Rapid response under pressure: Andrews Aerospace Physiology conducts decompression sickness exercise

Published June 22, 2026
By Senior Airman Daniel Walderbach
316th Wing Public Affairs

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. --

Inside the heavy steel walls of the altitude chamber at the 316th Operations Support Squadron Aerospace Physiology unit at Joint Base Andrews, Airmen peer through pressure windows watching your every move. A voice comes on instructing them to start working on a simple worksheet that includes personal questions, simple math problems and a maze.

Their fingertips start to tingle; they become dizzy and struggle to think clearly.

Decompression sickness, also known as barotrauma or “the bends,” is caused by a rapid decrease in pressure. This can occur during high-altitude training or unpressurized air travel. When decompression sickness occurs, the body experiences something similar to a shaken, carbonated drink opening. Nitrogen in the bloodstream separates and forms bubbles, obstructing vital blood flow throughout the body.

A man in a chamber has a mask on and he adjusts it. — 260611-F-KQ059-1162

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Christopher Velasquez, right, an aerospace physiology technician assigned to the 316th Operational Support Squadron, checks a students maks, during a decompression sickness exercise at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, June 11, 2026. Decompression sickness is a condition caused by a rapid decrease in the air or water pressure. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Daniel Walderbach)

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Very close on a woman with a helmet and mask on. — 260611-F-KQ059-1096

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Karen Compton, an aerospace physiology technician assigned to the 316th Operational Support Squadron, listens intently during a decompression sickness exercise at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, June 11, 2026. The exercise emphasized the importance of following designated decompression chamber procedures (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Daniel Walderbach)

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A man is seen through a circle window into the decompression chamber. He is speaking to those inside. — 260611-F-LD289-1008

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Brandon Smith, 316th Operations Support Squadron aerospace physiology technician, participates as an instructor during a decompression sickness exercise at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, June 11, 2026. The exercise provided training for following and implementing decompression chamber procedures. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kiora Brooks)

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A man stands at the front of the chamber, while other people in OCPS fill out paperwork with helmets on. — 260611-F-KQ059-1053

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Brandon Smith, aerospace physiology technician assigned to the 316th Operational Support Squadron, right, instructs students during a decompression sickness eercise at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, June 11, 2026. Aerospace physiology technician Airmen were tested on their ability to identify individuals who experienced decompression sickness symptoms. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Daniel Walderbach)

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Airmen are observed inside of a chamber. — 260611-F-LD289-1071

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Brandon Smith, 316th Operations Support Squadron aerospace physiology technician, monitors students inside an altitude chamber during a decompression sickness exercise at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, June 11, 2026. The exercise tested Airmen’s abilities to identify when someone is experiencing decompression sickness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kiora Brooks)

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A woman receives help putting a mask on. — 260611-F-KQ059-1033

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Theresa Schommer, aviation resources management noncommissioned officer in charge asssigned to the 316th Operational Support Squadron, has her aviator oxygen mask fitted during a decompression sickness exercise at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, June 11, 2026. The mask controlled the flow of oxygen for students inside the altitude chamber. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Daniel Walderbach)

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Four Airman site outside a decompression chamber at the control panel and observe the participants inside the chamber. — 260611-F-LD289-1024

Aerospace physiology technicians monitor and instruct airmen inside an altitude chamber during a decompression sickness exercise at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, June 11, 2026. The aerospace physiology technicians were closely observed to ensure proper procedures were implemented during the exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kiora Brooks)

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A man is seen through a window. He has a helmet and mask on and he's pointing. — 260611-F-LD289-1056

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Christopher Velasquez, an aerospace physiology technician assigned to the 316th Operational Support Squadron, instructs students during a decompression sickness exercise at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, June 11, 2026. Symptoms of decompression sickness include dizziness, headaches and weakness in arms or legs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kiora Brooks)

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A man in OCPs and a helmet fills out paperwork. — 260611-F-KQ059-1137

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Joseph Cobb, aerospace physiology flight chief assigned to the 316th Operational Support Squadron, works on a hypoxia worksheet during a decompression sickness exercise at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, June 11, 2026. Volunteers from the 316th Wing Operational Support Squadron acted as students during the exercise. (U..S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Daniel Walderbach)

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A sits and takes notes after observing people inside a chamber. — 260611-F-LD289-1034

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Cadee Tena, 316th Operations Support Squadron aerospace physiology technician, monitors students during a decompression sickness exercise at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, June 11, 2026. The exercise provided training to understand the signs and symptoms of hypoxia and decompression sickness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kiora Brooks)

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A man lies inside an ambulance. And Air Force medic adjusts his oxygen mask. — 260611-F-LD289-1305

