ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- The 78th Aerospace Medicine Squadron and the 78th Medical Operations Squadron were redesignated to the 78th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron and 78th Health Care Operations Squadron, respectively, Aug. 1, 2019, by order of the Secretary of the Air Force. They underwent a redesignation ceremony Aug. 8, at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia.
“After careful deliberation of the SecAF and the Air Force Chief of Staff, they directed this reform earlier this year in order to drive a focus on operational medical readiness and improve our ability to rapidly restore the readiness, deployability and lethality of the Joint Force,” said Col. Maureen Farrell, 78th Medical Group commander.
The redesignation of the 78th AMDS to the 78th OMRS aligns functions directly supporting total force operational medical support into a single operational medical readiness squadron. This ensures the medical readiness of the Joint Force by providing human performance enhancement, sustainment and recovery support.
“These teams will develop relationships with their squadrons so they can more fully understand the mental and physical challenges the members are facing and provide targeted intervention programs,” Farrell said.
The redesignation of the 78th MDOS to the 78th HCOS, by contrast, is to consolidate the delivery of non-total force primary care to military spouses, children and retirees into one squadron, in order to optimize healthcare dedicated to their unique needs.
“It lets our providers focus on each group,” Farrell said, “to improve the quality of care, create efficiencies, and, most importantly, get injured or ill Airmen back into the fight more quickly, at the same time, though, without decrementing care to our beneficiaries.”
During the redesignation ceremony, guidons for both the 78th AMDS and 78th MDOS were passed, furled and sheathed while the guidons representing the 78th OMRS and 78th HCOS were unfurled. This signified that each squadron was redesignated with their new name and mission.