CONTACT: Tech Sgt. Michael O'Halloran, 845-563-2031

FOR RELEASE: Saturday, May 01, 2010

ON SITE: Tech Sgt. Michael O'Halloran, 845-563-2031

STEWART AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, NEWBURGH, NY (04/30/2010)(readMedia)-- The New York Air National Guard's 105th Airlift Wing will conduct an exercise Saturday to test the ability of local medical facilities and agencies to receive casualties, perform triage and then transport them to local medical centers. Members of the media are invited to attend. WHO: More than 200 participants from local medical agencies and facilities ranging from the Department of Veterans Affairs to the aeromedical personnel of the 105th Airlift Wing. WHAT: Exercise Golden Eagle II, a training exercise designed to test the ability of local medical providers to participate in the National Disaster Medical System in which patients are moved from areas affected by a disaster to other locations. The exercise will test casualty reporting mechanisms, communications between state, local, and federal participants, exercise the Federal Coordinating Centers which are part of the system and examine safety procedures of participating agencies. WHEN: 9:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 1, 2010. WHERE: Stewart Air National Guard Base, Newburgh. Coverage opportunities: Imagery of aircraft loaded with simulated casualties landing, emergency responders carrying out the steps of taking casualties from the aircraft, conducting triage and then transporting them. There will be opportunities to speak with exercise planners, evaluators and participants. Members of the media interested in covering the exercise should be at the Stewart Air National Guard Base at 9 a.m. on Saturday May 1. The aircraft will land at 9:30 a.m. Contact Tech Sgt. Michael O"Halloran at 845-563-2031 for access to this secure military facility. Background: The National Disaster Medical System The National Disaster Medical (NDMS) is a federally coordinated system that augments the Nation's medical response capability. The overall purpose of the NDMS is to supplement an integrated National medical response capability for assisting State and local authorities in dealing with the medical impacts of major peacetime disasters and to provide support to the military and the Department of Veterans Affairs medical systems in caring for casualties evacuated back to the U.S. from overseas armed conventional conflicts. 105th Airlift Wing: The 105th Airlift Wing of the New York Air National Guard operates the C-5A Galaxy, the largest aircraft in the U.S. military, and flies mission around the globe in support of U.S. forces world wide. This is the second time the 105th has exercised its part of the National Disaster Medical System. Exercise Golden Eagle I, was held on April 28, 2007.

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