Reserve Citizen Airmen from the 944th Fighter Wing’s 944th Aeromedical Staging Squadron (ASTS) receive a mission briefing from Capt. Eric Huff, 56th Medical Group physician assistant, at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., Jan. 4, 2025. The briefing prepared the team for a joint operation to support critically injured patients from Hawaii, showcasing the unit’s readiness for real-world missions. The 944th ASTS, a unit known for its expertise in aeromedical evacuation, provided critical manpower for offloading the patients from the aircraft and transferring them to ambulances at the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. “We had to transfer patients from military litters to Phoenix Fire Department gurneys, which required precise coordination,” Huff explained. “It’s not just about physical strength – it’s about communication and synchronization among all teams involved.” (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Alexis Orozco)
For an emergency medical support request in response to the New Year’s Eve fireworks explosion in Hawaii, Reserve Citizen Airmen from the 944th Fighter Wing’s 944th Aeromedical Staging Squadron (ASTS) receive a briefing on patient movement techniques at the 56th Medical Group clinic at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., Jan. 4, 2025. The briefing prepared the team for a joint operation to support critically injured patients from Hawaii, showcasing the unit’s readiness for real-world missions. The 944th ASTS, a unit known for its expertise in aeromedical evacuation, provided critical manpower for offloading the patients from the aircraft and transferring them to ambulances at the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. “Helping people who can’t help themselves – that’s why I joined,” explained Staff Sgt. Nathan Espinoza, 944th ASTS. “Seeing the resilience of these patients and knowing that our efforts are making a difference is incredibly rewarding.” (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Alexis Orozco)
For an emergency medical support request in response to the New Year’s Eve fireworks explosion in Hawaii, Reserve Citizen Airmen of the 944th Fighter Wing’s 944th Aeromedical Staging Squadron (ASTS) practice litter-carry techniques during a joint training event at the 56th Medical Group clinic at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., Jan. 4, 2025. The 944th ASTS, a unit known for its expertise in aeromedical evacuation, provided critical manpower for offloading the patients from the aircraft and transferring them to ambulances at the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. “This is why we train so rigorously,” said Master Sgt. Elisabeth Yates, 944th ASTS. “When you’re called at a moment’s notice, readiness is everything. This mission brought all our preparation into sharp focus.” (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Alexis Orozco)
For an emergency medical support request in response to the New Year’s Eve fireworks explosion in Hawaii, Reserve Citizen Airmen from the 944th Fighter Wing’s 944th Aeromedical Staging Squadron (ASTS) board a bus at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., on their way to support a 6-patient transport at the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, Jan. 4, 2025. “This is what we train for, and when the call comes, we’re ready,” said Capt. Paris Mandy, 944th ASTS. “It’s both humbling and exhilarating to put our skills to work in such a meaningful way.” (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Alexis Orozco)
In the predawn hours of New Year’s Eve, a deadly fireworks explosion in Hawaii sent shockwaves across the islands. By the end of the day, the lives of three people were tragically lost, and 20 more were injured. Six survivors, suffering severe burn injuries described as "warzone-level," were airlifted aboard an Air Force C-17 from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii to Phoenix, Ariz., Jan. 4, 2025, where they would receive specialized care at Valleywise Medical Center’s renowned burn unit.
The mission to safely transport these patients exemplified a seamless joint effort between the Air Force Reserve’s 944th Fighter Wing, the active-duty Air Force’s 56th Fighter Wing, the Phoenix Fire Department, and civilian medical professionals.
“This is what we train for, and when the call comes, we’re ready,” said Capt. Paris Mandy, 944th Aeromedical Staging Squadron (ASTS), a specialized unit within the most diverse training wing in the Air Force Reserve.
With their core mission centered on patient movement and stabilization, the 944th ASTS played an instrumental role in this high-stakes operation. From the moment the team was activated, they worked side by side with active-duty Airmen and civilian counterparts to ensure mission success.
The 944th ASTS, a unit known for its expertise in aeromedical evacuation, provided critical manpower for offloading the patients from the aircraft and transferring them to ambulances at the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.
Mandy described the mission as a “rare unicorn opportunity” – a real-world scenario where the unit’s extensive training could be directly applied.
“Today, we’re not working with mannequins. These are real patients who need us,” Mandy said. “It’s both humbling and exhilarating to put our skills to work in such a meaningful way.”
For many of the reservists, including 944th FW ASTS Master Sgt. Elisabeth Yates, this was their first real-world operation.
“This is why we train so rigorously,” Yates noted. “When you’re called at a moment’s notice, readiness is everything. This mission brought all our preparation into sharp focus.”
Yates highlighted the critical role Exercise Desert Hammer 25-1, conducted in November 2024 by the 944th FW, a rigorous annual training exercise, played in preparing them for this moment. The exercise simulates high-pressure, real-world scenarios, requiring rapid adaptability and flawless execution.
“Desert Hammer taught us how to operate at a real-world pace,” Yates added. “That training translated directly into our ability to respond effectively today.”
The joint nature of this operation was a testament to the power of collaboration. Capt. Eric Huff, 56th FW Medical Group Director of Tactical Combat Casualty Care, emphasized the importance of teamwork in ensuring patient safety.
“We had to transfer patients from military litters to Phoenix Fire Department gurneys, which required precise coordination,” Huff explained. “It’s not just about physical strength – it’s about communication and synchronization among all teams involved.”
The mission also highlighted the human element at the heart of military operations. For 94th FW ASTS Staff Sgt. Nathan Espinoza, who was promoted to his new rank that very day, the experience was profoundly meaningful.
“Helping people who can’t help themselves – that’s why I joined,” Espinoza said. “Seeing the resilience of these patients and knowing that our efforts are making a difference is incredibly rewarding.”
The complexity of the operation, from the initial activation to the final patient transfer, highlighted the value of readiness and adaptability by all support involved, explained Huff.
Mandy’s background as an emergency room nurse and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner brought an additional layer of expertise to the mission, bridging the gap between military and civilian medical care.
“It’s a team effort,” Mandy said. “Whether it’s our junior Airmen or senior officers, everyone has a role to play. The camaraderie and mutual respect we’ve built through training like Desert Hammer made all the difference today.”
As the last ambulance departed for Valleywise Medical Center, the gravity of the mission settled over the team. They had answered the call, proving that their training and dedication could rise to meet any challenge.
For the 944th Fighter Wing, this mission was not just a demonstration of operational excellence but also a profound reminder of their collective purpose: to Forge Combat Airmen to Fly, Fight, and Win – in any scenario, at any time.
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