445th ASTS trains for battlefield injuries

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Patrick O'Reilly
  • 445th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  When deployed, it is vital that injured military personnel are promptly treated and taken to a medical treatment facility.

The Air Force's Aeromedical Staging Squadrons provide Airmen on the battlefield to administer medical care on the spot saving countless lives. They are the military's "MASH" of today.

Training is the key to ensuring that these Airmen are ready.

The 445th ASTS kicked off their August unit training assembly with a larger than normal training session. The training was mandatory for all ASTS personnel. Doctors, nurses, medical technicians and administrators were involved in the exercise. The training included force protection condition training, alarm conditions, radio communication, unit type code training, litter training and other deployment related training.

"We did a mass casualty drill August 1st. We took a room, turned the lights off, put in a fog machine and strobe light, and simulated a combat area," said 2nd Lt. Jonathon Charles, medical readiness officer.

Members had to go in, find the wounded, and see what their wounds and injuries were, said Charles. "Then they had to triage each injured person. This was done under simulated combat conditions.

Training is essential to the job of med techs in ASTS, said Master Sgt. Litittia Cofie, medical technician.

"Our training is very effective," said Cofie. "The more you practice the better you get at it. Our training is paramount to the mission successes."

Staff Sgt. Andrew Finley, cardiopulomonary lab apprentice, agrees.

"Everyone needs to know these skills," said Finley. "They are very critical to our career field."

Litter training took place outside in the bright summer sun. The litters were loaded with Airmen who played the role of patients.

Proper commands, proper lifting procedures for safety and the use of multiple vehicle platforms were covered during the training, said Charles.

Master Sgt. Sarah Katoski, Flight I NCO in charge, further explained.

"We try to make it fun but still realistic by putting the heaviest person on a litter," said Katoski. "When you deploy, you may not have a small person and there are not going to be empty litters. We try to keep it realistic and keep our new Airmen engaged." 
Patient staging and critical patient care are the two major components of ASTS. They are responsible for loading and unloading patients from aircraft and make sure they have the best medical care. Their mission coincides with their sister medical unit, the aeromedical evacuation squadron whom provides the care during transport.

"The entire aeromedical evacuation system is best in the world," said Charles.

"We can move wounded warriors in three days to definitive care with a 90 percent survivor ability rate because of what we do." "But we can only do it if we do it sufficiently, effectively, and quickly. The training allows us to be at the top of our game for the wounded warriors.

"They're the reason we do what we do, said Charles. "The reason we train. To make sure everybody can come home to their loved ones."