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JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. --

A team of Reservists from the Royal Air Force was hosted by the U.S. Air Force Reserve’s 315th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron to deepen each others’ expertise and maintain their ongoing partnership during a training event at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, March 1-3, 2024.

Eleven members of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force’s 4626 Squadron, a medical evacuation unit based at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, England, trained on combat casualty care, air transport procedures, and emergency medical care alongside members of the U.S. Air Force Reserve 315th AES, located here.

Throughout the training, participants from both the U.S. and U.K. exchanged best practices, refined their medical skills, and strengthened their teamwork through simulated scenarios meant to replicate real-world emergencies, with the aim to familiarize each other so that they can work cohesively in the event of real-world need.

Wing Commander Lorrie Lawton, Officer Commanding of 4626 Squadron, emphasized the shared mission between the U.K. and the U.S. in aeromedical evacuations, highlighting the importance of joint exercises and training to enhance operational effectiveness.

“I think what our troops have learned is actually how similar we are,” said Lawton. “The U.K. and the U.S. have the same mission when we're doing aero-meds—We're getting our personnel back home. In previous conflicts, we've always been working closely with our U.S. allies, so being able to do exercises and training together with our sister squadron, we find, is absolutely vital for us.”

Aeromedical evacuation plays a crucial role in the Air Force Reserve's mission, transferring injured service members to locations where they can receive more advanced medical care. The training involved directly integrating members of 4626 into 315th AES aircrews, where they could practice and familiarize working in combined air evac teams on potentially unfamiliar aircraft.

“In future operations we have with [4626], they will be easier to adapt to working together in a more congruent atmosphere,” said Lt. Col. Jeffrey Fox, evaluator with the 315th AES. “Interoperability with 4626 is working together, we are learning their medical systems and our medical system so that we can operate seamlessly together in an operational environment.”

Interoperability

In a time of war or humanitarian need, RAF and USAF aeromedical evacuation units can be interoperable. This means that they are able to evacuate each other’s injured service members to a higher echelon of medical care: Injured U.S. service members and medical personnel may fly on British aircraft when being evacuated, and vice versa.

This training partnership allows members of both Air Forces to best do that, by familiarizing each other in differences in aircraft and procedures.

“Interoperability means that, if we are out in a theater of operations, we can work on any aircraft that is presented to us,” said Lawton.

The 315th saw benefit in how the 4626 could adapt and operate leanly when needed.

“I think the biggest takeaway from 4626 for our members at the 315th was that they are able to adapt to their patients in a quicker manner than we are,” said Fox. “And I think that's something that we can learn from and how to utilize smaller aircrews to adapt to a quicker response time for our injured service members.”

One of the key highlights of the training was familiarization on the C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. While the Air Forces of both countries operate the C-17 as a strategic transport aircraft, there are some minor differences in how air evac teams of each use medical equipment on the aircraft, for instance, with use of aircraft oxygen and electrical systems for patient care.

The Reserve Tie and Partnership

As Reservists in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, and like their American counterparts, members of 4626 also have civilian careers, primarily in medical fields. Reservists of both respective Air Forces have a shared understanding of what it’s like to maintain both a civilian and military career.

“Having these really close relationships with our sister squadron, I think, is absolutely vital, and we need to keep on doing this,” said Lawton. “We need to keep supporting our Reservist friends as well… The similarities when you're talking to people are absolutely saying the difficulties they have trying to juggle things with the Reserves, work, home, all the rest of it.”

Lawton said that Reserve members maintaining a civilian career outside of the military actually gives them several advantages, especially in the medical expertise they bring to the military.

“Every single one of the personnel on my squadron are absolutely the highest trained from the National Health Service, so each of them are clinically current, and they are highly qualified,” said Lawton. “I would fly with any one of my personnel because I know they've had the best training, the best experience, and the best education that the NHS can offer, which means that we can give the best care for the patients that we're flying. Because they're civilians, and have civilian jobs that actually gives them an edge.”

The event provided an opportunity to continue to enhance training at home.

“Seeing what you do differently, and if there's a way that we can take some of the things that you do, the kit that you use, the processes that you do, and if we can take that back and make what we do better, I think that'll be great thing,” said Corporal Jim Hancox, paramedic with 4626. “And also to make some friends and hopefully come across people again in the future.”

Those personal connections deepen the relationship as well.

“Having that relationship with a sister squadron is absolutely vital, so that if you're deployed and you see somebody from the 315th, you know that they are your family,” said Lawton. “And actually, when you deploy, that's what you need around you is your family.”

Both teams wish for the partnership to continue to remain close.

“I think our relationship will keep on growing and developing,” said Lawton. “The more that we have time with each other, the more those friendships will develop and grow. I've already seen people that were over with us in the UK and gave us a big hug. Those friendships will keep growing and enduring, and that's what I want to take forward with this.”

4626 Squadron is a unit of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, the U.K.’s equivalent to the U.S. Air Force Reserve. Its mission as Medical Reserves is to provide personnel to the RAF and Defence Medical Services operational medical capabilities, including aeromedical evacuation and pre-hospital, primary and secondary healthcare.

The 315th AES is a component of the U.S. Air Force Reserve 315th Airlift Wing, located at Joint Base Charleston. JB Charleston served as an ideal setting for the joint training, with modern facilities and similar mission sets to RAF Brize Norton, both as large cargo and air mobility bases.

