The Air Force is establishing a formal training unit for aeromedical evacuation at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, co-located with its School of Aerospace Medicine, said Maj. Gen. Kimberly Siniscalchi, USAF’s assistant surgeon general for medical force development and nursing services. “This FTU will focus on enhancing the knowledge and performance required to operate in our AE aircraft,” she told House lawmakers last week during an oversight hearing. She added, “The new modularized curriculum and the relocation of the FTU will reduce overall training time by 130 days, provide flexibility in completing the training requirements, eliminate redundancies, and save thousands of dollars in travel costs.” She also noted that this initiative would “standardize training” across the Air Force’s active and reserve components, “better preparing our AE community for any operational mission.” Pope Field, N.C., currently hosts an AE schoolhouse. (Siniscalchi’s written testimony)
F-35As from the Vermont Air National Guard have deployed to Puerto Rico in recent days, continuing a major buildup of U.S. Air Force assets in Latin America aimed at combating drug trafficking and pressuring the regime of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
