Medical squadron embodies 'outstanding' team approach during inspection

  • Published
  • By Col. James D. Marques
  • 514th Aerospace Medicine Squadron
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  No man or women is an island. We have heard these words many times, but the old maxim was evident during the 514th Aerospace Medicine Squadron's health services inspection.

As healthcare providers, the squadron must meet the standards of the Air Force Medical Service. The health services inspection was an assessment of the ability of the squadron to fulfill its peacetime and wartime missions, including evaluation of medical care and the effectiveness and efficiency of medical management.

The Air Force Inspection Agency's medical directorate derives criteria from healthcare policies from various military and civilian medical oversight agencies. Inspections occur every four years and are graded on a four-tier reporting system. Ratings are based on a medical unit's leadership and management, healthcare delivery, resources and readiness.

The inspection went extremely well, and the squadron earned an "outstanding" rating, which is the highest rating possible.

The rating reflects the support and cooperation common throughout the Freedom Wing, as nearly every unit in the wing was called upon to help in some way. On behalf of the entire squadron, I would like to thank those units and individuals who helped us prepare for the inspection.

Another group of individuals that deserve recognition are the 514th Aerospace Medicine Squadron Airmen themselves.

Preparing for this inspection was no easy task. Since the Air Force mission is so large, complex and diverse, no single person can accomplish it all. We must focus our special skills and talents on a portion of the task at hand.

This piece-by-piece, component-by-component approach requires a significant amount of interdependency. So how did we do it?

We used the TEAM approach, which means "together everyone accomplishes more."
Everyone shared the vision, was on the same page and communicated. These were a few of the key components to this successful team effort.

Gen. George C. Marshall an architect of the Allied victory in World War II and author of the post-war European recovery plan, once noted how much can be accomplished if no one worries about who gets the credit.

Going forward, our challenge is to continue to live up to the squadron's vision of being the best rained and skilled medical professionals able to meet all future medical missions with compassionate and quality healthcare.