TRAVIS TAILWIND
A CLOSER LOOK
chief: Becoming the quarterback to mission success
— U.S. Army Maj. Gen. David Norvell Walker Grant, the first surgeon general of the U.S. Army Air Corps and U.S. Army Air Forces, is known as the grandfather of the present-day Air Force Medical Service. David Grant USAF Medical Center (60th Medical Group) at Travis Air Force Base is named in his honor.
The scale of Grant’s influence on modern military medicine cannot be overstated: His vision, innovations, and unshakeable determination changed the course of battlefield care and aeromedical capabilities we use today.
The sanitary train
According to an official U.S. Air Force biography, Grant received his medical degree from the University of Virginia in 1915. During World War I, Grant served as a sanitary inspector and then later as a surgeon at Camp Gordon, Georgia. In 1919, he took command of the “sanitary train” on departure for Mayen, Germany. Constituted in 1917, the train was not locomotive – but rather a system of hospitals, surgeons, and ambulances. Field operations reports by U.S. Army General John J. Pershing in “American Expeditionary Activities in Germany, Italy, North Russia, and Siberia” note that Grant’s train had motorized and animal-drawn battalions – the rugged land, slow travel, and volume of casualties made for a painstaking endeavor to transport wounded from the front lines to hospitals.
Pioneering airman
According to the article, “The Making of the Air Surgeon: The Early Life and Career of David N.W. Grant” by historian Robert E. Skinner, provided by U.S. Air Force Medical Service Senior Historian Dr. Joseph Frechette, Grant was transferred to the epicenter of U.S. Army Air Corps training. In 1931, the Grant family arrived at the brand-new, barely-yet operational Randolph Field, See Grant, Page 8
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Depth-perception system enhances EOD robotics
a lexaNdra BroughtoN HEADQUARTERS AIR FORCE, OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF CIVIL ENGINEERS
WASHINGTON, D.C. —
What started as a school project has developed into a promising innovation for explosive ordnance disposal operations across the Defense Department.
While completing his degree in electronics engineering technology at the University of Arkansas Grantham, former Air Force Master Sgt. Daniel Trombone was challenged to solve a real-world problem within just two months. Despite limited time and resources, he turned the assignment into a functional prototype, marking the beginning of the EOD robot depth-perception system.
“I was doing my senior year capstone and decided to survey my unit,” Trombone recalled. “I said, ‘Hey, are there any capability gaps you think can be fixed within this short timeline I have?’ I ended up getting a lot of good ideas.”
The feedback from his team highlighted a familiar challenge: difficulty gauging depth when operating EOD robots using a flat, two-dimensional video feed. Without stereoscopic vision, technicians rely on limited visual cues and often develop improvised methods, like watching shadows or attaching zip ties to grippers, to estimate distance.
Trombone set out to design a solution that would place a fixed visual reference in the camera view, giving operators a clearer sense of proximity without the need for extra sensors or complex processing.
The first prototype of the EOD robot depth-perception system was built with hobby-grade components and personal funds.
“I spent my nights in
the garage, working at my bench, just trying to get the thing put together,” Trombone said. “Eventually, I got it functioning.”
Once operational, he mounted it to a robot using improvised materials like C-clamps and tape, aligning the components carefully with the camera’s field of view. Despite its imperfect appearance, the system succeeded at helping operators better judge distance and handle tasks with greater precision. As development progressed, Trombone partnered with Air Force Tech. Sgt. Matt Ruben to further refine the design.
“He’s been my counterpart on this project the whole time,” Trombone said. “He’s great at CAD design, 3D printing and building things out, and he helped create the housing and all the brackets that supported the initial prototype.”
After submitting the project and earning high marks, Trombone and Ruben saw potential beyond the academic setting. But the prototype, though effective, lacked scalability.
“We knew we were onto something interesting,” Trombone said, “but we didn’t have a precise product. ... We still needed help from an engineering team.”
Seeking a path forward, they discovered the AFWERX Refinery, an Air Force innovation accelerator, and applied. AFWERX Refinery provides airmen and guardian innovators with entrepreneurial knowledge, connections to relevant stakeholders and resources within the Defense Department.
