An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | June 14, 2012

Wyoming Air Guard members exchange aeromedical evacuation knowledge with Tunisian partners

By Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Natalie Stanley 153rd Airlift Wing

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Two Wyoming Air National Guard members flew to Bizerte, Tunisia May 22-24 to participate in the Medlite 2012 exercise in an effort to help Tunisian military medical personnel train for the aeromedical evacuation of large-casualty events.

The three-day exercise consisted of lectures, round table discussion of mass casualty scenarios and a full scale exercise.

The Wyoming National Guard has been a partner state with Tunisia through the National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program since 2004.

"The Libyan crisis really woke up the Tunisians to logistics of how to handle mass causalities," said Air Force 1st Lt. Shane Ryan, a flight nurse with the 153rd Airlift Wing. "In Tunisia, the medical corps is it for life flights including water, desert and civilian rescues; they don't have a civilian system in place like America does."

A variety of topics were covered during the first two days by both U.S. Air Force and Tunisian military participants. Ryan and Air Force Maj. Janice Weixelman, a flight surgeon with the 153rd AW, presented power point presentations on equipment utilized by aeromedical evacuation teams, duties of a flight surgeon in a combat environment, and the echelon of aeromedical evacuation levels for a combat environment.

"It was very educational and worked out well," Ryan said. "I still had all the regulations and [Air Force instructions] in my head from flight school this past August."

The first two days also incorporated various demonstrations, such as the aeromedical evacuation procedures of the Tunisian HH-3 helicopter, raising and lowering of both personnel and littered patients into a hovering helicopter, and familiarization with equipment used to transport patients.

Military doctors, nurses and nursing students got hands-on training on day three with an exercise scenario involving a simulated airplane crash with 33 casualties, 13 dead and 20 injured.

Participants processed the exercise wounded and deceased through a casualty collection point and sent off to transport via helicopter to the Aeromedical Staging Facility.

The casualty collection point was set up to receive patients from the crash site where doctors and nurses with four litter attendants began their assessment of the severity and number of injured. Initial first aid and triage were also accomplished before patients were placed into ambulances and transferred to the first aid station.

The exercise helped participants get a better understanding of the complexity which can occur with a disaster situation.

"The ability of personnel to interact with each other, as well as understand the role of the counterparts improves the capacity of a team to prepare for more than just their own sequestered role," Weixelman said."

"The majority of participants had never had the experience of working in or around helicopters or C-130 [Hercule]s" she said, "this exercise gave them an invaluable opportunity to understand the complexity and extent of aeromedical evacuation."

"I definitely learned way more than I taught and it was an honor to be able to be a part of this exercise," said Ryan.

 

 

Related Articles
Indiana National Guard leadership poses with front from right, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Brett Milton, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Craig Adams, Sgt. 1st Class Adam Kabella and Sgt. Dalton McCollum, are recognized for their heroism during a ceremony at Stout Field in Indianapolis, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025. The soldiers received their awards for helping to save lives during Kentucky floods in February.
Four Indiana National Guard Soldiers Awarded Indiana Distinguished Service Cross
By Master Sgt. Jeff Lowry, | Sept. 12, 2025
INDIANAPOLIS — Four Hoosier National Guard Soldiers received the Indiana Distinguished Service Cross awards during a Sept. 12 ceremony at Indiana National Guard headquarters at Stout Field.Chief Warrant Officer 4 Brett...

U.S. Airmen with the 193rd Special Operations Wing conducted routine Launch the Fleet training from Harrisburg International Airport in Middletown, Pennsylvania, September 11, 2025, timed to commemorate Patriot Day. This formation flight of six MC-130J Commando II aircraft followed a route visible to many in Central Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania Air Guard Commemorates Patriot Day With Formation Training Flight
By Sgt. 1st Class Zane Craig, | Sept. 12, 2025
MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – Pennsylvania Air National Guard’s 193rd Special Operations Wing conducted routine Launch the Fleet training Sept. 11, timed to commemorate Patriot Day.This formation flight of six MC-130J Commando II...

U.S. Army Capt. Mitchell Hagen teaches Ecuadorian servicemembers of the 9th Special Forces Brigade how to approximate the height of trees as part of a class on landing zone designation in Latacunga, Ecuador, Aug. 21, 2025. This final day of the State Partnership Program's air assault exchange consisted of practical, hands-on training in the field. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Caleb Sooter)
Kentucky Guard, Ecuador Conduct Air Assault Training Exchange
By Sgt. Caleb Sooter, | Sept. 12, 2025
LATACUNGA, Ecuador - Members of the Kentucky National Guard took part in a four-day air assault training exchange with the Ecuadorian 9th Special Forces Brigade as part of the Department of War National Guard Bureau’s State...