Guardsmen, reservists find exercise in Thailand rewarding

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Cohen A. Young
  • Defense Media Activity-Hawaii
UDON THANI ROYAL THAI AIR FORCE BASE, Thailand --  During these tough economic times, it might be difficult to believe that some Americans are putting the well-being of strangers before their own jobs.

At Cope Tiger 2010, that is precisely what is happening as Reservists and Guardsmen take time away from their civilian jobs to participate in the exercise's civic assistance programs.

These Airmen have joined nearly 500 U.S. servicemembers from around the country who are taking part in the multilateral exercise in Thailand March 1 through 12.

Maj. (Dr.) Kurt Nishiguchi, a Reservist assigned to the 624th Regional Support Group at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, Hawaii, is one such Airman. The Honolulu dentist said flexibility and planning are important when it comes to managing his practice while also participating in events like Cope Tiger.

"I really have a lot of planning to do before coming out on these missions because it takes away from my private practice for two weeks," Major Nishiguchi said. "It's two weeks that my patients don't have a doctor, so I'm filled with appointments before I leave and filled with them the minute I get back."

The experience of embedding in another culture, like the Thai community here at Cope Tiger 2010, makes the time away from his Honolulu dental office well worth it, the major said.

He is joined by other medical professionals from the United States, Thailand and Singapore, all of whom are providing medical, dental and optometry assistance to local Thai civilians as part of the exercise.

"I get to know the people through either providing dental care or working alongside them," Major Nishiguchi said. "I've had a chance to get to know our Thai interpreters, as well as meet doctors from Singapore, and that's been a real benefit to me personally."

While interacting with his Thai and Singaporean partners is rewarding, Major Nishiguchi said the best part of Cope Tiger has been helping the patients he has seen.

"We are able to come out to these humanitarian events and pull a tooth from someone, and make that person more comfortable when that tooth may have been bothering him or her for a long time," he said.

Maj. (Dr.) Patti Fries, a guardsman deployed to the exercise from the 131st Medical Group at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., also took time off from her practice for Cope Tiger 2010 and was rewarded with a simple smile.

"One lady in particular stood out to me, because she told me how her vision had been getting worse for several years, and that she couldn't see well enough to sew anymore," Major Fries said.

After an exam, the optometrist determined the woman had cataracts that could be treated with an eyeglasses prescription rather than surgery.

"I really enjoyed the smile on her face when I put a pair of glasses on her, and she just pointed all around the room with a delighted smile on her face," Major Fries said. "It was a simple fix to an otherwise surgical problem."

Not all of the Guardsmen and Reservists at Cope Tiger 2010 are doctors. Optometry and medical technicians also made the trip to Thailand, similarly taking time away from their civilian jobs to help area residents here.

Staff Sgt. Rosalind Camacho, a reservist from the 724th Aeromedical Staging Flight at Andersen AFB, Guam, said giving up a higher salary to participate in events like Cope Tiger is well worth it.

"This is just breathtaking--seeing [the local patients'] reactions when we help them," she said. "I believe every Airman should experience something like this."

Cope Tiger 2010 is a multilateral exercise involving the U.S. Air Force, Royal Thai Air Force and Army, and Republic of Singapore Air Force. U.S. participation is led by 13th Air Force at JB Pearl Harbor Hickam, on behalf of Pacific Air Forces.