Maxwell performs ‘good job’ during base exercise

Tech. Sgt. Gary Beckford (left) helps Master Sgt. Ed Hancuff with his gas mask at “Blue Thunder” during a deployment exercise Feb. 12. Both Sergeants Beckford and Hancuff are members of the 42nd Medical Group. (Air Force photo by Jamie Pitcher)

Preparing to Deploy

As part of the February base exercise, Senior Airman Larry Hooks of the Lemay Center checks the inventory of his “C” bag Wednesday. Each bag contains protective items in the event of a chemical attack. Airman Hooks was required to inspect his gear in a “deployment line” as the base exercised its mobility machine for actual deployments. (Air Force photo by Jamie Pitcher)

Convoys, IEDs and low-crawling: Deployers train at Fort Dix

Tech. Sgt. Rocky Magee from Scott Air Force Base, Ill., helps his teammates carry a litter during combat first aid training recently at the Advanced Contingency Skills Training Course at Fort Dix, N.J. All support Airmen deploying to Central Command are required to attend similar training. (Air Force photo by Capt. Jennifer Lovett)

Translators indispensable to medics in Panama

Staff Sgt. Juan Gutierrez, a bilingual dental technician from the 42nd Medical Group deployed to Medical Readiness Training Exercise Panama, cleans a patient’s teeth at a school in Pesé, Panama, Monday. (Air Force photo by Capt. Ben Sakrisson)