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From fighting off sickness on the ground, to fighting an enemy in
the air, a flight surgeon holds a set of skills crucial to any unit.
When he isn’t seeing patients, Capt. Brett Lindstrom, a 335th
Fighter Squadron flight surgeon assigned to Seymour Johnson Air
Force Base, North Carolina, is gearing up as a weapons systems
operator to accompany a pilot in the back of an F-15E Strike Eagle
dual-role fighter aircraft.
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May 4, 2017 - U.S. Air Force Capt. Bret Lindstrom, a 335th Fighter
Squadron flight surgeon assigned to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base,
NC during NORTHERN EDGE 2017 (NE17), at Eielson Air Force Base,
Alaska. NE17 is Alaska’s premier joint training exercise designed to
practice operations, techniques and procedures as well as enhance
interoperability among the services. Thousands of participants from
all the services, Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Coast
Guardsmen from active duty, Reserve and National Guard units are
involved. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ashley Taylor)
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“I am required to have four hours of flying every month, which
gives me a better idea of what the aircrew goes through,” said
Lindstrom. “Aside from it being fun, flying builds rapport with my
squadron because I know more of what they go through verses a doctor
who doesn’t get that opportunity on a regular basis.”
At home
station, Lindstrom acts as a primary care manager for members of a
few squadrons and their dependents, but being halfway across the
world and operating out of a backpack changes his capabilities.
“Being here on TDY, I consider myself a concierge medical
service because we have a minimally-capable clinic and assist with
sick-call,” said Lindstrom. “I can’t do anything evasive like IV’s,
but I can take care of colds, sore muscles and perform pre-flight
examinations for incentive flyers.”
Lindstrom said aircrew
can become apprehensive to go see a doctor and with the odd working
hours, getting to a medical training facility can be tough to fit
into their schedule.
When aircrew are able to see a
physician who is already embedded in the squadron, it addresses many
of these concerns.
“The rigors and demands placed on our
bodies are more than people realize, but the great thing about
having a flight doctor is that they understand our stressors,” said
Lt. Col. Isaac Bell, the 335th FS director of operations. “Having a
doctor readily available and working directly with us, keeps us
healthier because we don’t have to go through a lot of steps to see
a medical provider.”
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May 4, 2017 -.U.S. Air Force Capt. Bret Lindstrom, a 335th Fighter
Squadron flight surgeon assigned to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base,
N.C., listens to a patient’s heartbeat during NORTHERN EDGE 2017
(NE17), at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. NE17 is Alaska’s premier
joint training exercise designed to practice operations, techniques
and procedures as well as enhance interoperability among the
services. Thousands of participants from all the services, Airmen,
Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen from active duty,
Reserve and National Guard units are involved. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ashley Taylor)
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With both jobs being independently demanding, flight
surgeons must remain calm during high-stress situations to
ensure the mission is never faltered.
“Being both
aircrew and a physician are very similar because I’m
constantly learning new things and I cross-utilize my skills
often,” said Lindstrom. “Both jobs hold a large weight of
responsibility and there isn’t room for error, so I have to
hold myself to a high standard to ensure I can keep the
mission effective.”
By U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Ashley Taylor
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2017
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