412th Medical Group Participates in Combat Medevac Joint Training

Photo By Katherine Franco | Flight paramedics Spc. Joshua Hronowski and Sgt. 1st Class Jason Hinrichs, both from Charlie Company, 2916th Aviation Battalion, 916th Support Brigade, conduct medevac training with Airmen from the 412th Medical Group at Edwards Air Force Base, California, March 3. (Air Force photo by Laura Maples)  

EDWARDS AFB, CA, UNITED STATES

03.10.2022

Story by Katherine Franco 

412th Test Wing   

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --
Medical personnel from the 412th Medical Group continued to participate in joint training with Soldiers from Charlie Company, 2916th Aviation Battalion, 916th Support Brigade, at Edwards Air Force Base, California, March 3.

Also known as "Desert Dustoff," Charlie Co. is tasked with providing air medevac support for the National Training Center in Fort Irwin. The collaboration allowed both units to participate in essential life-saving training techniques.

The MDG Airmen completed their training on proper patient loading methods and safe aircraft approach on the UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter, operated by C Company. This included appropriate use of the Sked, a special stretcher that provides outstanding patient protection and security, and examination of the med kits' organization.

"Today, we learned how they would lay the patient on the Sked on the field and hoist them into the helicopter, or how a genuine patient would stand or sit on a bar and be raised into the helicopter in this fashion," Lt. Col. Yvonne Storey, Chief Nurse Executive, 412th Medical Group, said. "We also got a peek inside their kits, which provided us some ideas on how to enhance our own."

The joint training session marks a key step for C Company’s ongoing combat training in the Mojave Desert. As the U.S. Army's premier field-combat training facility, the primary mission of Fort Irwin and the National Training Center (NTC) is to provide joint and combined arms training in California's harsh Mojave Desert.

”This collaboration allows us to dive a little deeper into our capabilities in terms of sked use. This includes utilizing a tagline at their feet if we have to lift someone from the ground in a restricted location and we can't land,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Paul Spallino, UH-60 Pilot, Charlie Co., 2916th Avn. Bn.

Future joint training between the 412th MDG and Charlie Co. will include a refresher on litter carry, along with enhancing requirements from the medivac checklist. The continued training between both units ensures precision treatment for all who serve in the greater high desert and beyond.

• Date Taken: 03.10.2022
• Date Posted: 03.10.2022 18:53
• Story ID: 416232
• Location: EDWARDS AFB, CA, US