By Air Force Staff Sgt. Carlos Diaz
22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – The first direct, scheduled, aero-medical evacuation mission from Bagram Airfield to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, lifted off March 21.
An aero-medical evacuation team and a critical care air transport team provided care for a handful of patients being medically evacuated to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center near Landstuhl, Germany.
The seven-member AE team – from the 43rd Aero-medical Evacuation Squadron at Pope Air Force Base, N.C. – consists of four medical technicians and three nurses. They are responsible for patient care during medical flying missions.
The three-person CCAT team is assigned to the 455th Expeditionary Aero-medical Evacuation Flight. It provides critical patient care allowing patients to be moved out of theater even if their medical condition is not stable.
The direct flight to Ramstein Air Base is a huge benefit to patients, said Tech. Sgt. Chauncey Hewitt, non-commissioned officer-in-charge of the patient administration division at the Craig Joint Theater Hospital. His job is to manage the AE missions at Bagram's new theater hospital.
"Patients were (usually) flown to an alternate location before going on to Europe," Hewitt explained. "A direct line to Germany is very important, and you need that dedicated direct line of medical care for the patients."
One of those patients is Army Command Sgt. Maj. Roy Striley. He is the command sergeant major for the advanced individual training brigade at Kabul Military Training Center.
"This is an awesome process," the 40-year Army veteran said. "I can quickly get the medical attention I need so I can get back online with my troops."
The seasoned soldier is a patient being treated for chest pains.
"The treatment I've received here is superb," Striley said. "These missions are incredibly advantageous for the troops' morale."
The sergeant major is eager to return to his post, where he oversees a 26-member staff that helps mentor the Afghan National Army's soldiers.
"Taking care of my troops is what it all boils down to," he said.
A schedule for the AE missions allows hospital personnel to help their patients with medical needs.
"We can provide higher care much faster," said Air Force Lt. Col. Irene Soto, a nurse manager at the intermediate care ward of Bagram's state-of-the-art medical facility.
That care was evident during the mission's planning stage. The 455th EAEF was a beehive of activity as mission controllers ensured all patient information was properly annotated.
"It's a teamwork mentality and an entire team effort," said Air Force Staff Sgt. Annette Washington, NCOIC of the AE operations team.
Washington said the team's job is to ensure proper coordination for mission success, provide support and facilitate the overall process.
"We help provide the safety net for ground operations," said Air Force Lt. Col. David Johnson, 455th EAEF chief.
During the ground operations portion of the mission, the combined team of highly skilled nurses, physicians and medical technicians quickly performed its mission. Cold weather made loading patients into the aircraft even more physically taxing. Fortunately, the cargo compartment was already perfectly arranged and configured to handle the patient load.
Providing the care, attention and treatment the patients need is top priority for the AE team.
"I really enjoy taking care of the troops in the front line," said Air Force Capt. Nathan Ferguson, a flight nurse.
Saving lives is the reason we're here, Air Force 1st Lt. Tamara Passut, flight nurse, added.
As the aircraft disappeared into the dark Afghan night, that last statement became a reality.