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House resolution honors aeromedical evacuation personnel

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Steve Lewis
  • 459th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. --  Team Andrews Airmen representing medical-related career fields reported to the Cannon House Office Building, Washington DC, Nov. 17, to meet with U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson to commemorate a U.S. House of Representatives resolution honoring all Airmen who support and perform aeromedical evacuation.

Part of House Resolution 1605 "commends the personnel of the Air Force for their commitment to the well-being of all our service men and women."

The Joint Base Andrews Airmen who met Mr. Thompson represented all Air Force Aeromedical Evacuation personnel -- including flight nurses, critical care physicians, respiratory care and medical technicians. Mr. Thompson, a U.S. Army Vietnam veteran,  greeted each Airmen and shared his story about how he was treated by an aeromedical evacuation team after being wounded in combat.

"After being shot over there I came home on a medevac and the folks who took care of me did a really good job. That was the least of a number of reasons why I wanted to honor you with this resolution," Mr.Thompson said. He was one of 76 co-sponsors of the resolution.

One of the highlights of the house resolution is focused on Total Force Integration and how aeromedical evacuation airmen work side-by-side with other servicemembers from the Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard and active duty.

"Aeromedical evacuation is a total force effort which includes active duty, Reserve and Air National Guard members," the resolution states. "Whereas there are 18 Air Force Reserve squadrons, 10 National Guard squadrons and four active duty squadrons."

Maj. Judy Willets, a flight nurse with the Air Force Reserve's 459th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, said it's common to have a mixed group of technicians treating patients during missions. "Always having a mixed team is the nature of aeromedical evacuation. We train together and go to school together," Major Willets said, "there's no difference."