The Walter Reed Medevac Team is responsible for safely moving injured and sick servicemembers across the country and the globe, while maintaining constant medical care as they are taken to the hospital just outside of Washington D.C. for further medical treatment. The team consists of officers and enlisted from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, some 14 active-duty members. They are led by two nurse practitioners, with the rest being hospital corpsmen.
Additionally, the team can be bolstered with eleven additional active-duty members who can rotate on and off to support the mission as needed. Overall, the Medevac Team at Walter Reed has the capability to move as many as 26 patients on litters, although most of their missions see them caring for eight to ten at a time.
"The team is equipped with critical lifesaving equipment, including defibrillator units, IV kits, a blood infusion system, oxygen tanks, wound vacuums and other vital patient care supplies," an Army press release about the unit states. "In addition to the medical staff, the team also includes three professional drivers who operate the large vehicles required to carry the medical staff and sizable pieces of equipment necessary to safely transport patients."
Once in their custody, patients receive constant care and monitoring from the Medevac Team during transportation to more specialized medical units at Walter Reed. '
"'Thank you' is not what I am looking for," said Navy Lt. Abena Nimako, who is the officer in charge of the unit. "The real validation is when the mission is secured and the patient is at Walter Reed. I tell myself that I made a difference that day. I did something good."
