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Twenty years ago this month, several Airmen from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., were deployed here to assist in standing up the current 86th Airlift Wing Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility.
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the CASF’s first stand up during the Gulf War, the very same nine Reserve Airmen have returned, all still wearing the Air Force blue.
Now, just as before, the CASF acts as a main hub for wounded service members between locations downrange and their final destination — home.
“Things today are a lot more refined and mission-oriented,” said Master Sgt. Felipe Nuno, 349th Aeromedical Staging Squadron career adviser. “The equipment has clearly changed for the better.”
The CASF hasn’t always had the technological luxuries it has today.
“For one thing, we didn’t have our own facility,” Sergeant Nuno said. “I’ll never forget the image of all of the beds lined up in a hangar. There were 150 beds made ready to go at a moment’s notice.”
When the CASF was first getting started, many of these Reserve Airmen were also just starting their careers.
At the time, Capt. Jessica Arcilla, 349th ASTS director of administrative services, was an enlisted Airman who worked as a diet therapist making sure all of the patients were getting fed. Now she is a Medical Service Corps officer.
“Back then, I really didn’t see the big picture,” Captain Arcilla said. “I was just told ‘you’re activated, so you go.’ It’s a good feeling to know that we helped start something that’s so important in the Air Force’s mission today. I would definitely encourage the younger Airmen to continue what they are doing in their jobs, because they may not see the bigger picture and impact that they are leaving.”
Although the basics are the same, the CASF’s mission has continued to evolve over time to fill an ever-changing role. With that evolution, they have learned more efficient and effective ways to fulfill the mission.
“I’m very im-pressed because the CASF has come a long way,” the captain said. “The roles are more specialized now, and where there used to be shortages, a position has been created.”
Despite advancing technologies, many things remain the same. The effort that goes into filling the needs of patients is still very labor intensive.
“The CASF here is mission unique to the entire Air Force,” said Lt. Col. JoAnn Danner, 86th CASF chief nurse. “The connection between the CASF and the aeromedical evacuation system facilitates the timely and smooth transfer of care from each crew to the next.”
Though the work is extremely demanding, the response is rewarding.
“The fact that (the original Reservists) are able to come back and see the growth of what (they) helped begin is a great opportunity,” said Colonel Danner, who is deployed here from Travis Air Force Base. “I’ve heard several of them say that they are extremely grateful and that no matter what, this is something that nobody can take away from them.”
