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received from the CENTCOM/JA, the TAES was required to transport 
wounded EPWs whenever necessary. The AECC provided specific guidance 
to ensure compliance with the Geneva Conventions, as well as ensure 
the safety of patients and AECMs. Required actions included the 
following: 
 
(1) AECMs were to have their weapons available but unloaded during the 
transfer of wounded EPWs. 
 
(2) The originating medical facility was responsible for arranging for 
guards to accompany the prisoners. 
 
(3) The guards were required to accompany the prisoners to the 
destination medical facility. 
 
(4) Handcuffs could be removed only at the discretion of the guard and 
in coordination with the aircraft commander while the aircraft was in 
flight. 
 
(5) Ambulatory prisoners were to be placed in the right forward Evans 
seats whenever possible. 
 
(6) Prisoners were to be kept under surveillance at all 
. times. 
 
During the Operation, a total of 632 wounded EPWs were transported on 
19 AE missions. There were no adverse incidents. 
 
h. Combined US/Saudi AE Missions. In February, the AECC tested the 
revolutionary concept of combining US aeromedical crews with Royal 
Saudi Armed Forces aircraft and flight crews to provide enhanced AE 
capability. The concept, which was intended to assist in the 
evacuation of pan-Arabic casualties and EPWs, proved to be extremely 
well received by both CENTCOM and the Saudi Arabian Ministry of 
Defense and Aviation. The Saudis provided nine dedicated C-130 
aircraft specially configured for AE operations. US AECMs completed 
initial orientation training on 14 February and flew the first 
combined AE mission on 17 February. In support of Operation DESERT 
STORM, a total of eight combined missions were flown, transporting 82 
pan-Arabic and EPW casualties. Testing of the concept was limited due 
to the short duration of the conflict. 
 
10. Pre-Hostilities Evacuation system (13 August - 16 January). 
Shortly after arrival in the AOR, the AECC established a pre-
hostilities evacuation system to support the rapidly increasing number 
of US forces in the AOR. The issue was complicated by the fact that 
the AECC was tactically oriented, with the primary mission of "getting 
ready to go to war." Nevertheless, there were patient movement 
requirements from sixteen different locations. 
-Early on, AE channel missions were considered, but patient movement 
requirements were initially too sporadic and variable to support 
scheduled missions. It was not until the end of October that AE 
scheduled channel missions were warranted. In early November five 
"Samaritan" AE channels were proposed through the 
 
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