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Shawn Phinney, Healthcare Operations Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of ambulance services, provides care to simulated patient Airman 1st Class Jaquest Ferris, an aerospace physiology technician assigned to the 316th Operational Support Squadron, during a decompression sickness exercise at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, June 11, 2026. The patient was transported to a hyperbaric oxygen chamber at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kiora Brooks)

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A male airman lies on a transportable bed inside an ambulance. — 260611-F-KQ059-1234

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Jaquest Ferris, an aerospace physiology technician assigned to the 316th Operational Support Squadron, is transported in an ambulance during a decompression sickness exercise at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, June 11, 2026. The Healthcare Operational Squadron trasnported the simulated patient to the Malcolm Grow Medical Clinics and Surgery Center Emergency Care Center. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Daniel Walderbach)

SLIDESHOW | images | 260611-F-KQ059-1234

A man with a helmet and mask lays on a transportable ambulance bed. — 260611-F-KQ059-1221

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Jaquest Ferris, an aerospace physiology technician assigned to the 316th Operational Support Squadron, acts as a simulated patient during a decompression sickness exercise at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, June 11, 2026. The simulated patient was transported by the Maryland State Police Aviation Comand Washington Section Trooper 2 to a hyperbaric oxygen chamber at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Daniel Walderbach)

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A helicopter sits on a flight pad. There's a hangar in the background. — 260611-F-KQ059-1002

Maryland Department of State Police, Washington Section Trooper 2, awaits the arrival of a simulated patient during a decompression sickness exercise at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, June 11, 2026. The patient was transported from the Malcolm Grow Medical Clinics and Surgery Center Emergency Care Center to the Washington Aviation Section hangar. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Daniel Walderbach)

SLIDESHOW | images | 260611-F-KQ059-1002

Airmen loads a simulated patient onto a helicopter that is sitting outside on a concrete flight pad. — 260611-F-KQ059-1240

Maryland Department of State Police, Washington Section Trooper 2, loads a simulated patient during a decompression sickness exercise at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, June 11, 2026. Trooper 2 confirmed the status of the simulated patient before transporting him to the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Daniel Walderbach)

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A helicopter sits on a flight pad on a sunny but cloudy day. — 260611-F-KQ059-1007

Maryland Department of State Police, Washington Section Trooper 2, works through take-off procedures during a decompression sickness exercise at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, June 11, 2026. Trooper 2 transported a simulated patient to the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Daniel Walderbach)

SLIDESHOW | images | 260611-F-KQ059-1007

Some symptoms that an individual might experience from decompression sickness are dizziness, difficulty thinking, and tingling or numbness in the arms and legs. Immediate, emergency treatment involves maintaining blood pressure and administering high-flow oxygen.

Optimal treatment requires the use of a hyperbaric oxygen chamber filled with 100% oxygen.

The 316th OSS Aerospace Physiology unit, in coordination with Maryland State Police Aviation Command - Washington Section Trooper 2 and the Malcolm Grow Medical Clinics and Surgery Center Emergency Care Center, conducted a decompression sickness exercise June 11, 2026. The exercise provided training to understand the signs and symptoms of hypoxia and decompression sickness.

"For us, the criticality is knowing our checklists; (they are) written in blood and it’s important that we follow them,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Kimberly Dowd, Aerospace Physiology commander. “Making sure that we have checklist discipline, so we don’t have any blind spots, and if we do, what are they so we can practice them in training and be as prepared as possible for someone’s worst day.”

During the exercise, an Airman simulated symptoms of decompression sickness. Aerospace Physiology Airmen jumped into action, calling the base defense operation center to transfer the Airman to the ECC where they simulated the patient receiving further care.

“We never want to create a patient, but we want to make sure that we are trained at the highest level possible,” said Dowd. She noted that if an Airman’s worst day happens in the flight chamber, they know they will receive the care they need.

The third prong in the exercise was working with the Maryland State Police Aviation Command - Washington Section Trooper 2, a civilian unit that supports local military partners and responds to medevac requests. Trooper 2 medevaced the simulated patient to the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland in Baltimore to complete the exercise.

The traditional transport route with an ambulance from Andrews to Baltimore’s R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center takes on average 90 minutes. By adding Trooper 2 into the fold, and getting patients airborne, medical personnel are able to reduce the time to 15 minutes to get patients the critical care they need, reducing the potential for any secondary or tertiary symptoms to set in.

Dowd said the ultimate goal for the exercise was to make sure everyone involved had one common goal. “We are here help you, we want to support you, and it’s really cool to see the partnerships of everyone all in it for the common good of preserving our most valuable asset, our Airmen.”