Enlisted Airman performs surgeries

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jacob Morgan
  • 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  More than 16 years ago, a young college student with a wife and child never thought joining the Air Force as an enlisted member would place him in a situation where he would formally diagnose, treat, prescribe medication and even perform minor surgeries. In a sense, he is a medical provider without the years of training requirements. A position U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Claude Russo, 380th Air Expeditionary Wing independent duty medical technician, holds with pride. His life revolves around service, both to the United States Air Force, and to his patients.

His adult life began in college while throwing tires in a warehouse in Oklahoma City, Okla. The decision to join the Air Force came from his desire to serve, just as his father did. He wasn't sure what he wanted to do, but he knew he wanted to help people. After being selected as an aerospace medical technician, he spent three years in pediatrics, where little to no trauma happens, said Russo. He grew restless - he wanted to do more.

Russo moved to Langley Air Force Base, Va., and spent the next eight years in emergency services. After helping to treat his first trauma victim, he knew he found his calling but to reach his goals, it would take a lot of work.

"The emergency room really got me hooked on being a medic," said Russo. "For the first time, I got to somewhat independently responding to emergencies by ambulance. Being able to manage a patient on your own teaches an amazing amount of lessons. You have to hit the ground running in the emergency room and the rest of my career, I haven't stopped. I am one of those people who truly believes my job is the best in the Air Force."

According to Russo, learning to suture characterizes the constant advancement and learning of an AF medic.

At Langley AFB, where he started out as a young NCO, the medical team saw more trauma than the typical military hospital. He became accustomed to helping out and eventually became suture qualified, which allowed him to start fixing lacerations. Today, Russo said he can make a scar disappear by using the lessons he has learned.

"Langley is a huge teaching hospital, the docs who had plastic surgery experience taught me a lot," said Russo, who calls Oklahoma City home. "It is really one of the best feelings to know that your skills have helped heal someone, and what could've been an ugly scar is now an afterthought."

While he continued his stint in the emergency room, he tried to learn as much as he could and for the first time learned the value of teaching others.

Russo took those experiences learned at the Langley AFB hospital to the next level of AF medic training when he decided to become an IDMT, a course that incorporates two years of medical training and condenses it into three months.

IDMTs are enlisted medical technicians with advanced training who can act as squadron medical elements providing forward area medical care in austere or bare-base environments. The care they can provide after training and experience is similar to that of a doctor. They can perform the basic functions of almost the entire medical group by themselves.

Today, Russo is one of the more experienced IDMTs with the 380th AEW. While he is assigned as a squadron medical element, he spends a large portion of his time at the clinic performing duties similar to a medical care provider. His two major jobs are to treat patients and teach less experienced medical technicians what he knows.

His boss, U.S. Air Force Maj. Jeff Kiser, 380th Expeditionary Medical Group staff physician, who deployed with Russo from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, and has worked with him for three years, said he practically works side-by-side with Russo. He also said he can trust him to work on almost anything by himself and Russo is even better at certain things like suturing.

As an IDMT, Russo is considered a "jack of all trades," when preparing his unit for deployment, he was able to accomplish every medical need for the team.

"He is top-notch when it comes to medical experience, and being a senior NCO," said Kiser. "He is a perennial student and teacher. He has taught me a lot about the military and he continually teaches the younger IDMTs. His motivations are pure, he wants to help people as much as he can."

As Russo moves forward in the medical profession, all sorts of doors are open because of his training. He could go to school to become a doctor, a physician's assistant, or medical administration. He continues to struggle with the scope of responsibility he would like to have for the rest of his life, but he knows one thing for sure, he still wants to be connected to the Air Force and he wants to continue to serve his country in some way.

"The environment and feeling of community in the Air Force is really amazing," said Russo. "I have been given a great opportunity. I love the feeling of being able to help people, it brings me joy, and I want to continue to do it."