944th medics train at Kunsan

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Angela Ruiz
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  More than 50 medics from three Air Force Reserve units are testing their wartime medical support capabilities alongside Wolf Pack personnel as part of an annual overseas two-week tour here Oct. 18 through Nov. 1.

The 944th Aeromedical Staging Squadron joined the 439th Airlift Wing, Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass.; and the 914th Airlift Wing, Niagara Air Reserve Station, N.Y., here to conduct medical refresher training sessions and test their ability to set-up and operate Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facilities.

Additionally, the reserve units are taking an inventory of Pacific Air Forces' war readiness materials here at Kunsan and got a taste of the 8th Fighter Wing's wartime mission during a base training day here Oct. 27.

According to Col. Deb Esque, Individual Mobilization Augmentee from 51st Medical Group, Osan Air Base, the reservists are conducting advanced cardiac and pediatric life support training sessions and Emergency Medical Technician training. Some of the medics will be providing EMT refresher courses and training for Airmen at the 8th Medical Group.

"This is a cooperative effort with our Active Duty partners," said the colonel. "They will be giving us some training, and we will be giving them some training."

The Wolf Pack Airmen also helped them with fulfilling their training requirements by providing chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear training courses. 

"This is an awesome opportunity for the Air Reserve Component to deploy onto the [Korean] peninsula," Colonel Esque said.

According to Senior Airman Nikki Lougheed, 944th Aeromedical Staging Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., training opportunities like CBRN and CASF set-ups are very demanding, but enable each Airman to grasp the reasons behind their visit to Kunsan. 

"The [CASF] tents can take anywhere from two to six hours to put up one tent," Airman Lougheed said. "I think this type of training has been going really well and everybody seems to be grasping the concept of what we're doing and why we're here."