The first-ever US-led international symposium on in-flight medical care begins Wednesday at JB Lewis-McChord, Wash., for hundreds of aeromedical evacuation professionals from nearly 30 nations. The two-day International Aeromedical Evacuation/En Route Care Conference features speakers from various countries sharing their stories, advice, and lessons learned with fellow doctors, nurses, paramedics and medical specialists. “[W]e wanted an all-encompassing get-together for anyone who provides any level of medical care in an aerial transportation role,” said Col. Beverly Johnson, chief of aeromedevac in Air Mobility Command’s surgeon general’s office. “If we’re all aware of we can each do, it’s easier to come together and work quickly, effectively, and seamlessly in a contingency situation.” AMC Commander Gen. Raymond Johns is the keynote speaker. Among the attendees are military personnel from Britain, Canada, Germany, Japan, Jordan, New Zealand, and South Korea. (Lewis-McChord report by SSgt. J.G. Buzanowski)
A provision in the fiscal 2025 defense policy bill will require the Defense Department to include the military occupational specialty of service members who die by suicide in its annual report on suicide deaths, though it remains to be seen how much data the department will actually disclose.