Whiteman Reservists jump at training opportunity Published June 21, 2012 By Senior Airman Wesley Wright 442nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- During the 442nd Fighter Wing's June 2012 deployment to Hawaii, members of the 442nd Medical Squadron had several opportunities to get valuable training -- one of which included medically assisting Army dependents. Maj. Jill Blake, 442nd MDS medical adminsitration flight commander, and Senior Master Sgt. Rachel Grant, 442nd MDS NCO in charge, work in the medical clinic at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. Although they are trained to provide medical assistance, the facility is not a fully functioning hospital. Reservists report to the clinic for routine physical exams, immunizations and records processing. Active-duty medical personnel who work in the same facility also only perform routine examinations. For major medical care, members and dependents are referred off base. So when Blake and Grant were given the opportunity to assist with air evacuations while on a training deployment here, they jumped at the opportunity. "These are skills we don't ever get to use," Grant said. "Five years ago was the last time we got to do air evac. It's like a brand new experience." In addition to training at Trippler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, Blake and Grant assisted with routine transfers of patients to local TAMC from all over Pacific Air Force -- but one flight will remain in their memories for years to come. "This was a special flight," Blake said. "We had two-day-old infants and two pregnant mothers, so this was unusual." As the KC-135 Stratotanker carrying the individuals touched down in the early hours of the morning, Blake and Grant were prepared. Many strong arms were needed, as the two infants, each with an incubators and medical equipment weighed around 200 pounds each. After safely lifting down the incubators, the infants were placed in ambulances and were en-route to TAMC. Grant said these medical flights would not be possible if it were not for highly trained medical teams. "We do medical communications, we do medical records, we do orderly room, medical-readiness," Grant said, "we do almost everything. Without (this Air Force specialty code) and Airmen to coordinate the flights, crews and supplies none of this happens" The event was a truly a joint-forces one -- as active-duty Airmen, Citizen Airmen, sailors and soldiers teamed up to provide the best possible care for the patients. "You've got service members from all over the world here," Grant said. "Also, there are people from many medical fields," Grant said. "It truly is a joint-effort." Grant said this military-wide effort was much along the same lines as the total-force integration the 442nd Fighter Wing will begin this summer as 100 active-duty operators, maintainers and support personnel team up to accomplish the mission. As they drove back to the hotel after hours on the flightline, Blake and Grant seemed tired, yet fulfilled with the work they did that morning. "This is probably the most hands-ons we have had since we have been here," Blake said. "It was truly a great -- and necessary -- experience."