U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Thomas Moore, an optometry technician assigned to the 90th medical group, Wyo., measures a local resident for a new pair of glasses during Operation Healthy Tennessee, Rhea County Middle School, Evensville, Tenn., July 10, 2025. Operation Healthy Tennessee provides no-cost medical, dental, vision and veterinary services to the residents of Bledsoe and Rhea County, as well as the surrounding areas while satisfying training requirements for active-duty, reserve and Air National Guard service members and units. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by SSgt. Sarah Stalder Lundgren)
More than 200 service members from the U.S. Air Force, Air National Guard, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Army Reserve and U.S. Air Force Reserve participated in Operation Healthy Tennessee, as part of the Department of Defense's Innovative Readiness Training program, held July 11-21. Over the course of the mission, they provided no-cost medical, dental, optometry and veterinary services to over 2,600 residents across Rhea, Bledsoe and area counties.
The IRT program is a unique U.S. DoD initiative that enhances military readiness through hands-on, real-world training while delivering critical services to communities in need.
"This is a great opportunity to not only get services that the community may not be able to afford but they can see what the military provides", said Cathy Swafford, Rhea County community lead. "You can tell that [the military members] just really want to serve their community and give back."
Operation Healthy Tennessee brought together service members across the joint force, fostering an environment to strengthen readiness while offering services such as medical, dental, optometry, nutrition counseling and veterinary care, all provided at no cost by credentialed professionals.
"We are providing a great level of service," stated Maj. Ralph Garcia, Bledsoe County officer in charge. "It's a collaborative joint effort to bring resources to underserved communities."
The mission proved to be a powerful example of the program's impact, making a strong contribution towards the IRT Program.
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Shannando Harrison, a dental technician assigned to the 88th dental squadron, Ohio, holds a baby while the baby's mother receives dental care during Operation Healthy Tennessee, Bledsoe County High School, Pikeville, Tenn., July 18, 2025. Operation Healthy Tennessee provides no-cost medical, dental, vision and veterinary services to the residents of Bledsoe and Rhea County, as well as the surrounding areas while satisfying training requirements for active-duty, reserve and Air National Guard service members and units. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by SSgt. Sarah Stalder Lundgren)
U.S. Army Sgt. Yeneidee Charriez Hernandez, an animal care specialist, assigned to the 7350th Veterinary Detachment, Ala., weighs a cat during veterinary care during Operation Healthy Tennessee, Rhea County Fair Grounds, Rhea County, Tenn., July 21, 2025. Operation Healthy Tennessee provides no-cost medical, dental, vision and veterinary services to the residents of Bledsoe and Rhea County, as well as the surrounding areas while satisfying training requirements for active-duty, reserve and Air National Guard service members and units. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by SSgt. Sarah Stalder Lundgren)
A U.S. Air Force dental technician completes a dental X-ray for a local resident during Operation Healthy Tennessee, Rhea County Middle School, Evensville, Tenn., July 10, 2025. Operation Healthy Tennessee provides no-cost medical, dental, vision and veterinary services to the residents of Bledsoe and Rhea County, as well as the surrounding areas while satisfying training requirements for active-duty, reserve and Air National Guard service members and units.
Source: U.S.Air Force
