Gathered around a table at the 446th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron headquarters at McChord Field, it didn't take long for a small group of the reserve squadron's airmen to fire off a long list why it was recently named the Outstanding Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron as part of the fiscal year 2009 Air Force Reserve Command Medical Award Selections.

"Cohesiveness," said Master Sgt. Lucy Kemp, squadron education manager.

"Because of our participation at so many levels - from exercises to our members working as facilitators at other units," said Master Sgt. Selina Barone, unit deployment manager.

"We're well versed in our mission ... our members work as firefighters, paramedics, hospital administrators and nurses in their civilian jobs," said Maj. Peter Jorgensen, deputy flight commander of the command and support section.

"It's a big commitment - you're almost married to it," Kemp added, "... and people are very dedicated."

One thing is for sure, the 152-member 446th AES, which also won the award in 2007, accomplished quite a bit during fiscal year 2009.

It flew more than 450 operational missions, moving more than 6,000 patients in three unified command area of responsibilities and locations throughout Europe. Also, more than half of the squadron deployed to Germany, Qatar, Iraq, Afghanistan and Andrews Air Force Base, Washington, D. C.

"We filled more than 200 deployment positions - all voluntarily," Jorgensen said.

The squadron also participated in a pair of joint exercises, and was the host unit for AMC Rodeo's aeromedical evacuation competition. Squadron members personally instructed the Turkish AE team on the C-17 Globemaster and patient support pallet. The Turkish team went on to score a perfect 400 out of 400, winning the C-17 trophy.

Aeromedical evacuation airmen often face a difficult balancing act, as they must not only keep up with their requirements that their civilian jobs may mandate for clinical proficiency, but also as a military flight nurse. That military training can be more intensive and includes getting trained on each aspect of the aircraft they are flying.

Squadron members are constantly working to get trained up on everything, and during 2009 the 446th AES increased its manning by 50 people who got qualified, Kemp said.

The desire to get qualified and advance from simulated situations working with dummies to working on real world missions treating real patients is at a high level within the squadron, prompting many to put in as many hours as they can to accomplish the feat.

"We always have people step up (for relief missions and real-world taskings)," Barone said. "People love the mission."