SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Members of the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution Sept. 28 honoring the Airmen who support and perform aeromedical evacuation.
House Resolution 1605 recognizes "the service of the medical and aircrews in helping our wounded warriors make the expeditious and safe trip home to the United States," and, "commends the personnel of the Air Force for their commitment to the well-being of all our service men and women."
The resolution was sponsored by Rep. Mike Thompson of California and co-sponsored by 76 other U.S. representatives. By passing this resolution honoring the AE community, it also becomes a matter of official history in the Congressional record and in the Library of Congress.
The resolution highlights how, since Sept. 11, 2001, "the aeromedical evacuation system has moved over 81,000 patients, including almost 14,000 battle-injured Soldiers."
In 2009, AE crews performed 19,025 patient movements -- a number equal to the approximate number of people who could fill New York City's Madison Square Garden. The resolution highlights how wounded warriors now have a 98 percent survival rate and are returned to the U.S. in three days or less.
"Whereas yielding a survival rate of 98 percent for wounded service members by adopting a new strategy of rapid evacuation from the battlefield, critical care air transport teams provide care that has resulted in the lowest mortality rate of any war in United States history," the resolution states.
The total force enterprise is also recognized in the resolution.
"Aeromedical evacuation is a total force effort which includes active duty, Reserve and Air National Guard members," the resolution states. "Whereas there are 18 Air Force Reserve squadrons, 10 National Guard squadrons and four active duty squadrons."
The resolution also highlights deployed AE personnel.
"The Air Force has up to 500 aeromedical evacuation, aeromedical staging, aeromedical liaison, support, communications and command and control personnel deployed to Afghanistan, to Iraq, in Europe, and in the United States, as part of the team providing care and helping ensure that wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines get safely home to their families."