Get better soon

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz talks with Senior Airman Bren Mejia during an aeromedical evacuation mission Aug. 7, 2009, on the Andrews Air Force Base, Md., flightline. The 779th Medical Group at Andrews has the busiest aeromedical staging facility in the continental United States, caring for more than 100 wounded and ill warriors returning each week. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Renae L. Kleckner)

Deliver with care

Staff Sgt. William Lawson, a pararescuemen with the 129th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, keeps an eye on the countryside as he cares for a wounded Afghan National Army soldier from the Hemland Province, Afghanistan. Sergeant Lawson will provide care to the injured soldier until he is safely delivered to a hospital. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Shawn Weismiller)

TACP killed, another injured

Senior Airmen Mike Malarsie and Bradley Smith pose for a photo during their Afghanistan deployment. An improvised explosive device attack mortally wounded Airman Smith and injured Airman Malarsie Jan. 3, in Afghanistan. The two tactical airlift control party Airmen were assigned to the 10th Air Support Operations Squadron at Fort Riley, Kan. (Courtesy photo)

DEEP FREEZE

A C-141B Starlifter aircraft leaves four plumes of exhaust behind it as it prepares for an airdrop during Operation Deep Freeze. Can airlift combat forces, equipment and supplies, and deliver them on the ground or by airdrop, using paratroop doors on each side and a rear loading ramp. It can be used for low-altitude delivery of paratroops and equipment, and high-altitude delivery of paratroops. It can also airdrop equipment and supplies using the container delivery system. It is the first aircraft designed to be compatible with the 463L Material Handling System, which permits off-loading 68,000 pounds (30,600 kilograms) of cargo, refueling and reloading a full load, all in less than an hour. The C-141 has an all-weather landing system, pressurized cabin and crew station. Its cargo compartment can easily be modified to perform around 30 different missions. About 200 troops or 155 fully equipped paratroops can sit in canvas side-facing seats, or 166 troops in rear-facing airline seats. Rollers in the aircraft floor allow quick and easy cargo pallet loading. A palletized lavatory and galley can be installed quickly to accommodate passengers, and when palletized cargo is not being carried, the rollers can be turned over to leave a smooth, flat surface for loading vehicles. In its aeromedical evacuation role, the Starlifter can carry about 103 litter patients, 113 ambulatory patients or a combination of the two. It provides rapid transfer of the sick and wounded from remote areas overseas to hospitals in the United States.

NCAA football lifts morale for doctors, wounded troops

A University of Georgia caricature, signed by football head coach Mark Richt, hangs over a trauma bed Dec. 12, 2009 at the Craig Joint Theater Hospital at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Many NCAA teams, especially those from the South Eastern Conference sent memorabilia to brighten the spirits of the wounded servicemembers and staff. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Felicia Juenke)

NCAA football lifts morale for doctors, wounded troops

Capts. Frank Cunningham and Matt Howard stand next to Trauma Bay No. 1, named in honor of the University of Alabama Dec. 12, 2009 at the Craig Joint Theater Hospital at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Many NCAA teams, especially those from the Southeastern Conference sent memorabilia to the Craig Joint Theater Hospital to brighten the spirits of the wounded servicemembers and staff. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Felicia Juenke)