For more information on the 315th Airlift Wing, visit 315aw.afrc.af.mil

As one of the most dynamic players in Charleston Southern basketball history, Saah Nimley had a special playing career for the Buccaneers.

Now, Nimley has been given the opportunity to make his mark on the CSU program as its head coach.

Nimley, who was named the interim head coach of the Buccaneers on Nov. 30, had the interim tag officially removed on March 4 when Charleson Southern athletic director Jeff Barber announced that Nimley would be the 13th head coach in school history. At 30 years old, Nimley is the second-youngest head coach in Division I basketball.

“I have been so impressed watching him with making decisions for this program and holding kids accountable,” Barber said. “At the end of the day, he really is a perfect fit, the right time, the right guy, the right place. He understands the culture of this place, and he can come in and battle. He loves the DNA of this place.

“It felt right from the beginning. It’s a gut feeling. I just really feel he is the best fit for CSU and the men’s basketball program.”

Nimley replaced his former coach and mentor Barclay Radebaugh when Radebaugh stepped down as coach in late November. On his way out, and in several interviews since, Radebaugh has actively pushed for Nimley to be his permanent replacement.

“No man better for this program and for this university,” Radebaugh said last week while attending CSU’s final home game of the season.

Nimley played at CSU from 2011-15 and graduated as the third all-time leading scorer (1,886 points) and the career leader in assists (511). Nimley was named the Big South Conference player of the year as a senior and earned honorable mention All-American honors. He scored at least 30 points in seven games of that final season.

Nimley, a member of the CSU Athletic Hall of Fame, decided to get into coaching after a short playing career overseas. He joined Radebaugh’s staff in 2019.

“He has provided me so many opportunities in my life,” Nimley said of Radebaugh. “He took a chance on me as a player and he allowed me to grow as a player and a person. A lot of the things I have in my life is because of the opportunities that he gave me and I cherish his mentorship.”

Charleston Southern

CSU (10-19) finished the Big South Conference season in a tie for fifth place with a 6-10 league record. The season included rare road wins at Gardner-Webb and Radford, and season sweeps of Radford and USC Upstate.

The Buccaneers have the second-best scoring defense in the Big South this season and made a jump of 121 spots in the Kempom defensive rankings nationally.

Nimley and Barber sat down for an extended formal interview on Sunday and Nimley was offered the job in the early evening. He calls this opportunity “a dream come true.”

“I had some nerves when I first took over by day-by-day it felt a little more natural,” he said. “I have felt like this was my team for the last month. I am confident that we can continue the growth of this program.

“This means a lot to me, but it also means a lot to all of the guys that I played with and those that came before us. Those guys have paved the way. It’s never going to be about me. It’s going to be about this program.”

Nimley and the Bucs head into the Big South Conference tournament on Friday at High Point University. CSU will take on No. 2 seed UNC Asheville at 6 p.m.

Bookmark this page to keep updated on Charleston Southern hoops during the 2023-24 campaign. Below, you can find the team's schedule with all of the upcoming games listed, including results of games from earlier in the campaign.

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NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — Charleston Southern University announced Monday morning they have named interim head coach Saah Nimley as the basketball program's 13th head coach.

An introductory press conference was held Monday at 4:30 p.m. inside the Athletic Performance Center. It was in the Team Room and the conference was open to the public.

“This is truly a special day in the history of Charleston Southern basketball,” Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Jeff Barber said. “To have the opportunity to name a head coach who is considered by many as the best player to have ever played their sport at their alma mater is unique. Saah Nimley is the perfect fit for our head coach position, and I am blessed to have the opportunity to work with him in the days ahead.”

Nimley joined CSU's staff in the summer of 2019 as assistant coach. Four years later, he was named associate head coach, and on November 30, 2023, Nimley was named interim head coach.

READ MORE: Charleston Southern University welcomes 5 new Board of Trustees members

“I am deeply grateful and honored to have been appointed as the Head Coach at Charleston Southern,” Nimley said. “I want to thank God for making this opportunity possible. I also want to thank President Faulkner and Jeff Barber for entrusting me with the responsibility of leading this program to success. I am thankful for the players and the staff who have shown resilience in the face of challenges this season. This program has opened doors for me that I never imagined, and I am committed to giving back and helping these young men reach their full potential. Buc Nation, get ready for an exciting journey ahead. It’s Game 7!”

Charleston Southern has a record of 10-19 and ranks fifth in the Big South, according to ESPN.

According to a release from the university, Nimley played with the Buccaneers from 2011 to 2015, and ranks first all-time in career assists and third all-time in career scoring. He was inducted into the school's Athletics Hall of Fame in September of 2022.

Nimley is one of three players in school history to be named conference Player of the Year, according to CSU. The league office named Nimley to the 2010-2019 All-Decade Team as well.

READ MORE: Former CSU basketball coach dies of natural causes at his home: Coroner's office

Nimley graduated from Charleston Southern with a Communications degree in 2015.

Charleston Southern's 2023-24 basketball schedule can be found below, with a list of upcoming games as well as previous results. Bookmark this page so you don't miss a single matchup!

Catch tons of live college basketball, plus original programming, with ESPN+ or the Disney Bundle.

Charleston Southern's Upcoming Games

Charleston Southern's 2023-24 Schedule

Read More About Other Charleston Southern Teams

Get tickets for any college basketball game this season at Ticketmaster!

© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved.