Offutt AFB hosts VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System

Published Nov. 19, 2024
By Destiny Walker and Chad Watkins
55th Wing Public Affairs

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --

Offutt Air Force Base hosted the VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System as they conducted a National Disaster Medical System exercise at Offutt Field House, Nov. 13.

The Omaha area conducted this exercise to determine the preparedness to support an overseas conflict by moving military casualties into the civilian health care network. The exercise focused on receiving patients from an aircraft, triaging patients, and transporting them to local hospitals to receive inpatient care.

“This exercise presents an excellent opportunity to test our ability to receive patients from a natural disaster or overseas conflict,” said Jim Jenkins, VANWIHCS emergency manager. “The Omaha community continuously demonstrates tremendous collaboration and support which allows VANWHICS to meet the VA’s Fourth Mission.”

The VA’s first three missions are veteran care, research, and education.

Patients lay on litters — Offutt hosts VA exercise

Patients wait to be triaged during a National Disaster Medical System exercise at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, Nov. 13, 2024. The Omaha area conducted an exercise to determine the preparedness to support an overseas conflict by moving military casualties into the civilian health care network. Participants from local, state, and federal response agencies teamed up with Air Force and the Nebraska Air National Guard to ensure the nation’s capability to support a war effort. (U.S. Air Force photo by Destiny Walker)

SLIDESHOW | images | Offutt hosts VA exercise

55th Medical Group personnel wheel a patient on a stretcher during a National Disaster Medical System exercise at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska Nov. 13, 2024 . The Omaha area is conducting an exercise to determine the preparedness to support an overseas conflict by moving military casualties into the civilian health care network. Participants from local, state, and federal response agencies teamed up with Air Force and the Nebraska Air National Guard to ensure the nation’s capability to support a war effort. (U.S. Air Force photo by Chad Watkins) — National Disater Medical System exercise

55th Medical Group personnel wheel a patient on a stretcher during a National Disaster Medical System exercise at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, Nov. 13, 2024 . The Omaha area is conducting an exercise to determine the preparedness to support an overseas conflict by moving military casualties into the civilian health care network. Participants from local, state, and federal response agencies teamed up with Air Force and the Nebraska Air National Guard to ensure the nation’s capability to support a war effort. (U.S. Air Force photo by Chad Watkins)

SLIDESHOW | images | National Disater Medical System exercise

People set up litters — Offutt hosts VA exercise

Military personnel set up a litter during a National Disaster Medical System exercise at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, Nov. 13, 2024. The Omaha area conducted an exercise to determine the preparedness to support an overseas conflict by moving military casualties into the civilian health care network. Participants from local, state, and federal response agencies teamed up with Air Force and the Nebraska Air National Guard to ensure the nation’s capability to support a war effort. (U.S. Air Force photo by Destiny Walker)

SLIDESHOW | images | Offutt hosts VA exercise

People surround patient on a stretcher — Offutt hosts VA exercise

Military personnel set a patient on a litter during a National Disaster Medical System exercise at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, Nov. 13, 2024. The Omaha area conducted an exercise to determine the preparedness to support an overseas conflict by moving military casualties into the civilian health care network. Participants from local, state, and federal response agencies teamed up with Air Force and the Nebraska Air National Guard to ensure the nation’s capability to support a war effort. (U.S. Air Force photo by Destiny Walker)

SLIDESHOW | images | Offutt hosts VA exercise

VA, EMS, Omaha Metropolitan Healthcare Coalition and 55th Medical Group personnel triage a patient during a National Disaster Medical System exercise at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska Nov. 13, 2024 . The Omaha area is conducting an exercise to determine the preparedness to support an overseas conflict by moving military casualties into the civilian health care network. Participants from local, state, and federal response agencies teamed up with Air Force and the Nebraska Air National Guard to ensure the nation’s capability to support a war effort. (U.S. Air Force photo by Chad Watkins) — National Disater Medical System exercise

VA, EMS, Omaha Metropolitan Healthcare Coalition and 55th Medical Group personnel triage a patient during a National Disaster Medical System exercise at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, Nov. 13, 2024 . The Omaha area is conducting an exercise to determine the preparedness to support an overseas conflict by moving military casualties into the civilian health care network. Participants from local, state, and federal response agencies teamed up with Air Force and the Nebraska Air National Guard to ensure the nation’s capability to support a war effort. (U.S. Air Force photo by Chad Watkins)

SLIDESHOW | images | National Disater Medical System exercise

Person lays on stretcher — Offutt hosts VA exercise

Local EMS personnel triage a patient during a National Disaster Medical System exercise at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, Nov. 13, 2024. The Omaha area conducted an exercise to determine the preparedness to support an overseas conflict by moving military casualties into the civilian health care network. Participants from local, state, and federal response agencies teamed up with Air Force and the Nebraska Air National Guard to ensure the nation’s capability to support a war effort. (U.S. Air Force photo by Destiny Walker)

