From the Frontlines: Master Sgt. Shane Lacaillade

  • Published
  • By Heidi Hunt
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  Master Sgt. Shane Lacaillade, 509th Medical Operations Squadron NCO in charge of clinical operations flight and functional manager, returned from his deployment to Southwest Asia Feb. 26.

He deployed as part of the Coalition Forces Special Operations Command Component (CFSOCC) as the senior enlisted medical advisor and independent duty medical technician.

During his six deployment, he acted as the principal advisor for medical issues to the command surgeon for all matters related to Special Operations Command Central. He provided medical technical oversight for more than 8,500 members enabling more than 2,000 combat missions, in more than 20 countries, according to the sergeant.

"I coordinated material support, request for information and combat mission needs for special forces medical components," said the Air Force Global Strike Command sergeant. "I trained and educated, assigned and apportioned forces on force health protection issues and ensured interoperability of force health protection related personnel and equipment."

His efforts helped solidify a joint environment by building country partnerships through the use of medical education and training.

"I traveled many times between partner nations conducting medical training which helped forge stronger relationships and reduce coalition combat deaths," he said.

Although each day brought new challenges, Sergeant Lacaillade responsibilities were different from those here at Whiteman.

"Within the 509th Medical Group I have a full staff to rely on to help meet the demands of our medical population and those we support elsewhere," he said. "There, however, I was it.

"While deployed, I trained as an IDMT to ensure that safe and reliable care was delivered to our patients in all environments," he said. "I acted as my own provider and in 14 other functional areas that typically make up a hospital staff."

The sergeant said the best part about his deployment was building country partnerships and getting the opportunity to travel to several different nations and develop and train new medics.

"I took soldiers whom had no medical knowledge to functional medics," he said. "I was able to watch reports of these medics in action and was proud of the success they had saving their own."

Although he enjoyed his deployment, Sergeant Lacaillade said he missed his wife and watching his children grow-up.

"I am fortunate to have their support because they make it easy for me to do what I love," he said.

"From the Frontlines" is a weekly column highlighting currently deployed Team Whiteman members, or those who have recently returned from deployment. If you or someone you know is deployed or recently returned from a deployment, contact Public Affairs at (660) 687-6123 or e-mail whiteman.warrior@whiteman.af.mil.