Through the program, Trombone and Ruben gained critical support, including development
See EOD, Page 3
DLE series showcases
AF Reserve’s critical role
M aj. Neil SaMSoN AIR FORCE RESERVE COMMAND
ROBINS AIR FORCE
BASE, Ga. — The 2025 Department-Level Exercise series, a group of exercises designed to bolster Department of the Air Force readiness and capabilities in a contested and dynamic environment, concluded Aug. 9.
The DLE series integrated multiple command exercises into a comprehensive threat deterrence scenario. Resolute Space, Resolute Force Pacific, Mobility Guardian, Emerald Warrior and Bamboo Eagle 25-3 were all part of the series.
More than 350 Air Force Reserve airmen contributed to the overall success of the exercises that spanned from the Indo Pacific theater to the continental United States. Reserve C-130H, KC-135R, C-5M, and F-16C aircraft also supported the exercises.
was the first exercise in the series and provided an opportunity for interoperability and joint integration among joint forces and allies.
doubt the Reserve force provides readiness and capabilities throughout the duration of this exercise series.”
while building partnerships around the globe.” The 439th Airlift Wing at Westover Air Reserve Base also mobilized their C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft to provide strategic airlift during the exercise. The next exercise in the series was Resolute Force Pacific, which included more than 400 joint and coalition aircraft and more than 12,000 servicemembers. Air Force Reserve airmen played an active role during the exercise across several locations, including Hawaii, Guam, Japan, and international airspace.
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“Our participation in the recent series of defense-level exercises was an example of how the Air Force Reserve projects power and supports allies and partners in remote locations,” said Lt. Gen. John Healy, chief of the Air Force Reserve and commander of Air Force Reserve Command, “Exercises enhance strategic depth while simultaneously building readiness in face of emerging challenges.”
“The Air Force Reserve is constantly conducting mission operations, and we are always exploring new ways of integrating with other components, services and international partners. We support all of our combined air forces as strategic force multipliers,” Healy added.
Mobility Guardian
The 94th Airlift Wing at Dobbins Air Reserve Base mobilized their C-130H Hercules to augment 374th Air Expeditionary Wing C-130J Super Hercules aircraft as part of the exercise’s C-130 Mission Generation Force Element.
“More than 60 of our airmen participated in the DLE series and arrived within 18 hours of initial notification,” said Maj. Steve Shearer, 700th Airlift Squadron pilot and 374th Expeditionary Airlift Wing C-130 Mission Generation Force Element deputy commander. “The 94th Airlift Wing integrated effortlessly with our joint partners, generating nearly 100 flight hours through 28 sorties.”
“In total, the C-130 Mission Generation Force Element, comprised of both H and J-model C-130s, transported more than 700 passengers, 145 thousand pounds of cargo and conducted 17 airdrops,” said Shearer. “There’s no
The 913th Airlift Group, another Reserve unit operating the C-130, integrated with activeduty C-130J aircrews from the 317th and 19th Airlift Wings. All three C-130J units not only provided tactical airlift and support of U.S. Special Operations Forces, but also validated total force interoperability and exchanged best practices.
Other Air Force Reserve support to Mobility Guardian came from 434th Air Refueling Wing KC-135R Stratotankers and aircrews that provided aerial refueling and airlift to joint and allied forces.
“Being the largest KC-135 wing in AFRC makes us a viable asset to the DLE series, and as always we were up for the task,” said Col. Michael Albert, 434th Air Refueling Wing commander. “Not only does our participation show that we are willing and ready to answer the nation’s call, but it also provides critical training opportunities
While the 94th Airlift Wing not only provided tactical airlift capabilities during REFORPAC, through their-130H Hercules aircraft, the wing also served as an aerial port of embarkation for C-130H aircraft to deploy.
“Part of our responsibility as a Reserve force is that our airmen are capable of seamlessly integrating with our joint counterparts to bolster national security objectives,” said Brig. Gen. Michael Parks, 94th Airlift Wing commander. “By serving as the lead unit for the C-130H Mission Generation Force Element during the DepartmentLevel exercise series, the 94th not only showcased its readiness, but participated in irreplaceable training opportunities to validate our ability to rapidly deploy, endure sustained logistics in the Indo-Pacific region and effectively work alongside allies and partners in contested operational environments.” Reserve airmen from the 477th Fighter Group at Joint Base ElmendorfRichardson in Alaska, See DLE, Page 4
Tech. Sgt. James Thomas/U.S. Air Force file
A C-130H3 Hercules aircraft assigned to the 700th Airlift Squadron flies away from Mount Fuji, Japan, after airdrop operations, July 28. The 2025 Department-Level Excercise series concluded Aug. 9.
