En-route Patient Staging Flight helps injured service members soar home

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Milton Hamilton Jr.
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  The En-route Patient Staging Flight bussed injured service members for a routine patient transfer from Landstuhl Regional Medical Center to Ramstein Air Base, Oct. 26.

“The ERPSF is part of the patient movement system responsible for transporting patients from point of injury to definitive treatment,” said Tech. Sgt. Maya Baker, 86th Aerospace Medical Squadron, ERPSF flight chief.

The ERPSF manages missions arriving from Europe, Africa, Central Asia, and the United States. It is the focal point in transporting wounded warriors, dependents, NATO forces and civilians between the aircraft and military or civilian medical facilities, said Baker.

Every day the organization is focused on their primary goals, which are to succeed in the mission, promote health and develop Airmen.

“We provide high-quality health care that ensures Airmen are ready to answer our nation’s call,” said Baker. “We promote health by caring for one another, by supporting resilient Airmen, promoting prevention, and providing patient-centered care. We become better by developing Airman whom become proficient and knowledgeable leaders.”

The ERPS works with volunteers to prepare patients for transport to the U.S. twice a week. Injured service members are moved by bus from a local medical facility then are loaded onto a plane to the states, said Baker.

The typical aircraft used for missions are the C-17 Globemaster III. They have launched and recovered from a C-21 (Learjet), a KC-135 (Stratotanker), as well as various civilian aircraft. On average they launch and recover 45 aeromedical evacuations a month.

“ERPS collaborates with several different agencies on patient movement requirements and transport such as the Theater Patient Movement Requirements Center-Europe, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, the 603 Air and Space Operations Center, the 10th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, and the 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron,” said Baker.

Any active duty service member, without physical limitations, is eligible to volunteer to help transport patients. Members interested in volunteering for ERPS should email 86amds.erps@us.af.mil.