News

Reservists from McChord Field represent career field at Air Force Association convention

  • Published
  • By Sandra Pishner
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD FIELD, Wash., --  Two Reservists from the 446th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron represented the Air Force Reserve as the Air Force Association presented the 2011 David C. Schilling Award to the Air Force aeromedical community. The award was presented to the Air Force aeromedical community by the AFA at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center at National Harbor, Md., Sept. 18.

Because of their work while deployed, Lt. Col. Michael Gainer, 446th AES operations officer, and Staff Sgt. Krystil Reinstadler, 446th AES medical technician, were selected to join four other aeromedical Airmen from active duty, Guard and Reserve units in accepting the award.
"It's indicative of the quality of our folks and the great dedication our folks have toward their jobs and frankly, it's what we bring to the fight consistently. Whether it's the recent nomination of this award or the aeromedical evacuation team Rodeo award, this is a consistent theme at the 446th Airlift Wing and I just couldn't be more proud of them," said Col. Bruce Bowers, 446th AW commander.

The David C. Schilling Award is presented for outstanding contributions to the field of flight.

"This award was given specifically to the overall success of the AE mission and the desire was to have personnel for each crew position and a commander from personnel who deployed in 2010 received the award as representatives for the entire AE community," said Col. Janette Moore-Harbert, 446th AES commander. "

For Reinstadler, representing the aeromedical career field at the AFA convention was a great opportunity.

"It was a great experience and it was a privilege to go and accept (the award) on behalf of the entire AE career field," said Reinstadler, who is pursuing her masters in nutrition and fitness in her civilian life.

Serving as deployed commander at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, from January to May 2010, one of Gainer's accomplishments were directing stage operations for five aeromedical crews in the movement of 750 patients on 115 missions.

As the deployed commander at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., September to November 2010, Gainer executed 170 missions and moved 290 patients, configured for aeromedical evacuation C-17 Globemaster III and KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft, and managed 23 people.

Configuring a tanker aircraft for aeromedical evacuation is what peaked Reinstadler's interest in the technology exposition taking place at the convention.

"They didn't have any technology on display that relates specifically to AE, but they had a great display for the new tanker, which was interesting. In AE, we'll be using that tanker for missions too," she said.

Reinstadler deployed to Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, from September 2010 to January 201. While there, she provided in-flight care for 23 patients on 17 missions, assisted critical-care air-transport teams with 11 critically-wounded patients, and decreased patient-preparation time by 25 percent.