Air Force medics deploy to support Chilean medical efforts

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. J. Paul Croxon
  • Defense Media Activity-San Antonio
LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) --  An Air Force Expeditionary Medical Support team composed of more than 80 Airmen deployed to Chile March 8 from here to aid local medics in their response to victims of the 8.8 magnitude earthquake Feb. 27 in Chile.

The Airmen from 13 different bases left Lackland Air Force Base aboard C-17 Globemaster IIIs and are prepared to support relief efforts for up to 60 days.

The EMEDS team will operate in the city of Angol, Chile, and be capable of providing medical care as part of the EMEDS construct.

"EMEDS is very lightweight, rapidly deployable and scalable expeditionary medical support system," said Col. David Garrison, the EMEDS commander. He added that the team would be able to perform everything from surgeries to pediatric care.

Many of the Airmen have deployed before and are able to use their expeditionary training and experience for this mission. In fact many volunteered for a chance to help the Chilean people recover from the disaster.

"I just returned from deployment to (Southwest Asia) a month and a half ago where I was part of an expeditionary medical group," said Senior Airman Cassandra Johnson, a medical technician from Kessler AFB, Miss. "When I was told my name was on the list I was given the option to opt out, but I wanted to help the Chilean people."

The EMEDS is part of a larger U.S. Southern Command response to the Chilean quake that includes airlift relief operations delivering aid to communities affected by the earthquake.

The U.S. and Chilean militaries have worked together during combined exercises for some time. In October 2009, the two militaries, in addition to Brazilian, Argentine and French forces, trained together during Exercise Salitre II. The exercise focused on the rapid deployment of rescue and humanitarian relief capabilities, as well as, interoperability between the five militaries -- exactly the type of skills Air Forces Southern Airmen will use during Chilean relief operations.

For the medics deploying to support the people in need, it remains an honor to be chosen to serve.

"This is what we all train for," Colonel Garrison said.

The first two missions are being flown by crews from the 62nd Airlift Wing at McChord Air Force Base, Wash., and a third is being flown by Airmen from the 437th Airlift Wing at Joint Base Charleston, S.C.

Mission planning and command-and-control for the Air Mobility Command portion of the humanitarian effort are being led by officials from the 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center at Scott AFB, Ill. 

"The aircraft are scheduled to carry approximately 80 medical personnel and 67 tons of medical equipment from Kelly Field, Texas, to Chile," said Master Sgt. Dan Phillips, the lead 618th TACC mission planner for the Chile relief efforts. "They're also carrying another 25 tons of material handling equipment, such as forklifts, that will help unload the aircraft once they arrive."