Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Shelby Vande Zande, 49th Medical Group education and training flight chief, grabs equipment from a supply closet at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, Jan. 27, 2023. The 49th MDG’s main goal in using the Medic-X program is implementing its training courses ensuring that both civilians and airmen working at the group can pitch in during dire situations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Isaiah Pedrazzini)Tech. Sgt. Shelby Vande Zande, 49th Medical Group education and training flight chief, grabs equipment from a supply closet for the Medic-X training program at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., Jan. 27, 2023. The 49th MDG’s main goal in using the Medic-X program is to ensure that both non-clinical civilians and Airmen working at the 49th MDG can pitch in during dire situations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Isaiah Pedrazzini)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

49th MDG trains Airmen with Medic-X initiativePublished Feb. 12, 2023
                    
                    By Airman 1st Class Isaiah Pedrazzini
                    
                    
                    Holloman Air Force Base Public Affairs
            **HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFNS) --**Most have heard of multi-capable Airmen working on the flightline or in aircraft hangars, but at the **49th Medical Group** they’re training multi-capable medics to work in the clinic.

Medic-X is a program implemented in the 49th MDG last year and is designed to train Airmen from different medical careers to provide potentially life-saving measures in emergency situations and relief in daily operations.

The 49th MDG is responsible for providing medical care for over 14,000 Airmen and civilians living on the installation and because of the possibility of a high volume of patients the 49th MDG has begun implementing the Medic-X initiative.

“On the medical side, you have your clinical patient care-related Air Force Specialty Codes and the support AFSCs that aren't necessarily providing direct patient care,” said Tech. Sgt. Shelby Vande Zande, 49th MDG education and training flight chief. “The Medic-X program can teach personnel with non-clinical AFSCs the skills needed to work in the clinics.”U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Shelby Vande Zande, 49th Medical Group education and training flight chief, uses a resuscitation bag on a test dummy at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, Jan. 27, 2023. Medic-X is a program implemented by the 49th MDG which trains its Airmen in skills such as measuring a patient’s IV intake, assessing a patient’s pain level and providing emergency airway management. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Isaiah Pedrazzini)Tech. Sgt. Shelby Vande Zande, 49th Medical Group education and training flight chief, uses a resuscitation bag on a test dummy at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., Jan. 27, 2023. Medic-X is a program implemented by the 49th MDG that trains its non-clinical Airmen in skills such as measuring a patient’s IV intake, assessing a patient’s pain level and providing emergency airway management. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Isaiah Pedrazzini)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res

    











The program first took effect at **Holloman Air Force Base** during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 when the group experienced manpower shortages.

“We took the Medic-X initiative and kind of fast-tracked it for a couple of those skills that would be beneficial for a COVID response,” Vande Zande said. “Had we leaned solely on our clinical personnel, we wouldn't have been able to sustain the clinic’s mission of caring for patients.”

The Medic-X training consists of a variety of clinical skills that are crucial in preparing for dire situations, such as mass casualty events and combat scenarios.

“If you're in a mass casualty event, the medics don't have time to be running back and forth to get supplies and move patients,” said Tech. Sgt. Renique Carey, 49th MDG force health management noncommissioned officer in charge. “However, there's a lot more non-clinical members than there are clinical, so now we can utilize ourselves in emergency situations, which is what Medic-X has trained us to do.”U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Renique Carey, 49th Medical Group force health management noncommissioned officer in charge, applies a tourniquet on a test dummy at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, Jan. 27, 2023. By using the Medic-X program, the 49th MDG ensures that non-patient-care career fields within the group receive proper training in case of large-scale emergencies. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Isaiah Pedrazzini)Tech. Sgt. Renique Carey, 49th Medical Group force health management noncommissioned officer in charge, applies a tourniquet on a test dummy at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., Jan. 27, 2023. Through the Medic-X program, the 49th MDG ensures that non-patient-care career fields within the group receive training that will enable them to provide support to patients during emergencies. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Isaiah Pedrazzini)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res

    










Not only does Medic-X prepare clinical staff for emergency situations, but it can also be utilized in day-to-day procedures including taking vitals, moving patients, providing oral medication and assessing pain levels.

“It helps keep our providers out there treating the more critical patients,” Carey stated.

In such a short timeframe, Medic-X has given the 49th MDG staff the preparation and skills needed to combat any sort of emergency while ensuring that the residents of Holloman AFB have the best medical care.

“It gives a better understanding of what everybody goes through, and it builds a stronger team,” Carey said. “You can understand what medics and providers are going through and it builds a different appreciation for each other.”FS 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



Medic-X 



Multi-Capable Airmen 



medical 



Patient Care 



training 



emergency preparedness 



clinical staff 



Air Combat Command 



ACC 



readiness 



healthcare 



One Team One Fight

Related Links
        Air Force Medicine bolsters medical training for non-clinical specialties
            
            Air Force Surgeon General’s priority is creating high performing Airmen, Guardians
            
            316th MDG takes second in AF-wide Medic Rodeo Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil