Manor takes command of 127th Medical Group

Published Oct. 22, 2015
By Tech. Sgt. Dan Heaton
127th Wing Public Affairs

SELFRIDGE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mich. -- Col. Mark Manor, who has served a wide variety of capacities with the 127th Medical Group since he first joined the unit in 1988, took command of the unit in an Oct. 18 ceremony at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. Manor, who was promoted to his current rank in the ceremony, took over command of the group from Col. Sidney Martin, who recently took a position at Michigan National Guard Joint Forces Headquarters in Lansing.

Presiding at the change of command ceremony, Brig. Gen. John D. Slocum, 127th Wing commander, noted that the two officers represent the finest tradition of American National Guardsmen.

"Both Col. Martin and Col. Manor have very successful careers outside of the Air National Guard," Slocum said. "On drill weekend - and on countless deployments and other times - they have put on their uniform and served their nation and this unit with our Med Group."

Martin is an orthopedic doctor as a civilian. Manor is an executive working as a civilian at the U.S. Army's TACOM facility in Warren, Michigan.

The 127th Medical Group consists of approximately 55 Airmen and is made up of the Medical Operations and Medical Support flights. On any given unit training assembly weekend the group can provide 200 to 300 physicals, to include areas such as Preventative Health Assessments (PHAs), dental, audiograms, optometry, vitals, vaccinations, and physician assessments. The MDG also handles profiles and waivers in conjunction with National Guard Bureau. The group plays a part in the 127th Force Support Squadron's Line of Duty and Medical Evaluation Board processes for the 127th Wing. The Medical Group supports industrial hygiene, fetal protection, hearing conservation, food safety and sanitation, food and water vulnerability assessments, occupational medicine, deployment medicine, respiratory protection, and hazard communication.

Over the past 10 years, 127th MDG Airmen have deployed in support of missions to Guam, Germany, Iraq, Afghanistan, Qatar, and Kyrgyzstan. In recent years, MDG Airmen have also performed in missions in the United States as well as in the European nations of Estonia and neighboring Latvia - one of the Michigan National Guard's two State Partnership for Peace partner nations.

Manor is one of many Michigan Airmen with a family connection with the 127th Wing. Both his wife and son are enlisted Airmen in the same wing.

During the change of command ceremony, Martin was awarded a Meritorious Service Medal for his leadership of the 127MDG.

About the 127th Wing
Comprised of approximately 1,700 personnel and flying both the A-10 Thunderbolt II and the KC-135 Stratotanker, the Michigan Air National Guard's 127th Wing supports Air Mobility Command and Air Combat Command operations by providing highly-skilled Airmen to missions domestically and overseas. The 127th Wing is the host unit at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, which marks its 98th year of continuous military air operations in 2015.