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Keeping Airmen combat-ready

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Daniel Brosam
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Taking care of Airmen and families is one of the top priorities throughout the 341st Missile Wing. It is of utmost importance to take care of the team, as without functional, able-bodied Airmen, the nuclear deterrence mission here could not be accomplished.

One Airman in particular, Senior Airman Kaitlyn Callahan, 341st Medical Operations Squadron physical therapist technician, tries her best to keep Airmen fit-to-fight to ensure the base’s mission is executed seamlessly.

Born to a supportive Air Force father and a mother in medical services, Callahan was raised in San Antonio, Texas. She is the eldest of a brother who is prior Navy and a sister who is in the Army.

After discovering college wasn’t what she wanted at the time, Callahan enlisted in the Air Force as a result of the patriotism that was instilled by her father.

“I’ve always had a huge appreciation for the military because I grew up in it,” Callahan said. “Growing up and seeing how proud (my father) was, I admired him and figured to join the Air Force myself.”

Callahan has been at Malmstrom for almost three years and enjoys hunting, fishing and skiing with her husband of eight months. She said marrying her husband, who is a Tactical Response Force Airman, helps make her time here more enjoyable.

“I couldn’t ask for a more supportive husband,” Callahan said. “He is just amazing.”

Callahan is responsible for assisting Airmen in rehabilitation who have been injured. She also helps prevent Airmen from causing further injuries by educating them on proper exercise form. Her day-to-day duty is to complete exercises with patients, focusing on helping them gain mobility to speed up the recovery process.

Her love for her job has led her to want to further her career in physical therapy. She has thought about leaving the Air Force to attend college to pursue her degree in kinesiology and return as a certified physical therapist.

“I love what I do and I’m pretty passionate about it,” Callahan said. “I wake up every day and give it my all, give it my best and give everything I can to my patients.”

Her unwavering passion for mission success has not gone unnoticed, proven by her office’s win of the 341st MW’s professional team of the third quarter, as well as her second consecutive win of Air Force Global Strike Command’s Air Force Medical Services Physical Therapy Technician of the Year.

Callahan has completed her goals of winning a wing-level award, participating in honor guard and earning her Community College of the Air Force degree. She said now she wants to focus on her bachelor’s degree and make the rank of staff sergeant.

“My favorite part about my job is seeing the progress people make,” Callahan said. “It’s such a humbling thing when people come in and thank you for helping them get better.”

Callahan’s flight commander, Maj. Amy Quinlisk, 341st MDOS physical therapy officer in charge, has nothing but positive things to say about Callahan.

“She really likes helping people,she likes her job and it shows,” Quinlisk said. “Whatever (task needs to be accomplished) she gets it done and she gets it done quickly.”

Quinlisk recalled a time the NCO in charge position was vacant and Callahan took over and completed everything that needed to be done.

“I think her integrity is what sticks out to me,” Quinlisk said. “It’s so strong and it shows she really likes her job.”