U.S. Air Force Medical Service - AFMS

05/31/2026

U.S. service members participated in a specialized snake handling course at Kadena Air Base, Japan. The 18th Civil Engineer Squadron Pest Management team partnered with the U.S. Marine Corps 3rd Medical Battalion to integrate snake handling into a joint service preventative medicine exercise. The course allowed service members more hands-on experience with local snakes, improving response capability and reducing risk of injury in the field

View more moments from training at Kadena Air Base here : https://bit.ly/4ulx3jr

05/30/2026

Officials held a Community College of the Air Force commencement ceremony at the Minuteman Commons to recognize five Airmen who completed CCAF degrees during the fall 2025 and spring 2026 semesters.

“It reflects the discipline and perseverance required to balance academics alongside the operational demands of Security Forces,” said Staff Sgt. Jonathan Littleton, who earned a criminal justice degree. “While deployments, exercises, and mission success have shaped me professionally, earning my degree represents a long-term personal commitment to growth and self-improvement.”

Read the full article recognizing five Airmen who completed CCAF degrees here: https://bit.ly/4dYLMvt

05/29/2026

"In times of increased stress, it's not about eliminating stress. It's about protecting your functioning and recovery, and using support systems before it becomes too overwhelming," states Tech Sgt. Samantha Herrera. In this final installment of Spotlight on Mental Health for this May, we speak with two enlisted members at the forefront of mental health, Mental Health NCOIC, Tech Sgt. Samantha Herrera and Bioenvironmental Flight Chief, Tech Sgt. Antione Van and get their insights on leadership, wellness, and being a wingman.

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, this May, we are highlighting perspectives on mental health from across the Air Force Medical Service. Watch the full episode on the AFMS Youtube channel here: https://bit.ly/4u3l4Xk

05/29/2026

Before sharing his story at the 2026 Military Health System Conference in Dallas, Texas, May 27, retired Capt. Florent Groberg named those he served with killed in action: Command Sgt. Maj. Kevin Griffin, Maj. Walter Gray, Maj. Thomas Kennedy, and Ragaei Abdelfattah.

“Why does that matter?” he asked. “That matters because I’m alive. That matters because I get to spend Memorial Days, Fourths of July, Thanksgivings, and Christmases with my two kids and my wife — and their families do not.”

Delivering a spirited and powerful keynote address to an audience of thousands of service members, Department of War personnel, and government and industry healthcare professionals, Medal of Honor recipient Groberg wove a story of selfless heroism and the subsequent long road to recovery through MHS care.

His remarks painted a portrait of warfighter resilience and hope.

His split-second decision under attack in Afghanistan saved many lives, but resulted in severe injuries for Groberg, including the loss of half his left calf muscle, significant nerve damage, and a traumatic brain injury. He spent nearly three years recovering at Walter Reed National Military Medical CenterWalter Reed National Military Medical Center, undergoing dozens of surgeries.

For his extraordinary bravery, Groberg was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama in 2015.

Read the full story here:

Retired Army Capt. Florent Groberg shared his story of hope and recovery through Military Health System healthcare at the 2026 Military Health System Conference in Dallas, Texas, May 27. “We will never say thank you enough,” he said.

05/29/2026

You want to know what the Total Force looks like? Let me introduce you.

Master Sgt. Felicia Buccieri and Master Sgt. Yesenia Benjamin. One a health services management specialist with the 482nd Medical Squadron, Air Force Reserve Command. The other a health specialist with 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern). Both assigned to the Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team — LAMAT. Both at the Hyundai Air and Sea Show not to just watch the show, but to represent their mission.

LAMAT brings together active duty and Reserve Airmen to integrate with host nation medical providers and strengthen regional health resilience across the Caribbean and Latin America. Operating outside the wire, in resource-constrained environments far from home, keeps teams sharp — ready to answer any call, from natural disasters to combat operations, anywhere, any time.

And when a medical emergency unfolded at the show, LAMAT personnel answered that call right there on Miami Beach.

This is what we do. This is who we are. Necessary work. Noble missions. A Total Force.

U.S. Air Force Medical Service - AFMS
Air Forces Southern

05/28/2026

"In times of increased stress, it's not about eliminating stress. It's about protecting your functioning and recovery, and using support systems before it becomes too overwhelming," states Tech Sgt. Samantha Herrera. In this final installment of Spotlight on Mental Health for this May, we speak with two enlisted members at the forefront of mental health, Mental Health NCOIC, Tech Sgt. Samantha Herrera and Bioenvironmental Flight Chief, Tech Sgt. Antione Van and get their insights on leadership, wellness, and being a wingman.

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, this May, we are highlighting perspectives on mental health from across the Air Force Medical Service. Watch the full episode on the AFMS Youtube channel here: https://bit.ly/4u3l4Xk

05/28/2026

Lt. Gen. John J. DeGoes, U.S. Air Force and Space Force Surgeon General and Air Force Medical Command commander, spoke during an all call at David Grant USAF Medical Center. U.S. Air Force Medical Corps leadership toured an En Route Patient Staging System facility at Travis Air Force Base, California. The visit focused on mission orientation, recognition, a review of partnerships and key partner engagements across the installations.

View the full gallery of U.S. Air Force Medical Corps leadership's visit to the En Route Patient Staging System facility at Travis Air Force Base here: https://bit.ly/4wU7iJl

05/27/2026

The Military Health System is actively spearheading initiatives to ensure doctors, nurses, medics and other health professionals sustain and enhance vital medical skills to keep service members at peak readiness.

“Our No. 1 priority is medical force readiness to ensure that our military forces are ready for combat,” said Dr. Stephen Ferrara, principal deputy assistant secretary of war for health affairs.

With this mission come challenges — much of them rooted in what is referred to as the Walker Dip.

The Walker Dip is the decrease in medical readiness that happens during peacetime, when combat lessons fade and clinical skills can regress. It's not just a theory: It’s a lesson from the past. Military Health

Read the full article on how the Military Health System is strengthening medical force readiness by sustaining critical clinical skills and addressing the Walker Dip here: https://bit.ly/3RwMbNa

05/26/2026

Fairchild Air Force Base conducted a major accident response exercise to test emergency readiness ahead of the upcoming SkyFest 2026 air show.

During the two-day training event, first responders from the installation and surrounding communities reacted to simulated crashes involving two military aircraft, one on base and one off base. The complex scenarios required military and civilian agencies to work together against the clock to control the scenes, treat the injured, and execute a flawless joint response.

The goal of a major accident response exercise is to give Airmen a chance to practice their emergency response skills alongside their civilian counterparts, ensuring they remain mission ready for any contingency. For Fairchild AFB, the event allowed military personnel and local first responders to refine their joint procedures and increase interoperability.

Read the full article to learn how Fairchild Air Force Base and local agencies trained together to strengthen emergency response readiness here: https://bit.ly/3PSSMAS

05/25/2026

An interdisciplinary team at David Grant Medical Center (DGMC) is improving inpatient care through a coordinated approach focused on wound prevention, early intervention, and patient recovery.

Key initiatives include expanded wound care nurse coverage, competency-based wound care training for nursing staff, peer-to-peer prevention audits, nutrition consultation pathways for at-risk patients, and operating room interventions designed to reduce pressure injuries during prolonged surgical procedures.

The program reflects DGMC’s continued focus on improving patient outcomes while fostering collaboration across clinical specialties to support safe, high-quality health care delivery.

Read the full article on our website to learn how the David Grant Medical Center team is strengthening patient care here:https://travis.tricare.mil/News-Gallery/Articles/Article/4495918/dgmc-wound-care-optimization-team-strengthens-patient-centered-care