CMSAF McKinley observes aeromedical evac mission; visits wounded troops

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Corey Clements
  • United States Air Forces in Europe Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Rodney McKinley completed an aeromedical evacuation mission from Andrews AFB, Md. to Ramstein AB and back to observe the process first hand, July 7-10.

The Air Force's top enlisted member wanted to experience step by step what the patients go through and how the Air Mobility Command and United States Air Forces in Europe aircrew, medical, and other support personnel get the job done.

Chief McKinley said he was pleased with the work Airmen do to get wounded members of all the services from Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC) in Germany through the 435th Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility (CASF) here, and back to the states to receive further treatment.

"The Air Force's number one priority is winning the war on terrorism," said Chief McKinley, "and we have Airmen that are paying the ultimate sacrifice and Airmen that are wounded... and the aerovac mission we have is outstanding and has saved a number of lives."

To put the numbers into perspective, Air Mobility Command officials have compared the time for patient movements for the last major U.S. conflicts. During Vietnam, it took as many as 30 days to move injured patients back to the United States. During Desert Storm, that time was reduced to 10 days, and now the transport of wounded service members back home is approximately three days.

At Ramstein, a patient movement for the 435th CASF is counted when buses take incoming wounded members from the flight line to LRMC, and another movement is tallied when they are returned from Landstuhl. In all, the staging facility has notched more than 68,800 patient movements for 43,400 service members from March 2003 through July 4, said Maj. Paul Langevin, 435th CASF flight commander.

CMSAF McKinley also visited with wounded service members at LRMC and met with Airmen of the Kaiserslautern Military Community's (KMC) First Term Airmen Center, Top 3, KMC 5/6 Council and other private organizations.

Impressed by the quality and better educated Airmen of today in the KMC and the Air Force in general, Chief McKinley said he felt secure that today's Airmen will continue to make the service successful.

Chief McKinley also briefly addressed the importance of having weekly roll calls, knowing heartfelt the Airman's Creed, and saving the Air Force time and money with the reduction in ancillary training.