43rd AES recognized with top honors

POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Pope's 43rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron has the unique mission of tactical medical evacuations and was recently awarded several Air Mobility Command awards for its dedication to the mission and to saving people's lives. 

The 43rd AES was named squadron of the year among 31 active duty, Guard and Reserve evacuation squadrons. The award highlighted the AES as worldwide AE leaders, who deployed to three theaters, 18 countries and supported two humanitarian missions. 

A significant portion of the squadron, 110 of its 147 members, deployed during 2005. The squadron evacuated an impressive 5,600 patients throughout the year.
Lt. Col. Anne Conwell, 43rd AES chief nurse, won the Aeromedical Evacuation Excellence in Leadership and Management Award. Colonel Conwell commanded the outstanding 56-member aeromedical team that deploy to Gulfport, Miss., for the Operational Readiness Inspection in 2005. 

In September, she commanded the Mobile Air Staging Facility, AE liaison and AE support teams deployed to Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans, La., after Hurricane Katrina. 

Working closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, her leadership and knowledge of aeromedical operations contributed greatly to the evacuation of 22 hospitals and more than 2,500 patients. 

Capt. Paul Dreater captured the Reba Zitella Whittle Award, an award given to the flight nurse who volunteers beyond the call of duty to care for the injured, while demonstrating the highest military and professional standards. Deployed to New Orleans, Captain Dreater took charge of patient triage as patients arrived at the airport. 

He established patient flow and movement priority bringing order to chaos. Captain Dreater is a premiere clinical educator and was responsible for coordinating instructors and logistics for 14 advanced courses maximizing the calendar for eight local squadrons. 

The awards continued as the 43rd AES also garnered two Outstanding AE Mission Support Awards. Capt. Brent Cunningham won the company grade officer award for his dedication and leadership in the 43rd AES. He was one of the first medical assets on the ground for Hurricane Katrina. 

Captain Cunningham was one of five squadron members to forward deploy to Belle Chase Naval Air Station and establish communication lines with the USS Iwo Jima to coordinate aeromedical evacuation. 

In garrison, Captain Cunningham was the squadron vehicle control officer and managed more than $90,000 in vehicle assets, ensuring that the squadron maintained its readiness posture at all times. 

Master Sgt. Matthew Morris was awarded the AE Mission Support Senior NCO for 2005. Sergeant Morris, NCO in charge of the 43rd AES Readiness Flight, received this award for his dedication to the joint mission. 

Sergeant Morris recently returned from a 135-day deployment to Baghdad, Iraq, where he served side-by-side with the XVIII Airborne Corps and was the sole enlisted aeromedical evacuation liaison to the U.S. Army Command Surgeon. He was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal for his vital tracking of rotary wing medevac assets and providing essential convoy support. 

Col. Judith Schaffer, 43rd AES commander, accepted five of the eight Mobility Air Force's awards on behalf of the squadron. 

"The squadron was pleased by the number of awards, because there is stiff competition in the Air Force among the 31 aeromedical evacuation squadrons in the Guard, Reserves and active duty across five commands," said Colonel Schaffer.