Staff Sgt. Tyler McQuiston/U.S. Air Force file
C130-J Super Hercules aircraft crew members assigned to the 327th Airlift Squadron complete their preflight checklists before take-off during the 2025 DepartmentLevel Exercise series at Andersen AFB, Guam, July 17.
Senior A irm An robert nicholS 60TH AIR MOBILITY WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE — An airman assigned to the 660th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Travis AFB, was pronounced dead following a motorcycle accident in Martinez, Aug. 26. Following the nextof-kin notification, the airman has been identified as Senior Airman Ethaniel Alaniz. Alaniz served as a crew chief on the KC-46 Pegasus with the 660th AMXS at Travis AFB.
“This is a tragic loss that impacts our whole team,” said Col. Brandon Shroyer, 60th Air Mobil-
ity Wing commander. “Our priority is to support our fallen teammate’s family and friends during this immensely difficult time.” Wing chaplains, mental health professionals and counselors are available to assist members in need. Information on Travis AFB support services can be found at https:// www.travis.af.mil/ Information/We-CareResource-Guide/. For media queries, please contact 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs at 707-424-2011 or 60amwpa@us.af.mil. For more information about the accident investigation, contact CHP Public Information Officer at 925-646-4980.
BASE — When a man collapsed on the flight line at Travis AFB, Aug. 12, three airmen saw what happened, grasped the gravity of the situation and took action that was instrumental in saving his life.
Staff Sgts. Trinity Gore and Joshua Swanson, 136th Logistics Readiness Squadron transportation journeymen from Naval Air Station Fort Worth, Joint Reserve Base, Texas, and Travis’s own Senior Airman Dean Hyslop, 60th Aerial Port Squadron (APS) data records technician, were on the flight line performing an Air Terminal Operations Center (ATOC) training, when Gore witnessed a civilian contractor collapse as he was about to board an aircraft. Gore ran over to the individual and checked his pulse, quickly joined by Swanson and Hyslop, who, after checking for a pulse, began CPR.
EOD
From Page 2
“He fell at the base of the staircase [of the jet],” said Gore. “I just watched him fall straight down and I said [to Swanson], ‘that’s not a test, right?’ I ran over there and saw that he was taking abnormal breaths every 10 seconds and not responding [to verbal commands].”
Hyslop called 911 and security forces while attempting to locate an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). As Swanson and Gore continued administering CPR, Hyslop then called ATOC to update them on the situation and keep the flight line clear for emergency services. For approximately ten minutes, Swanson and Gore continuously performed CPR while checking for a pulse. They eventually found a pulse and the individual’s ID showing that he is a retired veteran.
Travis AFB Fire Chiefs Chris Muriset, Don Richert and Airman Ethan Whiteman, 60th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, soon arrived on the scene and took over performing CPR, administered an AED and provided spine stabilization. Medics arrived and administered epinephrine and oxygen, and the individual soon became responsive with improved respiration. He was then transported to David Grant USAF Medical Center where his condition stabilized.
Gore is a practicing nurse when she isn’t
working as a transportation journeyman for the 136th LRS and Swanson has experience as a lifeguard. Swanson recalls advice from his father who has a background in law enforcement.
“[My father] always mentioned he trains for the day,” said Swanson, “you
don’t know what’s going to happen, but you know that there’s going to be a serious event that happens one day in your life. As a new airman, your life before the Air Force and your experiences in the Air Force always prepare you for that day.”
Hyslop had no external
experience that would’ve prepared him to respond as he did, only routine Tactical Combat Casualty Care training he had undergone two weeks prior.
Swanson and Gore were each awarded the Air and Space Commendation Medal and Hyslop was awarded the Air and Space Achievement Medal for their heroic performance.
Lt. Col. Chelsey McMasters, 60th APS commander, highlighted the significance of each airman’s background that contributed to Air Force excellence.
