Command cell provides oversight during Pacific Lifeline

  • Published
  • By Capt. Jennifer Gerhardt
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. (AFPN) --  Six Reservists from the 446th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron here make up the Aeromedical Command Cell providing command and control for aeromedical force participating in the Pacific Lifeline exercise currently being held in Hawaii.

The Reservists are providing direction, control, discipline, morale and oversight for the care of the deployed forces participating in the exercise.

"We basically provide oversight," said Master Sgt. Rita Herrington, from the 446th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron at McChord Air Force Base. "Whatever the aeromedical people require, they identify it to us and we meet their needs."

For the exercise, which ends Feb. 9, the first issue addressed was communications. Each island had different capabilities, so the command cell worked out a solution quickly to keep communication flowing.

"Communication is vital to what we do and would be the first thing addressed no matter where we hit the ground," Sergeant Herrington said. "Without communication, the mission would obviously be more difficult."

During a real-world event, the command cell is set up as close as possible to the aeromedical forces working. Once they hit the ground, the first priorities are personnel accountability, communication and site selection.

"It is somewhat of a whirlwind with multiple competing demands," said Lt. Col. Pat Pound, the 446th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron medical readiness commander. "We have to make sure they have the resources to do the job -- whether it is people, time or equipment."

The most challenging, but number one task for the command cell is ensuring the right information gets to the right people at the right time. 

"Once the exercise starts, the most important thing for us is to ensure the safety and well-being of the aeromedical forces," Colonel Pound said. "These aeromedical teams are the best in the business and we want to make sure they have all the resources they need to do their job." 

Pacific Lifeline is a total force exercise designed to exercise the military's ability to rapidly arrive and leave a trained, equipped team anywhere in the Pacific in response to a humanitarian assistance or disaster scenario. More than 900 Department of Defense personnel are participating in the exercise.

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