May 8, 2025 WWII and the Birth of the AFMS Before he became the first Surgeon General of the U.S. Air Force, General Malcolm C. Grow played an essential role on the battlefields of World War II.
April 30, 2025 Vietnam: The Turning Point Looking back at the Vietnam War, 50 years after its end, the conflict was a crucial turning point in the modernization of the Air Force Medical Service.
March 29, 2025 AFMS honors Vietnam War Veterans Day, advancements in AE from the battlefields of Vietnam By the summer of 1968, involvement of the AFMS in the Vietnam War rose to an all-time high to support operations in Southeast Asia. About 1,900 Air Force medics were deployed in the region, representing about 5 percent of the 41,000 military personnel assigned to the AFMS worldwide.
Nov. 25, 2024 Honoring the legacy of Malcolm Grow The 316th Wing Medical Group gathered to celebrate the legacy of Maj. Gen. Malcolm C. Grow at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Nov. 19, 2024.
Aug. 14, 2024 Historical profile: AFGSC’s modernization keeps U.S. safe with 24/7 global presence While every command has a proud history and heritage, Air Force Global Strike Command’s legacy - and the medical professionals who have supported its mission - has been of special consequence to the defense of the United States.
July 25, 2024 Historical profile: AFMS Airmen enable AFDW’s global impact The Air Force District of Washington was originally established as Bolling Field Command in December 1946 by the Headquarters Army Air Forces to serve as the single manager for assets in and around the nation’s capital.
July 1, 2024 Celebrating 75 years of the Air Force Medical Service On July 1st, the Air Force Medical Service celebrates its 75th anniversary, marking a significant milestone in its long history of providing medical support to the Department of the Air Force.
Feb. 7, 2023 From the battlefield to the football field: Air Force surgeon’s skills knows no bounds On January 2nd, when many football fans were watching the game between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals, Lt. Col. Valerie Sams, an Air Force surgeon, was on call at UC Health’s University of Cincinnati Medical Center not knowing what she was about to face.
Sept. 16, 2022 Air Force medical history of POWs; Operation Homecoming The year 1973 saw the end of the Vietnam conflict. Securing the safe release of American Prisoners of War was a vital concern for U.S. leadership, as was the physical and mental well-being of those returning.
July 1, 2021 The Hawley Board and the establishment of the Air Force Medical Service The Air Force Medical Service celebrates its 72nd birthday on July 1 thanks in part to the “Hawley Board” and the “Hoover Commission,” the earliest joint panels that advocated for greater centralization within the Military Health System.
March 30, 2021 Respiratory care practitioner career field named 2020 Chief Richard L. Etchberger Team of The Year This year, the 2020 Chief Richard L. Etchberger award has been granted to the Air Force respiratory care practitioner career field for the incredible achievements made by the enlisted Airmen.
Jan. 21, 2021 AFMS operations during the Gulf War: Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm On Aug. 8, 1990, just six days after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, the Air Force Medical Service began its largest deployment since the Vietnam War.
March 6, 2019 Flight nurse saves lives in Normandy during World War II As a flight nurse during World War II, 1st Lt. Madeline “Del” D’Eletto, saw some of her first action transporting Soldiers wounded in D-Day landings back to Great Britain via aeromedical evacuation.
Nov. 15, 2018 This Month in AFMS History: First Space Medicine Symposium On November 12, 1948, Air Force Brig. Gen. Harry Armstrong, commandant of the School of Aviation at Randolph Field, Texas, convened the first Air Force symposium on space medicine.
May 8, 2018 This Month in AFMS History: 100th anniversary of first flight surgeon school On May 8, 1918, U.S. Army Aviation Branch, Col. Theodore Lyster created the first ever course for flight surgeons, at the Medical Research Laboratory, Hazelhurst Field, N.Y.
Feb. 22, 2018 From Flight Surgeon to Astronaut: Air Force Colonel (Dr.) Yvonne Cagle As a U.S. Air Force flight surgeon, Col. Yvonne Darlene Cagle wanted to fly even higher and fast. She had always wanted to leave her footprints in moon dust, a dream held since seeing Neil Armstrong do it on July 20, 1969.
Jan. 19, 2018 This Month in AFMS History: Lt. Elsie Ott and the first official aeromedical evacuation flight In January 1943, 2nd Lt. Elsie S. Ott, a 29-year-old Army nurse with barely a year of military service, took on a mission to demonstrate the value and feasibility of aeromedical evacuation.
April 18, 2017 This month in AFMS History: Operation Little Switch On April 20, 1953, Operation Little Switch marked the first successful efforts toward ending hostilities in Korea and ultimately set in motion the Korean War Armistice.
Feb. 3, 2016 History remembers Lt. Abbie Sweetwine: “The Angel of Platform 6” Among the nearly 100 Air Force personnel who responded to a call for help was a group of eight medics from the nearby 494th Medical Group at Royal Air Force South Ruslip, composed of seven doctors and one nurse - 2nd Lt. Abbie Sweetwine.
April 2, 2015 From flight nurse to chief of medical doctrine, Air Force major’s career soars As an Air Force flight nurse, Maj. Julie Skinner found adventure and rewards she never could have imagined as a civilian registered nurse on the ground.