Oregon National Guard flight medic continues to perform medevac mission with active duty unit in Iraq

JOINT BASE BALAD, IRAQ

02.20.2010

Courtesy Story

41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team

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By Sgt. Candace Westlund

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq — The medical evacuation mission is one that provides hope. Soldiers on the ground need to know they can trust those who are standing by to come to them in time of need, and deliver them from peril.

The Oregon National Guard has one medical evacuation unit. It has a proud heritage and is widely respected in the Army community, both for its stateside mission of Search and Rescue and for its' combat mission of medical evacuation. C Company, 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), from Salem, Ore., executed the Corps medevac mission in Iraq during their time at Joint Base Balad. They were stationed out of Joint Base Balad from May 2009 until January 2010.

A medevac unit is comprised of crews made up of pilots, flight medics, and crew chiefs. Pilots are responsible for planning the missions and flying the aircraft wherever needed, sometimes in very austere conditions. Flight medics render aid to the wounded or sick while enroute to the next higher level of medical care. Crew chiefs are responsible for keeping the aircraft mission capable and they are instrumental in sustaining the aircraft, a force multiplier on today's battlefield. The support personnel in the unit keep the crews and aircraft ready and oftentimes are the unsung heroes in support of the ever changing mission of the medevac community.

Given the unique importance of the medevac mission, Soldiers in these units are often the best of the best in the aviation community and are selected with special care.

Historically, the active Army medevac units, such as C Company, 7th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment (Airborne), who replaced C/7-158 AVN in Jan. 2010, rarely invite anybody to join their unit in combat, as they have come to theater with personnel they trust and have worked with.
However, due to the proven effectiveness and performance of C/7-158 AVN, some of the Soldiers were sought after once the active component saw them in action.

Sgt. Michael Barber, a flight medic and civilian paramedic from Eugene, Ore., was invited by the commander of C/7-101 AVN, Maj. Brady Gallagher, from Cullman, Ala., to be a part of the unit after his tour with C/7-158 AVN was complete.

"The 101st has a long and proud reputation for mission accomplishment," said Barber.

Barber said that the National Guard does have differences from the active component in regards to medevac, because of the amount of experience within its ranks. The turnover rate tends to be lower in the National Guard.

"What really separates us from the active duty medevac units," said Barber, "is the mission we perform back in Oregon. From high mountain rescues, to fighting forest fires, our optempo is one of mission readiness all the time. The work we perform back home has helped make us the unit we are in combat."

Barber is honored to contribute to the 101st standard of excellence in combat.

His example of duty performance and dedication lives on in his daughter, Jordyn Barber, from Lake Oswego, Ore. She is graduating from high school in June, and has made her intentions known to be a doctor. Barber decided to stay in order to achieve the 80% rate for the Post-9/11 Montgomery GI Bill benefits.

"I realized my daughter was just like me when she showed her drive and determination in setting her goals, and telling me her steps to accomplish them without much input from me. I'm sure she'll let me know where to send the checks at least," said Barber.

Barber said her dreams could become reality due to the transferability of the MGIB benefits.

"It is a nice relief, considering the commitment my daughter and I are about to embark on," said Barber.

Barber also looks forward to returning home and continuing to contribute to the Oregon National Guard.

"It has always been a personal goal of mine to become more involved with training for those that wish to become medics or flight medics. When I get home, I would also like to look for an opportunity to work with those returning home to their families and adjusting back to civilian life," Barber said.

Barber said it was difficult to stand at Pickard Medevac Compound and watch the last serial of aircraft depart from JBB to go home.

"Spending time with them at the aircraft prior to them taking off reminded me of where this journey began," said Barber, "as well as where it ends when I return home to Oregon."

However, Barber has made a home for himself with his new unit.

"I have always believed that Oregon Dustoff leads the way in regards to medevac, but I now know that there is at least one other proud and honor bound medevac company in the Army that is deserving of recognition," said Barber.