CASF to reach major milestone in warrior care


U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Laura Small, 86th Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility medical technician, unloads gurneys at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Aug. 27, 2009. The gurneys will be used to transport wound warriors to an aircraft taking them to Walter Reed Army Medical Center for further medical treatment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nathan Lipscomb)

CASF to reach major milestone in warrior care

by Senior Airman Amanda Dick
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

10/19/2009 - RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- The 86th Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility here will soon be reaching a new milestone since opening its doors and receiving its first patient six years ago.

A major player in providing critical care to wounded warriors, the facility is scheduled to complete its 100,000th patient movement sometime between now and late October.

According to Maj. Rebecca Dols, CASF health services administrator, the number of patient movements was at 99,837 as of Oct. 13.

The one hundred members of the CASF provide support and medical care to servicemembers injured during Overseas Contingency Operations as they await transit back to the United States. They also transport patients from Ramstein's flightline to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany.

"The mission is basically to provide ground support for patients that are coming into and out of Ramstein on their way to definitive care," said. Maj. Mark Knitz, 86th CASF flight commander. "The kind of support we provide is ground transport, en route medical care and staging and preparation at the CASF."

The facility operates around-the-clock and consists of a joint-force staff of active duty, guard and reservists, including one Soldier, one Marine and one Canadian military liaison.

"I think it's been a great honor, working here," said Army Sgt. 1st Class Cynthia Shepard, CASF Army liaison. "Currently not being deployed downrange, this is the next level of being there -- making patients feel comfortable when they get back and letting them know someone is here for them in their time of need. We make patients feel at home."

For the 70 personnel who are on temporary duty here for six months, this is an experience worth remembering and enjoying.

"I absolutely love my job," said Tech. Sgt. Joycelyn Walker, CASF in-house coordinator deployed from the 88th Medical Group at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. "It's a great opportunity. I say that because, being the in-house coordinator, I get to take the time to get to know the patients and find out their stories and what they've been through. I get to know the patients personally. I think it's awesome."

The facility began taking patients in 2003 from Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, and was set up to provide care for those who couldn't receive treatment at Aeromedical Staging Facilities and Mobile ASFs during those operations.

"What was missing were the bigger, more hardened facilities that could stage a lot more patients out of locations with large theater hospitals or in a strategic place, like here at Ramstein," Major Knitz said. "A typical small-bedded ASF for MASF just didn't fit the requirements. So, they developed the CASF, which has a larger bed capacity and a lot more staging capabilities with the vehicles and manpower to support those missions."

The CASF averages about 300 patient movements per week, taking patients from downrange almost every day, and ensuring they receive proper medical care.