space Force. “The medics provide care for not only active duty service members, but a large transient community of students as well. Understanding their needs is a different type of care. This helps create more well-rounded medical experience, and gives a clinic much needed experience as the medical Airmen continually strive to improve their level of care and adaptability required for worldwide Air Force readiness requirements.”
The medical group works hand-in-hand with OTS and AFROTC field training staff to ensure they have the medical resources needed and play a key role in making sure the trainees and cadets can meet their graduation requirements.
“There is a diverse array of U.S. and international military students who attend courses at Maxwell – meeting all of their medical needs is challenging, but essential,” said Miller. “Providing quality health care is critical for their success at Maxwell.”
As the students visiting Maxell grow to understand how emerging global security concerns impact the Department of Defense, they will also understand how medical support is key to overall readiness.
“Military medicine is constantly evolving, and the 42nd Medical Group does an incredible job caring for the future leaders of the Air and Space Forces and of other nations,” said Miller. “As the Air Force moves to improve its force generation model, helping the those leaders understand the critical role medical professionals play in readiness is essential.”
The surgeon general said he appreciates the 42nd Medical Group’s support to Maxwell.“Whether it’s supporting the transient population, the permanently assigned staff, or their families, the relationship the medical group maintains with Maxwell leaders is essential for success, and it’s evident that Maxwell’s support of the medical mission here is unparalled.”
The 42nd Medical Group supports programs for more than 42,000 beneficiaries in the Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex community.