“We’re not just wearing this uniform,” said McMasters. “We all come from different backgrounds and that’s what makes us such a great force. Our airmen have that quick nature to think through and identify an emergency situation and quite truly save a life.”
time, funding for travel and research, and access to key experts. One of the most valuable partners was the Wright Brothers Institute, which helped guide the next phase by coordinating industry outreach, identifying capability gaps and securing a manufacturing partner. That search ultimately led to a defense-trusted engineering and analytics firm to lead manufacturing prep with Trombone and Ruben and deploy the advanced robotics sensor.
Also recognizing the value of the concept, the Air Force Lifecycle Management Center pursued intellectual property protection, filing a patent application in June 2023.
“If it’s approved, that’s a bonus, but our goal has always been mission impact,” Trombone said.
Designed to be low cost and easy to implement, the system is poised to be adopted across EOD units in the Air Force and joint partners. The team aims to keep the unit price low enough for teams to procure the system
within existing budgets.
“If this reduces the need for technicians to approach [improvised explosive devices] in person and allows for faster, safer robotic operations, then we’ve achieved our mission,” Trombone said.
Reflecting on the project’s evolution, he emphasized the importance of collaboration and institutional support.
“We wouldn’t be where we are today without a strong group of stakeholders,” Trombone said. “Dozens of people have contributed, some throughout, others at key moments, but it’s definitely not a one- or two-person show. It takes a whole team to get something like this off the ground.”
To other airmen pursuing innovation, he stressed the value of patience, adaptability and a willingness to learn. Turning a good idea into an operational solution often means managing both the technical development and the process behind it. Understanding how to navigate project timelines, stakeholder engagement and the realities of scaling a concept can be just as important as the idea itself.
Senior Airman Robert Nichols/U.S. Air Force file photos
Senior Airman Dean Hyslop, right, 60th Aerial Port Squadron data records technician, receives the Air and Space Achievement Medal presented by Lt. Col. Chelsey McMasters, 60th APS commander, during a recognition ceremony at Travis Air Force Base, Aug. 22. Hyslop
was recognized alongside Staff Sgts. Joshua Swanson and Trinity Gore, 136th Logistics Readiness Squadron transportation journeymen, for responding with lifesaving medical care to a man who had collapsed on the flight line at Travis AFB.
Staff Sgt. Trinity Gore, right, 136th Logistics Readiness Squadron transportation journeyman, receives the Air and Space Commendation Medal, presented by Lt. Col. Chelsey McMasters, 60th Aerial Port Squadron commander, during a recognition ceremony at Travis Air Force Base, Aug. 22.
An Air and Space Commendation Medal and Air and Space Achievement Medal rest on a table during a recognition ceremony at Travis Air Force Base, Aug. 22.
Courtesy photo
The EOD robot depth-perception system has grown into a groundbreaking tool for EOD teams by improving safety, speed and precision in high-stakes missions.
Surgeons restore sight, rebuild face during AMISTAD 2025
LUQUE, Paraguay — Paraguayan and U.S. medical professionals joined forces during AMISTAD 2025, Aug. 9, to perform a complex sixhour reconstructive surgery, restoring both the face and the vision of a young man gravely injured in a violent robbery.
The 22-year-old patient was attacked with a machete, leaving him with a blowout fracture to his orbital bone and severe damage to surrounding facial structures. The injury displaced his left eye, impaired his ability to eat and speak, and caused significant facial disfigurement.
The operation brought together Dr. Rodrigo Velázquez and Dr. Lourdes Servián Jara, Paraguayan oral and maxillofacial trauma surgeons; Dr. Nadia Gómez, an oculoplastic surgeon; Dr. Fernando Alderete, a plastic surgeon; and U.S. Air Force Maj. Brad Pfeifle, a dentist with the 943rd Aerospace Medicine Squadron.
Although Pfeifle did not directly operate on the patient, he observed the procedure to gain exposure to severe trauma cases that mirror what could be seen in a deployed environment. Throughout the operation, he remained on standby to provide dental expertise and answer oral health-related questions, since the patient will require extensive dental follow-up as part of his
long-term recovery.
“This type of case is something I don’t typically encounter in my military duty or in my civilian dental practice,”
Pfeifle said. “Being able to observe and stand by during the surgery gave me valuable insight into how these complex trauma cases are managed – and it also allowed me to be ready if any dental-related issues came up.”
