September 6, 2013 Kaiserslautern American

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HAVE YOU READ YOUR KA TODAY?

September 6, 2013

Volume 37, number 35

USAFE-AFAFRICA medical units conduct EMEDS Story and photos by Airman Dymekre Allen 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa medical units participated in Expeditionary Medical Support training to challenge their medical readiness skills Aug. 25 through 30 on Ramstein. The training was set to challenge their knowledge and capabilities along with their ability to utilize medical field equipment for humanitarian operations.

The EMEDS training included realistic scenarios for the Airmen, where the Airmen had to perform emergency medical treatments that allowed them to use all their medical skills in a hands-on environment. “The training keeps the Airmen ready for humanitarian missions by getting them familiar with the equipment they would be using downrange,” said Maj. Joseph Indomenico, 86th Medical Squadron medical logistics flight commander. “The input that we get back from the training helps us further advance our training program.” The training also tested the humanitarian response team’s ability to quickly construct a mobile hospital, capable of assisting more than 200 hundred patients. “These mobile hospitals are the same ones we use in the field. It’s essential that our Airmen are efficient and timely with construction of the tents so they can get

them up and running to save as many lives as possible,” Indomenico said. Cadres from Camp Bullis, Texas, oversaw participant’s emergency response capabilities and provided feedback to the units. “We come over here from Camp Bullis (Texas) to better prepare all Air Force medical units in a field setting,” said Maj. Leticia Bland, 737th Training Support Squadron EMEDS support cadre. “We ensure that all our Airmen can provide the best medical care to those in need.” The EMEDS training allowed the HRT the opportunity to get a feel of a deployed environment and allowed them to test their medical abilities. “We are going to make sure by the end of the week all the units here will have either revamped or heightened their level of medical and equipment knowledge,” said Maj. Roger Bermea, 381st Training Squadron EMEDS element chief.

ABOVE: U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa medical unit members simulate reviving a wounded victim during Expeditionary Medical Support training Aug. 28 on Ramstein. LEFT: A medical unit member patches up the leg of a wounded patient

New system ensures ballistic plates safe for deploying Soldiers

Ramstein Welfare Bazaar Sept. 12 to 15 on Ramstein

6 DAYS Hosted by the Ramstein Officers’ Spouses Club

Visit www.ramsteinbazaar.org

states,” said Carla Stovall, a logistics management specialist with the 21st TSC’s Support Operations. “Anytime there was a deploying unit we would send our requirements back with the amounts that we would need, and they would ship over inspected plates.” Now the 21st TSC has acquired an Armor Inspection System, a system that uses X-rays to scan plates in order to identify deficiencies within them. Having the new system allows for a

LIFESTYLES

Soldiers who have deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn have the shared experience of being issued and reissued ballistic plates for their body armor. Part of ensuring plates are combat ready involves a detailed inspection process

to identify defective plates and remove them from circulation. Until recently, the process of ensuring plates being issued fell within their inspection window meant the 21st Theater Sustainment Command spent time and money sending plates to Sierra, Calif., to be inspected before being shipped back to Europe for deploying Soldiers. “What we had that needed to be scanned would be shipped back to the

FEATURES

by Staff Sgt. Warren W. Wright Jr. 21st Theater Sustainment Command Public Affairs

Airmen exercise humanitarian relief, Pages 20 and 21

Two dozen bands play weekend Stadtfest, Page 14

mobile team of Non-Destructive Test Equipment personnel to be flown in to inspect and certify the plates used throughout U.S. Army Europe. “This is actually the first fixed site with an AIS that we have where we can actually jump the mobile team right into the inspection process,” said Bruce Cardell, the NDTE team lead. “The intent is to take a mobile team, See INSPECTION, Page 9

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As of Sept. 4

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