More than 60 Pacific-based medical airmen practiced erecting and running a newly improved mobile tent hospital during a four-day exercise at Andersen AFB, Guam. “They were enthusiastic about learning the new equipment and process . . . and gave us feedback that we can carry back to make the new system even better,” said Maj. Ryan Gabel, Air Combat Command instructor from JB Langley-Eustis, Va., in Andersen’s Dec. 14, release. ACC and Pacific Air Forces trainers taught these airmen, who are members of Expeditionary Medical Support-Health Response Teams from Andersen; JB Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska; and Yokota AB, Japan, how to deploy the new facility during the Dec. 10-13 gathering. “The new tents are lighter, and one tent can be completely built with electricity in about 30 minutes,” said Gabel. Now, even the emergency room can be “up and running within two hours,” he added. The teams are able to deploy to disaster zones anywhere in the world and provide most aspects of emergency medical care, including surgery and trauma, states the release. (Andersen report by SrA. Benjamin Wiseman)
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.