From take off to drop off: Antarctic medical evacuation in only 60 hours

by Capt. Kim Bender
Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs

5/3/2013 - JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- A C-17 Globemaster III crew from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, together with Aeromedical Evacuation and Critical Care Air Transport Team Airmen, safely evacuated an ailing individual from McMurdo Station, Antarctica Apr. 22 after responding to a request from the National Science Foundation, the manager of the U.S. Antarctic Program,

"This mission was the perfect example of air mobility and global reach at its finest," said Lt. Col. Brent Keenan, 304th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron commander. "A C-17 team composed of active duty and reserve aircrew members, maintenance, support personnel, and medical personnel from multiple units and locations, dropped everything they were doing, integrated a solid team, and rapidly deployed to Antarctica, the most isolated and remote location on the planet in the world's most extreme operating conditions."

Planning immediately began once NSF notified Joint Task Force-Support Forces Antarctica of the possible medical emergency mission. The Air Force-led JTF-SFA is in charge of Operation Deep Freeze, which provides the Department of Defense's logistical support to the U.S. Antarctic Program.

On Apr. 18, it was determined the patient needed to be evacuated.

To determine the required medical support, the Pacific Air Forces Surgeon General's office, the 613th Air and Space Operations Center and the U.S. Transportation Command's Theater Patient Movement Requirements Center-Pacific offices coordinated with NSF's lead medical team on-scene at McMurdo Station. All agreed aeromedical evacuation and CCAT teams would be needed for the mission.

"Every person and organization involved in determining the medical requirements dropped what they were doing to support this mission to deliver the medical capabilities needed," said Lt. Col. Brendan Noone, JTF-SFA lead flight surgeon.

Several types of aircraft-both civilian and military--were considered for this mission, but the overall capability of the C-17 with its extended flight range and ability to operate at night with no airfield lighting, made it the optimal choice for the mission.

The C-17, assigned to the 304th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, and all the Airmen involved, departed and arrived in the staging area in Christchurch, New Zealand, Apr. 20. From there, the C-17 headed to McMurdo Station.

Keenan also praised the efforts of the ground staff employed by Lockheed Martin / ASC, NSF Colorado-based support contractor, for rapidly preparing to receive the aircraft.
"The airfield operation and ground teams at McMurdo Station completed the airfield preparations much quicker than expected, which included the preparation of an ice runway," said Keenan. "This airfield preparation was vital to safely landing and taking off in the harsh weather there."

McMurdo Station normally closes in early March, and no flight operations are scheduled until the start of the next austral summer scientific research season. The C-17 crew prepared to execute night-vision goggle operations, as it is normally utilized in a mid-winter operation, but due to this quick airfield preparation, the crew was able to exploit a narrow window of daylight.

After the C-17 safely landed at McMurdo Station, there was an exceptionally fast 35-minute ground time in which the patient was transferred to the aircraft. The patient received in-air medical care from the AE and CCAT crews aboard the C-17.

"The decision to execute this type of aeromedical evacuation is not taken lightly, as it represents a major investment in resources from the NSF and the DoD. In this case, however, the patient's life was in danger and this operation was the most viable course of action to preserve a human life, our most valuable resource," said Maj. Gen. Russ Handy, Commander of JTF-SFA. "While we talk a lot about the lengths we go to in order to save our service members injured in combat, this NSF-led, DoD-supported event demonstrates this commitment to our people is not just a part of our military culture--it's a part of being an American."

It took only 60 hours to complete the mission from take off in Washington to the final arrival of the patient in Christchurch, New Zealand.

"The mission was truly a Total Force, inter-agency mission planning and execution success. From NSF leadership in Washington, D.C., Air Force Reserve Command and Air Mobility Command air and medical crews, and contracted staff at McMurdo Station, to PACAF support from the 15th Wing based at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam acting as a backup for the 304th EAS's aircraft, these mixed teams all worked together to support Joint Task Force-Support Forces Antarctica and get the mission done," said Chief Master Sgt Connie Hoffman, JTF-SFA superintendent.

NSF has a presidential mandate to manage the U.S. Antarctic Program, through which it coordinates all U.S. scientific research on the southernmost continent and aboard vessels in the Southern Ocean and provides the logistical support to make possible the research.

The U.S. military is uniquely equipped to assist NSF in accomplishing its USAP mission. The U.S. Air Force, Navy, Army and the Coast Guard provide specialized aircraft, ships and skilled crewmembers to ensure the safe delivery and passage of program personnel and cargo.

Operation Deep Freeze is the logistical support provided by the DoD to the USAP. This includes the coordination of strategic inter-theater airlift, tactical intra-theater airlift and airdrop, aeromedical evacuation support, search and rescue response, sealift, seaport access, bulk fuel supply, port cargo handling, and transportation requirements supporting the NSF.