News

Joint training helps team prepare for Rodeo

  • Published
  • By Sandra Pishner
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
McCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Low crawling, inserting an IV and carrying a litter a mile or more are just a few of the tasks medical Airmen must do, and do well, in order to score a trophy at the 2007 Air Mobility Rodeo July 21-28 here. 

The 446th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron will field a five-person Rodeo team, which has been preparing for Rodeo through daily practices and a string of joint exercises, such as Golden Medic this month in Augusta, Ga. 

During Rodeo, the team will demonstrate its skill during an in-flight aeromedical event on a C-130 Hercules, static aeromedical events on a KC-135 and C-17, as well as a challenge course. The challenge course is a 1.5-mile timed event requiring the team to conduct a patient assessment, treat an unconscious patient, and perform a four-person litter carry. Along the way, they also need to knock out a team total of 150 pushups. (That's 25 pushups minimum per team member). 

While well versed in operating aeromedical evacuation on a C-17, the team faces the challenge of demonstrating those same skills on different airframes. Tech. Sgt. Kristy Wellman, a medical technician said, "We try to practice scenarios we might come across in the competition, but it is challenging when we don't have all the different aircraft to practice on." 

That's where joint exercises such as Golden Medic become golden opportunities.
Golden Medic is now the largest joint medical exercise the Air Force Reserve Command participates in, with approximately 500 Air Force and 3,000 Army personnel participating in various capacities, according to Lt. Col. Jan Moore-Harbert, 446th AES commander. "We had multiple airframes (KC-135, C-130, C-17) to train on, plus various UTCs." 

Since winning all the aeromedical trophies during the inaugural AE competition at Rodeo 1998, the team has had its eye on a repeat performance. With Rodeo veteran Master Sgt. Saudi McVea as their team chief, the team of Sergeant Wellman, Capt. Joe Foss, Lt. Col. Sharon Carlson, and Tech. Sgt. Dave Allen may well be on their way.
In the event a team member falls out before the competition, Senior Airman Larry Jones and Rodeo veteran Maj. Esther Aubert, are ready to step in.