Photo By 1st Sgt. Randall Townsend | U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Charles Hayward, right, an aeromedical evacuation technician...... read more read more
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TUNIS, Tunisia -- In the fast-paced and often unpredictable world of military operations, U.S. service members are frequently mobilized across the globe to support exercises, conflicts and peacekeeping missions. These assignments come with unique challenges, and sometimes, life threatening emergencies.
For soldiers stationed in remote or austere locations, and their families housed globally, access to timely and effective medical care can be the difference between life and death.
This is where military aeromedical evacuation (AE) teams step in. Silently waiting and constantly training, these highly skilled aeromedical medical evacuation flyers are the unsung heroes tasked with conducting emergency medical evacuations. Whether transporting critically injured military personnel or family members in need of life-saving surgeries, AE technicians play a crucial role in global readiness and resilience.
A Lifesaving Mission
AE squadrons are purpose-built to evacuate wounded military personnel and civilians from dangerous areas to secure medical facilities using military transport aircraft. These specialists operate across a variety of platforms, including helicopters, jets and cargo planes, ensuring patients receive vital care during transit. Organized, trained and equipped by the U.S. Air Force Air Mobility Command, AE forces are the backbone of an intricate system which combines command, operational and clinical training, patient staging, as well as advanced communication networks.
"Our aeromedical evacuation technicians are trained to adapt to any situation—whether it's stabilizing a patient during a bumpy flight or managing the logistics of evacuating entire families during a natural disaster," said U.S. Air Force Capt. Jessica Douglas, flight nurse instructor, 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron (86th AES), 86th Operations Group, 86th Airlift Wing out of Ramstein Air Base, Germany. "They are a lifeline, ready to mobilize anywhere in the world at a moment's notice."
Global Reach and Local Impact
AE teams are stationed worldwide, covering diverse regions to ensure that no service member or dependent is left without care. From administering immunizations to coordinating large-scale evacuations, these professionals are an integral part of the healthcare ecosystem for the military.
One such team recently took part in exercise African Lion 2025 (AL25) in Tunis, Tunisia. AL25 is the largest annual military exercise on the continent, drawing over 40 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 service members, for rigorous and collaborative training. Led by the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), on behalf of U.S. Africa Command, AL25 spans multiple countries—Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia—between April 14 and May 23, 2025.
African Lion
"This exercise provides us with the training and real-world experience we need to do our job," said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Charles Hayward, an aeromedical evacuation technician assigned to the 86th AES. "We worked alongside our Tunisian military counterparts every day, sharing our techniques and learning theirs. Overcoming language and cultural barriers is exactly the kind of training that prepares us to perform at our best."
Training with the Tunisians
Tunisia’s strategic location and expertise provide invaluable opportunities for U.S. forces to train in an austere environment. The collaboration fosters mutual understanding and enhances the capability to execute joint operations.
"At the end of the day, our differences don’t matter. What matters is our ability to rely on each other and save lives—that’s the mission," added Hayward.
AE teams gain hands-on experience operating in challenging conditions, which translates to real-world readiness for critical missions.
As AL25 unfolds, the contributions of these dedicated AE technicians serve as a reminder of their unwavering commitment. Whether ensuring the safety of troops in the field or the well-being of their families, these professionals embody the best of what it means to serve. Their mission underscores a simple but profound truth: in the face of uncertainty, readiness and compassion can make all the difference.
About African Lion 2025
AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight and win.
| Date Taken: | 04.28.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 05.08.2025 16:57 |
| Story ID: | 496670 |
| Location: | TUNIS, TN |
| Web Views: | 28 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Aeromedical evacuation teams: Flying global ambulances, by 1SG Randall Townsend, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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