Mobility Guardian provides lifesaving training for aeromedical operation units

Photo By Senior Airman Ericka Engblom | U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Catherine Bonhoff, 375th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, director of operations, talks with a simulated patient during Exercise Mobility Guardian, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., Aug. 3, 2017. More than 3,000 Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and international partners converged on the state of Washington in support of Mobility Guardian. The exercise is intended to test the abilities of the Mobility Air Forces to execute rapid global mobility missions in dynamic, contested environments. Mobility Guardian is Air Mobility Command's premier exercise, providing an opportunity for the Mobility Air Forces to train with joint and international partners in airlift, air refueling, aeromedical evacuation and mobility support. The exercise is designed to sharpen Airmen’s skills in support of combatant commander requirements. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Ericka Engblom)  

TACOMA, WA, UNITED STATES

08.08.2017

Story by Senior Airman Ericka Engblom 

1st Combat Camera Squadron         

More than 3,000 U.S. service members and international partners are taking part in the exercise. Two of the participating units are the 375th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois., and the 156th AES, Charlotte Air National Guard Base, Charlotte, North Carolina.
The squadrons’ primary duties are to provide lifesaving capabilities to those under duress. During the missions, doctors and nurses transport patients from the first level of care to definitive care.
First-level care is basic first aid performed by the patient on himself or by a wingman, and definitive care is medical service performed by professional doctors and nurses, explained U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Catherine Bonhoff, 375 AES director of operations.
Exercise Mobility Guardian enables the squadrons’ Airmen to receive training that is as close as possible to what they would experience in real-world scenarios, explained Bonhoff.
“Most of our younger Airmen have not had a chance to experience anything on this scale before,” she said. “It is an investment in our future.”
Senior Airman Jovanna Mixon, 156th AES duty controller, expressed similar thoughts, after completing the training.
“The exercise has been a great experience from my end,” Mixon said, “It has allowed me to push myself while gaining familiarity in aerial evacuation functions and flows. I am now able to better understand the process and work with my team to successfully push out missions.”
Mobility Guardian also facilitates familiarity in dealing with other nations as 25 different nations are participating, Bonhoff said.
“Working with our international partners has expanded my global mindset,” said Bonhoff. “It has allowed us to test what working with other nations would look like should we ever be needed in the case of a humanitarian event.”
The biggest personal takeaway from her experience at Mobility Guardian is the commitment she witnessed from the Airmen who are part of the aeromedical evacuation mission, Bonhoff said.
“I’ve learned to have faith and trust in the professional abilities of the Airmen that come here to complete the mission,” she said. “I have seen incredible dedication, professionalism and passion, and it will shape the way I deal with the Airmen I am responsible for training.”

• Date Taken: 08.08.2017
• Date Posted: 08.08.2017 18:21
• Story ID: 244245
• Location: TACOMA, WA, US