May 9, 2025

Stewart-Hunter EMS chief ensures seconds count by keeping medical response skills sharp

FORT STEWART, Ga. — For the over 200,000 acres encompassing Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield, Jim Ochoa is the calm in the storm, the steady hand guiding the critical first moments of a medical crisis. As chief of emergency medical services, Ochoa doesn't just manage a team; he orchestrates a lifeline, ensuring that when the unthinkable happens, a well-equipped and highly trained ambulance crew is ready to make every second count. His first responder colleagues also praise him for his role as a mentor, friend, leader, and community servant. In his role as the EMS chief, Ochoa is responsible for the overall operation of the medical response assets on the military installation, ensuring the fleet of three ambulances are staffed with at least one paramedic each around the clock and ready to respond all day, every day, to any number of situations.

May 6, 2025

A Breath of Relief: How One Airman's Training Saved a Life

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. — Paramedic Staff Sgt. Kenneth McIntyre's dedication and skill make him invaluable to MOMMC and the Air Force. His actions, while simply "part of the job" for him, are heroic to those he helps, like Trauma Nurse Capt. Angela Leonardo.

April 18, 2025

Fort Irwin MEDDAC Soldiers Earn 2nd Place at Desert Showdown

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — A team from Weed Army Community Hospital earned 2nd place in the Desert Showdown at Edwards Air Force Base, finishing just two seconds behind the top spot. As the only Army team competing, they showcased exceptional teamwork, resilience, and medical readiness in a physically and mentally demanding joint-service event.

Oct. 17, 2023

Military health and readiness improved through collaboration with small business

Joint Base San Antonio- Lackland, Texas — The article highlights the significant musculoskeletal injuries faced by military personnel, particularly ankle injuries. These injuries lead to training disruptions, costly medical attrition, and affect military readiness. To address this, the Air Force initiated the Versatile Injury Prevention and Embedded Reconditioning program (VIPER) and partnered with TayCo Brace to develop the XAB (eXternal Ankle Brace). This innovative brace offers better range of motion and comfort, reduces recovery time, and can be worn over combat boots or athletic shoes. It is expected to significantly improve return-to-duty rates, reduce disruptions, and enhance overall outcomes for service members with ankle injuries. The XAB is commercially available for military procurement, representing a promising solution for military musculoskeletal injuries.

Sept. 13, 2023

Mission of compassion: surgeons restore sight and forge connections in Panama

Regional Hospital Dr. Luis "Chicho" Fabrega, Santiago de Veraguas, Panama — Panamax Alpha 2023, an annual ophthalmology Medical Readiness Training Exercise (MEDRETE), is aimed to enhance the surgical skills and operational readiness of team members by immersing them in a range of prevalent chronic eye conditions in the region. In July 2023, 32 TriService military members traveled to the Regional Hospital Dr. Luis "Chicho" Fabrega where the team conducted rapid preliminary screenings for 300 patients within just three days, followed by a remarkable total of 291 surgeries over the subsequent eight days, leaving an impact through nearly 750 clinic appointments.

Sept. 11, 2023

Transforming Lives, One Eye at a Time: U.S. Military Ophthalmology Mission, Panamax Alpha 2023

Santiago de Veraguas, Panama — In July 2023, a team of 32 members from the Air Force, Army, and Navy embarked on an Ophthalmology Medical Readiness Training Exercise (MEDRETE) to Regional Hospital Dr. Luis "Chicho" Fabrega in Santiago de Veraguas, Panama. The annual joint service exercise was led by U.S. Southern Command, aimed to enhance the skills and operational readiness of team members by immersing them in a range of prevalent chronic eye conditions in the region. Over three weeks, the team conducted rapid preliminary screenings for 300 patients within just three days. Following this, they accomplished a remarkable total of 291 surgeries over the subsequent eight days, leaving an impact through nearly 750 clinic appointments.

July 11, 2023

59th MDW, VelocityTX partner to advance military research

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas — The 59th Medical Wing recently entered a new partnership with Texas nonprofit organization,

June 29, 2023

559th THLS commander prepares next generation of medically ready warfighters

Joint Base San Antonio- Lackland, Texas — Lt. Col. Williams Cox intends to continue optimizing trainee readiness and patient-centered care through collaborative health delivery, education, training, and research while simultaneously prioritizing the needs of her airmen to succeed.

June 1, 2023

TriService Nursing Research Program cultivates medical innovative solution through evidence-based practice, research

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas — The TriService Nursing Research Program is the country’s first and only Department of Defense program that supports and fund armed forces nurses to conduct operationally relevant military nursing research and EBP that improves the quality of care provided to service members. TSNRP held its annual Research and Evidence-Based Dissemination Course April 4-6, 2023, in San Antonio, Texas. The course serves as an opportunity for military nurse scholars to come together to discuss ongoing and past research, as well as plan future research efforts. Collaboration among all military nurses and military nurse retirees is essential for fostering innovative nursing science solutions and relies on every member to contribute to the overall success.