Teamwork required during training mission

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jasmine Zielomski
  • 514th Air Mobility Wing public affairs
KALAELOA AIRPORT, KAPOLEI, HAWAII --  In support of real-world events, such as in-flight emergencies, aircrew, medical professionals and aircraft maintainers perform mission readiness training to stay proficient. Each specialty has a different task to perform, but are ultimately in support of each other and rely on each team member to accomplish the mission.

Citizen Airmen of the 514th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, 514th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and 732nd Airlift Squadron flew to Hawaii Aug. 28-29 to perform mission readiness training consisting of medical evacuation and airpower support.

The aircrew performed tactical approaches in a C-17 Globemaster III over Kaneohe Bay, a large sheltered body of water north of Oahu.

"The location we went to in Kaneohe Bay is a very challenging pattern to fly," said Capt. Donald Hilton, a pilot assigned to the 732nd AS and the mission aircraft commander. "It really pushes the pilots outside of their comfort zone, which makes it easier to accomplish the approaches when the time comes."

The opportunity to experience the new flight path and its obstacles provides the aircrew training they may need to call upon in a real-world event

"There are a bunch of little islands that you can't fly over, so it makes our flight pattern a lot tighter and a little more challenging," said Hilton.

In addition to flying over the bay, Hilton said the pilots landed on Kaneohe Bay Marine Air Station on a  3,500-feet-long and 90-feet-wide runway--the minimum landing requirements for a C-17.

Aircraft maintainers were also active during the training mission, ensuring the aircraft was in good flying condition at all times.

"We supported the aircrew by completing maintenance checklists," said Tech. Sgt. Johanna Aponte, an aerospace propulsion technician, assigned to the 514th AMXS. "We were continuously checking the aircraft for potential foreign objects and ensuring that everything was running smoothly."

In addition, medical professionals of the 514th AES trained on medical and aircraft emergency scenarios throughout the flights.

"This mission accomplished training codes that are required on a semiannual period," said Lt. Col. Angel Arizmendi, 514th AES. "Examples would be cardiac arrest, burn patient, neurological and psychiatric patients."

Medical team members simulated patients suffering from physical distress and symptoms which required immediate treatment.

One Airman pretended to be suffering from psychiatric symptoms and needed to be restrained and treated, said Arizmendi. The patient was agitated and became a risk so they had to be restrained and placed on a litter for safety reasons.

Medical personnel performed the mission as they would in a real-time aircraft emergency event.

"We have to follow aircraft emergency checklists when there is smoke and fire," Arizmendi said. "The first thing a crewmember is supposed to do is put on their oxygen masks."

When the medical team is in a real life mission, a fire or a rapid decompression could occur and they can't help patients if they don't take care of themselves first, he said.
Loadmasters also performed emergency procedures during the mission and assisted medical personnel with patient transport, said Tech. Sgt. Shane Clayton, a loadmaster assigned to the 732nd AS.

"The whole point of this mission is to train like you fight and to get ready for the unknown," said Maj. Kevin Shaffer, a pilot assigned to the 732nd AS. "So for someone who has never experienced the Pacific, it is helpful because procedures and airspace change, so getting recent training helps to prepare for a need to fly over the Pacific."