CASF Airmen Provide Total Care
(May 27, 2010) |
|
|
| CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan (Pril 20, 2010) — As combat operations continue in
the Helmand province and coalition forces strive to
eliminate the Taliban influence in the region, a small team
of Total Force Airmen from the 451st Expeditionary
Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron Det. 1 Contingency
Aeromedical Staging Facility are here to assist U.S.
causalities being evacuated to higher medical care or give
them the care needed to return to duty.
|
Words from prior patients meant for the staff of the 451st Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, Detachment 1 Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility, April 13, at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan. Photo by USAF SSSgt.
Manuel Martinez |
|
"We are here to provide the
best care possible for our Soldiers, Sailors and
Marines serving on the frontlines," said Lt.
Col. JoAnn Danner, 451st EAES Det. 1 CASF
commander and reservist deployed from Travis
AFB, Calif. "We are doing this by caring about
the people we serve and doing what is right for
them."
Traditionally, Airmen who support the CASF mission stage and
care for patients awaiting aero-medical evacuation at a
hospital or CASF.
Since Feb. 1, more than 515 patients have passed through the
CASF. The 26 Airmen at the facility have assisted in the
aero-medical evacuation of more than 340
patients. While the traditional execution of
their mission has been |
|
successful, the Airmen have been a force
multiplier by helping more than 350 Marines
return to duty. |
|
"The CASF was originally set up to decompress the British
hospital here, by ensuring that American air evacuation is
readily available to take our wounded warriors to Germany
and home," said Lt. Col. Paul Nelson, 451st EAES Det. 1 CASF
chief of aerospace medicine deployed from Fairchild AFB,
Wash. "While we have successfully done our CASF mission, we
identified a new and unexpected opportunity by caring for
some of our American service members here and returning them
to duty."
To treat injuries caused by gunshots, shrapnel, improvised
explosives, CASF Airmen serving at what is the third largest
Marine base in the world — employing traditional first aid,
changing bandages and dressings, and administering IVs and
pain medications.
"These are the basics of our wartime-readiness skills and we
keep them sharp by caring for our patients on a daily
basis," added Danner, a native of Santa Rosa, Calif.
Keeping at the top their game, the CASF Airmen take on an
added role, assisting U.S. Navy and Army medics by providing
mental health, physical medicine as well as rehab and
support services for patients.
"The CASF Airmen have bridged a large gap for us here at
Camp Bastion," said Navy Capt. Scott Riechard, 1st Marine
Expeditionary Force surgeon. "As the director of Health
Policy for more than 19,000 Marines serving here, we needed
people to help manage casualty flow to get our Marines the
care needed to return to duty or evacuation. The extra
service the CASF has offered has freed up hospital beds and
the staff here has done a stupendous job of keeping our
Marines in the fight, by getting them the proper care they
need to get back to duty and preventing service members with
treatable injuries from being medically evacuated."
While getting Marines back to duty isn't exactly "in the
CASF ConOps books," Airmen here have improvised, by creating
an atmosphere where patients can relax, unwind and heal in a
place far more comfortable than a traditional hospital
setting.
"I have gotten a chance to not only serve in my traditional
assessment role as a nurse, but I have actually gotten a
chance to hang out, watch movies and get to know our
patients," said 1st Lt. Sean Amport, 451st EAES Det. 1 CASF
registered nurse deployed from Lackland Air Force Base,
Texas. "Seeing what these Marines go through and getting to
help them has given me new insight on myself and I know I
will go home a better person for having had the chance to
serve my fellow service members."
Becoming a casualty is not the goal of any Marine, but
having the CASF available if that occurs has been a welcome
sight to some. While most of the patients at the CASF
express their gratitude in various messages written on the
wall, some express their thanks on paper.
"I would like, really like to express how ... thankful I am
for all the conversations, to all the jokes and Wii playing
and the salsa dancing," said Marine Cpl. Matthew Scott, in a
letter after returning to duty with his 3/6 India Company
where he is the mortar section leader. "I highly doubt I
would have been physically or mentally able to heal from my
accident without you. Now when I am back in the fight
kicking down some Tali's door or unloading a 28-round
magazine at the enemy, I know I wouldn't be there without
the great help and support of the CASF."
"Things like salsa dancing just seem to bring the morale of
patients sky high," said Tech. Sgt. Ida Marrero, 451st EAES
CASF medical administrator deployed from Patrick AFB, Fla.
"Some of these guys are living in their cars for months and
eating MREs, then something bad happens to them. We know we
have a really important job of moving patients but to make
them smile and remember the joyful things and happy
experiences they are fighting for is just as important." |
1st Lt. Sean Amport, left, a registered nurse
assigned to the 451st Expeditionary Aeromedical
Evacuation Squadron, Detachment 1 Contingency
Aeromedical Staging Facility, speaks with Marine
Lance Cpl. Chris Spadaccini, assigned to 1/6
Marine Expeditionary Force, Bravo Company, 3rd
Platoon about his injury, April 13, 2010, at
Camp Bastion. Photo by USAF SSSgt.
Manuel Martinez |
|
For one Marine, who was shot in the shoulder the day prior
while on patrol with his unit, his time with the CASF has
been welcome, but he can't wait until he can be with his
fellow Corpsmen.
"The people here have been great, they gave me some clean
clothes, a hot shower and I got some Pizza," said Lance Cpl.
Chris Spadaccini, 1/6 MEF Bravo Company, 3rd Platoon squad
automatic weapon gunner. "They have been patching me up and
making me feel at home. I know they will help get me back on
my feet so I can rejoin my unit. I miss them already."
For Airmen at the CASF, getting these brave warriors back to
higher medical facilities or returning them |
|
to duty is an honor. |
|
"I feel like we are making a difference for people out
here," said Senior Airman Magali Perez, 451st CASF medical
technician deployed from Travis AFB. "I get a chance to
focus and do my job, so my patients can get back to doing
theirs. We have a lot of guys putting their lives on the
line for their country and I am proud to serve them."
As Operation Moshtarak marches on, coalition forces will
continue to keep the Taliban on the run, but if the need
arises the Airmen at the CASF will be here ensuring they get
on the flight or stay in the fight. |
By USAF TSgt. Oshawn Jefferson, U.S. AFCENT Combat
Camera Team
Copyright 2010 | |
Provided
through DVIDS
Comment on this article |
|
