'Golden Medic' integrates Army, Air Force medical teams

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey S. Williams
  • Golden Medic - Air Force Public Affairs
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AFPN) --  Leaders of the joint Army and Air Force medical exercise here stressed the importance of the services working together.

"Golden Medic 2007 is an extraordinary opportunity for all services - active, Guard and Reserve, in addition to our coalition partners," said Col. Mike Dankosky, Air Force Reserve Command's chief of aeromedical evacuation and exercise director. "It allows us to work shoulder-to-shoulder ensuring that the very latest in medical and expeditionary skills are provided to our warriors."

The eight-day exercise began June 12 at the Augusta Regional Airport.

"What we do here enhances the skills and capabilities of the Soldiers and Airmen who participate," Colonel Dankosky said. "It's not an inspection and it's not live-fire. The exercise is important because it allows those in the training mode to develop their capabilities at their own pace before they get into combat."

An estimated 3,000 Soldiers and 500 Airmen will run through the exercise scenarios. They will undergo critical medical skills training while on the KC-135 Stratotanker, C-17 Globemaster III and C-130 Hercules aircraft as well as on helicopters. They will move simulated casualties, load vehicles, train on equipment and perform mortuary affairs procedures.

"Golden Medic seamlessly integrates the air and ground components in transporting patients expeditiously and efficiently to appropriate medical facilities for treatment," said Col. Janet Moore-Harbert, 706th Provisional Wing commander.

"It provides all of us with a unique opportunity to work in a joint-service environment, while simulating operational conditions," she said. "Training opportunities like this have enabled us to steadily improve our patient transport system, currently at about 5,000 to 6,000 patients every month."

Army Col. James Brosnan, 3rd Medical Command's deputy chief of staff for personnel, believes synchronizing joint services procedures will help save lives at home and abroad.

"Our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines have received the finest medical care, most notably since 2001 and the start of the global war on terrorism," Colonel Brosnan said. "We owe that to the American people.

"This is a practical exercise that gets our systems together," he continued. "It's designed to make sure that the systems, organizations and units work well. Here we can synchronize with the Air Force to make sure we follow the right procedures. Golden Medic serves to give people that experience, not just an introduction to it."

The exercise will end June 19 with a National Disaster Medical System Response exercise in conjunction with local civilian emergency service providers. 

(Air Force Reserve Command News Service - Sergeant Williams is a reservist in the 934th Airlift Wing Public Affairs Office, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Air Reserve Station, Minn.)

Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link)

Click here to view the comments/letters page