NATO Centre of Excellence for Military Medicine Medical Evaluation Course students and instructors, 86th Aeromedical Squadron Airmen, 16th Sustainment Brigade Soldiers and Landstuhl Regional Medical Center Airmen took part on a mock medical evaluation at Ramstein Air Base and Kaiserslautern, at the US HHC 21 st Theater Sustainment Command, Germany, 17-21 November, 2025. The mock evaluation allowed MEDEVAL students from 11 nations to observe how a fully configured aeromedical evacuation mission would be prepared, staffed and assessed during a real-world NATO operation.

The 86th AES, supported by a Critical Care Air Transport Team from Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and a field ambulance team from the U.S. Army’s 16th Sustainment Brigade, set the stage for the NATO Centre of Excellence for Military Medicine’s Medical Evaluation Course.

The MEDEVAL is a five-day course designed to develop certified medical evaluators who can assess Alliance medical units using standardized criteria. Throughout the week, students study how to evaluate personnel, equipment, documentation and procedural readiness across different medical modules. The training culminates in a mock evaluation, giving participants the opportunity to put their new skills into practice in a realistic, mission-focused environment.

For this iteration’s mock evaluation, the 86th AES set up the entire training scenario. Preparation began the day prior, when crews worked to transform the aircraft into a fully operational AE platform, installing litters, securing stanchions and completing the configuration required for a simulated high-capacity medical evacuation mission.

Beyond building relationships, working alongside NATO students also gave the 86th AES an opportunity to reinforce the interoperability required for multinational medical operations.

The event offered valuable insight into how partner nations meet common medical requirements and how NATO evaluators assess those capabilities. The opportunity to compare processes and exchange knowledge helped deepen the sense of collaboration across the Alliance.

Through shared learning, hands-on collaboration and a commitment to interoperability, the 86th AES continues to reinforce its critical role within the Alliance and its readiness to operate seamlessly alongside NATO partners whenever called upon.