He added that the experience will directly enhance his readiness.
“The patient will need significant dental follow-up as part of his recovery, so having that awareness of how the surgery was performed helps everyone better anticipate his needs down the road. It’s exactly the kind of preparation that makes me more effective for the Air Force mission.”
“This was a complex fracture that affected the eye, but fortunately the eye was not lost – just displaced,” said Velázquez.
“We performed an oculoplasty and reconstructed the orbital and maxillary defects using titanium plates, screws and mesh.”
Velázquez said the impact of the procedure goes beyond aesthetics.
“Before surgery, he had completely lost the structure of his face. Now, it has been restored. We will need time to see if the eye will be fully functional, but before surgery he could still see something, so we are hopeful he can return to a normal life.”
The joint team used a 3D-printed model of the patient’s facial bones to design a custom titanium mesh that rebuilt the orbital floor and stabilized the eye.
The patient said the effort has given him both hope and relief. “I’m feeling grateful and thankful,” he said. “It’s been a long time living with these injuries, and I’m ready to take the next step toward getting my life back.”
He added that seeing both Paraguayan and U.S. Air Force medical teams working together gave him confidence. “It means so much to have both teams here for me. Knowing they’re working together gives me hope for a better outcome.”
Now, on his road to recovery, the patient has already regained vision in his injured eye – a milestone doctors call a promising sign. “I hope to continue healing and feel better so I can return to living a normal life again,” he said.
The global health engagement AMISTAD 2025 paired U.S. military medical personnel with partner nation specialists to provide care in underserved areas, enhance readiness and improve interoperability. “I want to thank U.S. Southern Command and the hospital for the opportunity to work with this mission,” Velázquez said.
From Page 2
also participated. They worked alongside activeduty F-22 crews from the 3rd Air Expeditionary Wing to deliver combat aircraft capabilities to REFORPAC. Bamboo Eagle 25-3 was hosted by the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center, Nellis AFB, Nevada, covered 15 military and civilian locations in Arkansas and across the western United States, including Hawaii and California. Over 100 aircraft participated, including four Reserve F-16Cs from the 926th Wing’s 706th Aggressor Squadron.
BE 25-3 also was a testing scenario for command and control concepts in a combat-representative environment.
On the ground, the Air Force Reserve’s 349th Air Mobility Wing at Travis AFB led a live Air Expeditionary Wing.
The 349th AEW Air Staff managed more than 90 combat sorties from the main and forward operating bases, and provided oversight, integration, operational planning, and management of combat capabilities of three
assigned units, more than 300 personnel, and 26 aircraft.
“Bamboo Eagle provided an excellent opportunity for our 349th Deployed Combat Wing Command and Control Force Element to gain experience with managing multiple fighter squadrons at multiple locations, said Lt. Col. Sarah Forte, 349th Operations Support Squadron operations officer and 349th AEW chief of staff. Air Force Special Operations Command hosted Emerald Warrior which took place at multiple locations across Arizona and California. The Reserve 919th Special Operations Wing, Duke Field, Florida, deployed its communications assets to support this exercise. Reservists and Reserve aircraft participated in all exercises except for Resolute Space. The successful completion the DLE series highlighted the Air Force Reserve’s integral role in the Department of the Air Force’s efforts to maintain a strong and agile force, capable of deterring aggression and ensuring regional stability across all domains, in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
For the surgical team, the mission was about more than medical care –it was about strengthening international trust, sharing innovation and proving that advanced trauma treatment can happen anywhere when skilled professionals unite.
“This surgery showed how powerful collaboration can be,” said Servián Jara. “When Paraguayan and U.S. specialists combine our knowledge, we not only help patients heal – we also build friendships, trust, and stronger medical systems for the future.”
Andrea Jenkins/U.S. Air Force file photos
Paraguayan and U.S. medical professionals collaborate during reconstructive surgery at General Hospital of Luque in Luque, Paraguay, Aug. 9. AMISTAD 2025 paired U.S. military personnel with partner nation specialists.
Dr. Lourdes Servián Jara, a Paraguayan oral and maxillofacial trauma surgeon, performs reconstructive surgery during exercise AMISTAD 2025 at General Hospital of Luque in Luque, Paraguay, Aug. 9. The procedure restored both the facial structure and vision of a 22-year-old patient injured during a violent robbery.
