445 AW showcases C-17, aeromedical evac mission

  • Published
  • By Capt. Elizabeth Caraway
  • 445th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, OHIO --  A crew of eight had the opportunity to share an ongoing 445 Airlift Wing mission with members of local media here recently. Four 89th Airlift Squadron pilots, three loadmasters, and one crew chief teamed up to complete the Dec 31-Jan 4 trip across the globe, showcasing the versatility of the C-17 by hauling cargo, transporting troops and space available passengers, and supporting the aeromedical evacuation of 11 wounded warriors.

Cheryl McHenry, WHIO TV news anchor, Bob Garlock, Cox Media Group videographer, and Barrie Barber, Dayton Daily news reporter, joined the C-17 crew at Wright-Patterson AFB and traveled more than 12,000 miles during 35 hours of flight, transiting Joint Base Andrews, Md., Ramstein AB, Germany, and Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. After departing Wright-Patt, the crew and media landed at Joint Air Base Andrews, where they picked up cargo and dozens of space available passengers bound for Ramstein AB. At Ramstein AB, the cargo was swapped out and troops bound for Afghanistan boarded the aircraft. In Afghanistan, five Green Berets came aboard for transport.

One Soldier, Master Sgt. Scott Hickerson, 7th Special Forces Group, was on his 12th trip to Afghanistan. He's also served three tours in Iraq. Headed home for the birth of his fifth child, Hickerson said the U.S. has a "great mission" in Afghanistan.

"I love coming here," he said. "We are making good progress."

Arriving back at Ramstein AB, seven members of the 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron loaded seven litter and four walking patients bound for Joint Air Base Andrews on the C-17. Capt Paul Merrill, 86th AES medical crew director, oversaw the work of the three nurses and three aeromedical evacuation technicians.

"Taking care of our fellow service members--from all services--is extremely rewarding," said Merrill. "Aeromedical evacuation has come a long, long way since its inception in the Vietnam War," he said, adding that the system now has a 96 percent survival.

Capt. Daisy Martinez, a nurse with the 86th AES, said she enjoys her job because, "everyone has their own story and listening to them is the best." She also stated that, of all the airframes they work in, the C-17 is the "most comfortable."

To date, the 445th AW has transported more than 20,000 aeromedical patients out of the Middle East.

The New Year's aeromedical evacuation mission was not unusual; the 89th AS does it twice a month. However, this particular mission had additional aircrew members since it was a checkride for both pilot Lt Col Jeff Ciesla and loadmaster Master Sgt. Chuck FritZ. Ciesla, who also pilots for United Airlines, said he really enjoys his role within the 445th AW.

"There is a sense of service in flying these types of missions that you don't get when you fly civilian aircraft," said Ciesla. "It's also rare to fly with the same people in the civilian airline industry, but here, we get to know the people and there is a real sense of camaraderie and family within the unit."

Senior Master Sgt. Jason LeMaster, loadmaster, agreed.

"As Reservists, we're all here because we want to be," he said. "It shows in the crew performance and the way we care for our airplanes."

Ciesla's evaluator, Maj. Kris Herman, was once a student of Ciesla's. Herman expressed enthusiasm for the ongoing C-17 mission, as well as the aircraft itself.

"It's one of the most reliable cargo planes," he said. "Its capabilities also make it a very flexible airframe." As for flying into Afghanistan, Herman said it was "business as usual. We receive intel briefings and work with tacticians to mitigate risks."

The success of missions like this one are the result of everyone within the wing, Ciesla emphasized.

"At the 89th Airlift Squadron, we're so grateful for the support of the entire wing; it takes every squadron to make each of our missions a success."