DVIDS – News – Providing Support to Servicemembers in the Highest Regions

The Schriever Space Force Base Operational Support Team recently made a groundbreaking trip to Pituffik Space Base in Greenland to provide much-needed support to the servicemembers stationed there. Pituffik, home to the 821st Space Base Group, 12th Space Warning Squadron, and the 23rd Space Operations Squadron, Det. 1, is a remote location where servicemembers often feel disconnected from the world.

From March 15-22, a three-person team from Schriever OST conducted a series of holistic health support and education sessions for the servicemembers at Pituffik. The sessions covered topics such as postural syndromes, sleep, relationships, injury prevention, workplace ergonomics, and Basic Life Support training. The goal was to address the physical and mental toll that comes with serving in such a unique and challenging environment.

U.S. Air Force Maj. Sean Batzer, OST flight commander, emphasized the importance of taking care of the servicemembers stationed at Pituffik to ensure they can perform at their best. The team provided servicemembers with tools to combat daily stressors, optimize performance, and prevent potential injuries.

Col. Jason Terry, 821st Space Base Group commander, highlighted the critical nature of interpersonal relationships and mental health resiliency in such a remote location. The visit from the OST professionals marked the first time an OST has visited the remote Space Base, signaling a new level of support for the servicemembers stationed there.

Looking ahead, Maj. Batzer expressed his team’s commitment to providing consistent support to the Guardians and Airmen at Pituffik. The OST’s mission is to optimize unit readiness through evidence-informed and data-driven prevention, evaluation, and treatment, ensuring that servicemembers receive the support they need to thrive in their unique environment.