Do you or have your worked in the laboratory field in the military? Have you used your skills overseas? Tell us about your experiences.

6/2/08 

Hi Kerri!

I've since retired from the Air Force as an enlisted member and my primary role was working in the clinical laboratory.  I spent  4 years stationed in Japan where I was a involved with wide variety of laboratory situations to include blood programs and mortuary affairs.  Our lab only averaged 8 to 10 lab staff at any given time so we all provided coverage across multiple lab functions (BB, Hemo, Chem, Micro, etc...).

My military lab experince set me up nicely for my subsequent civilian career (QA auditor in a biotech)... Is there any particular aspect you are looking to have addressed? 

Roger

I had the opportunity to sreve 4 years as a military tech and  I am very proud of that fact.  I found a great love for the field during that time.  I spent 2 years working in the Area lab at Ft Sam from 92-94, then I was stationed at Baumholder Medical Clinic, Baumholder Germany 94-95.  I still feel that in the military we are given greater responsibility not only to perform our duties, but to think more from a leadership role. Technology has always remained constant from both sides of the ocean.  I still laugh when I remember all the times we would have to place a service call  and try to conquer the language barrier.  There was one time I called for service on our Kodak DT-60, I had to call from germany to france and I ended up speaking to an american.  It was definitely a time I will always remember.

I am a MT who worked in a non-lab but another medical field while stationed in Iraq.