Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

By Staff Sgt. Kathy Ferrero
375th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (AMCNS) - As coalition forces zero in on Baghdad, there's a possibility of military mass casualties. If that happens, Scott AFB in the middle of America's heartland may serve as a central medical "hub" for getting sick and wounded warriors to the care they need.

"If the number of casualties is great, we need to be prepared," said Col. Charles Beadling, 375th Medical Group commander.

In both peacetime and wartime, Scott's geographic location makes it an ideal center point in the national hub-and-spoke network of aeromedical evacuation flights, said Lt. Col. William Kormos, Joint Forces Command medical liaison officer to U.S. Transportation Command.

"If you happen to be from a unit in Texas, and you're at Walter Reed Army Medical Center getting specialty care, you'll probably fly into Scott, spend the night, and then fly down to Texas the next day," said Colonel Beadling. "That's the hub-and-spoke system that's already in existence."

If war casualties overwhelm the peacetime contingency care system, the Department of Defense could activate the Integrated Continental United States Medical Operations Plan.

Under ICMOFP, the flow of incoming patients that need critical care (for example burn victims or those with cardiovascular problems) will be transported to the nearest specialty care unit, said Maj. Lenora Cook, 375th Aeromedical Staging Flight commander.

There is a limited intensive care unit in Scott's hospital. Also, more than a dozen civilian hospitals in the St. Louis metropolitan area may offer their available beds through an agreement with the National Disaster Medical System.

If the injuries are not critical, but require long-term care, patients will be sent on the next flight to their home station and or a location near family, Major Cook said.

Should ICMOP be activated, the ASF facility at the base hospital here can house those who don't require long-term care or patients with minor injuries.

"But for a full expansion capability, meaning we've exceeded the capacity of our building, we would have to go to an alternate facility," Colonel Beadling said. The alternate staging facility here would be the base Teen Center, he said.

"The ultimate goal is to get them (the patients) patched up and sent back (in theater) with their unit," Cook said.

Depending on military airlift aircraft availability, the Civil Reserve Air Fleet may shuttle war casualties, the ASF commander said.

CRAF consists of a group of participating civilian aircraft companies contracted through the military to supplement the mission during contingencies.

"Those 767s can transport 80-100 patients. We have a specially-designed ramp in our warehouse that we can roll up to the aircraft to get the passengers," Major Cook said. "It's phenomenal."

USTRANSCOM's Global Patient Movement Requirements Center, located here, coordinates inter and intra-theater patient movement. The ASF acts as a tactical arm to execute GPMRC plans.

Late March 25. a group of patients arrived here with almost a ton of luggage for the ASF crew and volunteers to haul.

The patients were transported in "am-buses," military buses configured to move litter and ambulatory casualties. Most were cared for and situated on their next flight in less than 12 hours. "This is fast and furious business," Major Cook said.

As the first on scene to assist aeromedical patients, the ASF has noticed a change in casualty numbers since the war began.

"We are anticipating and preparing to care for battle injuries," Major Cook said.

The flight labored over the past few weeks to prepare for a possible ICMOP activation by digging out extra linen from the warehouse and triple-checking equipment. Major Cook had to force her dedicated staff to go home on their days off.

"My job as a leader is not to let my troops burn out. If the numbers increase, I won't be able to give them time off," Cook said.

Regardless of preparations and contingency plans, the obvious preference is that ICMOP will never be activated.