The Air Force on March 21 flew its first non-stop aeromedical evacuation flight from Afghanistan to Germany, making it in just 10 hours compared to the three to five days such flights previously would consume by stopping over in Kuwait first. Journalist SSgt. Carlos Diaz reports that scheduling the medevac missions is the job of the patient administration division at the new theater hospital at Bagram AB, Afghanistan. Despite its expanded capability, the new facility must send some patients to larger hospitals, such as at Landstuhl, Germany.
Air Force Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich assumed command of U.S. European Command on July 1, taking over the key assignment as the U.S. and its allies contend with a resurgent Russia and a grinding war in Ukraine.