KAW Med Team Achieves Medical Evacuation Milestone

Published April 13, 2011
By Capt. Jamie Humphries
438th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan -- A combined team of Afghan Air Force and coalition members conducted the first-ever dedicated Mi-17 medical evacuation mission in Kandahar recently.

The planning for the inaugural mission began one month ago when Maj. Gen. Abdul Raziq Sherzai, Afghan Kandahar Air Wing commander, set aside each Monday as a day dedicated for medical evacuation. Since then, medical evacuation crews have waited on alert for the call from the two most likely locations of Camp Bastion, just northwest of Lashkar Gah, or Forward Operating Base Tarin Kowt. On April 11, the standby crew was alerted that a medical evacuation was needed.

"We were briefed a mission might be necessary to move a patient from Camp Bastion back to Kandahar," said Maj. Charla Quayle, 738th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron. "We later got confirmation of the tasking from Regional Command Southwest that a patient needed transport. The Mi-17's were then prepped with a three-litter stanchion and medical equipment before takeoff."

The patient, an Afghan National Army officer, had sustained a compound-leg fracture several months ago and the healing process had not proceeded well requiring a transfer to higher-level care in Kandahar. The transfer would be the first test of the medics newly established communication system and also provided Afghan flight medics an opportunity to demonstrate their clinical capabilities. The mission provided the opportunity to treat a patient with a possible high level of injuries.

"The mission was flown by me, Tech. Sgt. Steve Guillen and Fazal, our Afghan Flight Medic," said Major Quayle. "Our bird had an American pilot and an Afghan pilot and we also had an Afghan flight engineer, crew chief and translator. The other Mi-17 that flew the mission had Lithuanian and Afghan crew on it."

Not only were the advisors happy to successfully complete the mission, Fazal, was also excited by the opportunity to help accomplish a "first" for Afghanistan.

"I am proud to be able to do my job and use my medical skills on a real mission," said Fazal.

Even though the evacuation went according to plan, the process of developing the plan took many hours and faced many challenges. The need for a reliable communication system provided the first test while obtaining dedicated flying hours while also facing maintenance issues provided further obstacles. With the odds against them, experts agree the mission was a critical step accomplished by Afghan medical professionals.

"Kandahar Air Wing's new limited rotary wing medical evacuation mission is a critical step in supporting the requirements of the Afghan National Army Regional Corp commanders in southern Afghanistan," said Col. Brandon Clint, 438th AEW Surgeon General. "With time, experience and training their capabilities will grow to assume greater tasks."

Finally, the crew of four Americans along with their Afghan counterparts and coalition partners were able to put their training and plan into action.

"Our Afghan flight medics are eager and ready to fly these missions," said Major Quayle. "We are happy that our diligence and hard work resulted in getting these guys airborne to do what they have been trained to do."

Although this was the first medical evacuation flight from Kandahar, the business of practicing medicine is nothing new for Maj. Quayle. The 39-year-old, originally from Fullerton, Calif, normally works as a flight surgeon with the 65th Aggressor Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. There, she provides medical care to everyone on flying status and conducts patient care during normal operations but in Afghanistan her day-to-day duties are nothing but routine.

"It is a privilege to be able to work side-by-side with health care professionals from this country who have made sacrifices to join the Afghan Air Force and be a part of the effort to improve things for themselves and the country as a whole," she said. "This mission demonstrated key teamwork, cooperation and the communication we've been training for and the results were flawless."