Recognizing the Military
The Association of Surgical Technologists is proud of our many military members and recognizes that the roots of our profession extend back to World War II. The AST Board of Directors appointed a Military Affairs Committee in 2010 in order to reach out to our service men and women who are working in surgical patient care.

The AST Military Affairs Committee serves as a resource for members, who are active military, active reserves and retired.

In September 2011, AST in partnership with NBSTSA, sponsored the first Military Student Forum at the METC campus, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas. This inaugural event proved to be a great success and future efforts are under discussion.

In Washington, DC, the 2012 conference will place a greater focus on the military and a blood drive benefiting military members is under consideration at Bethseda Naval Hospital.

Members who wish to donate blood must have a military I.D. Individuals must be eligible under the following two sets of criteria and complete the Foreign Country Travel form and submit it in May to the Bethseda representative.

ATTENTION MILITARY MEMBERS OF AST

An important reminder to those who will be attending the 43rd Annual National Conference in Washington, D.C., that the AST Military Affairs Committee (MAC) will have an exhibit booth during the exhibit hours on Friday, May 25 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. and on Saturday, May 26, from 9:00 a.m. to noon. 

Please stop by the booth to chat with committee members about the activities of the MAC in support of ASTs military members, provide ideas and suggestions for the MAC, as well as provide feedback concerning a mentoring program the committee is considering. 

The MAC will be handing out the AST military coin at the booth. To receive the coin the military member is REQUIRED to show their active duty military identification or a copy of their DD214. 

We hope you can join us at the conference and look forward to seeing you!!!

Members of the AST Military Affairs Committee include:
Grethel Alaniz, CST
David Alfaro, CST
Daniela Dietsch, CST
Ben McCory, CST
Glen Mullins, CST, CTBS, CEBT
John Ratliff, CST, FAST