Flight Lieutenant Tamara Doughton swapped the warm, tropical climate of Darwin for the icy winds of Alaska when she participated in Exercise Red Flag Alaska.
The annual exercise aimed at immersing combat squadrons in the most challenging scenarios they might encounter in real-world operations.
With just 18 months in the Air Force, Flight Lieutenant Doughton has already embarked on a journey that brings together her passion for medicine and her desire for adventure.
Based at 2 Expeditionary Health Squadron Detachment Darwin, Flight Lieutenant Doughton previously worked as a general practitioner in Gosford, NSW, where she enjoyed the close-knit community aspect of family medicine.
“I loved my work as a GP, looking after families and really getting to know my patients,” she said.
“But I reached a point where I wanted more out of my medical career. I was craving something beyond the routine of a family practice.”
That ‘something more’ came when Flight Lieutenant Doughton attended a GP conference at the International Convention Centre in Sydney and noticed a Defence Force Recruiting stand set up in the foyer. Curiosity led her to strike up a conversation with a recruiter.
“We got talking and they encouraged me to consider the Air Force as a career. It wasn’t something I had ever thought about before, but the idea of combining medicine with a career in Air Force really resonated with me,” she said.
‘Deploying overseas, even for an exercise, offers its own form of training. It prepares us for real-world crises where we may need to deploy at a moment’s notice.’
Deployed with an Air Force nurse and physiotherapist, Flight Lieutenant Doughton’s role was to provide medical care to RAAF personnel participating in the exercise.
“We’re here to ensure that any health issues, from colds to sprains or even gastrointestinal problems, are taken care of, so our aviators can focus on their tasks,” Flight Lieutenant Doughton said.
“If someone needs more urgent or specialised care, we work closely with the USAF [United States Air Force] medical teams to ensure they receive the attention they need.
“This also makes it a great opportunity to build interoperability between our forces. It’s a chance for us to learn from each other.”
While medical support is not part of the exercise training itself, the deployment provides valuable experience.
“Deploying overseas, even for an exercise, offers its own form of training,” Flight Lieutenant Doughton said.
“It prepares us for real-world crises where we may need to deploy at a moment’s notice. The conditions here are challenging, and it’s a great way to hone our skills and adaptability.”
Though still relatively new to Air Force, Flight Lieutenant Doughton’s passion for the role is evident.
“The health and wellbeing of our aviators is one of the Air Force’s highest priorities,” she said.
“Knowing that I’m contributing to that, especially in an environment like this, makes the whole experience worth it.”
For Flight Lieutenant Doughton, the move from a GP in a quiet coastal town to an Air Force medical officer in the Alaskan wilderness has been everything she hoped for and more.
“It’s been an amazing journey so far,” she said.
“I’m excited to see where this path takes me next.”
