An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Medical Group trains with Nebraska National Guard

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Abigail Klein
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  In an effort to enhance expeditionary medical readiness capabilities and improve emergency care in a combat environment, more than 200 McConnell Airmen conducted an exercise with the Nebraska Army National Guard here, April 16.

The exercise, which required Airmen from the 22nd MDG to load and unload "patients" from three UH-60Q Black Hawk helicopters, also included Airmen from the 22nd Security Forces Squadron, 22nd Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department and Explosive Ordnance Disposal and the 931st Air Force Reserve Aerospace Medicine Flight.

"This is a joint opportunity that is few and far in between because this type of training usually only takes place downrange," said Capt. James Clark, 22nd Medical Support Squadron laboratory services chief.

Because of its ability to rapidly reach patients on any terrain, the helicopter is the primary vehicle for emergency transport. The Black Hawk is the Army's front-line utility helicopter used for aeromedical evacuation units.

The soldiers split the training into three phases: a hands-on covering basic litter carry procedures, which can weigh up to 300 pounds downrange on the weight of the individual and their body armor; a class on important safety procedures for loading and unloading patients from helicopters; and the joint exercise where the Airmen carried and loaded the patients onto the helicopters.

Because helicopter blades cause such a high down draft, the emphasis of the training was placed on the necessity of constant communication between the Airmen and the pilots and crew of the Black Hawks.

"The litter carry isn't the hard part," said Army Sgt. James Nordman, Company C, 2-135th General Support Aviation Battalion enlisted helicopter flight instructor and crew chief. "The hard part is communicating in a noisy environment."

The volume of noise the helicopters generate require the pilots and crew to mainly convey directions to those on the ground through hand and arm gestures.

"This may seem like were coming off rude to the ground crew, but we're really just trying to account for all the people and emphasize that safety is the most important thing," Sergeant Nordman said.

The communication challenge and the rainy weather added to the realism of the training scenario.

"This training was outstanding," said Captain Clark. "It really allowed [the Airmen] to get the hands-on training they need for when they deploy and provided a more realistic scenario than any simulation could have provided."

Captain Clark said the work expended to coordinate the exercise was worth it, and he hopes to continue training with the Nebraska Air National Guard.