ECMO transfer

Members of the 59th Medical Wing Aeromedical Staging Facility transfer a patient being treated with an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation system into a C-17 Globemaster III, Jan. 16 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. ECMO is a heart-lung bypass system that circulates blood through an external artificial lung and sends it back into the patient’s bloodstream. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Kevin Iinuma)

AE mission soars through Pacific in KC-10

Aeromedical Evacuation crews at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam utilize a patient loader for transportation onto a KC-10 Extender Dec. 3. The Extender is undergoing "proof of principle" missions to determine its capability for supporting combined cargo and AE missions on Pacific Air Force channels. (U.S. Air Force photo/1st Lt. Angela Martin)

AE mission soars through Pacific in KC-10

Staff Sgt. Ross Rudolph, 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron technician, secures AE equipment onboard a KC-10 Extender at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Dec. 3. Inflight kits include about 750 pounds of AE equipment such as heart monitors, frequency converters, litters and oxygen. (U.S. Air Force photo/1st Lt. Angela Martin)

AE mission soars through Pacific in KC-10

Aeromedical Evacuation crews prepare litters of AE equipment to be loaded on a KC-10 extender at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Dec. 3. The Extender is undergoing "proof of principle" missions to determine its capability for supporting combined cargo and aeromedical evacuation missions on Pacific Air Force channels. (U.S. Air Force photo/1st Lt. Angela Martin)

Around the world in 80 beats per minute

Maj. Maria Coppola, a Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility director at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, monitors ambulatory patient loading on Ramstein's flightline prior to their departure for continued care in the United States. The Air Force's Strategic Transitory Care process ensures wounded warriors are kept safe and receive consistent care throughout the journey from Afghanistan through Germany to the United States. (U.S. Air Force photo/TSgt Shawn David McCowan)

Around the world in 80 beats per minute

Lt. Col. Linda Berry (left) and 1st Lt Deborah Lichota, medical technicians assigned to the 86th Aeromedical Squadron at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, review each patient's record and status aboard a C-17 Globemaster II before it departs during the final leg of a MEDEVAC flight from Ramstein to the United States. The Air Force's Strategic Transitory Care process ensures wounded warriors are kept safe and receive consistent care throughout the journey from Afghanistan through Germany to the United States. (U.S. Air Force photo/TSgt Shawn David McCowan)