scope:

United States Air Force (USAF) aeromedical evacuation provides a critical patient movement capability that cuts across traditional Service lines. Since World War II, the preponderance of AE patients generated during wars and contingency operations have come from Army and Marine Corps ground combat units. It is important that the en route care capabilities of all Services integrate well to support the care and movement of patients throughout the continuum. Moreover, during the past decade, it has become increasingly important that en route care capabilities continue to integrate with components of our nation's allies. Historically, in operational settings, CCATTs have typically been embedded in AE units. CCATTs will continue to be an integral component of USAF AE, however, in future operations there may be situations where CCATTs will be tasked to deploy and operate outside traditional USAF AE forces to provide critical care support in the en route care continuum. When tasked for a non-traditional CCATT role, the team would not be assigned to an AE unit or Operations Group but would be aligned under a different execution and command and control organization. CCATTs could also deploy in a Defense Support to Civil Authority (DSCA) scenario where the CCATTs may be assigned to the En Route Patient Staging System (ERPSS) to help prepare patients for evacuation at the Aerial Port of Embarkation (APOE) or at the Aerial Port of Debarkation (APOD) to facilitate movement of patients to the receiving hospitals. Unless specifically stated, this TTP will primarily address CCATT as an AE asset outlining specific roles and functions while operating within the AE organization. When CCATTs are assigned to an AE unit, they will follow the AE chain of command under the Operations Group. Air Mobility Command (AMC) is the Manpower and Equipment Force Packaging System (MEFPAK) responsible agency (MRA) for the CCATT.