Chaplain Corps Summit reinforces spiritual readiness, unveils new vision
Staff Sgt. EmmElinE J SECRETARY OF
FORCE
ARLINGTON, Va. —
The Air Force Chaplain Corps wrapped up its annual summit, Aug. 14, bringing together Reli gious Support Teams from across the Total Force to focus on spiritual readi ness and alignment under the Chaplain Corps’ new motto: HC Ready!
The summit, held Aug. 12 to 14, marked the official rollout of the Chap lain Corps updated vision and strategic priorities, which center around three key lines of effort: fortify ing the warfighter spirit, developing Chaplain Corps leaders and capabilities, and generating Religious Support Team readiness.
“As our airmen and guardians deliver air and space power advantage to the Joint Force, the Chaplain Corps at home and abroad ensures that warfighters are spiritually fit and ready to thrive across the spectrum of military operations – from competition before the fight, during the fight, after the
fight and beyond their time in uniform,” said Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Trent Davis, Air Force and Space Force
chief of chaplains.
The summit highlighted the Corps’ role in fostering spiritual fitness as a
cornerstone of resilience, connection and mission effectiveness. Leaders highlighted that support-
ing the spiritual well-being of airmen and guardians is crucial for preparing the force to meet the demands of modern conflict. Participants were provided updates on revised Air Force Instructions and introduced to new tools designed to enhance spiritual fitness, supporting the decentralized execution of the Corps’ mission across active-duty, Reserve and Guard components.
Davis also stressed the importance of unity and integration, aligning the Chaplain Corps’ “One Chaplain Corps” message with Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. David Allvin’s “One Air Force” concept.
The event highlighted the Chaplain Corps’ unwavering commitment to supporting warfighters wherever they serve, ensuring they remain spiritually fit and ready in every domain, phase and condition of the fight.
Staff Sgt. Emmeline James/U.S. Air Force file
Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Trent Davis, Air Force and Space Force chief of chaplains, gives a keynote speech at the annual Air Force Chaplain Corps Summit in Arlington, Va.,
Aug. 11. Davis announced the Chaplain Corps’ new motto, ‘HC Ready!’, that focuses on fortifying the warfighter spirit and developing Chaplain Corps leaders and capabilities.
Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, YFQ-42A takes to the air for flight testing
sition meets motivated industry,” said Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink. “In record time, CCA went from concept to flight – proving we can
CRT
From Page 1
“A CRE commander and CRT chief have similar responsibilities because both can have final mission authority and makes decisions not explicitly assigned to higher-level authority,” Tech. Sgt. Travis Urquhart, 921st Contingency Response Squadron operations expeditor and Exercise Turbo Distribution 25-2 CRT Chief in-training, said. Urquhart is one of two CRT chiefs-in-training to be certified during Exercise Turbo Distribution 25-2, which is a U.S. Transportation Command-led exercise taking place in August at multiple locations.
Turbo Distribution is a Joint Task ForcePort Opening exercise designed to train personnel to rapidly respond to
A YFQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft lands after a test flight at a California test location. The program is
deliver combat capability at speed when we clear barriers and align around the warfighter.”
CCA is a key component of the Next Generation
Air Dominance Family of Systems and reflects a new model for softwaredefined, modular airpower. The program is structured to leverage development
humanitarian aid/disaster response missions around the world.
“Additionally, the CRE commander, or CRT chief, can be the primary liaison with the host nation, coalition or other U.S. forces, the supported command and/or controlling agency,” Urquhart stated. “Unless otherwise indicated, the CRE commander or CRT chief may delegate specific duties to other team members as necessary, but in a nutshell, you are responsible for leading a team in the planning, deploying, redeploying and reconstituting a team at any austere airfield around the world.”
For Exercise TD 25-2, 20 CR airmen from the 821st Contingency Response Squadron and 921st CRS are participating as part of a CRT which provides aerial port capabilities, conducts airfield assessments and determines the suitability and feasibility of the air-
structured to develop modular, uncrewed aircraft designed to operate alongside fifth- and sixth-generation aircraft.
from multiple vendor development solutions, reduce risk through competition, and integrate open-system architectures that allow the continuous
iteration of autonomy and mission systems capabilities and delivery of enhanced capability at the speed of relevance.
