AOTW searches for adventure

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Madelyn Keech
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Audrey Allen, 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron aeromedical evacuation technician and flight instructor, grew up enjoying many outdoor activities like traveling, skiing, camping and hiking.

Every year, Allen’s family went to a campground and stayed all summer long after school was let out.

When Allen grew up and became a member of the Air Force because her father is an Army veteran, she was stationed at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Allen is grateful for being stationed in Europe because it gives her many opportunities to continue having other adventures.

Recently, she took an opportunity to travel to Iceland and run a half marathon with a group called Albatros Adventure.

“Their main goal for marathons isn’t to have your best time, it’s for you to have fun,” she said. “This one we ran on a volcano and it was so cool.”

Runners could choose to run a full, half or quarter marathon. The route went through the Hverfjall crater, smaller volcanic craters and lava rock plains.

Allen’s favorite adventure in her military career so far has been her temporary duty travel to Plovdiv, Bulgaria, for Thracian Summer 2020. She provided support for 235 members from the 86th Airlift Wing.

The exercise provided an opportunity to train with Bulgarian forces to enhance interoperability, maintain joint readiness and strengthen relationships with our regional allies and partners.

Allen also develops training programs for the 86th AES. She acts as a Medical Control Center by creating patient scenarios for the team to solve. The training maintains readiness within the squadron to ensure the squadron can provide aeromedical support throughout the European theater.

Allen was recently awarded 86th AW Airlifter of the Week. She streamlined the training pipeline for new Airmen by 46 percent, assisting them complete upgrade training. She works with agencies such as Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape, which is necessary for aircrew who fly into potentially dangerous areas, and finance to finish their in-processing.

“She’s taking care of all of that groundwork, basically all they have to do is fly and learn how to do the mission,” Tech. Sgt. Jordan Brown, 86th AES aeromedical evacuation technician and Allen’s supervisor, said. “Senior Airman Allen is our go-to Airman and an undeniable asset to the 86th Airlift Wing.”

Allen’s career goal is to become an aeromedical evacuation examiner before she leaves Ramstein. If selected, she will provide support with training for flight instructors and assigned flying personnel.