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Andrews medical technician, Houston native, earns deployed wing's 'Warrior of the Week'

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol
  • 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Every day at the 380th Expeditionary Medical Group clinic, customers are greeted by many friendly faces - one of them is Senior Airman Shara Fuentes.

Airman Fuentes is an aerospace medical technician who checks patients into the clinic and obtains vital signs, X-rays and blood work for the 380th EMDG. For the excellence she brings to the job every day, she was named the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing "Warrior of the Week" for the week of Feb. 3 to 9.

In my unit, we all enable health care services, medical readiness and emergency medical support for deployed members," said Airman Fuentes, who is CPR certified as well as a nationally-registered emergency medical technician-basic. "We must also be prepared to respond to any kind of medical emergency or in-flight emergency."

Deployed from the 779th Medical Group at Andrews AFB, Md., Airman Fuentes said she has enjoyed her deployment and has several goals she wants to reach before it is done.

"I enjoy being a part of the mission and part of a team that strives to get the job done and still enjoys each other's company," Airman Fuentes said. "My goal is to expand my knowledge and skills in my career field in an expeditionary environment. I want to learn about other career fields and continue working towards my degree in radiology."

Airman Fuentes, who is a staff sergeant select, said she joined the military so that she could attend school and travel the world. But she said now she enjoys serving in a job that helps people.

"I have enjoyed serving in the Air Force because I get to do things that most people don't and I love the fact that I am able to provide hands-on medical care to a wide variety of patients at home and abroad," said Airman Fuentes, whose hometown is Houston, Texas.

The 380th AEW is comprised of four groups and 12 squadrons and the wing's deployed mission includes air refueling, surveillance and reconnaissance in support of overseas contingency operations in Southwest Asia. The wing supports operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.