Members of the 35th Medical Group carry an Airman on a litter at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Nov. 4, 2015. As part of exercise Vigilant Ace 16, patients were carried from a KC-135 Stratotanker to hospital transport vehicles following an aeromedical evacuation. The scenario gave 35 MDG Airmen the opportunity to respond to a variety of injuries and cases. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jordyn Fetter/Released)

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U.S. Air Force Airmen simulating injuries are unloaded from a KC-135 Stratotanker during exercise Vigilant Ace 16 at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Nov. 4, 2015. Although the KC-135 was used for aeromedical evacuation, its main mission is aerial refueling of Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jordyn Fetter/Released)

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U.S. Air Force Airmen with the 35th Medical Group wait to board a KC-135 Stratotanker at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Nov. 4, 2015. The Airmen boarded the aircraft to perform an aeromedical evacuation as part of exercise Vigilant Ace 16. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jordyn Fetter/Released)

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U.S. Air Force Airmen are lowered to the ground in a high deck patient loading platform at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Nov. 4, 2015. The lift is used to carry patients safely to and from aircraft like the KC-135 Stratotanker. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jordyn Fetter/Released)

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U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Christina Morris, 35th Medical Group flight and operational medical flight chief, coordinates with the ground crew of a KC-135 Stratotanker at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Nov. 4, 2015. To transport Airmen with mock injuries from the KC-135 to the Misawa AB hospital, they first were loaded onto a vehicle lift from the aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jordyn Fetter/Released)

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Vigilant Ace 16 readies 35 MDG for wounded

Published Nov. 6, 2015
By Airman 1st Class Jordyn Fetter
35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Airmen with the 35th Medical Group conducted an aeromedical evacuation drill here during exercise Vigilant Ace 16, Nov. 4.

A KC-135 Stratotanker carried Misawa Airmen who had deployed for the exercise back from Osan AB, Republic of Korea. The returning Airmen were assigned simulated injuries that the 35 MDG Airmen responded to. The injured were transported from the aircraft to emergency transport vehicles via a high deck patient loading platform, which lifts up to 20 people.

Aeromedical evacuation is a focal point for the 35 MDG, which it practices during both and contingency and peacetime operations.