Airmen warriors take care of their wingmen on aeromedical evacuation missions

Published June 16, 2007
By Staff Sgt. Cassandra Locke
379th Air Expeditionary Wing

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- The 379th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron has not only made it possible for a speedier recovery by picking up injured and sick servicemembers, but are providing the care and comfort needed to put their patients at ease.

Each time a crew from the 379th EAES flies on a mission to care for patients, they are humbled by those injured in theater.

"It's a privilege to honor and care for those men and women fighting this war and having the opportunity to tell them thank you," said Capt. Reah Downs, 379th flight nurse deployed from Pope Air Force Base and a native of Bethany, Conn. "This is the best job the Air Force has to offer." As a flight nurse, Captain Downs is responsible for supervising the medical technicians and making sure that the patients receive the care they need.

A team from the 379th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, consisting of two flight nurses and three medical technicians, was on alert at their dormitories while undergoing crew rest needed for an intra-theater mission in Iraq.

Upon alert, the crew secured their weapons, attended an intelligence briefing and loaded more than 760 pounds of equipment; to include, cardiac monitors, defibrillators, intubation devices, litters and more supplies needed to do the job. Focused, they quickly and efficiently unloaded the equipment and supplies using patient litters, tested the equipment and meticulously organized the remaining supplies. They were ready for their mission.

A Critical Care Air Transport Team accompanied the crew to help transport the more critically ill patients. The CCATT is comprised of a doctor, critical care nurse and a respiratory technician all specialized in providing care to those patients with more severe injuries. Fortunately, during this mission only one battlefield patient needed CCATT level of care.

The 379th EAES flies on intra-theater missions three days a week and lands at various Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facilities within the AOR. The CASFs are facilities located on the tarmac that hold the injured patients waiting to be evacuated. These missions are flown throughout the AOR to pick up those who can receive care within the AOR versus being transported back to the states.

The crew began their Monday night mission at the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing flying to Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, where they transferred servicemembers from a flightline ambulance on to the aircraft.

"My job is to make sure we bring our troops back home safely," said Senior Airman Mickisha Gordon, 379th EAES medical technician who is deployed from Pope AFB and a native of West Palm Beach, Fla. Airman Gordon is responsible for assisting the flight nurses with patient care.

After picking patients up at Al Asad, they went to Balad Air Base, Iraq, and dropped the patients off to receive care at their medical facility, while more patients were picked up to be sent to another base in Southwest Asia to ensure further care.

"We provide the best quality medical care to wounded servicemembers while being transported from the AOR to a facility that provides more definitive treatment," said Staff Sgt. Christine Hill, 379th EAES medical technician deployed from Kadena Air Base, Japan, and a native of Raleigh, N.C.

Patients are typically delivered to Balad or Southwest Asia for care.

The wounded warriors expressed appreciation for the 379th EAES coming to pick them up and providing the care they need.

"Those Air Force medics have taken such great care of me," said Army Staff Sgt. Joshua Pickering, 2nd Battalion, 7th infantry regiment, who was being medically evacuated from Al Asad to a base in Southwest Asia. "They've made me feel comfortable throughout the process of my recovery."

The sergeant who is deployed from Fort Stewart, Ga. and a native of Miami Fla. said he is grateful to the Air Force aeromedical crew for assisting in his recovery so he can go back to Iraq with his fellow Soldiers.

"I can't wait to get back with my guys," he said. "I appreciate all of the time, attention and care these Airmen have given me," said Sergeant Pickering.

The squadron is on a four-month cycle here and are considered "enablers", which means they deploy for four months, go back to home station for four months and then return to the AOR for four months on a rotational basis. Since May, the 379th EAS has moved more than 65 patient litters, and 210 by ambulance, for a total of 266 patients.

They've flown on more than 30 missions - providing care and returning warriors to the fight.

The Air Force Reserve Command and Air National Guard comprises of about 87 percent of all aeromedical assets worldwide. They deploy for four months and then return home to civilian jobs. The active duty aeromedical squadrons consists of 13 percent of the total number deployed and consists of the following units the 43rd AES, Pope AFB; 86th AES, Ramstein Air Base Germany; 18th AES, Kadena Air Base; and 375th AES, Scott AFB.