Answering the call

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Heather Kelly
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  For some military members, the call to duty is only surpassed by the call to help others.

For Air Force Reservist and 920th Rescue Wing member Tech. Sgt. Corey Hellmann, it's his motivation and mission in life.

When he isn't providing respiratory therapy at his civilian job, a level-one trauma center in Tampa, Fla., Sergeant Hellmann can be found administering critical care to wounded war fighters on the battlefield, in his military service.

As a member of the 920th Aeromedical Staging Squadron at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., Sergeant Hellmann has deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan in recent years as a member of a critical care air transport (CCAT) team.

The CCAT and aeromedical evacuation teams are a group of highly specialized nurses, physicians, medical technicians and respiratory therapists charged with the responsibility of patient care during medical flying missions.

After enlisting in 1997, Sergeant Hellmann served on active duty and in the Reserve before joining the unit in 2006. His first deployment came in 2008 when he served on a CCAT team in Iraq.

"I wanted to extend my deployment. It was my first one and I enjoyed my job immensely," said Sergeant Hellmann.

Although there wasn't a position for him to remain in Iraq, Sergeant Hellmann sought out other avenues to lend his support. His persistence paid off and not long after returning home from Iraq, he deployed to Afghanistan in 2009.

While he was performing similar duties during both deployments, Sergeant Hellmann noted that it was two extremely different environments.

"In Iraq, we split the missions with three other CCAT teams and we would typically fly once a week. In Afghanistan, the operations tempo was much higher. Only two CCAT teams were in place, and we typically flew three times a week," said Sergeant Hellmann.

"Our crew in Afghanistan flew patients out almost every single day during the deployment. We were extremely busy, but it was rewarding to know we were making a difference in the field," he added.

It is a sentiment that is shared by his leadership and colleagues at the 920th ASTS.

"Sergeant Hellmann's dedication embodies what we've come to expect from the members of ASTS," said Maj. Doug Schulte, 920th ASTS director of operations. "We encourage all of our Airmen to step up and answer the call. Our mission demands nothing less."

During Sergeant Hellmann's deployment to Iraq, his entire CCAT team was composed of members of the 920th ASTS volunteers.

"There is something inside that motivates us to do what we do. You may not always remember patients' names perfectly, but you carry them with you where ever you go," said Major Schulte.

"It's a calling," he said.

A call that Sergeant Hellmann and his ASTS brethren are ready to answer again.

"Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps....it doesn't matter. We work hard and together as a team to bring our men and women home safely," said Sergeant Hellmann.