Medical professionals earn recognition for great work Published May 21, 2009 By Master Sgt. Ken Bielas 446th Aeromedical Staging Squadron BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan -- Lt. Gen. Charles Stenner, Air Force Reserve Command commander, recently recognized deployed Reserve Airmen from the 446th Airlift Wing, McChord Air Force Base, Wash., along with the rest of their medical team, by handing out commander coins in a ceremony here. General Stenner recognized these medical professionals for providing medical care during the repatriation of a government official Lt. Cols. Eric Johnson and Dan Berg, and Master Sgt. Ken Bielas, Critical Care Transport Team from the 446th Aeromedical Staging Squadron, along with Tech. Sgt. Selina Barone, a senior aeromedical evacuation technician from the 446th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, were recognized during a Commander's Call held by General Stenner. The combined medical team and its leadership were comprised completely of Reservists. General Stenner recognized the experience Reservists bring to the war effort, allowing short-notice missions such as this one to be accomplished without incident. Initially, the medical condition of the government official was unknown and thought to be dire. The combined Aeromedical/Critical Care Air Transport Team was dispatched to provide any medical treatment needed during the initial portions of his return home. Brig. Gen. Mike Holmes, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing commander, also recognized the combined aeromedical team, along with the aircrew involved (comprised completely of National Guard members) in a separate ceremony. General Holmes also stated that without the Airmen's speed and flexibility, the mission might have been a failure. "It was the unknown nature of the mission that made it exciting and challenging at the same time," said Sergeant Barone. "I felt honored to be a part of the repatriation of an American and to work with all the [government agencies] that made the mission go off flawlessly." Members credited their many training missions working together at home station for the flawless nature of the mission. "The work our two units do together at McChord is critical to being able to accomplish these missions without a hitch," Colonel Berg said. While this has by far been their highest profile tasking, the members involved take great and equal pride in all their missions, caring for the wounded heroes of America and coalition forces.