SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) –
The 386th Expeditionary Medical Group is responsible for maintaining the health of 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Airmen, which ensures the wing meets its mission of putting “Boots on the Ground” and supporting aeromedical evacuation of sick and injured troops.
An essential component of the EMDG is medical logistics.
Medical logistics supports four primary components: an Expeditionary Medical Support (EMEDS) clinic, a Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility (CASF), a squadron medical element (SME) clinic and a geographically separated Aerial Port of Debarkation clinic at Kuwait City International Airport.
EMEDS is the Air Force’s premier expeditionary medical unit. It is a light, lean, life-saving unit designed to rapidly deploy and provide forward stabilization, primary care, force health protection and preparation for aeromedical evacuation for military or civilian casualties. The EMEDS capabilities include outpatient and emergency medical care, X-ray, lab, immunizations and basic dental care. EMEDS is typically run from ALASKA model tents but in some longer term location the tents have been replaced with modern brick buildings to ensure a more comfortable and professional work environment.
The CASF provides personnel, equipment and care to patients transiting through the aeromedical evacuation system, typically on their way to the surgical hospital in Kuwait, the European theater hospital at Landstuhl, Germany, or medical centers in the states. Since September 2004, the CASF has evacuated more than 3,900 patients.
The third element supported by medical logistics is the SME. The SME provides medical care to deployed pilots and aircrews to keep them in the air.
The medical group also supports the APOD medical clinic at Kuwait City International Airport, which provides care to troops stationed there and those passing through enroute to locations across Southwest Asia. Expeditionary medical logistics plays a key role in these tasks; making sure they have the supplies needed and the equipment is operational.
“Medical logistics in a deployed location is challenging but extremely rewarding. My favorite part of this deployment is knowing that peoples’ lives are being saved because we have the right supplies at the right time,” said Staff Sgt. Kenneth DeNise, 386th EMDG Medical Logistics NCOIC.
The 386th EMDG is a small part of a total team effort.
The 386th AEW provides movement of troops, supplies and equipment to Coalition Forces in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa. In addition, the wing also provides airlift support for wounded war heroes back to Germany and the United States for further medical care.
“I am very proud of the entire 386th Expeditionary Medical Group and my logistics staff. This is the most professional group of people I have ever worked with in my 23 years in the Air Force,” said Col. Mike Panosian, 386th EMDG commander.
The motto of the wing is “Boots on the Ground!” The mission is simple and to the point. “Get them in, Supply them and Get them out.”