SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- The 375th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron held a squadron exercise, squadrex, the week of May 13th.
AE crews conducted two simulated flights to pick up patients who were attacked during their contingent operations; One to the Philippines and the other to Kadena. During their first flight, the crew picked up patients injured from a natural disaster, the second flight picked up patients who were injured by a hostile attack from an adversary.
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Dustin Hibler, 375th AES flight examiner, explained the purpose of this exercise was to gather data on wartime capabilities with a minimal manned crew. A normal five man team was minimized into a three man team.
“If we’re stressing the crews now, in the event that it's wartime, we’re able to push crew members forward further with minimal manning and minimal support,” said Hibler.
Exercise planners took lessons learned and feedback from previous events to create a smaller AE footprint while completing the mission.
“As planners, we are the driving force that is changing the training environment to a more wartime ready environment, training with short [smaller] crews,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Sara Sokol, 375th AES exercise and planning. “Primarily, our objective for this exercise is to determine real world possibilities to become more agile.”
Using the Agile Combat Employment method within their training helps create Airmen with a warrior mindset. This produces positive mission outcomes with casualty care.
“We are training for that future fight, driven by our contingency and unregulated possibilities,” said Sokol. “Meaning operations can send us far forward into the fight.”
375th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron hosts SquadrEx
U.S. Air Force 375th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron Airmen simulate patients during a squadron exercise May 16th, 2024, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. AE crews conducted two simulated flights to pick up patients who were attacked during their contingent operations; One to the Philippines and the other to Kadena.(U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Shelby Rapert)
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375th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron hosts SquadrEx
U.S. Air Force Capt. Stacie Elliot, 375th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron flight nurse, loads patients during an AE Exercise on Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, May 16, 2024. Using the Agile Combat Employment method within their training helps create Airmen with a warrior mindset. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Violette Hosack)
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375th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron hosts SquadrEx
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Dustin Hibler, 375th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron training instructor, left, and Staff Sgt. Mario Hernandez, 375th AES flight nurse, right, checks the vitals of a simulated patient during a squadron exercise May 16th, 2024, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. Primarily, the objective for this exercise was to determine real world possibilities to become more agile.(U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Shelby Rapert)
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375th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron hosts SquadrEx
A simulated patient assists with loading patients during an AE Exercise on Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, May 16, 2024. A minimal manned crew was sent to assist simulated patients to stress the crews. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Violette Hosack)
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375th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron hosts SquadrEx
Members of the 375th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron conduct Tactical Combat Casualty Care during a squadron exercise on a simulated aircraft May 16th, 2024, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. AE crews conducted two simulated flights to pick up patients who were attacked during their contingent operations; One to the Philippines and the other to Kadena.(U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Shelby Rapert)
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375th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron hosts SquadrEx
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Mario Hernandez, 375th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron flight nurse, loads a simulated patient during an AE Exercise on Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, May 16, 2024. Airmen participated in this exercise to test their capabilities in contingent military operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Violette Hosack)
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375th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron hosts SquadrEx
U.S. Air Force Capt. Stacie Elliot, 375th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron flight nurse, gives commands during a squadron exercise May 16th, 2024, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. Primarily, the objective for this exercise was to determine real world possibilities to become more agile.(U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Shelby Rapert
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375th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron hosts SquadrEx
U.S Air Force Staff Sgt. Mario Hernandez, 375th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron flight nurse, assists a simulated patient during an AE Exercise on Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, May 16, 2024. Exercise planners took lessons learned and feedback from previous events to create a smaller AE footprint while completing the mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Violette Hosack)
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375th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron hosts SquadrEx
Two simulated patients talk during an AE Exercise on Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, May 16, 2024. AE exercise planners focused on training personnel to ensure wartime capabilities with a minimal manned crew. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Violette Hosack)
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375th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron hosts SquadrEx
U.S. Air Force Capt. Tara Wilkinson, 375th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron captain, left, and Staff Sgt. Kelly Pope, 375th AES mission planning technician, right, off-load patients during a squadron exercise May 16th, 2024, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. Primarily, the objective for this exercise was to determine real world possibilities to become more agile.(U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Shelby Rapert)
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