KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

The 403rd Aeromedical Staging Squadron at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., covers a wide variety of rules depending on the circumstances. In-garrison they are responsible for ensuring the medical readiness of the military members of the Air Force Reserve's 403rd Wing while also being trained to set up medical facilities and give assistance to wounded in austere environments. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. Marnee A. C. Losurdo) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Col. Carl Spear is the commander 403rd Aeromedical Staging Squadron that provides home station medical readiness for 1,500 403rd Wing reservists and the wartime tasking to establish medical triage and staging anywhere in the world. He is also an optometrist with over 20 years of experience and is the senior vice president of Eye Care North America for Luxottica, an Italian eyewear company based in Milan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Maj. Marnee A.C. Losurdo) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Col. Carl Spear is the commander 403rd Aeromedical Staging Squadron that provides home station medical readiness for 1,500 403rd Wing reservists and the wartime tasking to establish medical triage and staging anywhere in the world. He is also an optometrist with over 20 years of experience and is the senior vice president of Eye Care North America for Luxottica, an Italian eyewear company based in Milan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Maj. Marnee A.C. Losurdo) Share

Col. Frank L. Amodeo, 403rd Wing commander (left), passes the guidon Col. John E. Buterbaugh, 403rd Aerial Port Squadron commander, during an assumption of command ceremony at the Keesler Medical Center, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, June 7, 2014. Buterbaugh assumed command of the 403rd ASTS during the 403rd Wing June unit training assembly. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Ryan Labadens) Share

403rd Aeromedical Staging Squadron medical technicians litter carry the simulated patient, Staff Sgt. Jennifer Thibodeaux, cyber transport technician from Buckley Air Force Base, Co., who participated in a mass casualty exercise here May 3, 2014. Thibodeaux was moulaged to show simulated injuries of a broken right arm and a simulated sucking chest wound. The litter carry team moved Thibodeaux to an ambulance for transport from the field to the medical facility to evaluate patient transport during the exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sergeant Jessica L. Kendziorek) Share

403rd Aeromedical Staging Squadron medical technicians, Senior Airmen Philip Newsome and Kandice Waddell, check on the simulated patient Staff Sgt. Jonathan West, network infrastruction technician from Warrior Preparation Center, Einseidlerhof, Germany, while being transported by ambulance during a mass casualty exercise here May 3, 2014. West had a simulated compound fracture of the left thigh and a simulated cut to the forehead for the purpose of this exercise. Patient transport by ambulance was evaluated during the mass casualty exercise to ensure the ASTS operational readiness. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sergeant Jessica L. Kendziorek) Share

Medical personnel from the 403rd Aeromedical Staging Squadron moved the simulated patient, Airman 1st Class Jessica Barker, phase II student with 81 Medical Diagnostic Support Squadron, from the ground to a litter during a mass casualty exercise here May 3, 2014. Barker had simulated injuries of cuts and shrapnel. Litter transport was used to test the training by medical personnel for operational readiness during the mass casualty exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sergeant Jessica L. Kendziorek) Share

Maj. Andrew Belcher, 403rd Aeromedical Staging Squadron nurse, checks the simulated injuries on moulaged patient, Staff Sgt. Jonathan West, network infrastruction technician from Warrior Preparation Center, Einseidlerhof, Germany, who participated in a mass casualty exercise here May 3, 2014. West had a simulated compound fracture of the left thigh and a simulated cut to the forehead for the purpose of this exercise. The mass casualty exercise was conducted to ensure 403rd ASTS operational readiness. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sergeant Jessica L. Kendziorek) Share

Col. Frank Amodeo, 403rd Wing Commander (third from right, standing), and Chief Master Sergeant Christopher L. Barnby, 403rd Wing Command Chief Master Sergeant (fourth from right, standing), pose next to volunteer airmen with simulated injuries before a mass casualty exercise here May 3, 2014. The mass casualty exercise was organized by the 403rd Aeromedical Staging Squadron to test medical personnel for operational readiness. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sergeant Jessica L. Kendziorek) Share

Nine combat medics with the 403rd Aeromedical Staging Squadron were recognized for their outstanding individual efforts during a joint war exercise held June 13-27 at Fort Hunter Leggett in California. They were, from left, Senior Airman Robert Davis, Master Sgt. Wanda McGee, Senior Airman Melinda Bardell, Senior Airman Hannah Agee, Master Sgt. Anthony Pittman, Tech. Sgt. Katherine Eaton and Maj. Dale Blackwell. Not pictured are Maj. Burdette Price and Senior Airman Kera McGinnis. The 403rd ASTS was one of several Air Force Reserve medical units that participated in the exercise along with the U.S. Army. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jessica Kendziorek) Share

Lt. Col. Barbara Persons accepts the 403rd Aeromedical Staging Squadron guidon from Col. Jay Jensen, 403rd Wing commander, in an assumption of command ceremony held Sept. 11, 2011 at the 81st Medical Group auditorium, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. Persons replaces former 403rd ASTS Commander Col. Guy Favaloro, who retired from the Air Force in July 2011. Persons' comes to the 403rd Wing after returning from a deployment to Afghanistan as the 451st Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron commander. (U.S. Air Force photo by Dhiana McKaig) Share

Senior Master Sgt. John Gambs, 403rd Aeromedical Staging Squadron administrative technician, and Senior Airman Michael Cassaday, 403rd ASTS medical technician, secure a “patient” for transport to the flightline for aeromedical evacuation. Senior Airman Marshelle Ely, 403rd ASTS, simulated a right shoulder injury from shrapnel received during the mass casualty exercise. The exercised was conducted during the November Unit Training Assembly in preparation for the 403rd Wing’s upcoming Operation Readiness Inspection. Share