18th AES lifeline to the Pacific

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Rey Ramon
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Every week a team of medical professionals here cares for critically-ill patients being evacuated by air from bases around the Pacific. These lifesavers from the 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron use a combination of medical expertise, state-of-the-art equipment and human compassion to provide in-flight care to patients until they can be transferred to a facility that offers a higher level of care.

The members of the 18th AES fly aboard Kadena-based KC-135 Stratotankers from the 909th Air Refueling Squadron, making regular weekly runs to airlift patients from bases in South Korea and mainland Japan. They can also respond at a moment's notice to medical emergencies all over the region when critically-ill patients require transportation to more advanced medical facilities.

"There is no predictability to our mission," said Col. Terri Reusch, 18th AES commander. "We call it the 911 service. Need help, call us and we'll get you where you need to go."

The squadron's primary mission is to support medical operations in wartime, during contingencies and during natural disaster relief operations that occur within the Pacific theater. The 18th AES along with their partners in the 909th ARS maintain a 24-hour alert for emergencies outside the weekly patient pick-up schedule.

"We have people responding at a moment's notice and qualified to care for critical patients until the proper care is available," said Colonel Reusch. "It takes a lot of coordination."

The ability of the squadron to mobilize quickly, using timely airlift and the most advanced equipment available means that patients receive the critical care they need in flight to survive and recover from serious illnesses and injuries.

"Within 36 hours we can have patients moved to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C." Colonel Reusch said. "This is unheard of."

Aeromedical operations have advanced dramatically since Vietnam and South Korea, and even since Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, she said.

"Patients are given the same standard of care they would receive from the facility they came from until they get to their destination," she said. "It's working well and it has a huge success rate."

Capt. Deborah Willis, 18th AES flight nurse, said the squadron stands ready to provide advanced in-flight medical care for more than 540,000 beneficiaries in the Pacific, primarily military members, families, and Department of Defense civilians.

Patients may receive care from the 18th AES for hours and sometimes even days as they are transported from one location to the other. The key, according to Captain Willis, is preparation.

"We configure the aircraft for our patients, whether they are litter or ambulatory," said the captain. "We make sure that we have everything we need in the aircraft."

Typically working in five-person teams, the members of the 18th AES have one thing on their mind when the aircraft goes wheels-up with sick or injured individuals on-board - getting their patients to the next level of care quickly and safely.

"Patient safety and stability is our only focus until we get the patients to the hospital," said Staff Sgt. Zurkina Gunter, 18th AES aeromedical evacuation technician.

The versatility of the squadron means that it can provide the same high level of care aboard a variety of Air Force platforms.

"Any available aircraft can be diverted to carry passengers or patients, whether it's a C-17, C-130 or KC-10," said Colonel Reusch.

Most Airmen in the 18th AES are volunteers for this special duty which requires them to be highly trained and skilled at treating patients with significant medical complications.

"All of our Airmen do a phenomenal job each day and I have to give them credit because this profession has a very high operational tempo," said Colonel Reusch. "They love it and it's rewarding."