Wyoming Air National Guardsmen train to save lives in the air

Published March 18, 2013
By Airman 1st Class Nichole Grady and Tech. Sgt. Natalie Stanley
153rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- A C-130 Hercules serenely flies high above the snowy prairies of Wyoming on a typical chilly March morning. Inside, the aircraft is a hive of activity as flight nurses and medical technicians of the187th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron start IVs, monitor a burn victim, and don aircrew oxygen masks - all as part of vital lifesaving training.

The members of the 187 AES continually train so they are prepared for their essential role in wartime and humanitarian operations. AES units are tasked to transport injured personnel from Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom, as well as to respond to humanitarian missions such as Hurricane Katrina relief.

"There is nothing like taking out a soldier, airman or Marine that has been wounded or sick," said Capt. Melissa Stevens, flight nurse. "Taking those guys out is important. I've been in the military for 20 years, in a different branch of service and this is by far the most rewarding job."

The approximately 80-member squadron utilizes a variety of training scenarios to maintain mission readiness. Their role as air evacuation airmen is to provide medical care for patient movement, which is accomplished by maintaining their individual aircraft qualifications and medical qualifications.

"We are trained on multiple fixed-wing aircraft (C-130, KC-135, C-17, KC-10, and C-5) as well as conducting training with our Army counterparts on rotary wing," said Senior Master Sgt. Julie Swearingin, noncommissioned officer in charge of in-flight training.

Medical qualifications vary between flight nurses and medical technicians. Flight nurses are required to earn a bachelor's degree in nursing prior to joining the unit, while medical technicians learn their job once they are enlisted.

"Most of our nurses are critical care nurses, particularly in this unit," said Stevens. "They bring a huge amount of medical knowledge to the table."

Once in the unit, flight nurses are responsible for providing comprehensive nursing services and in-flight management during aeromedical evacuation flights.

Medical technicians receive their medical training upon joining the unit. These airmen attend technical training where they learn their job skills including: licensed practical nurse, independent duty medical technician and aeromedical evacuation technician.

Once trained, flight nurses and medical technicians work together in teams of five during flight. Each team consists of two flight nurses and three aeromedical evacuation technicians, with the option of adding two additional personnel to the team when patient or mission requirements dictate the need.

"We make sure our airmen have the tools, skills and knowledge to give the best possible care to our wounded warriors and all patients," said Swearingin.

In recent years, the 187th AES has applied their skills in real world operations to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where they participated in teaching air evacuation to the Congolese medical military, and to state missions, where they provided support during flood and fire disaster operations.

"Whether the missions require simple transport of stable patients or more intensive care to ensure the patient arrives to a higher echelon of care alive, the airmen wouldn't be able to do their job without a team effort," said Stevens as she returned to the hive of activity while flying through the skies of Wyoming.