C-130 is "air ambulance

A U.S. Air Force C-130H Hercules aircrew from the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron and medical personnel from the 455th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Flight prepare for medical evacuation operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Jan. 7, 2011. C-130s are able to land on runways that many other fixed wing aircraft are unable to, making them invaluable when moving patients in austere locations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Eric Harris)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
C-130 is "air ambulance"

U.S. Air Force medical personnel from the 455th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Flight care for patients aboard a C-130H Hercules flying over Afghanistan during a medical evacuation mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Jan. 7, 2011. C-130s are able to land on runways that many other fixed wing aircraft are unable to, making them invaluable when moving patients in austere locations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Eric Harris)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
C-130 is "air ambulance"

U.S. Air Force medical personnel from the 455th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Flight care for patients aboard a C-130H Hercules flying over Afghanistan during a medical evacuation mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Jan. 7, 2011. C-130s are able to land on runways that many other fixed wing aircraft are unable to, making them invaluable when moving patients in austere locations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Eric Harris)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
C-130 is "air ambulance"

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Candice Hunter, 455th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Flight, checks a patient's blood pressure aboard a C-130H Hercules flying over Afghanistan during a medical evacuation mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Jan. 7, 2011. C-130s are able to land on runways that many other fixed wing aircraft are unable to, making them invaluable when moving patients in austere locations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Eric Harris)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
C-130 is "air ambulance"

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Robert Semones, 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, conducts pre-flight checks aboard a C-130H Hercules before an aeromedical evacuation mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Jan. 7, 2011. C-130s are able to land on runways that many other fixed wing aircraft are unable to, making them invaluable when moving patients in austere locations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Eric Harris)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
C-130 is "air ambulance"

U.S. Air Force C-130H Hercules aircrew from the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron starts the aircraft's engines before a medical evacuation mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Jan. 7, 2011. C-130s are able to land on runways that many other fixed wing aircraft are unable to, making them invaluable when moving patients in austere locations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Eric Harris)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
C-130 is "air ambulance"

U.S. Air Force medical personnel unload equipment from a C-130H Hercules during an aeromedical evacuation mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, Jan. 7, 2011. C-130s are able to land on runways that many other fixed wing aircraft are unable to, making them invaluable when moving patients in austere locations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Eric Harris)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
C-130 is "air ambulance"

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Brad Simms guides an ambulance as it backs up near a C-130H Hercules to load patients aboard the aircraft at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, Jan. 7, 2011. C-130s are able to land on runways that many other fixed wing aircraft are unable to, making them invaluable when moving patients in austere locations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Eric Harris)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
C-130 is "air ambulance"

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Bobby Stemien, 455th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Flight, reviews paperwork aboard a C-130H Hercules to ensure patients are properly transferred to medical personnel at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Jan. 7, 2011. C-130s are able to land on runways that many other fixed wing aircraft are unable to, making them invaluable when moving patients in austere locations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Eric Harris)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res

C-130 is "air ambulance"

Published Feb. 7, 2011
By Staff Sgt. Amy Slye
AFCENT Combat Camera Correspondent

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Transporting patients from forward operating bases to medical treatment facilities is one of the many missions crewmembers of the C-130 Hercules conduct during deployments.

Due to the C-130's ability to land on dirt patches or bare bases, they continue to be a valuable resource in transporting wounded warriors in and around the area of operation.

Aeromedical Evacuation flies on opportune aircraft, which means an everyday cargo and refueling "heavy" is transformed into a flying hospital. Under the direst of situations, the aircraft can transport up to 70 patients on litters during one flight.

"We get all kinds of patients in different (conditions) and in need of medical care," said Capt. Jennifer Nash, C-130 co-pilot from the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron. "We can provide pretty quick transport to wherever they need to go - even from the smaller dirt fields, we can pick up whoever needs to be picked up and bring them back here."

"The (Craig Joint Theater Hospital) actually stabilizes (the patients), then we manifest them and bring them to Germany," said Staff Sgt. Candice Hunter, 455th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Flight, a medical technician. "We are pretty much like an in between man -- an air ambulance, if you will."

While the mission of this team can sometimes be the difference between life and death for its patients, the servicemembers flying these vital missions said they truly appreciate their duty.

"If I can get my patients to laugh, I'm the happiest person in the world," Sergeant Hunter said. "Yes, I might have to put a new IV on (them), but I don't really care about that. That stuff is minute, at least in my book. I want to get (the patients) to laugh, smile, and forget (they) are injured for a little while -- especially the guys who are really hurt."

Currently, the aeromedical evacuation teams care for U.S. servicemembers, coalition forces, Afghan National Army, police patients and Afghan civilians. If more specialized care is required, patients are flown to medical facilities sometimes as far away as Landstuhl Regional Medical Center near Ramstein Air Base, Germany.