Joint Base Charleston, S.C.
Vol. 7, No. 16
Patriot Team Charleston – One Family, One Mission, One Fight!
Airmen practice Ebola safety through Exercise Mobility Solace
Story and photo by Airman Megan Munoz Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs
tious diseases can spread quickly across the globe," said Brig. Gen. Lee Payne, AMC command surgeon general. "People don't know they're infected and may travel and expose others with the disease. With the TIS, should the Secretary of Defense request it, we can move DoD members safely without worrying about spreading the disease." According to the TIS user manual, the TIS has the ability to maintain infection control during an aeromedical evacuation of asymptomatic, infected or symptomatic patients. It also ensures the safety of others on the aircraft by preventing a specific virus from spreading. During the exercise, the 628th Medical Group Bioenvironmental Engineering flight was notified at approximately 10 a.m. Aug. 15, that the TIS was needed to simulate an aeromedical evacuation of a potential Ebola patient from Africa to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Maryland. After being notified the TIS was needed, it was loaded onto a C-17 from Dover Air Force Base, Delaware by loadmasters
Air Mobility Command Airmen flew an aeromedical evacuation of a simulated Ebola patient from Joint Base Charleston to Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, during Exercise Mobility Solace, Aug. 15-17, 2016. Mobility Solace provided AMC and its joint partners, the opportunity to evaluate the procedures and operational sequences of moving multiple patients exposed or infected with Ebola using the Transportation Isolation System, while minimizing contamination risks to aircrew, medical attendants and the airframe. The TIS, an enclosed negative pressure medical pod with clear walls, is designed to be loaded onto C-17 Globemaster IIIs or C-130 Hercules aircraft. Two fully configured systems are able to fit in the cargo bay of a C-17. "With today's worldwide air travel, very contagious infec-
September 2, 2016
Paramedics from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center load Major Stephanie La Pierre, the patient simulating a potential exposure to Ebola and individual mobilization augmentee to the Air Mobility Command surgeon general command surgeon's office medical readiness division, into an ambulance for Exercise Mobility Solace at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland., Aug. 16, 2016. Mobility Solace provides Air Mobility Command, working with joint partners, the opportunity to evaluate the protocols and operational sequences of moving multiple patients exposed or infected with Ebola using the TIS, while also minimizing the risks to aircrew, medical attendants and the airframe. The TIS is a modular, scalable system, composed of at least one isolation pallet for patient transportation and care, one pallet configured as an "antechamber" to provide medical members with an enclosed space to safely decontaminate and remove their personal protective equipment before exiting.
from the 3rd Airlift Squadron, 436th Airlift Wing, and prepped to transfer the exercise patient. On Aug. 16. Maj. Stephanie La Pierre, individual mobilization augmentee to the Air Mobility Command surgeon general's office, was treated in the TIS as a simulated patient who had potentially been exposed to Ebola. She was given medical treatment by members of Scott Air Force Base's, Illinois, 375th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron and Pope Army Air Field, North Carolina, 43rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron. "[The TIS] was like a little apartment," said La Pierre. "It felt nice and cool. The medical teams were very professional and were able to effectively give medical care with all their protective equipment on. The clear plastic made it easy to see through. I really liked having that line of sight to the medics." The flight came to an end when the C-17 landed at JB Andrews and La Pierre was transferred to Walter Reed in a commercial ambulance designed to contain infectious diseases. See Exercise Mobility Solace, Page 4
628th SFS Airman takes helm, steers into history
INSIDE
A few miles from the bustling runways full of cargo planes at Joint Base Charleston - Air Base, one Airman is acquiring his "sea legs." Senior Airman Austin Walworth, 628th Security Forces Squdaron, recently earned the Navy's Small Craft Insignia. It is believed Walworth is the first member of the Air Force to achieve such a designation. The "Coxswain Pin" as it is commonly called, originated in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. The pin recognizes elite Sailors who were specially trained to operate small boats in combat. "This pin signifies that Airman Walworth has achieved the highest levels of qualification in small boat operations and tactics," said Lt. Charles Gatewood, Naval Support Activity Charleston's Waterfront Operations officer. To become eligible, Walworth completed several Personnel Qualification System watch stations, two small boat coxswain courses and planned and led a small team in completing a mission. Level I, or Shore Installation Management Small Boat Coxswain, introduces small boat terminology and equipment, basic concepts of navigation and maritime law. The Level II Coxswain course builds on that knowledge and teaches operators how to tactically employ the boats. "Weapons is a big part of the course," said Master at Arms 1st Class Brian Cobb, Harbor Security Training Supervisor and lead instructor of the Level II course. "But mostly we discuss high value asset security and how we maneuver the boats to prevent attacks, as well as conducting insertion/extraction and search and rescue." After building on the fundamentals in the classroom, students put what they learn into action through live combat scenarios in the water. "At the end, we got to actually execute the mission we planned," said Walworth. "Seeing everything come full circle and putting all of our training together to get the job done was pretty rewarding." Because the Air Force and Navy have historically different missions and roles in protecting America, there are some challenges when training between branches. Walworth says this aspect of the qualification process was the most difficult but gave him a newfound appreciation for what the Navy does. "In the Air Force we are used to operating on land and this type of navigation in the water is completely different," Walworth said. "All I know is air base defense, but once I got onto the boats here I wanted to be the best I could be at it." The story of Walworth's climb up the ladder from Airman to small boat crewmember to coxswain is beneficial for both branches of service. "This opens a new avenue for Security Forces Airmen to see how the Navy does waterborne
It’s ‘Chief season’ at JB Charleston
NAVY CHIEFS Pages 2 & 3
Group provides humanitarian aid
DENTON
Page 4
security," said Gatewood. "After completing the course and earning their pin, it allows multiple services to speak one language on the water to help minimize miscommunications. It also helps planning because the Airmen have a better grasp on factors to be considered when performing a maritime security mission." Walworth's dedication paid off personally and provides a shining example to other service members on Joint Base Charleston. "He sets the new standard for all the Airmen following in his footsteps," Cobb said. "After earning his pin, he is considered a subject matter expert on everything related to small boats." The Airman from Claire, Michigan welcomes the expectations that come with breaking down barriers. "In today's world, anything can happen and we have to be ready to react to any threat out there," Walworth said. "I look forward to seeing and being a mentor to new Airmen coming into the program and I hope they catch as much of an interest as I did."
Senior Airman Austin Walworth conducts training with Master at Arms 1st Class Jeremy Krieg and Master at Arms 1st Class Brian Cobb on a Harbor Patrol Unit boat embedded in the 628th Security Forces Squadron at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina. Walworth recently earned the Navy Small Craft Insignia, the first Airman ever to do so.
New training program for Airmen
GREEN DOT
Next Issue of the Patriot: September 16, 2016
Story and photo by MC2 (SW/AW) John Haynes Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs
Page 6
WEEKEND WEATHER UPDATE for Joint Base Charleston, SC
Friday, September 2
Heavy T-Storms
(100% precip)
High 82º Low 67º
Mostly Sunny
Saturday, September 3
(10% precip)
High 85º Low 67º
Extended Forecast
Sunny Sunday, September 4
(10% precip)
High 86º Low 67º
Mon. - September 5 88°/69° - Mostly Sunny (10%) Tue. - September 6 89°/71° - Sunny (10%) Wed. - September 7 89°/71° - Sunny (10%) Thur. - September 8 89°/71° - Mostly Sunny (20%) Fri. - September 9 89°/72° - Scattered T-Storms (50%)
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