Grissom Kicks off Patriot Medic 2025

Photo By Master Sgt. Wendy Day | GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. – Airmen assigned to the 910th Medical Squadron, Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio, arrive at Grissom Air Reserve Base for Exercise Patriot Medic, Aug. 1, 2025. The joint training event brought together medical personnel from more than a dozen Air Force Reserve squadrons to enhance readiness and sharpen skills in trauma care, en route patient movement, return-to-duty processes and evacuation operations. Patriot Medic reinforces the development of a resilient medical force capable of supporting the warfighter in any environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Wendy Day)  

GRISSOM AIR FORCE BASE, INDIANA, UNITED STATES

08.03.2025

Story by Master Sgt. Rachel Barton 

434th Air Refueling Wing

Patriot Medic 25 kicked off here at Grissom and is set to take place , August 1-15.

PM25 is an annual military exercise that provides Citizen Airmen with realistic training in trauma care, patient evacuation and enroute care. Over the next two weeks, exercise participants will hone their skills in a simulated deployed environment designed to increase joint interoperability.

Grissom was originally slated to have a much smaller role in the exercise, according to Col. David Borden, 434th Mission Support Group commander. Some last-minute changes in availability at a different location led exercise planners to seek out an alternate training site and found it at Grissom.

“They brought additional capability here,” said Borden. “Initially we were going to have 60 to 70 people here to operate at the hub. We are now at 220 people or so that are going to be here.”

Various locations around the base will serve as field hospitals and other facilities, and Grissom will operate as a hub for simulated casualty processing for the duration of the exercise. The proximity to the other installations involved in the exercise, such at Ft. McCoy, Wis., and the space available here, is what made Grissom an ideal location for troops to operate out of.

“They’re going to have a lot of transient aircraft coming though,” Borden said. “We’ll be here to support them as best we can just to make sure everything goes off without a hitch.”

In addition to providing support, the 434 th Air Refueling Wing at Grissom will have some active participants in the exercise, such as the 434th Logistics Readiness Squadron, and 434th Aerospace Medical Squadron participating, as well as the 72nd and 74th Air Refueling Squadrons flying some med-evac missions in the coming weeks.

“Honestly, I am excited because I think it showcases what Grissom can provide,” said Borden. “Unfortunately, because it came kind of late in the year and we already had our annual tours planned, we probably could have accommodated more.”

Looking toward the future for Patriot Medic, Borden anticipates in the next iteration of the exercise Grissom would be able to scale up the level of support even more.

“Next time we can actually hit the ground running and be able to provide more work like build up tents in the BIVOUAC and other things we hope to do in the future,” said Bordon. “But, we’re doing the best we can in the short time we’ve had.”

The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. The Citizen Airmen from the Hoosier Wing routinely deploy around the world in support of the Air Force mission.

• Date Taken: 08.03.2025
• Date Posted: 08.18.2025 10:56
• Story ID: 544636
• Location: GRISSOM AIR FORCE BASE, INDIANA, US