3 Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron (3AES) conducted static and live flight training on Exercise Dakota Rising to strengthen the unit's baseline skills from February 9 to 22 at RAAF Base Amberley.
The exercise focused on the fundamentals of aeromedical evacuation, aircraft configuration and safe patient management in C-17A Globemaster, C-130J Hercules and C-27J Spartan aircraft.
3AES nursing officer Flight Lieutenant Stephanie Green said that on Dakota Rising, they shifted away from last year's contingency-style training.
"We deliberately stripped it back to focus on fundamental aeromedical skills - being brilliant at the basics," she said.
"With new postings and people stepping into mentorship roles, we need to ensure no skills are lost and that everyone meets expected standards before progressing into more advanced training throughout the year."
Week one involved patient scenarios commonly encountered in aeromedical missions, such as appendicitis and mental health.
Week two used the same framework but with patients deteriorating and requiring urgent care, exposing personnel to controlled fatigue and stress.
'The program created a deliberate surge to get us used to doing multiple missions a day, building momentum and exposing us to realistic stressors.'
Newcomers were paired with experienced mentors and assigned roles such as mission crew director or ICU support, according to 3AES medical technician Sergeant Reaksmey Sophea.
"One new medic who hadn't done the course yet stepped in as mission crew director on her first live flight and did extremely well," she said.
Personnel worked in the Globemaster - with lots of space for patients and equipment - and the smaller, more restrictive, Spartan.
"For the same mission type, we had to reduce equipment and stores due to space and weight limits. That increases risk because you may not have everything you want if something unexpected happens," Sergeant Sophea said.
"Storage and equipment placement became much more difficult, and you need closer coordination with loadmasters."
With the activity upgraded to an exercise, 3AES were allowed greater access to live flight training compared to previous years.
"The biggest change this year was the number of missions - both in the static aircraft and in live flights," Sergeant Sophea said.
"The program created a deliberate surge to get us used to doing multiple missions a day, building momentum and exposing us to realistic stressors. It was challenging but useful."
