435th CASF assists 30,000th patient

  • Published
  • By Erin Zagursky
  • 435th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (USAFENS) --  The 435th Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility here recently supported its 30,000th patient movement since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The men and women of the CASF provide medical care and support for patients as they are flown into Germany from Iraq and Afghanistan and as they prepare to depart Germany for the United States on aeromedical evacuation flights.

The CASF is also responsible for providing transport for patients between Ramstein’s flightline and nearby Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.

“There is a seamless integration between our permanent party and deployed personnel,” said Maj. Paul Langevin, CASF flight commander. “They are some of the hardest working people I’ve ever worked with and we’re proud to serve the troops that come through the CASF.”

The CASF, originally established in one of the fitness centers at Ramstein, saw its first patients Dec. 29, 2003.

Staff Sgt. Chad Seibel has worked at the CASF since June 2004 as a shift leader.

“I’m pretty impressed by the way the deployed members and the permanent party work together. This is the eighth rotation of deployed members we’ve had through here, and it seems to transition over seamlessly and we keep getting it done,” he said.

Seibel and his fellow CASF members take pride in what they do.

“I feel like I’m playing a vital role in ensuring these wounded soldiers are getting on and off these planes and getting the care they need,” he said. “Although I’m not providing the care, I’m ensuring the process goes smoothly.”

The CASF is currently moving into a newly renovated facility here and will be fully operational there Dec. 19.