By Staff Sgt. Alice Moore
332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

(From left) Senior Airman Shannon Brito, Airman 1st Class Sara Moore and Staff Sgt. Myla Vizcarra prepare instruments that will be used in the operating room at Balad Air Base, Iraq. The Airmen are operating room technicians assigned to the 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Alice Moore)

BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq -- Helping save lives every day in Iraq is something operating room technician Senior Airman Shannon Brito takes great pride in.

Behind the doors of the hospital are three operating rooms where the 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group's OR technicians feverishly work to ensure patients live to see another day.

"Working here you never know what type of case will come through the doors," said Brito, deployed from Travis AFB, Calif. "That's what makes this job the biggest challenge. We just try and do our best to keep the patients stable."

On average, the OR technicians here care for 12 to 16 patients a day. The OR supports service members from all branches of the U.S. military and coalition forces within the U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility.

They also support Iraqi nationals, Department of Defense employees and contractors in the AOR. The hospital's OR can accommodate up to six patients at one time. The technicians assist in cases that range from broken bones to severe internal organ damage.

"We service anyone who needs care in the AOR no matter who they are," said Master Sgt. Velinda Tharpe, surgical services superintendent, deployed from Lackland AFB, Texas. "We deal with minor to severe cases and our job is to get these patients stable so they can either go back to their service or receive more definitive care as soon as possible."

Assisting doctors with surgery cases isn't the only thing the OR technicians are responsible for. They also ensure adequate equipment and sterile supplies necessary for surgical procedures are maintained, said Tech. Sgt. Jeff Wilcox, NCO-in-charge of the OR also deployed from Lackland AFB.

"The patient is our No. 1 priority. Everything else is secondary," he said. "We account for almost 45 percent of the hospital's business here. Our specialty allows us to be a bigger hitter of the team. There is definitely a higher level of intensity working here as opposed to home station."

And at the end of Brito's day, the OR technician knows she's making a difference.

"We're saving lives. Without us here, people would die. It gives me great satisfaction knowing that we have a hand in saving these people."