CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Senior Airman Allison Castillo is a member of the 437th Medical Group and has been stationed at Charleston AFB for more than three years.
She recently returned from a deployment to Southwest Asia where she served as a force protection escort for the 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron. As a force protection escort, her duties included providing security for more than 8,000 coalition forces and warfighting resources. She closely observed local citizens and third country nationals ensuring they were not gathering data that could be used to attack the installation, its members or resources.
At home station, she is a medical laboratory journeyman. She performs scientific testing procedures of specimens in microbiology, urinalysis, hematology, serology and chemistry in order to provide physicians the information they need to diagnose and treat a patient's condition. Airman Castillo said she contributes to Team Charleston's mobility mission by collecting and processing all mandatory pre- and post-deployment lab tests while providing on call support for mobility processing lines.
"I like knowing that what I do behind the scenes of patient care aids the physicians in diagnosing and treating patients," said Airman Castillo. "I get a great sense of accomplishment when patients get the correct treatment due to the work I did."
This "warrior of the week" hails from Brooklyn, N.Y., and enlisted in the Air Force more than four years ago. Her future career goals are to complete a master's degree in forensic science and work at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in Washington, D.C.
During off-duty time, she volunteers her services to Airmen Against Drunk Driving and the Medical Group Association.
"Airman Castillo is an outstanding Airman," said Staff Sgt. Amber Saienni, 437 MDG laboratory technician. "She is always willing to go above and beyond, whether it's for a patient, provider or the mission."