HOHENFELS, Germany " As the brightly colored flags of the United States and Germany wave in the balmy breeze of an early summer afternoon, a formation of Soldiers stand at attention on the yellow helicopter landing pad here Thursday, June 16, 2011. These men and women are beginning their return home after a year-long deployment to Germany.
The 121st Medical Company (Air Ambulance), a National Guard unit from Fort Belvoir, Va., participates in a Farewell Ceremony celebrating their service at the Hohenfels and Grafenwoehr Training Areas. The 121st is the U.S. Army’s first deployed Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) company to deploy outside the continental United States with the brand new UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopters.
Although their numbers are smaller than average, these 29 Soldiers with the 121st are the embodiment of efficiency.
“We are a platoon-sized element providing a company mission,” said Sgt. 1st Class Michael Quiñones, the first sergeant for the 121st from Fredericksburg, Va. “Everybody’s multi-tasking, filling many roles, and working many hours.”
The 121st only had 42 days notice to mobilize and be mission ready.
“Usually when a unit is notified for deployment they have one year to 18 months for prep time,” said Quiñones. “There was a lot of jumping through hoops making things happen because showing up and not being able to provide MEDEVAC is unacceptable.”
Spc. Darrell Ferree, a flight medic from Fredericksburg, Va., with the 121st, is also a civilian firefighter Emergency Medical Technician. Ferree explained that it was easier to work in Germany, rather than Iraq or Afghanistan, because it was no different than working at home.
“The biggest surprise in the beginning of this was, hey, you’re being deployed but, umm, you’re going to Germany,” said Ferree. “You expect to be deployed, but we thought we’d be deployed to one of the combat theaters.”
Ferree said this mission was a challenge initially because their unit had just been established when they received notification of their imminent deployment. Thirty days prior to deployment probably less than half of the 121st were completely mission ready.
“It was a large challenge on the very front-end of the deployment to become mission ready,” said Ferree. “We had them [UH-72A Lakota helicopters] right at a year before we came here.”
The 121st has gained essential training experience during their deployment to Germany.
“Professionally, being on this assignment has been rewarding,” said Maj. Mark Escherich, the company commander for the 121st from Stevensville, Md. “I think we’ve all had a great sense of satisfaction knowing that we’re helping Soldiers prepare for war and, of course, when people get hurt, helping them and their families.”
He said it’s been hard as a husband and father because, like many Soldiers, he’s missed birthdays, and anniversaries.
“Thank goodness for Skype,” he said, laughing.
Escherich explained that as a unit, this deployment has definitely increased their readiness to provide their domestic MEDEVAC mission in the Washington, D.C. region.
“I know our Soldiers have gained technical expertise while they’ve been here,” said Escherich. “We haven’t had our own station facility [like we do in Fort Belvoir, Va.,] providing an over watch and guidance, so our Soldiers have had to learn how to manage and maintain the aircraft without a supervisor who’s been doing it for 30 years.”
During their deployment the 121st completed 13 real-life MEDEVACs and were a critical asset to the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany.
“There are a lot of firsts that we’ve done here,” said Escherich. “For example, we’ve helped the Army Medical Department in increasing their understanding of the utility of this aircraft as a medical platform.”
As the ceremony drew to a close, the eruption of applause rippled through the unseasonably hot air in perfect unison. The gleam of hard-earned medals shone from their chests and signaled the end of a year’s deployment.
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