WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. -- Members of the 439th Aeromedical Support Squadron (ASTS) practiced their ability to stabilize a patient and prepare them for transport in a Foreign Operating Area, or deployed environment, August 12 at Westover Air Reserve Base.
The simulated training consisted of a team having to stabilize a patient experiencing a range of different medical emergencies while also having to deal with the stressors of being in a deployed environment.
“One part of our annual training requirements we have to meet is dedicating a certain amount of hours for simulated training,” said SMSgt Alexis Agnew, 439th ASTS. “We make sure the scenarios are as real as possible so our members can appreciate what they might see when they deploy and actually get to do the job.”
Outside of the Air Force Reserve, Agnew is a clinical study manager for a medical device company with a focus on improving diagnostics for lung cancer.
“The beauty of the reserves is that you have people from a variety of different backgrounds,” said Agnew. “We have a very versatile and skilled team. That unique demographic compliments our job very well.”
Lt Col Kenneth Delker, who co-led the training with Agnew, has served as a nurse practitioner with the 439th ASTS for 10 years.
“We like to do these trainings as much as possible,” said Delker. We have over 100 medtechs and nurses in the unit and it is impossible to get everyone in during one UTA so we hold these trainings frequently.”
Delker also serves as a nurse practitioner for a hospitalist group at Maine General Medical Center in Augusta when not in uniform.
“What’s so great about these trainings is seeing all of our hard work in action,” said Delker. “It’s great to see the team effort in accomplishing the mission.”