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Reservists, Guardsmen travel to Scott for training

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jake Eckhardt
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
Scott Air Force Base, Ill. --  Members from the California Air National Guard's 146th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron and Tennessee's Air National Guard 118th AES traveled to Scott Air Force Base July 18-22 for Aeromedical Evacuation Communications training, hosted by the 375th AES.

According to Staff Sgt. Antwan McGaw, a radio frequency transmission journeyman for the 375th AES, the training is for Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units to keep them current on new communications equipment and upgrades.

This covers new technology used in land mobile radios and satellite communications systems. The importance of keeping current is especially important for these units as many must rely on these communication devices during deployments and humanitarian missions if other systems fail.

"We aid in natural disasters," said McGaw. "For instance, we helped in Hurricane Gustav by providing primary and secondary communications embedded within the AE mission."
Along with Hurricane Gustav, the 375th AES has provided help with other natural disasters such as the earthquake in Haiti and Hurricane Katrina. They are also on standby during hurricane season in case of an emergency.

Tech. Sgt. Brett Anderson, the NCO in charge of the 375th AES, said that Scott and Pope AFB, N.C., are the only two bases qualified to hold this kind of training.

"We volunteered to do this," said Anderson. "We want to help the AE community. We have the personnel, the equipment and the experience. 'Aerovac brings em' back.'"