POPE ARMY AIRFIELD, N.C. -- Battalion Mass Tactical Week (BMTW) 25-03, a two week-long mobility exercise, occurred from April 22 to May 2, 2025, at Pope Army Airfield. The focus of the exercise was to execute different mission sets of the 43rd Air Mobility Operations Group (AMOG) and to ensure readiness and support joint interoperability.
The ability to project the force is one of the lethal skills of the Air Force. To ensure injured servicemembers providing support have appropriate medical care, specially trained medics in the aeromedical evacuation (AE) career field triage and treat patients to remove casualties out of harm’s way.
“Aeromedical evacuation significantly enhances Air Mobility Command (AMC),” said Maj. Charles Ellerbe, 156th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron (AES) director of operations. “Its capability to project power and provide humanitarian assistance by ensuring that servicemembers receive critical medical care quickly and efficiently, directly supports the overall mission of rapid global mobility. Aeromedical evacuation crews, comprised of flight nurses and medical technicians, provide continuous medical care during transport and maintain the stability and safety of patients while they are moved to a higher echelon of care.”
After the Cold War, the military reduced the number of medical beds in different theaters. Afterward, AMC became responsible for organizing, equipping and training AE forces. The ability to practice in a simulated high-stress environment is a valuable opportunity for the 156th AES.
“Battalion Mass Tactical Week is a Joint Forcible Entry exercise hosted by the 43rd AMOG at Pope,” said Capt. Everett Estes, 49th Combat Training Squadron (CTS) tactics flight commander and BMTW 25-03 director. “It is facilitated by the 49th CTS to achieve AMC’s desired learning objectives while supporting the 82nd Airborne Division’s combat readiness.”
BMTW is used to get more repetitions and hands-on experience with simulated real-world scenarios to improve combat readiness of participating units. It also can be used to gauge the capabilities of the involved squadrons to later evaluate potential areas of improvement.
“Every BMTW is designed to train aircrew and Soldiers to perform a Joint Forcible Entry by conducting an airborne assault to seize an enemy lodgment and expand combat power in any given theater,” Estes continued. “The ability to successfully perform a Joint Forcible Entry is a key deterrent option for the United States and its global interests.”
The 156th AES participated in BMTW by landing within Sicily Drop Zone in a C-130 Hercules and picked up volunteers who simulated injuries. The “patients” were treated during a two-hour flight. The simulated injuries ranged from those sustained from blunt force trauma to burns and injuries from hand-to-hand combat. Practicing on real people in-flight gave the opportunity to test the 156th AES crew’s skills.
“BMTW provides a great environment for simulated high-stress environments,” said Ellerbe. “It helps our AE personnel develop quick decision-making skills [which is] critical for prioritizing patients based on severity. It allows our AE crewmembers to fly on other fixed winged aircraft outside of the C-17 [Globemaster III] strategic airlift capability.”
Throughout BMTW, many missions were carried out to ensure readiness of all participating units. Being able to sharpen and test Airmen skills is key to being ready for rapid global deployment.
“BMTW is a great opportunity to get training for our members,” said Ellerbe. “[It] provides specialized training designed to enhance the readiness and effectiveness of the joint force – including those involved in aeromedical evacuation.”