JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas –
The halls of the Airman Medical Transition Unit are quiet, peaceful; but beneath the calm exterior is a motivated team working tirelessly to care for the Air Force’s greatest asset, its people.
Although the count fluctuates, there are currently 40 wounded warriors at the 59th Medical Wing’s AMTU. All are receiving medical care for critical injuries or illnesses while assigned to the unit. And while these wounded warriors focus on treatment and recovery, the AMTU staff is there to take care of the rest.
The staff of 12 Airmen – military and civilian – helps the critically injured or ill by coordinating medical care and assisting with administrative requirements like in-processing, military finance, medical travel arrangements and retirements.
“Our members are going through a very stressful time in their lives. Our job is to help them through it,” Master Sgt. Sonia Harrison, 59th AMTU superintendent, said.
For the team to be successful, Harrison says that like in virtually every organization, it all comes down to teamwork and communication.
“All our members have a laundry list of things to do when they get here, and there’s always something else added to the list,” she said. “If we weren’t all on the same page, it would be nearly impossible for us be effective and efficient.”
Luckily, unit cohesion comes naturally to this team, in part due to the nature of the job and the culture within the unit. The unit’s synergy embodies the Airmen they serve, enabling extraordinary results, said Maj. Dawn Tanner, AMTU flight commander.
“Our personnel team is on call 24/7. It doesn’t take long for us to get to know each other,” Harrison added. “Those tight-knit working relationships make working together easier and more fun, especially when the entire team has to come together to work an issue.”
Honored to serve America’s wounded warriors, the staff looks to the AMTU members – those wounded or ill Airmen they serve – for motivation and perspective.
“We see them make it through each day; they deal with physical and emotional pain. We see how they cope with the uncertainty and stress,” said Harrison. “They give me a different perspective and show me that even when things are tough there’s so much to be grateful for every day.”
Tech. Sgt. Lara Mastel, a former AMTU member, says the feelings of gratitude are mutual. Mastel was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer in April 2010 and assigned as an AMTU member shortly thereafter. Today, she is back on active duty and at the AMTU, this time as a staff member.
“The AMTU has changed a lot in the last few years but the people are still just as helpful as ever,” said Mastel. “(The staff) were always willing to help in any way they could. During that period in my life, I developed a greater sense of pride and gratitude for our Air Force, the wing and AMTU staff here. I am here today because of the care I received.”
“I've been fortunate enough to have a chance to pay it back by helping make sure that the members assigned here are taken care of as well,” she said. “At the end of the day, my heart is happy and I'm thankful I can help.”