“This is More Air
field and landing zones in support of air operations immediately upon arrival at Fort HunterLiggett in Jolon.
If Exercise TD 25-2 were a football game, the most important position on the field is the quarterback, which would be CRT chief on location, and the goal, similar to winning the game, is to
have mission success upon returning home.
“I left my career field as a boom operator to be in CR,” Urquhart shared.
“Now I get to lead highly
specialized teams as a CRT chief and that will open the door to different deployment opportunities and perspectives that I didn’t have before as a boom operator.” How an airman becomes selected to become a CRT chief is actually quite simple. The position is only open for the rank of Technical Sergeant and Master Sergeant. If they are labeled as 1A1 flyers, they will need to step away from their primary mission designation, just like how Urquhart did, to join the 621st Contingency Response Wing for three years in order to become a CRT chief.
Most importantly, these applicants must have demonstrated and excelled at previous leadership posi-
duction-representative prototypes under the CCA program. A competitive Increment 1 production decision is expected in fiscal year 2026.
tions in order to even be considered.
Finally, CRT chiefs must complete three field exercises: an observational exercise of a fully qualified team chief, an instructorassisted exercise to learn how to perform the duties of a CRT chief, and lastly, an evaluation exercise where they are observed by a qualified CRT Chief. For Urquhart, Exercise TD 25-2 was his last step and evaluation exercise in becoming a fully certified CRT Chief. Now, the once boom operator, will now be entrusted to lead a CRT team down the field to score a mission touchdown anywhere around the world and he must be ready to have his number called upon at any time.
Courtesy photo
Staff Sgt. Scott Warner/U.S. Air Force file
Staff Sgt. Benjamin Hardin, 921st Contingency Response Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of weather operations, tightens his helmet strap during Exercise Turbo Distribution 25-2 at Fort Hunter-Liggett, Jolon, Aug. 18.
Exercise tests 375th Medical Group readiness for public health emergencies
375th A ir Mobility Wing
Public A ffAirs
SCOTT AIR FORCE
BASE, Ill. — The 375th Air Mobility Wing Inspector General office recently collaborated with A6A Associates to conduct a full-scale public health emergency exercise at Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
A6A Associates, a consulting and training firm specializing in emergency management and healthcare preparedness, led the event as part of their Project SOAR (Sustainment Operations for AFMS Response) initiative to evaluate and strengthen Air Force Medical Service readiness during public health emergencies.
“Exercises like this are vital,” said Lt. Col. Heather Fenzl, 375th Medical Support Squadron pharmacy flight commander. “They give our airmen the chance to train in realistic, high-pressure situations, which is exactly what we would face in a real public health emergency.”
In this instance, the scenario tested the 375th Medical Group’s ability to rapidly establish and operate a mass prophylaxis Point of Dispensing in response to a simulated hazardous biological agent.
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now Randolph Air Force Base. Grant pulled double duty as a post surgeon and flight surgeon. Skinner wrote that leading up to World War II, Grant spent the subsequent period developing the theoretical understanding of aviation in combat and convincing the war department that developing a system of air evacuation of casualties would be a worthwhile investment of time and resources.
Grant was the first medical officer to be ordered to Air Corps Tactical School at Maxwell Field, Alabama, in 1936, where he wrote his thesis that became the groundwork of all aero evacuation.
“With mechanized armies, contact with the enemy will occur over large areas, necessitating a more mobile ambulance service than we have at present,” he wrote.
Grant is directly responsible for the development and use of aeromedical evacuation in World War II, and theorized use of
the 375th MG’s ability to rapidly establish and operate a mass prophylaxis Point of Dispensing after a simulated anthrax release on the installation that produced multiple positive cases and hundreds of potential exposures.
patient flow, and operating both the medical processing point and POD to meet critical patient care objectives under pressure. The high-stakes environment highlighted both strengths and areas for improvement, including refining patient throughput and resource distribution strategies.
“It really goes to show what each and every one of us brings to the fight. Every role is critical in an emergency scenario like this, and we all need to be ready,” said Lt. Col. Heather Fenzl, 375th Medical Support Squadron pharmacy flight commander.
