Air Force Reservists belonging to the 908th Airlift Wing's 908th Aeromedical Staging Squadron personnel simulate transporting a contingency aeromedical staging facility patient to an ambulance. A CASF is a 24-hour medical holding and staging facility. (U.S. Air Force photo by Mr. Jeff Melvin)
Air Force Reservist Senior Airman Jessica Knizel, 908th ASTS, monitors contingency aeromedical staging facility access. (U.S. Air Force photo by Mr. Jeff Melvin)
Air Force Reservists Senior Airman Stephen DeGracia, front, and Tech. Sgt. Jeffery James, 908th ASTS, simulate transporting an injured patient to an awaiting ambulance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Mr. Jeff Melvin)
908th Communications Flight's Master Sgt. Gaston Cannon, center, lends some technical assistance to 908th Military Personnel Flights's Staff Sgt. Damian Howell, left, and Senior Master Sgt. Martha Roy. Sergeants Howell and Roy and other 908th MPF reservists operated a Personnel Support for Contingency Operations, or PERSCO team during the field training exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Mr. Jeff Melvin)
Air Force Reservists Staff Sgts. Tamaria Hall, left, and Lisa Lawson, 908th Communications Flight, practice 'buddy drinking' while in MOPP 4. Mission-Oriented Protective Postures levels allow commanders to escalate their protective postures based on the threat of imminent attack and accomplish operations by balancing mission continuation and force survivability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Mr. Jeff Melvin)
5/3/2007 - MAXWELL AFB, Ala. -- -- 908th Airlift Wing medical, services, communications and personnel specialists got a chance to practice their wartime skills before the threat of severe weather forced an early end to the field training exercise at the Blunder Thunder training complex April 14.
908th Aeromedical Staging Squadron personnel accomplished their primary objective of simulating operating a contingency aeromedical staging facility, said Senior Master Kim DeVore, 908th ASTS's NCOIC of mobility.
"The weather updates were very helpful. They allowed us to maximize training as well as be safe," Sergeant DeVore said.
The mobility NCOIC said the exercise organizers accomplished most of their objectives although the scheduled mass casualty exercise was cancelled. She said organizers received positive feedback from participants and observers.
A CASF is a 24-hour medical holding and staging facility. Medical practitioners staffing a CASF expedite the treatment of the wounded by assessing the nature of their injuries, providing first aid, and prioritizing the movement of patients to a medical facility based on their conditions. The contingency aeromedical staging facility portion of the field training exercise was held to help train and maintain proficiency of medical squadron members, so they will be ready to deploy if called.
