Iraqi medics complete aeromedical evacuation course

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Trish Freeland
  • United States Air Forces Central-Baghdad
NEW AL-MUTHANA AIR BASE, Iraq (AFNS) --  Instructors from the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine in San Antonio graduated 14 Iraqi air force medics from an aeromedical evacuation basics course here Dec. 4. The graduation ceremony was the culmination of 12 days of training that ended with a patient movement exercise requiring the students to prepare a C-130 Hercules for in-flight patient care.

"We had them do everything from reconfiguring the inside of the C-130 and setting up all its internal components for movement to creating a load plan that tells how and where to put patients onboard," said Maj. Bryan Hutcheson, course director for AE basics.

The course included instruction on the physiology of being in an aircraft, the laws of physics, and the effects of various altitudes on the human body. The information presented provided text book methods and proven techniques for conducting AE missions to compliment the experience some Iraqi airmen already had.

"Our medics have done many aeromedical evacuation missions especially from Basra and Mosul, but now they learn scientifically how to do this mission," said an Iraqi student.

"Although they have had a few patient moves, they've been sporadic because the equipment and training hasn't all been there," said Major Hutcheson. "It's been highly dependent on a lot of factors, including maintenance support."

The clinical capability of the Iraqi air force medical corps was already established. The doctors, nurses and medics came to the course with sound medical training and experience. The course provided the missing link of trained medics who can expertly and safely move patients in and around Iraq.

"What we've been able to teach them is all the information that they need to go out to an aircraft, prepare that aircraft to do an aeromedical evacuation flight and they have a little bit of maintenance, electrical and configuration skills, similar to a loadmaster," said Major Hutcheson.

"When you combine that with their clinical competencies it makes them a very powerful weapon," he said.

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