Aeromedical Evacuation from Korea

Air Evacuation from Korea
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When military personnel, retirees and eligible dependents require medical care beyond the capabilities available in Korea, they are air evacuated to other hospitals in the Pacific or in the U.S. If they are accompanied by a spouse, for example, or are treated on an outpatient basis, they must arrange their own billeting. The last three items below describe the three most common locations to which military retirees are sent.
5-2-04 With the retirement of C-9 Nightingale aircraft, the aeromedical evacuation system has changed. Now, specially configured transport aircraft are provided only when the patient's serious medical condition requires in-flight medical care. In all other cases, patients are being flown by commercial air. When commercial air is used, retirees and their dependents may find that they have to pay their own way if military hospital funding is not available. In addition to paying their own way, retirees may find that they cannot receive invitational travel orders, thus putting them in competition for on-base billeting with other space available travelers. Retirees may still elect to travel by space available to make off-peninsula hospital appointments; however, the "iffy-ness" of space available travel means that they might not make an appointment and have to be rescheduled for some time in the future. This delay could result in worsening the medical condition. One Man's Experience 1-07-02 LTC Al Chellis, USA Retired and President of the U.S. Military Retirees Association Korea, had a Med Evac experience in which he hit all three of the locations. With the temporary closure of the Yokota AB runway, he traveled via Kadena AB, Okinawa. He provides considerable information on the current status of billeting (which conflicts with the 3-15-99 note on billeting in Hawaii) and first hand recommendations on where to stay in San Diego. We are grateful to Al for taking the time to record his adventure for us. Transiting Yokota Air Base 1-01-03 If you must remain at Yokota awaiting transportation to other medical facilities, the Yokota Aeromedical Staging Facility (ASF) will arrange for billeting at no cost to the traveler. Billeting in Okinawa 4-01-99 There are three military billeting facilities available in Okinawa. Click here for information. Billeting in Hawaii 1-01-03 If you are traveling to Hawaii for treatment at Tripler Army Medical Center, you should ensure that your travel orders show "Hickam AFB" as the destination rather than "Honolulu." With Hickam AFB designated on the orders, you should have no trouble staying in Hickam billeting. (Thanks to Bob Hattendorf for this worthwhile, money-saving tip.) 3-15-99 If you are a retiree traveling through Hawaii on a MedEvac flight, the MedEvac representative from Tripler Army Medical Center is required to provide you billeting at no cost to you, if an overnight stay is required. 10-20-98 Military retirees sent to Hawaii for medical treatment are often treated on an outpatient basis. The result is that they have to pay for quarters out of pocket. To alleviate some of the high cost of temporary living in Hawaii, Mr. Eric (Rick) Nelson, a military retiree working at Tripler Army Medical Center, has compiled a list of affordable places for retirees to stay while being treated in Hawaii. Click here to see the list. Billeting in the San Diego Area 4-01-99 The San Diego Navy Medical Center is the largest of the three facilities, and has the most abundant choice of potential accommodations. Of particular interest to retirees is that a number of civilian hotels and motels in the area offer significant discounts for members of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). Click here to see information on the San Diego area.