News

Aeromedical Reservists provide training in Global Medic 2010

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Nicole Celestine
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  In the hit TV show M*A*S*H, Army medical officers and technicians make a mad dash toward helicopters bringing them injured and severely wounded soldiers.

Reservists at the 446th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron here know first-hand that to bring the wounded home, they have to stay prepared to deliver first-class aeromedical care at a moment's notice.  That's why 44 Reservists with the 446th AES will act as airflow coordinators, patient movement regulators and observer trainers, when they participate in Global Medic 2010, an annual exercise to sharpen readiness of medical units in a joint training environment, July 11-22.

"Global Medic continues to grow in the magnitude of major Air Force exercises and is considered the premier and largest joint medical field training exercise with international participation," said Col. Jan Moore-Harbert, the 446th AES commander who will act as the overall Air Force exercise director. "We are training the Army in a new mission of stage management."

As one of the largest medical command and control exercises between the U.S. Air Force and Army Reserve, Global Medic 2010 comes complete with medical and aeromedical theaters that imitate real-life deployment scenarios, and training targeting specific aeromedical emergency operations and treating casualties on the battlefield. Colonel Moore-Harbert said a variety of Army elements, including Blackhawks and ground ambulances, will be used to control patient movement.  The colonel added that C-17 Globemaster III and C-130 Hercules aircraft will be the primary aircraft used to test aeromedical evacuation capability.

The success of the Global Medic exercises is evident just by looking at the numbers: last year, about 3,500 military personnel participated.  This year's exercise takes the Reservists to Travis Air Force Base, Schoonover Air Field and Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif., Fort Gordon and Bush Field, Ga., and Scott AFB, Ill.

It's all part of keeping these highly qualified Reservists prepared for future deployments around the globe.