Total force aeromedical evacuation technicians gain unique training

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Steve Lewis
  • 459th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MELBOURNE, Fla. (AFNS) --  Flying high above the east coast, a KC-135R Stratotanker passes through a summer lightning storm. The aircraft is filled with a total force contingent of aeromedical evacuation technicians en route to Melbourne, Fla., for a unique three-day training mission June 25 through June 27.

Midway through the flight, which had a stop at Joint Base Andrews, Md., the aeromedical evacuation technicians don their gas masks to put out a simulated fire from the fuselage. After the fire is put out, it's time to check on patients also aboard the aircraft.

Training scenarios like this were part of a weekend mission aimed at integrating AE units from the Reserve and active Air Force.

Capt. Constance Mackus, the 36th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron scheduler at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., helped organize the weekend training, working closely with representatives from the 43rd AES, also assigned to Pope AFB,  and 459th AES at Joint Base Andrews, Md.

"There are a lot of variables to mission planning," Capt. Mackus said. "But overall, I thought the weekend was valuable for everyone."

Capt. Vanessa Moses, the 43rd AES flight commander of aircrew training, said training missions like the one in Melbourne are unique.

"There's no difference in our training requirements. It's all one standard." Capt. Moses said. "I think the mission we had this weekend was a plus for everyone."

Once the team touched down in Melbourne, they also learned how to assemble and operate a personnel support pallet along with other training scenarios throughout the weekend. A PSP is used aboard aircraft like the KC-135R Stratotanker to carry patients and medical equipment.

"The more you work with a PSP, the more comfortable you become. And when you have patients aboard an aircraft and on PSPs, your ultimate goal is making sure everyone is safe and secure" said Tech Sgt. Carl Stewart II, a 459th AES aeromedical evacuation technician.

Sergeant Stewart joined the 43rd AES and the 36th AES weekend mission in order to show them how to operate a PSP and prepare for future deployments by using the equipment.

The total force Integration both at Pope AFB and in the skies above Florida is something also often found on deployments. Aeromedical evacuation technicians from the Reserve, Air National Guard and the active Air Force are blended together to complete the mission.

Tech Sgt. Daryl Bradley, a 43rd AES evaluator, has experienced working with Reserve and ANG counterparts while serving overseas.

"Regardless of rank and service, it's all one big melting pot," Sergeant Bradley said. "When we fly downrange, we mix and match everyone, no matter if they're in the regular Air Force, Reserve or Air National Guard."

Sergeant Bradley also said some medical positions aboard an aircraft can be interchanged, which is not based on rank or service. Medical aircrews normally are composed of a medical crew director, flight nurse, a charge medical technician, second medical technician and third medical technician.

"You can have a chief master sergeant in the third medical technician position and an airman first class in the charge medical technician position. But when you bring all those things together, and you bring all the group dynamics together, that's when everything gels together, " Sergeant Bradley said. "When you figure out how to work together, it's absolutely amazing what you can do for patients."

As total force Integration missions like the one in Melbourne continue to occur, aeromedical evacuation technicians can improve their skills and experience necessary for future deployments.

"Training like this shows everyone how alike we really are," Sergeant Stewart said.