By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jeff Hall

USNS Comfort Public Affairs

ATLANTIC OCEAN – Service members from the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard have provided critical support to hospital ship USNS Comfort’s (T-AH 20) four-month humanitarian mission which began June 15.

Airmen have worked alongside their joint force counterparts throughout the ship and ashore at mission sites to provide care to thousands of patients, providing medical expertise and experience essential for mission success.

“The Airmen that came with me have been doing everything from nursing care to going ashore and taking care of patients,” said Master Sgt. Sean Fenton, a full-time health technician from Nickerson, Kansas and a member of the Texas Air National Guard’s 136th Medical Group out of Ft. Worth. “I think it’s a good thing that we came out and worked with the other branches of service full time.”

Full-time on Comfort’s deployment means long days and short nights for the Airmen.  To begin their mission ashore each morning, the Airmen muster and leave the ship as early as 5 a.m.  An hour-long boat ride on rough seas or a 20-minute helicopter ride can sometimes be the beginning of a 16- to 18-hour day.  Once ashore, Airmen work with their joint force counterparts in primary care, pharmacy, dentistry as well as other medical services.  At their posts in hot, humid rooms, they treat hundreds of patients each day.

“In 20 years of military service, this has been by far the greatest experience, and also the most difficult challenge, of my career,” said Senior Master Sgt. Steven Foster, an Air Force medical site leader from Colorado Springs, Colo., permanently assigned to the U. S. Air Force Academy’s 10th Medical Group.  “I primarily plan, implement, and coordinate the medical, dental, and optometry care of literally thousands of host nation patients, as well as serving as a “face” of the mission as the initial contact with patients and the closest on-site contact with media and host-nation representatives and distinguished guests.”

Air Force personnel like Foster have helped fill a number of leadership roles aboard Comfort and at medical care sites on the ground to help support the mission.  From being site leaders to overseeing patient care, their efforts keep Comfort’s mission going.

“For the past four months my job has been to oversee some of the pharmacy operations, not only on the Comfort, but also at several of the sites in the countries we’ve been to,” said Capt. Brian Sydnor, an Air Force pharmacist from Mechanicsville, Md., permanently assigned to McConnell Air Force Base’s 22nd Medical Group in Wichita, Kansas. “It is a very high-volume operation, especially on the beach. My main task has been to prepare for the shore operations, where we are dispensing anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000 prescriptions per day, per site.”

 Airmen supporting Comfort’s mission, from running sites to cleaning teeth, have worked hard to get the job done and have found a sense of satisfaction in the labor the mission requires.

“The mission has taken a lot of hard work, long days and late nights,” said Staff Sgt. Joshua Fonseca, a medical technician from Providence, R. I., and member of the Rhode Island Air National Guard’s 143rd Medical Group out of North Kingston.  “This is the first time many of us have been on a ship, and simple adjustments to ship life, along with mission requirements, have been a real challenge. Despite the hardships, you can really tell that we have made a difference in people’s lives.  People are truly appreciative that we came through to help them.”

One Air Force officer took the opportunity to learn more about ship life and the Navy while aboard Comfort.  Capt. Victoria Tyson, a nurse from Lacey, Wash. and member of the Washington Air National Guard’s 141st Refueling Wing at Fairchild AFB in Olympia, earned the Surface Warfare Medical Department Officer pin during her deployment with Comfort.

“As Air Force nurses, we take care of them all, Sailors, Marines and Soldiers,” Tyson said.  “To be able to understand the life of a Seaman, what they go through each day, will make me better at being a nurse, and more valuable to my community.  It was stressful and hard to earn, but the crew spent time to help me.”

The Air Force’s dedication and positive attitude could be felt throughout Comfort’s mission, from the smiling faces of patients to the teamwork in the heat and humidity of remote medical care sites.

“Not only has this mission brought the Americas closer, but it’s also brought the uniformed services closer,” said Capt. Bob Kapcio, Comfort’s mission commander.  “Our Air Force shipmates have stepped up at every opportunity. I’m really proud of the work that the Airmen aboard Comfort have accomplished.”

Comfort is on a four-month humanitarian deployment to Latin America and the Caribbean providing medical care to patients in a dozen countries.