HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – An instructor from the Hanscom Airman Leadership School has been volunteering to support the 66th Medical Squadron pharmacy as it adjusts operations to meet COVID-19 requirements.
Staff Sgt. Sonia Severino, 66th Force Support Squadron ALS instructor, served as a pharmacy technician at the Hanscom clinic prior to becoming a member of the schoolhouse cadre. When pharmacy operations began ramping up, she reached out to her former colleagues to find out how she could help.
“Staff Sgt. Severino came to us from the pharmacy so she’s trained and familiar with the mission’s intricacies,” said Master Sgt. Ryan Dillingham, Hanscom ALS assistant to the commandant. “When she asked if she could offer her assistance, of course we said yes.”
When she’s not scheduled to teach ALS curriculum, Severino assists the pharmacy by restocking, ordering and filling prescriptions. As the only active duty medical facility in New England, Severino and the pharmacy team have a direct impact on the readiness of the installation, geographically separated units, and retirees around the area.
Severino knows first-hand how quickly the pharmacy mission can ramp up and that a helping hand can go a long way. Plus, there’s the added bonus of keeping her skills sharp.
“During the COVID-19 situation, clinic personnel collaborated to coordinate optimal patient care,” said Maj. Sang Ngo, 66 MDS Diagnostic & Therapeutic Flight commander. “Severino counted out more than 3,000 pills and prepared 180 pre-packed medications to support the fight against COVID-19.”
Instructors serve for four years in that special duty assignment before returning to their original career fields.
“I know what it’s like when things get crazy and you don’t have the hands to help,” she said. “I’m still certified as a pharmacy tech, so why not support where I can?”
To Severino, her actions are simply taking care of her teams. However, Dillingham believes her lessons of leadership reach far beyond the schoolhouse walls by setting the example for her Airmen.
“She has the benefit of formally teaching students about the mission and how our core values support its completion, but then shows them by actually doing it,” said Dillingham. “They can visually witness ‘excellence in all we do’ and ‘service before self’ in her actions.”
Dillingham believes Severino’s actions are what make the difference for future leaders.
“The Airmen may not realize it now, and 10 years down the road they may not even remember her name,” he said. “But maybe one day, they’ll recall the selflessness in her actions and share that with their subordinates.”