Whether on the ground or soaring through the skies, members of the Critical Care Air Transport Teams (CCATT) play a vital role in military medical operations. Working in tandem with aeromedical evacuation crews, these highly trained specialists prepare, stabilize, and continuously monitor critically ill or injured patients during transport to advanced medical facilities—ensuring life-saving care doesn't pause for altitude or distance. 

Recognizing the vital yet perishable nature of CCATT capabilities, the Air Force Medical Service designated the 133rd Airlift Wing as the host for a permanent CCATT training course. Officially launched on March 12, 2025, the formal program now provides a robust infrastructure that supports continuous training and flight operations for units nationwide. 

“I think a key piece that we have here is we have the capability to touch many units and to really get the feedback from the field about what they feel the gaps are, what challenges there are, especially as experience is slowly leaving our CCATT community as people retire, separate, and move into other leadership positions,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Melissa Proctor, course director and instructor at the 133rd Airlift Wing. 

The course also allows Airmen to focus on areas they may not have practiced at their home units. With flexible instruction and dedicated staff support, participants can tailor their training to specific competencies that might otherwise be overlooked. Service members enrolled in the course undergo a series of rigorous exercises to learn skills that will be used in operational practice, which can be applied at their home units and in their civilian careers. These scenarios simulate high-pressure, real-world situations that Airmen may encounter during missions.   

“The most challenging part of CCATT is getting through the advanced training—it’s very, very difficult,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Greg Fellows, a student in the course. “If you speak to anyone who has gone through it, they all have learning scars from the intensity of the training.  This training will hopefully get us refreshed on CCATT so when the opportunity does arise, we will be more ready for when a CCATT mission does occur.”  

Although an aircraft is far from an ideal environment for delivering care, CCATT teams train in various courses such as advanced training and the course at the wing to treat patients in-flight ensuring they’re prepared for all kinds of challenging conditions. These skills are transferable across deployments, exercises, and state missions. 

“So far the course has been very nice,” said Fellows, “I like how it's refreshing everything and how they’re trying to put all the aspects of CCATT together. I would like to see this course be available on a yearly basis.”