When asked about key takeaways, Henderson emphasized the broader value of the exercise. “It’s events like this that help us to identify capability gaps and areas of improvement, so we are prepared for future public health emergencies,” concluded Henderson. “The medics performed exceptionally well and with precision while displaying their expertise.
The biological agent was “released” in an installation facility, resulting in multiple simulated positive cases and hundreds more considered exposed. Dozens of on- and off-
helicopter-like aircraft in combat long before their wide use in Korea and Vietnam.
Dr. Thomas Julian of the U.S Air Force History and Museums Program detailed in “A History of Aeromedical Evacuation in the U.S. Air Force” how Grant studied unique problems such as airsickness, motion sickness and radiation exposure. This research was vital in aeromedical care, as there was limited common understanding of capabilities due to the newness of air warfare in the 1930s.
According to an excerpt from “Doctors at War,” provided by Frechette, Grant himself explored the shifting popular ideas about aero readiness, as he wrote: “The problem is to take a man whose body is adapted to function in a ground environment and whose mind is conditioned to seek peace and security and fit him for a life of a flying, fighting animal.”
base agencies and mission partners joined in to make the exercise as realistic as possible.
“This exercise really highlighted the importance of an integrated
installation response,” said Col. Chrystal Henderson, 375th Medical Group commander. “The level of wing involvement exceeded my expectations and greatly impressed the SOAR
Smithsonian Institution Archives/Courtesy file photo Army Maj. Gen. David Norvell Walker Grant (1891-1964), known as the “grandfather” of the present-day Air Force Medical Service, spearheaded aeromedical research and created the Air Evacuation Service that safely transported over a million casualties during wartime. David Grant USAF Medical Center at Travis AFB is named after Grant.
Under Grant’s direction, military aviation psychologists developed the most comprehensive mass testing procedure in history for the selection and classification of aircrew based on aptitude, at War”, “Since we cannot build the flier to specifications or wait for evolution to turn him into a superman, our only alternative is to select and train the individuals best fitted for this duty, and then provide them with devices and methods for protection.”
altitude flight and the development of oxygen equipment, electrically heated clothing, and anti-G suits.
According to Dr. Thomas Julian, by the outset of World War II, Grant had spent nearly a decade collecting evidence
team as an example to be modeled for their future iterations.”
Throughout the exercise, medical group airmen practiced dispensing countermeasures, managing
and winning supporters for aeromedical evacuation. In 1939, after the German attack on Poland created a period of U.S. military armament and increases in spending, the first air ambulance unit was approved. By 1953, aerospace medicine was designated as a board-certified specialty.
Travis AFB excels at care in the air
Modern-day Travis AFB operates an aeromedical staging facility that can unload and upload patients to and from large aircraft. This capability makes David Grant USAF Medical Center a crucial hub in global warfighter readiness, as well as for emergency management in the event of regional and national disasters. The center has been recognized with renowned accomplishments over the years.
In February 2023, the center’s Intensive Care Unit team received a DAISY Award – an internationally recognized award that celebrates nurses who have made profound differences in the lives of others. The
“I am extremely proud of my 375th MDG medics and our teammates through the wing for a very successful and well-executed training event.”
center was later awarded USAF Surgeon General Hospital of the Year at the 2024 Air Force Medical Service Annual Awards, demonstrating expertise, leadership, and commitment of the mission supporting the U.S. Air Force and combatant commanders.
In August, Travis AFB demonstrated the highest standard in aeromedical capabilities during Exercise Ultimate Caduceus 2025, a U.S. Transportation Command-led field training simulation in global patient movement. The drill simulated the reception, treatment, and onward transport of injured personnel from overseas to designated military hospitals and clinics – demonstrating how Grant’s work fuels excellence in aeromedical evacuation and health care today.
“Grant built an incomparable Army Air Forces Medical Service,” Skinner wrote. “(He) directed great strides in aeromedical research and created the Air Evacuation Service that safely transported over a million casualties from the various theatres of the war.”
Senior Airman Violette Hosack/U.S. Air Force file
Airman 1st Class Delaynie Dearmond, 375th Healthcare Operations Squadron aerospace medical technician, assesses a patient during a public health emergency exercise on Scott AFB, Ill., Aug 14. The exercise tested