MERC a hidden gem of the 375th Medical Support Squadron

Tucked away past numerous hallways in the 375th Medical Group, rays of sunlight illuminate a hidden gem. Those rays move past a room full of workbenches, electrical equipment and tools, and cast onto a group of Airmen working on medical equipment ensuring patients are able to receive the care they need.

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Eric Perez-Solano, 375th Medical Support Squadron biomedical equipment technician, and Airman 1st Class Sky Gauvin, 137th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron biomedical equipment technician, repair a dental chair at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. Biomedical equipment technicians repair medical equipment and inspect to ensure the equipment is operating correctly. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Isaac Olivera)

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Eric Perez-Solano, 375th Medical Support Squadron biomedical equipment technician, repairs a piece of medical equipment at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. Airmen at the Medical Equipment Repair Center repair lifesaving equipment at Scott AFB and other regions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Isaac Olivera

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Eric Perez-Solano, 375th Medical Support Squadron biomedical equipment technician, repairs a piece of medical equipment at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. Airmen at the Medical Equipment Repair Center are on call to repair lifesaving medical equipment and ensure clinics are able to continue patient care. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Isaac Olivera)

The Medical Equipment Repair Center, or MERC, consists of specialty trained biomedical equipment technicians (BMET) that are part of a select group in their career field.

“We’re a little hidden gem,” said Senior Airman Brooklyn Lindsey, a 375th MDSS BMET. “We have a first-hand impact on the bigger mission. We keep clinics going.”

The medical equipment that the team is able to repair with their capabilities save countless lives, and they approach each repair or assessment with their own personal touch.

“If medical equipment was used on one of my grandparents, I’d want it to be the best,” Airman 1st Class Brandon Peace, a BMET for the 375th MDSS. “That’s why I do my best job, so it can perform to help others.”

One of the only facilities with their unique capabilities, the team often travel to assist and train others, explained Peace. The MERC covers 19 regional sites ranging from the Canadian border to Arkansas. Recently, Peace went to multiple sites to train other BMETs on dental equipment.

“I trained them on how to go through the whole process of calculations and repairing, which allowed them to then perform it on other dental equipment,” said Peace.

These Airmen train and help others in their career field, while simultaneously working and adapting to ensure that the mission continues.

“You never know what you’re going to be doing,” said Lindsey. “Something of high importance could pop up, you could quickly be out the door for a deployment, or a temporary duty station.”

For example, Lindsey recalls when a fridge located in the 375th Medical Group carrying COVID-19 vaccinations had a mechanical issue, and she and her team were able to use their skills to quickly adapt. Moving the COVID-19 vaccines to preserve them, the team then were able to fix the issue, enabling more COVID-19 vaccines to be stored inside.

Through the hard work and dedication, the Airmen at the MERC show in repairing medical equipment both on base and across the Air Force, they ensure medical clinics are able to continue carrying out their mission of helping others when they need it most.