Defence red-herring
Defence has taken the unusual step of disclosing details of the measures it is taking to save soldiers’ lives after being criticised for shortcomings in its aerial medical evacuation capabilities in Afghanistan.
AUSTRALIAN special forces patrols in Afghanistan are being accompanied by soldiers with paramedic-level medical training to reduce the danger of troops dying in remote areas before rescue helicopters can arrive.They always have been now back to the question – when are you going to provide dedicated Australian AME choppers for our troops?
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Obviously by the time news of Afghanistan reaches us it’s been through the spin cycle a few times, but I don’t understand why the medivac process in this conflict doesn’t seem to have reached the standard that operated in Vietnam a generation ago.
There are plenty of surviving Vietnam Vets who owe their lives to the rapid evacuation and treatment available back then. Why has this apparently gone backwards? Is, as you suggest, the provision of dedicated AME the answer, or are there other issues?
Simple reason why the ADF have not provided a dedicated AME platform. We don’t have any available. All medium utility assets are dedicated to support to Timor operations and security ops for SF here and OS. No helos left to spare.
I figured that was the case but is there a case to re-assess the situ and reorg choppers to where men are dying?
There’s every chance in the world that aircraft could be made available in Afghanistan if several things happen.
1. The Timor Leste Aviation Group returns in the next 6-9 months. Including all of B Sqn 5 Avn Regt’s aircraft (4 Blackhawks) to free up spare helo capacity
2. Existing powerplants are respecced to baseline performance for hot, high and heavy conditions.
3. Electronic warfare self-protection to be fitted to any aircraft in theatre.
4. Defensive weapon system upgrades to each platform.
5. Monkies start flying out of Joel Fitzgibbon’s butt.
I can envisage the monkies but the rest looks problematic.