Aeromedical Airmen host Wyoming governor

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Armando A. Schwier-Morales
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  The 10th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron hosted Governor of Wyoming Matt Mead for a tour and meet and greet with the deployed Wyoming Air National Guard Airmen Oct. 27, at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

The 10th EAES is a mixture of reserve, guard and active-duty Airmen who provide injured service members in-flight medical care as they are transported to Germany and then back home to the U.S.

Mead visited the 12 Wyoming ANG Airmen currently serving at the 10th EAES and expressed his feelings on seeing what they do and how they contribute to the mission.

"The first word is pride, pride for me and for Wyoming and the job that they do," said Mead. "Wherever they are they do a great job and serve a great mission for the sake of the country. It's one of the greatest sources of pride for Carol and me to be able to get to visit them and see the job that they do and see the job the overall military does. We are just very proud of them."

During his visit with the 10th EAES, Mead had lunch with the Airmen, was briefed on their operations and the more than 2,500 lives they have saved and also shown the equipment used to get wounded service members home.

"It was a pleasure to host the governor and his wife," said 1st Lt. Kathrin Ryan, 10th EAES flight nurse and event coordinator, "Governor Mead has always been there for us and showed his support of the military. It was an honor to be able to pay it forward and support him visiting the Airmen who are here to perform the mission we constantly train for."

While the Wyoming Airmen are saving military members lives every week, recently Mead supported the guardsmen's home unit, the 187th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, from a base realignment and closure action.

"It kind of hits close to home for our unit because Governor Mead recently helped to save our squadron on the national level," said Senior Airman Beverly Spencer, 10th EAES technician. "So to be able to show him what we do in aeromedical evacuation is only to show how much we appreciate what he has done for us by allowing us to keep our jobs."

Spencer was responsible for the tour and showcased the dedication the 10th EAES towards their job, said Ryan.

"Air [evacuation] is not just a job or an (Air Force Specialty Code) that you have," said Spencer. "It becomes a part of who you are, so it cannot be said enough how incredible it was to momentarily let him into our world."

Spencer presented Mead and his wife with a coin from the 10th EAES. Mead left Ramstein with more knowledge not only on the mission but also the dedication of his deployed guardsmen.