HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – The 66th Medical Squadron has received three Air Force Materiel Command-level awards following the announcement last week of Air Force Medical Service Annual Award winners.
The Medical Squadron here won Small Dental Clinic of the Year, Biomedical Sciences Corps Team of the Year, and Master Sgt. Matthew R. Ulrichs received the Clinical Support Excellence Award.
“Kudos to our Medical Squadron for taking home three AFMS annual awards,” wrote Col. Taona Enriquez, installation commander, in an email to the workforce. “This team supports a truly joint mission. Thank you for your tireless dedication to the readiness of the most lethal weapon system in the DOD [Department of Defense] – our military members.”
Small Dental Clinic of the Year
Among the accomplishments written in the award nomination, the MDS Dental Clinic completed more than 3,500 visits for more than 1,500 patients.
“The team hoisted dental sterilization contingency operations, auditing supply chain standard of practice for 2,500 instruments, which surged services for three functions, increased efficiencies for beneficiaries and saved the unit thousands of dollars,” said Col. Nicole Garris, 66 MDS commander.
The team was also credited with bolstering the squadron's Rapid Response program and partnering with the 158th Fighter Wing in Burlington, Vermont, to provide upgrade training to Air National Guard members.
U.S. Air Force Biomedical Sciences Corps Team of the Year
The Mental Health Flight received the Biomedical Sciences Corps Team of the Year for their efforts throughout the award cycle.
“The Mental Health Flight facilitated two Regional Recruiter Summits for 18 joint partner recruiting commanders in New England,” said Garris. “The team also partnered with Massachusetts General Hospital to build a resilience program for 500 military recruiters, which saved DOD thousands annually and was selected as a benchmark by AFMC senior leaders.”
Other highlights in the award nomination include piloting an outreach initiative for 104th Fighter Wing at Barnes Air National Guard Base, Mass., by having a multidisciplinary team educate more than 30 senior enlisted leaders and other wing-level stakeholders.
Clinical Support Excellence Award
The Air Force Medical Service Clinical Support Excellence Award recognizes Air Force medics for their expertise, leadership, and commitment.
“Master Sgt. Ulrichs identified a corrective action by removing latex items from more than 200 homeland defense packages and more than 35 War Reserve Materiel assemblages,” said Garris. “His efforts earned him the Air Force Trusted Care Hero of the Month earlier this year.”
Ulrichs is also credited with modernizing the Career Field Education and Training Plan for personnel assigned to three Air Force Specialty Codes by digitizing tasks for more than 1,500 items impacting enlisted Airmen.
The Hanscom AFB award winners will now compete at the Air Force level.