Airmen are maintaining the health of troops and helping the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing meets its mission -- put “boots on the ground” and support the aeromedical evacuation of sick and injured servicemembers.

The 386th Expeditionary Medical Group does this key mission with the help of its medical logistics troops working at four clinics.

Medical logistics supports four primary components: an expeditionary medical support clinic, a contingency aeromedical staging facility, a squadron medical element clinic and a geographically separated aerial port of debarkation clinic.

The expeditionary medical unit is considered state of the art. It is a light, lean, lifesaving unit designed to rapidly deploy and provide forward stabilization, primary care, force health protection and preparation for aeromedical evacuation for military or civilian casualties. Its capabilities include outpatient and emergency medical care, X-ray, lab, immunizations and basic dental care.

The staging facility provides personnel, equipment and care to patients transiting through the aeromedical evacuation system, typically on their way to the surgical hospital in-theater, the European theater hospital at Landstuhl, Germany, or medical centers in the states. Since September 2004, the facility has evacuated more than 3,900 patients, officials said.

The squadron medical element provides medical care to deployed pilots and aircrews to keep them in the air.

The aerial port of debarkation clinic in-theater provides care to troops stationed there and those passing through en route to locations across Southwest Asia. Expeditionary medical logistics play a key role in these tasks, making sure they have needed supplies and operational equipment.

“Medical logistics in a deployed location is challenging but extremely rewarding. My favorite part of this deployment is knowing that peoples’ lives are being saved because we have the right supplies at the right time,” said Staff Sgt. Kenneth DeNise, noncommissioned officer in charge of medical logistics.

The medical group is a small part of a total team effort.

The wing provides movement of troops, supplies and equipment to coalition forces in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa. In addition, the wing also provides airlift support for wounded servicemembers to Germany and the United States for further medical care.

“I am very proud of the entire 386th Expeditionary Medical Group and my logistics staff. This is the most professional group of people I have ever worked with in my 23 years in the Air Force,” said Col. Mike Panosian, group commander.

The motto of the wing is “boots on the ground.” The mission is simple: “Get them in, supply them and get them out.”

(Compiled from staff reports)