SLIDESHOW | images | Offutt hosts VA exercise

SLIDESHOW | images | National Disater Medical System exercise

People treat a patient — Offutt hosts VA exercise

Military and local EMS personnel treat a patient during a National Disaster Medical System exercise at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, Nov. 13, 2024. The Omaha area conducted an exercise to determine the preparedness to support an overseas conflict by moving military casualties into the civilian health care network. Participants from local, state, and federal response agencies teamed up with Air Force and the Nebraska Air National Guard to ensure the nation’s capability to support a war effort. (U.S. Air Force photo by Destiny Walker)

SLIDESHOW | images | Offutt hosts VA exercise

National Disater Medical System exercise

Patients wait for care at Offutt Air Force Base on Nov. 13, 2024, during a National Disaster Medical System exercise. The Omaha area is conducting an exercise to determine the preparedness to support an overseas conflict by moving military casualties into the civilian health care network. Participants from local, state, and federal response agencies teamed up with Air Force and the Nebraska Air National Guard to ensure the nation’s capability to support a war effort. (U.S. Air Force photo by Chad Watkins)

SLIDESHOW | images | National Disater Medical System exercise

People treat patients — Offutt hosts VA exercise

Military and local EMS personnel treat patients during a National Disaster Medical System exercise at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, Nov. 13, 2024. The Omaha area conducted an exercise to determine the preparedness to support an overseas conflict by moving military casualties into the civilian health care network. Participants from local, state, and federal response agencies teamed up with Air Force and the Nebraska Air National Guard to ensure the nation’s capability to support a war effort. (U.S. Air Force photo by Destiny Walker)

SLIDESHOW | images | Offutt hosts VA exercise

People strap in a patient onto a stretcher — Offutt hosts VA exercise

Local EMS personnel set a patient on a stretcher during a National Disaster Medical System exercise at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, Nov. 13, 2024. The Omaha area conducted an exercise to determine the preparedness to support an overseas conflict by moving military casualties into the civilian health care network. Participants from local, state, and federal response agencies teamed up with Air Force and the Nebraska Air National Guard to ensure the nation’s capability to support a war effort. (U.S. Air Force photo by Destiny Walker)

SLIDESHOW | images | Offutt hosts VA exercise

People load patient on litter — Offutt hosts VA exercise

Military personnel set a patient on a litter during a National Disaster Medical System exercise at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, Nov. 13, 2024. The Omaha area conducted an exercise to determine the preparedness to support an overseas conflict by moving military casualties into the civilian health care network. Participants from local, state, and federal response agencies teamed up with Air Force and the Nebraska Air National Guard to ensure the nation’s capability to support a war effort. (U.S. Air Force photo by Destiny Walker)

SLIDESHOW | images | Offutt hosts VA exercise

National Disater Medical System exercise

Media interview Derrick Jaastad, Veterans Health Administration, Emergency Management executive director, on Nov. 13, 2024, at Offutt Air Force Base during a National Disaster Medical System exercise. The Omaha area is conducting an exercise to determine the preparedness to support an overseas conflict by moving military casualties into the civilian health care network. Participants from local, state, and federal response agencies teamed up with Air Force and the Nebraska Air National Guard to ensure the nation’s capability to support a war effort. (U.S. Air Force photo by Chad Watkins)

SLIDESHOW | images | National Disater Medical System exercise

Person lays on stretcher while being loaded into ambulance — Offutt hosts VA exercise

Local EMS personnel load a patient into an ambulance during a National Disaster Medical System exercise at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, Nov. 13, 2024. The Omaha area conducted an exercise to determine the preparedness to support an overseas conflict by moving military casualties into the civilian health care network. Participants from local, state, and federal response agencies teamed up with Air Force and the Nebraska Air National Guard to ensure the nation’s capability to support a war effort. (U.S. Air Force photo by Destiny Walker)

SLIDESHOW | images | Offutt hosts VA exercise

“Our fourth mission is to serve as America’s back stop to the healthcare delivery system,” said Derrick Jaastad, executive director at Veterans Health Administration Emergency Management. “Whether that’s treating survivors of disaster or a large-scale combat operation treating uniformed service member and moving them into definitive care.”

Over 100 personnel from the 55th Medical Group worked hand in hand with the VA, Nebraska National Guard, Nebraska Air National Guard, Sarpy County, the State of Nebraska, Omaha Metropolitan Healthcare Coalition, American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, and the Nebraska Humane Society.

“We learned about a lot of these different agencies, how they would interact,” said Lt. Col. Michelle Bray, 55th MDG Chief of Aerospace Medicine. “Being able to put names and faces together, practice, drill, and work together allowed us to find out our different capabilities, which is really a great experience.”

Partner support and cohesion between all of these agencies was critical to making the exercise succeed.

“One of the really value-added portions of this exercise is finding out who these different partners are, the capabilities they have, and what they can bring to the team and some of the limitations,” said Bray. “We’re recognizing each other’s strengths and weaknesses and helping cover for each other. I think in this location, we’ve got great support systems, we’ve got great partnerships, and I think we’re set up for any mass casualty events or natural disasters or any sort of real-world scenario. I think this is a great opportunity for everybody.”

The NDMS exercise shows the importance of preparedness and coordination between agencies. As a key Federal Coordination Center, Omaha's and Offutt’s role in this nationwide system is vital for the reception and care of casualties in times of crisis. The combined military and civilian partners efforts demonstrated a strong commitment to disaster readiness and the protection of American lives.