Army 'Dustoff's' support 3rd MAW

Photo By Cpl. Michael Stevens | Soldiers with Charlie Company (Air Ambulance), 1st Battalion, 214th Aviation Regiment, unload equipment and medical supplies from their UH-60 Black Hawk, during the company's administrative flight and to Al Qaim Feb. 15.  

AL ASAD, IRAQ

02.15.2008

Story by Cpl. Michael Stevens 

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar

By Lance Cpl. Michael Stevens
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing

AL ASAD, Iraq – Soldiers with Charlie Company (Air Ambulance), 1st Battalion, 214th Aviation Regiment, are tasked with the emergency movement of blood and medical supplies to service members across Multi-National Corps - Iraq's entire area of responsibility.

The "Dustoff's" completed an administrative flight, Feb. 15, to adjacent crews operating in Al Qaim and Al Taqaddum.

"These administrative flights are done so we can swap out aircraft and personnel if need be," said Army Sgt. Amparo C. Sullivan, a flight medic with the 214th. "Our main maintenance section is aboard Al Asad, so aircraft must be flown back here in order to be fixed."

The unit also uses these "admin flights" as an opportunity to deliver mail and other equipment to the soldiers at these outposts, added Sullivan.

While operating in Iraq, the 214th Medical Company falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd MAW.

Based out of Landstuhl, Germany, the 214th has crews located in Al Qaim, Al Taqaddum and Camp Korean Village, each responsible for a smaller operating area. Crews and aircraft rotate every few months, but admin flights are done frequently in order to ensure the crews have everything necessary to complete their mission.
"We rotate the crews every few months just so the crew doesn't get stagnant or too comfortable at their location," said Army 1st Sgt. Eric D. Blaine, the company first sergeant for the 214th. "Some of the sights are busier than others, so we like to switch our crews often in order to prevent wearing them out."

A crew consists of two UH-60 Black Hawk pilots, one medic and one crew chief.
Since hitting the deck in August 2007, the company has performed more than 800 medical evacuation missions, involving more than 650 patients. Of the patients, more than 220 have been Iraqi police or Iraqi army.

The pilots have logged more than 1800 flight hours by participating in blood resupply missions, point of injury missions and troop transfer missions.

Because of the nature of their job, the 214th has a very strict maintenance program, added Blaine.

"There are very specific maintenance hours our aircraft's must go through after a certain amount of flight hours," said Blaine. "We take our job very seriously. You wouldn't want an un-proficient crew, medic or aircraft picking you up in the middle of the desert and neither do we."

After loading and unloading all the gear from the Black Hawk at each site, the company commander and first sergeant speak with their soldiers, keeping them informed of everything happening back at Al Asad and leaving the floor open for comments and questions.

During the most recent visit to Al Qaim and Al Taqaddum, conversation pertained to the changeover from 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing to 3rd MAW.

"We enjoy working with the Marines very much," said Blaine. "They allow us the opportunity to handle ourselves and our business independently, but expect us to be ready to go when called upon."

A successful working relationship between the Marines and other branches of service will help complete the mission set forth during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"Fighting as a joint force is the only way we will be successful on the current, and future, battlefield" said Col. John Kennedy, the chief of staff for 3rd MAW (Forward). "The soldiers of 1-214 are a great example of how professionalism, dedication and focus on mission accomplishment can blur the lines between services and make fighting as a joint force seamless."

• Date Taken: 02.15.2008
• Date Posted: 02.21.2008 05:19
• Story ID: 16536
• Location: AL ASAD, IQ