Pilots down for 1/2 hour surrounded by insurgents

Cross-posted at Rosemary's Thoughts.

Have you ever read an article that made you just want to know more but knew you couldn't? This is one of those for me. Here we have two pilots that are shot down in Iraq surrounded by insurgents, and it took around half an hour for them to be rescued. For half an hour! What did the rescue team find when they did arrive? Not a single injuring! That is the kind of movie I would pay to see, but I am not quite sure I could stand the vocabulary that may have transpired duing this ordeal. lol. Check it out at Downed Pilots Endure 30 Minutes of Intensity Before Rescue. Have a great day.

Aeromedical Teams Provide Care, Comfort

Cross-posted at Rosemary's Thoughts.

News from CentCom:

21 Jun 07
By Staff Sgt. Cassandra Locke
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs.

SOUTHWEST ASIA — The 379th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron has not only made it possible for a speedier recovery by picking up injured and sick servicemembers, but is providing the care and comfort needed to put their patients at ease.

Each time a crew from the 379th flies on a mission to care for patients, they are humbled by those injured in theater. [Continue reading.]

This is a mixture of emotions article, from heart-wretching to proud to grateful. It is heart-wretching for me to hear about even one of our men in pain, let alone murdered. But this is war, and I have to deal with it.

It makes me so proud when I hear stories about our injured men who, to them, the only problem is when can they have their 'gear' back and join their team! Gratitude comes from the knowledge that they are doing this for you and me. Maybe not directly, maybe we'll never meet face to face, maybe...but wow. They know this as well. I am truly humbled.

Aviation Battalion Reaches 20,000 Flight Hours

News from CentCom:

21 Jun 07
By Sgt. 1st Class Rick Emert
1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq — Unmanned aerial vehicle teams from 1st Air Cavalry Brigade (ACB) have amassed 20,000 flight hours in the skies over Baghdad.

The crews, assigned or attached to the 615th Aviation Support Battalion (ASB) “Cold Steel,” 1st ACB, 1st Cavalry Division, surpassed the deployment total of the unit that previously had the mission in Multinational Division-Baghdad, according to Capt. Joshua Chase, executive officer for Company E, 615th ASB – the unit that conducts the UAV mission for MND-B. [Continue reading.]

Boy, I'll tell ya. If these guys ever stop being competitive, I think it shall be my duty to drop dead! lol. What is the competiton? You'll just have to read the article to find out! Needless to say, these guys are awesome.

Air Force OKs Laser Surgery for Vision Correction

Air Force officials have changed a policy to allow people applying for aviation and aviation-related jobs to have had LASIK surgery.

Effective May 21, the change also removes the altitude and high-performance aircraft restrictions for people who have had LASIK.

The decision is based on studies that showed LASIK-treated eyes experience little or no effect when subjected to the wind blast experienced during aircraft ejection or exposure to high altitude.

The recommended refractive surgeries are Wave Front Guided Photorefractive Keratectomy (WFG-PRK) and Wave Front Guided Laser In-Situ Keratomileusis (WFG-LASIK) using the femtosecond laser. The eyes are more trauma resistant after surgery using these methods compared to other forms of refractive surgeries.

An Air Force memo released this week, however, indicated that such surgeries are elective and are not covered by Tricare benefits. In addition, the memo stated that those "who undergo unauthorized [refractive surgery] treatment may be disqualified or restricted from certain duties."

Individuals still must meet the standards prescribed in AFI 48-123, Medical Examination and Standards, for entrance into the Air Force and aviation and special-duty positions.

Additional information can be found at Air Force Medicine. Air Force personnel are encouraged to follow specific application guidelines to en-sure any such procedures [to] meet force requirements.

Air Force officials also reiterated that there is no guarantee of perfect sight after such surgery.