An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | March 15, 2012

National Guard, active duty, Reserve optometrists provide free services to more than 300 patients per day

By Air National Guard Tech. Sgt. Melissa Chatham Air National Guard Readiness Center

KAUA'I, Hawaii - Optometrists were in high demand recently at the Hanapepe Innovative Readiness Training Facility located on one of the medically underserved areas on island of Kauai.

National Guard members along with active duty and Reserve Air Force, Army and Navy members set up three field-operated medical facilities in Kapa'a, Lihue, and Hanapepe, as part of an Innovative Readiness Training mission.

The military members provided medical, ophthalmology and dental support services to Hawaii residents, while conducting deployment and readiness training from Feb. 26 to March 10. In Hanapepe, the ophthalmology line was longer than any of the other services.

"I had no idea of how much demand there was in Hawaii for ophthalmology, since it is a part of the U.S., but just looking at the line outside, you can see which line is the longest. It's been like that the entire time," said Air Force Lt. Col. Vince Simoncini, 113th Medical Group, D.C. Air National Guard.

"We could be here for a month and I don't think we would ever meet the demand," he said.

Optometrists at the Hanapepe location assisted more patients due to the optometry deployment kits they were given. They also found different ways each day to improve their efficiency and timeliness of service. The patient count increased each day as well.

They served more than 300 patients per day, providing free eye exams and eye wear.

"We are offering eye exams with a free pair of eye glasses the next day," says Air Force Col. Jerry Arends, Tropic Care IRT commander.

Working efficiently and adjusting our process to accommodate the patients without cutting corners - that has been valuable training for us," Simoncini said. "The technicians have also been able to do things that they can't back at home."

The primary purpose of the IRT mission is to conduct deployment, readiness and logistic training in an expeditionary, multi-service environment providing post disaster relief. While that is the primary mission, it is also the military's civic duty to assist fellow Americans in need of assistance.

"The people couldn't be more gracious and kind. These are the warmest people I've ever met", Simoncini said. "Training is ultimately why we are here, but we can't overlook the humanitarian aspect of it because that's the real joy in this mission."

 

 

Related Articles
Alaska Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 2 David Berg, a UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter pilot, assigned to A Company, 1-168th General Support Aviation Battalion, conducts flight operations over Southeast Alaska near Juneau, Jan. 24, 2025. The Juneau-based Black Hawk aircrew conducts their federal mission training requirements and, when available, can respond to emergency requests by the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center or the State Emergency Operations Center.
Alaska Army National Guard Conducts Medevac Mission
By Dana Rosso, | June 5, 2025
JUNEAUA, Alaska – A UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter assigned to A Company, 1-168th General Support Aviation Battalion, transported a patient from Skagway to Juneau June 3, following a medical evacuation request from the Alaska...

U.S. Air National Guard civilian firefighters, assigned to the Vermont Air National Guard Fire Department, pose in front of the fire truck that was the first on scene, South Burlington, VT, June 4, 2025. These firefighters provided the first fire truck on scene to a local fire.
Vermont Air Guard First on Scene of South Burlington Fire
By Airman Raymond LaChance, | June 4, 2025
SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. – Doireann Chesbrough, a civilian firefighter for the Vermont Air National Guard Fire Department, was sitting next to the radio in the dayroom of the station as the sun began to set over the Green...

Paratroopers from the Colorado National Guard and the Jordanian Armed Forces stand together before the first joint Colorado-Jordan airborne Friendship Jump, Watkins, Colorado, April 23, 2025. Members parachuted from a CH-47 Chinook as part of an event to strengthen interoperability and deepen the partnership between the two forces.
Airborne Operation Strengthens Colorado Guard, Jordan Partnership
By Senior Airman Melissa Escobar-Pereira, | June 4, 2025
CENTENNIAL, Colo. – In a display of cooperation and capability, Soldiers from the Colorado Army National Guard and the Jordanian Armed Forces recently conducted a joint airborne operation in Watkins, Colorado.The April 23...