Aeromedical evacuation knowledge shared in Indonesia

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Russell Dodson
  • 13th Air Force Public Affairs
EL TARI AIR FORCE BASE, Indonesia --  Indonesian and U.S. military members, along with local doctors, finished three days of training on aeromedical evacuation procedures here July 20 as part of Operation Pacific Angel 2009.

The subject matter expert exchange is aimed at increasing joint aeromedical interoperability, according to Maj. Greg Richert, a 13th Air Force flight surgeon stationed at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii.

Operation Pacific Angel is a Pacific Air Forces humanitarian and civic assistance program conducted in the Pacific area of responsibility. Led by 13th Air Force, the operation fosters common bonds and goodwill between the United States and other nations in the Asia-Pacific region.

"We covered many subjects, combining both classroom and hands-on training," said Tech. Sgt. Jessica Lagerveld, an independent duty medical technician from Kadena Air Base, Japan.

Some of the many items covered were stress during flights, flight medicine, casualty evacuation, four-person litter carry, and loading patients on a C-130 Hercules, Sergeant Lagerveld said.

The training culminated on the last day with a mass casualty exercise, in which the Indonesian and U.S. team could apply the training they received the first two days, Major Richert said.

The mass casualty exercise started early with the triage of five patients. Simulated injured patients were carried on a litter to a waiting C-130 from the Alaska Air National Guard for an aeromedical flight.

After a simulated one hour flight, the C-130 landed back at the base here, where ambulances stood by. Patients were then quickly transported to the local military hospital, Major Richert said. 

"I have learned a lot during the aeromedical evacuation training," said Lt. Ronny Purnonno, a nurse with the Indonesian military. "This is the first time I have received this type of training."