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NEWS | Nov. 23, 2018

315th OG demonstrates readiness during exercise

By Tech. Sgt. Jamal Sutter 4th Combat Camera Squadron

Reserve Citizen Airmen from the 315th Operations Group tested their expeditionary combat support capabilities during a Nov. 17, 2018, operational readiness exercise here.

The exercise took place during a unit training assembly, where Airmen trained on a variety of airlift and aeromedical evacuation missions in a simulated deployed location.

Some of the abilities demonstrated in flight were cargo jettison procedures, airborne defensive maneuvers and multi-ship formation airdrop procedures with departure from an environment facing imminent chemical threat.

“Chemical threat is a potential scenario in certain regions of the destabilized world,” said Lt. Col. Jeffrey Meyers, 315th OG deputy commander. “All of the items during the Saturday scenario are skill-sets that are highly likely to be needed in a world-wide contingency environment.”

On the ground, members of the 315th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron stepped out of their comfort zone by stabilizing combat-wounded patients at North Auxiliary Airfield, S.C., as airborne medical assistance, 90 miles away at Joint Base Charleston, arrived on-scene.


“This is a very dynamic situation,” said Senior Master Sgt. Kevin Thomas, 315th AES wing training liaison. “We’re used to receiving the patients from a stable hospital; today, we’re doing something a little different. We actually have to do the stabilizing. So we have to think outside the box, treat the initial injuries and pass them on. That is not what we’re used to.”


Once the C-17 Globemaster III landed and was ready for load, the AE team had 15 minutes to get their patients onboard, which was a new experience for many of the unit’s participating Airmen.

“We have a lot of junior members,” said Capt. Lacie Jacobs, 315th AES mission management officer in charge. “So this is a chance for them to buddy-up with more senior and seasoned medical folks, learn the terminology, understand what we do as AE, move patients and get an overall, big-picture understanding of what our footprint is.”