5/5/2011
SANTA YNEZ - For the last couple of years, the Santa Ynez tribal health clinic has participated in a program called Walking Shield. It offers free medical and dental visits for people without insurance.
It's unique because the doctors involved don't work at the clinic on a regular basis. They are some of the men and women of the Army National Guard.
Major Joe Sullivan of Oxnard and Staff Sergeant Ryan Salvon of Los Alamitos are treating dental patients at the Santa Ynez Tribal Health Clinic for free.
They are here doing their annual two week training required by the Army National Guard. This dental office is very different from ones they've seen before. Both men spent time in Iraq. "This gives us an opportunity to use our skills and it's really helping out the population in this area," says Lt. Col. Rudolph Soto.
Lt. Col. Soto has served in the Marines, Air Force and now the National Guard, 17 years of service. "It's a good thing to do; it's kind of a good way to pay back country and obligation. I think that part of it is over with, it's just more, I enjoy the duty, I enjoy the people and I really enjoy the ability to help someone now."
Walking Shield has turned into a very popular program in the last couple of years not just among patients but with the guardsmen as well. "We'd like to come back again in July because we are so inundated with patients that are aware we are here we need to come back," says Lt. Col. Soto
Throughout the year there are two, two week rotations. This one ends on May 13, and it's almost completely booked.
