Submitted Photo From the left are American Red Cross volunteers Kristin Settersten and Amanda Conte; Red Cross volunteer 1st Lt. Ashley Manzano-Latorre; 5th Medical Group Chief Nurse Lt. Col. Donna Eaton; 5th Medical Group Nurse Lt. Col. Jessica Scirica; Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces Regional Manager Lorie Herbal; and Red Cross Executive Director Zoe Wergeland Manstrom at the 5th Medical Group at Minot Air Force Base on March 19. Red Cross has expanded its volunteer group to the 5th Medical Group at Minot AFB. Photo from American Red Cross.

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE – The American Red Cross Minnesota and Dakotas Region has launched a new volunteer program in support of the 5th Medical Group at Minot Air Force Base, according to Red Cross information.

“The Red Cross is the most important volunteer program in most military hospitals,” said Lorie Herbal, regional manager, Service to the Armed Forces and International Services, American Red Cross Minnesota and Dakotas. “Thanks to the hard work of our local team and partnership, we’ll help meet the needs of the service men and women and their families at Minot Air Force Base.”

The American Red Cross has been serving ill and injured service members since founder Clara Barton tended to the wounded during the American Civil War. The tradition continues with Red Cross volunteers at military medical treatment facilities (MTF). Red Cross volunteers assigned to MTFs can be adults, licensed professionals such as nurses, and youth.

Services provided at the 5th Medical Group range from professional medical support to basic respite care for patients. Other services the American Red Cross can provide MTFs include sustainable employment skills in dental assistant and pharmacy technical training provided by the U.S. military.

At 5th Medical Group, new volunteers include two licensed registered nurses who are dependents of active-duty service members as well as one active-duty service member who is a missileer with healthcare education and training. Red Cross volunteers in the program do not replace paid staff positions.

“It’s great to see this program coming together,” said Air Force Col. Shaun Westphal, director of the 5th Medical Group, during a visit to welcome new volunteers at their first on-base orientation March 18. “Volunteers play a vital role in supporting our medical mission; they help us extend our reach and enhance the care we provide. We’re all in this together — consider yourself part of the family.”

The 5th Medical Group offers outpatient services including aerospace medicine, dental, family medicine, medical nutrition therapy, mental health, optometry, pain management, pediatrics, physical therapy and women’s health. The group consists of the 5th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron and 5th Healthcare Operations Squadron.