Air guardsmen from the 178th Medical Squadron, Ohio Air National Guard, provide patients with blood pressure checks and take down their height and weight at a Demopolis medical clinic in Demopolis, AL., May 1, 2012, as part of innovative readiness training mission Alabama Care. IRT Alabama Care 2012 is an Air National Guard led, multiservice mission comprised of active, reserve, and National Guard members from Army, Navy and Air Force components providing service members with readiness training while providing Alabama residents with free health services such as dental, optometry and medical screenings from May 1-10, 2012, in the medically underserved and economically depressed communities of Selma, Demopolis and Hayneville, AL. (National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Melissa Chatham)

The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) and The United States Air Force National Guard and Reserve Commands are hosting Operation Black Belt 2012, a military community assistance mission May 1 through May 10 in Demopolis at the old New Era building,  Hayneville at Town Hall and Selma at Water Street in downtown Selma.

The mission consists  of free medical services including medical screenings, medication, dental care, eye exams, eye glasses, blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol checks, diet and nutrition counseling and  information on disease prevention.

According to Amanda Richardson, Press Secretary with Delta Regional Authority,  a total of  12,000 people  had been  seen  as of May 8 at the three free sites in  Alabama. They open at 8 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. and will be open each day. There  is no cost for these services regardless of income.

The sites picked for this  mission were  all considered medically  underserved and economically depressed.

At this time, it was not known whether  or not the Operation will be available at any other Blackbelt areas. However, people from all over Alabama are welcome to utilize the  three sites that are open now  in Demopolis, Selma and Hayneville. Anyone who needs the services are  urged to  attend  during   this unique community service.