kj_gully, I am not at all disagreeing with your point about "what CASEVAC should be." I am, however, pointing out the reality of how the aeromedical Evacuation (AME) flavour of CASEVAC would likely be conducted over here by CF aviation assets. A big yellow and red chopper flying around Canada with plenty of space/payload for medical and rescue equipment on-board with a number of highly trained rescue personnel is just not going to happen over here. CA aviation over here will be a combat capability first and foremost, and other capabilities that are required to support those operations will be conducted when and where possible.
Considering some of the information you've added to the conversation, let me run a scenario:
I've inserted the force package, egress the insertion point/LZ to the holding area (HA), wait for package exfil call, I get a dust-off call prior to exfil call, I leave the HA and proceed soonest to the ACCP, pick-up the wounded, egress in dust-off mode to the Role 1/2/3 facility as applicable, then return for the exfil of remaining force package. Roger that so far....
OK...a few questions:
- What did the SOMECE do to aid the situation? I can only see him increasing the likelihood of maintaining, or possibly improving the stability of the patient prior to arrival at the Role 1/2/3 facility.
- Who generates this individual and to what standard?
...I would have to challenge you on your rather imperial [not sure what this means] "dustoff" hypothesis. I believe that if you advance this course of thought, you are doing a grave disservice to soldiers...
- What disservice have I done to my fellow soldier by proceding as outlined above?
...If we cannot dedicate an ambulance for our wounded, regardless if it will be shot at or not, then we are possibly killing soldiers...
- What point you are trying to make with the statement above? Since we don't have CA helos to conduct CASEVAC in theatre, until we get them [notwithstanding dedicated US CASEVAC in RC(S)], are you advocating that we should have CA Amb Bison's as integral elements to all CA patrols?
We will require @ minimum this kind of "2nd line" care, or be negligent in our responsibility to the troops. BTW, the US is applying the same standard of care to the Afghan indig troops under their command,(maybe not under their command, but with Green Beret advisors) it will be a shame if Canadians end up with an evac plan that is below the Afghan Military standard.
- Finally, by "2nd line", do you mean on-board Role 2 medical care? Is this capability provided by the SOMECE that you mentioned earlier?
Oh, and the word "negligent"....that is a very strong word, kj_gully -- who would be negligent? CFMG? Comd CEFCOM? Comd TF?
Re: support to ANA troops injured and supported by US dedicated CASEVAC capabilities, our troops will also CONTINUE to be supported by US dedicated CASEVAC assets in RC(S) as has happened in the past, so the AME plan is the same and NO, Canadian troops would not have an evac plan that is below Afghan Military (when in the company of US Forces/advisors) standard.
I will tell you this -- having sat down with the US Army Aviation Aeromedical Evacuation proponent director LTC in Ft Rucker, AL last year and passing all the information I could glean from them to CFMG and the appropriate organizations in the Air Staff and 1 Cdn Air Div, I too am disappointed that there is not something more being done by the medical world to forward the AME services that could be provided on any number of aircraft fleets currently operating in the CF.
Duey