366th MDG hosts Honorary Commanders Day Published April 16, 2008 By Senior Airman Megan P. Lyon 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- On a quiet street, the sound of tires screeching against hard asphalt breaks the silence followed by the sound of crashing metal. The calm resumes only to be broken again by the sounds of sirens and red flashing ambulance lights. Emergency response team members scramble out of the ambulance to help the "injured" drivers of the crashed vehicle. A demonstration of this scenario was just one part of the tour on the 366th Medical Group Honorary Commanders Orientation Day April 11. The wing-level program pairs civic leaders with squadron, group and wing leaders to enhance the relationships between local communities and the base. It also provides a rare glimpse of life on a military installation to members of neighboring communities -- many of whom have no connection to the Air Force or prior knowledge of the military. "It's great to be able to come out to see the base facilities and how hard the Airmen here work," said Jason Roth, 726th Air Control Squadron honorary commander. At the beginning of the tour, the honorary commanders met for lunch in the hospital's training room followed by a mission briefing from Col. Jerrold Flyer, 366th MDG commander. "The Airmen here are some of the best you'll find anywhere," said Colonel Flyer. "I think that is evident by the fact the 366th MDG helped the wing win the 2007 Commander in Chief's Installation Excellence Award for the Air Force, in addition to being named the 2007 Best Medical Treatment Facility in Air Combat Command." After the briefing, the honorary commanders were able to see first-hand how different departments, such as radiology, aerophysiology, self-aid and buddy care, and the health and wellness center, contribute to the 366th MDG mission through static displays and question and answer sessions with department personnel. "The 366th MDG is a unique group in the Air Force," said Colonel Flyer. "Unlike many bases that have only a small medical clinic, here we have a full hospital." The honorary commanders were also treated to a bioenvironmental engineer personal protective equipment and joint biological agent identification and diagnostic system fashion show hosted by Airman 1st Class Rebecca Banks, 366th Aeromedical Dental Squadron bioenvironmental engineering technician. The show demonstrated five levels of protective gear used by Airmen against various working hazards such as chemicals, toxins and other hazards. The gear ranged from hard hats, gloves and respirators to full body suits. Afterward, the group toured the hospital, including the family care unit, women's health clinic, front desk patient check-in, dental clinic and urgent care center. The honorary commanders then proceeded outside for a chemical response clean-up demonstration and a vehicle accident response, extraction and patient loading scenario by a UCC team. The "victims" were placed on litters and carried through an obstacle course to the medical wartime readiness warehouse where a deployed medical tent was set up. Once the litter carriers made it into the warehouse, UCC members began treating the victims to give the honorary commanders the chance to observe how medical members care for patients in a deployed location. "It really was an amazing opportunity," said Pamela Fairfax, 366th ADS honorary commanders' spouse. During their year as honorary commanders, the community and business leaders also receive an up-close look at each of the wing's groups, including operations, maintenance and mission support. They will wrap up their year as honorary commanders during an air expeditionary force day later this summer.