QUEENSBURY, N.Y. – New York Army National Guard medics based in the Adirondack foothills took to the skies Oct. 22 for a combined training event with Soldiers from a medical evacuation helicopter company.

Soldiers assigned to the 466th Area Support Medical Company conducted on-and-offload training with UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 171st General Support Aviation Regiment. The company flies out of Army Aviation Support Facility #2 at the Frederick Douglas Greater Rochester International Airport.

The event brought together both medical elements to rehearse procedures for casualty transport and care in the air and on the ground.

The training exposed medics to simulated combat scenarios and medical evacuation training. Participants practiced moving and loading casualties on the aircraft and making nine-line medical evacuation requests, the key military task in requesting aircraft support for medical evacuation.

Maj. Mike Jamieson, the commander of Charlie Company, said the training event was exciting for both the medics and aircrews.

“There are a lot of noncommissioned officers here that haven’t done this type of training before, so they are now working with ground units and showing off their expertise,” Jamieson said. “It’s kind of cool as a commander to see my Soldiers train and work with their counterparts.”

The medical company Soldiers learned about aircraft capabilities and received an in-depth look at the flight equipment for casualty care in flight. 

Much of the training focused on Soldiers’ ability to help transport wounded Soldiers and work as a team with medevac providers who treat casualties while in flight.

Spc. Gina Alexandro, a medic assigned to the 466th Medical Company, said the training was important to better understand and practice patient care when working with the aeromedical evacuation team.

Knowing what medical care was provided on board the helicopter when a patient arrives at a treatment center is critical for providers, Alexandro said.

“The most important thing is documentation and communication with the next provider,” Alexandro said. “We’re also going to be thorough with our documentation so the person taking over your care next knows what you have already done.”