Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) performed a casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) exercise, July 19, successfully transferring two patients to Naval Medical Readiness and Training Center Camp Pendleton while conducting operations at sea.

A CMV-22B Osprey assigned to the “Titans” of Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM 30) conducted the CASEVAC leading to the aircraft’s first successful ship to a shore-based hospital evacuation.

“The use of the Osprey for CASEVACs on aircraft carriers is the future,” said Lt. Cmdr. Lindsay McCammond, officer-in-charge of VRM 30 aboard Lincoln. “They don’t need to be shot off the flight deck and they can take off when needed.”

The exercise demonstrated the unique CASEVAC capabilities of the Osprey including the ability to travel faster and farther than traditional transportation in helicopters or CODs. The Osprey traveled 118 miles in 18 minutes while keeping the simulated patient in stable condition.

“The cabin configuration of the Osprey is ideal for patient transport due its size,” said Lt. Dana Flieger, Abraham Lincoln’s ship nurse. “It makes for a simple and easy setup.”

Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Jessica Woods, a search and rescue medical technician assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 14, provided simulated treatment for the patient prior to and during the evacuation acknowledging the mission’s success as well as the unique capabilities the Osprey provided.

“Everything about this mission went well,” said Woods. “Everyone was onboard and in the right place when they needed to be. The ability to launch without catapult assistance like a helicopter but fly fast like a plane brings a unique and valued capability to the fleet in terms of fast and efficient care.”

Recently, the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) performed a simulated CASEVAC where a patient was flown from the ship in a CMV-22B, but no shore-based contact was made.

Abraham Lincoln is currently underway in the 3rd Fleet area of operations conducting routine operations.