Team Barksdale medical units test readiness Published April 26, 2021 By 307th Bomb Wing Public Affairs 307th Bomb Wing BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- The 307th Medical Squadron teamed up with their active-duty counterparts in the 2nd Medical Group to complete Ready EAGLE, or readiness exercise and assessments in a goal-oriented learning environment here April 19-23. Ready Eagle is an initiative of the Air Force Medical Service designed to enhance the response capabilities of Air Force medical personnel through classroom instruction, tabletop exercises, and hands-on instruction. “This exercise allowed us to exercise our Medical Contingency Response Plan and see how it integrates with the 2nd Medical Group so we could be ready in the event of an emergency on base,” said Senior Master Sgt. Charles Johnson, 307th MDS noncommissioned officer in charge of medical readiness. Lt. Col. Patricia Herbeland, 307th MDS chief of readiness and logistics, said 17 members of the 307th MDS were fully integrated with the 2nd MDG throughout the five-day exercise, including the capstone event which simulated an on-base airplane crash with casualties. She said Ready EAGLE provided a unique opportunity for Reserve and active-duty medical personnel at Barksdale Air Force Base to practice the total force integration mode. The two entities share facilities, but their training schedules are often separate from one another. “We are part of the active-duty Medical Contingency Response Plan, so if they call on us we need to be ready,” said Herbelin. “That is why we were so grateful for this opportunity.” Johnson said the daily working rapport with the 2nd MDG is very good, but the two units had not worked together on a major exercise in several years. “This type of integration is critical,” said Johnson. “It helps our Airmen understand how they fit into the bigger picture and it instills confidence in active duty about our level of competency.”