Air Force Surgeon General Lt. Gen. Charles Green spoke of the need to invest in training and education, leverage new technologies, and partner more closely with other nations in his keynote address at last week’s US-led international symposium on in-flight medical care at JB Lewis-McChord, Wash. “The future for us is all about helping more people, saving more lives,” said Green. “That means finding ways to move more patients, not just in volume, but patients we otherwise wouldn’t move because they’re not stable enough to fly.” Green said its crucial to standardize equipment so joint teams can work together seamlessly regardless of whose gear is available. Over the past 10 years, aeromedical professionals have moved more than 90,000 patients, of which only four died while in their care, he said. “In the future, we’ll be able to do even better,” he said during his July 21 speech. (Lewis-McChord report by SSgt. J.G. Buzanowski)
The Air Force is renaming its traditional aviation bonus program in 2024 and continuing a new, experimental second program, ordered by Congress, aimed at getting aviators to extend their commitment sooner and for longer. While the programs can’t be doubled-up, aviators may be able to move from one to the…