For over the past fifty days, aircrews from Golf Company, 2-149th Aviation Regiment, New Mexico Army National Guard, provided real world MEDEVAC support to the Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels Training Areas in Bavaria, Germany. This support allowed the United States and partner forces the ability to complete crucial military training; knowing that in the unfortunate event of an accident, our skilled aviators, expert maintainers and highly experienced critical care flight paramedics are only minutes away. The NMNG’s aircraft maintainers are second to none as they have exceeded all expectations for this mission in the midst of various maintenance situations by keeping the aircraft mission ready at both duty locations. Without their hard work and dedication, our aircrews would not have been able to provide emergent medical care to the sick and wounded. With over sixty years of combined emergency and combat medical experience, NMNG’s flight medics stood ready to come to the aid of their simulated injured brethren for the duration of their exercises. They provided training to foreign military, law enforcement and United States medical providers in the complexities of aero-medicine, combat extraction techniques including SKED and rescue hoist, and MEDEVAC training. As a result, best practices were shared allowing for the best possible care of patients for the future, including military working dogs. Overall, the training opportunities in Germany were invaluable. For a majority of the U.S. Soldiers, this is the first training event they have completed outside of the United States. The aircrews are getting exposed to new flight environments and are having the opportunity to fly in another country’s airspace. Flight training focused on progressing mission ready aircrew members and the Army’s new hoist training program. G Co., 2-149th will return to New Mexico better trained and ready to execute the most challenging of rescue missions for our citizens. They are ready to respond to any mission, anytime, anywhere. G Co. will continue to do their best to live up to the DUSTOFF legacy and only leave “when I have your wounded.” G Co. Soldiers couldn’t do this mission without the great support of their families, friends, and employers.
