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News | Oct. 7, 2016

Ramstein assembles for an immediate response

By Airman 1st Class Savannah L. Waters 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany  –   Whether it’s an x-ray technician taking images, or a doctor using their stethoscope, Ramstein Air Base medical professionals expect their equipment to be reliable and functioning.

The 86th Medical Support Squadron medical logistics flight ensures that Ramstein’s medical staff has the equipment they need and that it works properly.

“It’s a big job, because if one piece of equipment is not functioning or is missing, it could be a life or death situation,” said Chief Master Sgt. Nathaniel S. Sugatan, 86th MDSS superintendent.

Medical logistics equipment technicians are responsible for the maintenance and inventory of medical supplies, as well as preparing for exercises. The Airmen have approximately 60 days after an exercise to clean and take inventory of unit type assemblages, which are packages that hold field hospital necessities such as tents and other medical equipment.

“The 86th MDSS medical logistics flight provides logistical support for any medical mission that happens in (United States Air Forces in Europe) and Africa,” Sugatan said.

Airmen from the medical logistics flight recently took part in a major annual exercise, Exercise Immediate Response 2016, in Slovenia from Sept. 9 to 23.

More than 2,000 participants from 11 countries attended the exercise. Participants included Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Hungary, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom.

Logistics prepared and provided the patient staging equipment for Immediate Response participants, making sure all personnel had all required equipment to perform.

“The exercise showed our NATO allies how we train, strengthen our partnerships, and prepare a rapid response en route patient staging for aeromedical evacuation operations, whether it be for contingency ops, initial states of a major theatre, or humanitarian assistance and disaster response, including defense support of civilian authority events,” said Tech. Sgt. Mishell A. Murphy, 86th MDSS NCO in charge of Medical Readiness. “This in turn will prepare us and our allies to combine forces and be ready to support the mission.”

The medical logistics flight handles, cleans and assembles more than $2.3 million worth of field hospital necessities and medical equipment for exercises such as Immediate Response. They are currently taking inventory, cleaning out, and reassembling the equipment used during the exercise.


Editor's note: The original story can be viewed on the Ramstein Air Force Base website.