Reservists receive patients coming and going

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Doug Moore
  • 445th Airlift Wing
ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. --  Mobilized and volunteer members of the 445th Airlift Wing's Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron,Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, currently stationed at Andrews AFB, Md., are completing their fourth four-month rotation in August as the primary AES for the distribution of patients returning to the U.S from Ramstein AB, Germany. 

"We recover patients coming from different theaters throughout the area of operations and then move them around the CONUS in aircraft available to us," said 445th AES member Lt. Col. Penny Harnish-Main, who is currently serving as Aeromedical Evacuation Operations Officer for the 375 AES/Detachment 1 at Andrews.

"Once the patients arrive at Andrews AFB, they are taken to Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital, Bethesda Naval Hospital or the Aeromedical Staging Facility here at Andrews AFB for further treatment," explained Colonel Harnish-Main. Detachment 1 is a redistribution hub.

The next step is to move the patients to their final destinations throughout the United States or to more follow-on care.

"We fly primarily on three types of aircraft," the colonel said, "the C-130, C-17 and KC-135." The C-130s are used for the distribution of patients for local flights along the east coast, while the KC-135s and the C-17s are used for the cross-country flights.

While interacting with the ASF and all squadrons involved with the flightline throughout the mission is beneficial, the main objective is the care and comfort of the patients.

"The flight nurses and technicians are here to do whatever is necessary for the smooth flow of patients," said fellow 445th AES member Lt. Col. Valerie Jarreau, Officer-in-Charge, 375 AES/Detachment 1. "We try to go out of our way to make the patients as comfortable and welcome as possible since this is their first stop back on U.S. soil," Colonel Jarreau explained.

The operation, run almost 24 hours seven days a week, is supported by five five-person aeromedical evacuation flying crews and ten ground support crew members who handle the 25-plus missions each week.

"Without the assistance of our dedicated medical service core officers, aviation resource managers, health services management staff, and medical equipment repair and logisticians working together to support the crews, the mission couldn't happen," Colonel Jarreau said.

"It is amazing what these aeromedical crews are doing in the medical arena," said Maj. Christopher Paige, Medical Crew Director Instructor, 86AES, Ramstein AB, Germany. "No other medical organization in this country or the world for that matter is moving patients like these people do. They are quickly moving lots of patients over long distances in a relatively short period of time."

"A soldier could be fighting on the front line in Balad, Iraq, one day, become injured, receive treatment and be flown back home to the United States all in a matter of days," the major said. "It is simply remarkable."

"This location at Andrews AFB is the best training platform available for upgrade training in our field," Colonel Jarreau said. "We use all three primary aircraft and every aeromedical evacuation support system available to enhance the transition of new nurses and technicians. We use the Litter Station Augmentation Set, the Patient Support Platform, and the Patient Loading System every week in our jobs, while most new personnel never see all these aircraft and equipment in one location."