Yokota, Kadena Airmen save life in real-world AE mission Published Dec. 17, 2024 By Capt. Emma Quirk 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Airmen saved the life of a critically injured fellow Airman in a display of rapid response and seamless coordination for an aeromedical evacuation, Oct. 28. To execute the mission, Airmen from the 374th Medical Group, 374th Operations Group, assisted by members from the 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, and U.S. Pacific Air Force Critical Care Air Transport Team, sprang into action following an on-base motorcycle accident in the early morning hours of Oct. 27. The injured Airman was able to dial his Wingman, who remained on the phone in the middle of the night to keep the member conscious as he rushed to location and called 911. Yokota Air Base's Emergency Medical Services dispatched medics and transported the patient to the base's urgent care facility. “It was all hands-on deck, and we exhausted every skill, resource, option, and connection to ensure our teammate was taken care of,” said Col. Richard McElhaney, 374th Airlift Wing commander. As the base medical clinic coordinated to move the patient to an off-base hospital, it became clear the Airman's condition was critical and immediate action was required to save their life. The medical staff at Yokota performed lifesaving emergency surgery and established an interim intensive care unit to stabilize the patient. "We had to stretch our capabilities by immediately building an ICU and shifting our medics to 24-hour operations to support the needs of the patient," said Col. Gregory Richert, 374th MDG commander. Yokota, Kadena Airmen save life in real-world AE mission A Critical Care Air Transportation Team assigned to the 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan, load medical equipment onto a C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 36th Airlift Squadron at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Oct. 28, 2024, during real-world aeromedical evacuation. On 28 Oct, the 374th Medical Group, 374th Operations Group and 18th AES transferred the member from Yokota care to higher level care on a C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 36th AS. (U.S. Air Force photo by Yasuo Osakabe) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res Yokota, Kadena Airmen save life in real-world AE mission U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Kasie Hays, 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron aeromedical evacuation technician, carries a backpack full of medical supplies at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Oct. 28, 2024, during real-world aeromedical evacuation. On 28 Oct, the 374th Medical Group, 374th Operations Group and 18th AES transferred the member from Yokota care to higher level care on a C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 36th Airlift Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Yasuo Osakabe) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res Yokota, Kadena Airmen save life in real-world AE mission From right, 1st Lt. Winston Coblentz, 36th Airlift Squadron C-130J Super Hercules co-pilot, Maj. Henry Egan, 36th AS C-130J pilot, and Capt. Theresa Ziegler, 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron aeromedical evacuation flight nurse, conduct pre-flight briefing on a C-130J Super Hercules at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Oct. 28, 2024, during real-world aeromedical evacuation. On 28 Oct, the 374th Medical Group, 374th Operations Group and 18th AES transferred the member from Yokota care to higher level care on a C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 36th AS. (U.S. Air Force photo by Yasuo Osakabe) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res As the situation unfolded, multiple teams in the 374th Airlift Wing coordinated an aeromedical evacuation mission to transport the patient to Kadena Air Base, Japan. Due to the patient's critical condition, the CCATT from Kadena was mobilized to provide specialized care during the flight. The PACAF CCATT is a highly trained and skilled three-person medical team responsible for picking up patients and transferring them to a higher echelon of care wherever that may be, whether it’s within the Pacific region or stateside. The 374th Operations Group played a crucial role in facilitating the patient's transport, flexing its airlift capabilities on multiple airframes. A C-12J Huron assigned to the 459th Airlift Squadron transported the CCATT and their equipment to Yokota AB, while a C-130J Super Hercules was re-tasked to transport the patient and medical teams to Kadena Air Base. “No one complained about the hours worked or checked their duty description when asked to support,” said McElhaney. “It was a herculean lift getting the member out of Yokota to higher-level care at the speed of need. The team leveraged their training, took initiative, and saved a life … I couldn’t be more proud.” During this mission, the CCATT worked in tandem with the 18th AES members who were rotationally deployed to Yokota. The 18th AES is the sole aeromedical evacuation unit in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, supporting 24/7 patient movement capabilities for internal and external theater missions. “Our main priority is caring for our patients and getting them safely from point A to point B,” said Maj. Kristen Dowdy, 15th Healthcare Operations Squadron physician and emergency medicine physician. “The personnel here were essential to keeping this patient alive.” Yokota, Kadena Airmen save life in real-world AE mission From left, U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Kasie Hays, 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron AE technician, Airman 1st Class Dennis Sifford, 36th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, and Master Sgt. Detrick Hysaw, 18th AES aeromedical evacuation technician, discuss a layout of a flying intensive care unit on a C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 36th AS at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Oct. 28, 2024, during real-world aeromedical evacuation. On 28 Oct, the 374th Medical Group, 374th Operations Group and 18th AES transferred the member from Yokota care to higher level care on a C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 36th AS. (U.S. Air Force photo by Yasuo Osakabe) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res Yokota, Kadena Airmen save life in real-world AE mission A Critical Care Air Transportation Team assigned to the 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan, set up a flying intensive care unit in a C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 36th Airlift Squadron at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Oct. 28, 2024, during real-world aeromedical evacuation. On 28 Oct, the 374th Medical Group, 374th Operations Group and 18th AES transferred the member from Yokota care to higher level care on a C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 36th AS. (U.S. Air Force photo by Yasuo Osakabe) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res Yokota, Kadena Airmen save life in real-world AE mission U.S. Airmen with the 374th Medical Group load a patient into a C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 36th Airlift Squadron at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Oct 28, 2024, during real-world aeromedical evacuation. On 28 Oct, the 374th Medical Group, 374th Operations Group and 18th AES transferred the member from Yokota care to higher level care on a C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 36th AS. (U.S. Air Force photo by Yasuo Osakabe) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res The combination of leveraging Yokota-based aircraft and a co-located AE presence expedited the successful intra-theater transfer. The CCATT and 18th AES team transported the patient for ongoing care and recovery; an outcome that Staff Sgt. Michael VanHorn, 18th AES aeromedical evacuation technician, said was possible due to the expeditious and professional work of Yokota and Kadena personnel. From Kadena AB, the member was then aeromedically evacuated to Tripler Army Medical Center, Hawaii, for follow-on care. “Our job is to take care of people however we can, it's embedded in us as medics and medical professionals,” said VanHorn. “The combined efforts of all involved showcase how capable we are at executing a patient movement of any severity in such a short amount of time.”