News

Aeromedical Reservists aid in Global Medic

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jake Chappelle
  • 446 Airlift Wing Public Affairs
About 45 Reservists from the 446th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron participated in a joint force medical training exercise from June 7-21, in Augusta, Ga. and Charleston AFB, S.C.

Global Medic, formerly Golden Medic, is an annual exercise run by Army Reserve Command to exercise the operational readiness of assigned medical units in a joint and coalition training environment. Incorporating both live and virtual simulation, this exercise provides realistic, battle focused training scenarios.

"Global Medic is an outstanding joint medical service patient movement training platform," said Lt. Col. Patrick Pound, 446th AES readiness flight commander. "GM is a demanding exercise which provides training and qualification in over 20 unit type code medical capabilities. It further allows for training and testing of the various systems used to support world-class medical care to the war fighter."

The 446th AES has participated in four previous exercises.

"Each year we participate, our individual roles change a bit so there is always training and learning in a new role," said Colonel Pound.

Exercises such as Global Medic directly support Reservists' wartime readiness according to, Col. Jan Moore-Harbert, 446th AES commander.

"My job as AES commander is to make sure that my folks are as prepared, trained and equipped as possible to deploy," said Col. Moore-Harbert. "Exercises like these prepare them for deployments and they won't be overwhelmed when they mobilize. They kick out of the exercises knowing that they did a good job and can deploy with more confidence."

According to Colonel Pound, appreciating other services' missions is important.

"We had great interaction and camaraderie with our Army counterparts," said Colonel Pound. "Each team took something of value away from the other teams which only strengthens the links between medics and ensures all medics have the same goal ... world class patient care."

"It was true exposure to the other branches that had the same mission," said Colonel Moore-Harbert. "The standards of practice are the same across the board. We learned each others' disciplines and the ways each branch operated. It was good to get exposed to it.

This exposure is important when training the AE members of the future.

"The younger people see a bit of the 'fog and fiction' of war," said Colonel Pound. "They see what happens when they are stressed and how stress management plays an important role in mission accomplishment. Most importantly, younger members gain insight into their role on the team and how their core skill knowledge and employing those skills are important."

"Without a doubt, this team upheld the great name and reputation of the 446th AES," Colonel Pound. "AES members stepped up to the plate and made the AE piece of this exercise happen. Everything from the exercise planning to mission management, aircrew training, a presentation, and dinner for over 40 distinguished visitors was executed flawlessly."

"The 446th AES has benefited tremendously from participation in Global Medic. Colonel Moore-Harbert is a supporter of this exercise because she sees it as the most robust training platform for AE and ground medical units for active duty, Reserve and Guard. There is no doubt in my mind that the excellence the 446th AES is known for is at least in part based on our participation in GM."

(Parts of this article were contributed from Rudder U.S. Army Reserve Center)