ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The 97th Air Mobility Wing command team received a firsthand look at how the Altus Medical Group supports Airmen, families and mission readiness during a Boots on the Ground immersion tour at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, April 24, 2026.
“The Healthcare Operations Squadron plays a critical role in mission readiness by bridging the gap between patient care and operational demands,” said U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Natalia Johnson, Altus Medical Group HCOS referral management supervisor. “By ensuring timely access to care, coordinating referrals, managing patient movement, and optimizing clinic operations, we keep Mobility Airmen and their families medically ready and focused, enabling them to train, deploy, and execute the mission without interruption.”
U.S. Air Force Col. Richard Kind, 97th AMW commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Jonny Adams, 97th AMW command chief, met with Altus Medical Group Airmen and civilian personnel across multiple sections to learn how medical personnel provide patient care, preventive health services and operational support for the wing.
The tour highlighted the wide range of capabilities within the Altus Medical Group, from patient in-processing and primary care to pharmacy, laboratory, dental, radiology, public health and bioenvironmental engineering operations.
The visit began with demonstrations focused on prevention and readiness. The command team participated in an impairment-awareness puzzle using alcohol simulation goggles, learned how N95 respirator and gas mask fit testing supports occupational health requirements, and observed water testing procedures used to help ensure safe environmental conditions across the installation.
Public health and bioenvironmental engineering personnel also demonstrated mosquito and tick surveillance procedures, radiation safety equipment and other programs that help identify, track and reduce potential health risks to the base population.
Throughout the tour, Kind and Adams received an inside look at how the group supports both day-to-day care and mission requirements. At the patient administration section, medical personnel explained how patient in-processing helps connect beneficiaries with care and ensures records and medical requirements are properly maintained.
In primary care, the command team observed immunization procedures and learned how vaccinations support individual medical readiness, force health protection and deployment preparation. They also viewed an IV demonstration, highlighting skills medical personnel maintain to support patient care in clinical and contingency environments.
The tour continued through the pharmacy, where Airmen explained how prescriptions are reviewed, filled and dispensed safely. Pharmacy personnel walked the command team through the checks and processes used to ensure patients receive the correct medication and counseling before leaving the clinic.
At the laboratory, the command team observed phlebotomy and specimen-processing procedures, gaining a closer look at how lab results support diagnosis, treatment and readiness decisions. In radiology, medical personnel demonstrated how imaging capabilities provide providers with another tool to assess patients and guide care.
The dental team also showcased its role in maintaining readiness through preventive and restorative care. During the visit, dental personnel demonstrated filling procedures and scanning technology used to support accurate treatment planning and improve patient care.
“It’s one thing to hear about how the Altus Medical Group supports the mission, but it’s another thing to see the process firsthand and experience some of what they do every day,” said Kind. “This tour gave us a deeper appreciation for the skill, precision and teamwork that go into keeping our Airmen healthy, ready and able to execute the mission.”
Together, the demonstrations showed how the Altus Medical Group’s clinical and support teams work behind the scenes to keep Airmen medically ready while continuing to provide care for beneficiaries across the installation.
By stepping into the daily operations of the Altus Medical Group, the 97th AMW command team gained a deeper understanding of the people, processes and expertise that support the health of Team Altus. The immersion tour highlighted how medical readiness, preventive care and trusted patient services directly enable the wing to train and develop the Decisive Mobility Force of the Future.