Photo By Airman 1st Class Kc Calhoun | U.S. Airmen provide care to simulated casualties during an in-flight training exercise...... read more read more
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Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center, Wisconsin - U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 109th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, Minnesota Air National Guard, put their training to use during Patriot 26 by applying medical and support skills to realistic disaster-response scenarios.
Before the exercise started, the Airmen completed an intense seven-day Tactical Combat Casualty Care, or TCCC, before applying for skills during Patriot 26.
“It was a perfect opportunity to do it leading up to [Patriot 26] and then practice it right away,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Lauren Bachman, officer in charge of Aeromedical Evacuation Operations Team, 109th AES. “It will ingrain it into everybody's minds.”
Patriot 26 simulated a large tornado that damaged infrastructure and caused mass casualties that required military and civilian emergency response units to work together. The scenarios that required the 109th AES skills included triaging, treating, and transporting patients by a C-130J Super Hercules from the 165th Airlift Wing to a higher level of care.
U.S. Air Force Airman Danielle Scott, a logistics Airman who completed her initial military training this year, experienced Patriot 26 for the first time.
“We have a lot more roles than I thought,” said Scott about the TCCC training. “We had some amazing instructors. Learning all those skills and seeing how it impacted the mission made me more comfortable .”
The exercise also gave leaders an opportunity to see newer Airmen progress. Bachman reflected on watching an Airman learn how to set up equipment on an aircraft. During the exercise, the same Airman is now setting up the equipment in a timely manner and moving on to triaging patients.
For Scott, the experience gave a better understanding of how the different jobs work to complete the mission.
“Teamwork is a big thing, but I definitely learned another level of being on a team here and getting the mission done,” said Scott. “Everyone's role is important. I honestly saw the full picture of what the unit brought to the mission.”
Both Scott and Bachman would recommend it to other Airmen.
“Most of us have not done humanitarian-type relief, and Volk Field is a very good training site, " said Bachman. “Coming to exercises like [Patriot 26], to get a different experience, especially for integrating with civilian entities and working with other military entities. It's worth it.”
| Date Taken: | 12.31.1969 |
| Date Posted: | 09.09.2026 10:15 |
| Story ID: | 573548 |
| Location: | VOLK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, WISCONSIN, US |
| Web Views: | 66 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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