An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Life Support gets aircrew there and back

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Kim Allain
  • 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  There is one group of individuals that work around the clock to ensure that all aerial personnel return back to Bagram safely. Whether it's a pilot, co-pilot, navigator, loadmaster, aeromedical team, passenger, or distinguished visitor, life support is there for their safety and return on all air missions.

The crew of the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron Life Support section at Bagram Airfield works 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with shift overlap, to keep the aircrews flying the C-130 Hercules missions equipped with all necessary life support equipment needed to fly and return safe.

Life support provides and maintains equipment both onboard the aircraft and through individual issue that makes each mission a success: helmets, parachutes, oxygen sources, weapons, water, and the numerous items included in the ACE survival vest: radio, compass, medical kit, knife, water and insect repellent.

Master Sgt. Michael Hilbert, 774th EAS Life Support supervisor deployed from the 165th Aircrew Life Support Squadron from Louisville, Ky., says the mission of the section is to "provide aircrew members with a means of escape and evasion."

According to Sergeant Hilbert, the most important item that life support provides crew members is the PRC 112 radio. "Radios are the links back to civilization," said Sergeant Hilbert.

The special settings that life support configures will aid in the location and rescue recovery of individuals. "If a crew goes down, the number one priority is location and the pick up of aircrew," said Tech. Sgt. Del Brumbaugh, life support technician also from the 165th from Louisville.

Maj. Shawn Dawley, 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron C-130 pilot, feels that the night vision goggles are the most important item cared for and issued by life support. "Despite technology, the terrain in this country is unforgiving and the goggles allow us to concentrate on the mission by aiding in situational awareness," said Maj. Dawley. "Without life support, the air drop missions would be ineffective."

The high altitude drops require supplemental oxygen and life support performs a post-flight aircraft inspection after each mission. The inspection includes the oxygen system and supplemental masks, parachutes, rafts, body armor, and to ensure that the correct number of required life support items are onboard.

"We have 100 percent confidence in the life support squadron," said Maj. Dawley. "They give everything needed to stay out of trouble, as well as everything to get you out of trouble."