366th MDSS names its Warriors of the Week Published April 29, 2008 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- Officials with the 366th Medical Support Squadron recently named the following people as their Warriors of the Week. Senior Airman Victoria Smith Unit and duty title: 366th MDSS health services management journeyman and an alternate unit deployment manager Time in Air Force: Three years, four months Time at Mountain Home Air Force Base: Three years Hometown: I was an "Army brat" growing up, so home was where the military stationed us. Hobbies: Cleaning, trying to keep up with my two-year-old son while supporting my husband as a full-time Boise State University student. What service does Airman Smith provide to the Gunfighters? Senior Airman Smith provides our Gunfighter medics with exceptional administrative support and customer service. As an alternate UDM, she ensures medical personnel are ready to deploy as quickly and safely as possible Most memorable Air Force moment? "During basic training, my training instructor was a former Marine. He made our flight do push-ups on Christmas with our dog tags hanging out, so we could sing jingle bells along with the sound of the dog tags hitting the ground. He was awesome!" Interesting personal fact: "When I joined the Air Force, I had an open-general contract. More then half of my flight also joined under an open-general contract and most of them received security forces as their job. I was one of only four who did not. My job turned out to be hospital administration, which is funny because I'm a poor typist!" Why does Airman Smith deserve to be a Warrior of the Week? "Airman Smith dedicates herself to assisting the members of the 366th Medical Group. She's instrumental in the day-to-day operations of the commander's support staff and has received numerous accolades from her customers." --Tech. Sgt. Steven Armitage Commander's support staff noncommissioned officer in charge Mike McKinney Unit and duty title: 366th MDSS TRICARE operations element chief Time in Air Force: 31 years Time at Mountain Home Air Force Base: 16 years Hometown: Bellevue, Neb. Hobbies: Golf, fishing and gold prospecting. What service does Mr. McKinney provide to the Gunfighters? He ensures more then 800 Gunfighters' medical referrals are processed correctly every month for civilian and military medical treatment facilities and maintains more than a 90-percent return rate for results. He is the liaison between the base hospital and Triwest. He verifies Tricare online and patient registration issues are corrected without delay, as well as verifying that Tricare enrollment capacities for providers stay equitable. Most memorable Air Force moment? "I was assigned to the national emergency airborne command post aircraft for presidential support from 1981 through 1987 at Offutt AFB, Neb. During that time we had numerous dignitaries fly with us." Interesting personal fact: "Many people think I've been in the medical field my entire career, but I actually spent my first 16 years in the Air Force working on the electronic and environmental systems on aircraft. I cross-trained to the medical field at 16 years and spent my last four years on active duty in it. I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks." Why does Mr. McKinney deserve to be a warrior of the week? "Mr. McKinney works tirelessly arranging medical specialty care for active duty, dependent and retiree patients. He ensures each request is complete and does all he can to make certain patients receive the care they need when they need it. The fact that patients don't realize how hard Mr. McKinney works on their behalf is a telling testimony to his passion for what he does." --Lt. Col. David Johnson 366th Medical Support Squadron commander