On 26 March 2025, a high-level delegation from the European Air Transport Command (EATC) visited the Multinational Medical Coordination Centre–Europe (MMCC-E) in Koblenz, Germany. The delegation was led by Major General Franck Mollard, Commander EATC, and included Colonel Dr Henning von Perbandt, Head of EATC’s Aeromedical Evacuation Control Centre, as well as Dr Alexandre Verlaine, Head of Public Affairs. The guests were welcomed by Brigadier General Dr Rolf von Uslar, Director of MMCC-E, along with senior representatives from the medical coordination centre.
The discussions focused on the complexities of patient evacuation in high-intensity conflict scenarios and the challenges they present. A key takeaway was the shared understanding that an effective medical evacuation framework must be both multinational and multi-vector, integrating military and civilian efforts. Given that aeromedical evacuation is one of EATC’s core competencies, the natural synergy between MMCC-E and EATC highlights the importance of close cooperation in this domain.
General Dr von Uslar emphasized the need for adaptability in modern warfare, stating, “Nations tend to win the last war,” underscoring the necessity of staying flexible and utilizing diverse means for medical evacuation. Lessons learned from the war in Ukraine have reinforced the urgency of improving patient flow management and ensuring the protection of medical treatment facilities in conflict zones. These insights directly contribute to refining NATO’s Patient Flow Management Guidelines for high-intensity combat situations.
The visit also served as a platform to discuss future collaboration opportunities. General Mollard expressed his delight at being invited to observe CAMO 2025, MMCC-E’s flagship medical evacuation exercise, which rigorously tests NATO’s medical evacuation procedures in realistic operational settings. Furthermore, EATC has been proposed for an active role in CAMO 2026, marking a significant step forward in strengthening multinational cooperation in aeromedical evacuation.
Enhancing joint efforts in medical evacuation remains a critical priority for both organizations. By fostering closer ties and integrating expertise, MMCC-E and EATC reaffirm their commitment to ensuring rapid, efficient, and life-saving medical evacuations in future operations. As challenges in medical evacuation continue to evolve, so too must the approaches and cooperation mechanisms that underpin them.