Vegas Stronger Champion: Nellis Air Force base producing face shields for hospitals

As our city deals with the impact of COVID-19, our neighbors at Nellis Air Force base have gotten creative in the ways they respond to critical need and serve our community.

Jackie Kostek reports.

BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORMTO HELP PROTECT AND SUPPORT US.AS OUR CITY DEALS WITH THEIMPACT OF COVID-19, OURNEIGHBORS AT NELLIS AIR FORCEBASE HAVE STEPPED UP AND GOTTENCREATIVE IN THE WAYS THEY SERVETHE COMMUNITY.13 ACTION NEWS ANCHOR JACKIEKOSTEK HAS THE STORY IN THISMONTH'S VEGAS STRONGER CHAMPION"I JOINED TO SERVE, HELP AND ILIKE TO BE ABLE TO USE MYABILITIES TO ACTUALLY HELPPEOPLE." TECHNICAL SERGEANTMATTHEW BOBBITT IS A RESOURCEADVISOR FOR THE 57TH AIRCRAFTMAINTENANCE SQUADRON.HE MANAGES SUPPLIES, FINANCESAND OTHER RESOURCES, INCLUDINGTHE SQUADRON'S 3D PRINTERS."I'M GOING TO SAY IT'S SIMPLETO ME BUT PROBABLY NOT TO OTHERPEOPLE BUT BASICALLY IT'S ANACTUAL 3 DIMENSIONAL MODEL ANDTHEN YOU PUT IT INTO A PROGRAM,IT FEEDS IT INTO A PRINTER ANDTHE PRINTER GOES THROUGH ANDACTUALLY MAKES THE PART." JUSTLAST WEEK, SERGEANT BOBBITTHEARD THROUGH HIS CHAIN OFCOMMAND THAT OTHER BASES WEREUSING THE TECHNOLOGY TO PRODUCEFACE SHIELDS FOR MEDICALPROVIDERS."I FOUND A MODEL, WENT TO THENATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH'SWEBSITE, GOT WHAT THEY WEREDOING AND STARTED PRODUCINGTHEM." IT TAKES ABOUT THREEHOURS TO MAKE ONE - BUT WITHTHREE PRINTERS IN HOUSE -BOBBITT SAYS THEY CAN TURN OUTABOUT 12 EVERY FOUR TO FIVEAND SOON, THE AIR FORCE WILLSEND MORE TOTHESTATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENTAGENCY WHICH WILL DISTRIBUTE TOHOSPITALS BASED ON NEED."WE GIVE THE HEADBAND TO THEHOSPITAL AND THEN THEY ASSEMBLETHEM THEMSELVES WHICH TAKESABOUT TWO MINUTES." FILLING ACRITICAL NEED IN A TIME OF ACOMMUNITY IS THEIR MOTIVATION.THAT'S WHY THEY AREOUR VEGAS STRONGER CHAMPIONS."I'M ALWAYS GLAD TO HELP NOMATTER WHAT THE SITUATION IS."THAT WAS JACKIE KOSTEKREPORTING.VEGAS STRONGER CHAMPION ISSPONSORED BY FINDLAY AUTOMOTIVEIF YOU FILED YOUR 20-18 OR