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From stripes to command, AES welcomes new commander

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Carlos J. Treviño
  • 433rd Wirlift Wing Public Affairs

The 433rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron welcomed its new commander, Lt. Col. Ruben S. Soliz, during an assumption of command ceremony held here Nov. 18, 2017.

Col. Greg Haynes, 433rd Operations Group commander, was the presiding officer of the ceremony. “He is a consummate professional,” Haynes said of Soliz. “He is a great example and mentor to his people."

Soliz started his Air Force career in 1987 as an enlisted member in the Air Force Reserve as an aeromedical evacuation technician with the 32nd Aeromedical Evacuation Group at Kelly Air Force Base, Texas.

“For me to come in as an A1C and progress, I never thought about going to college and getting a commission,” Soliz said. “I was just going to come in and get out,” he said. “You never know what’s going to happen, always be prepared,” Soliz stressed.

The 433rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron is ready to fill the need when events like natural disasters, war or routine medical transportation by air is required.

An AES crew consist of five people, two nurses and three medical technicians. The crew carries with them the necessary equipment to turn any cargo aircraft in the Air Force inventory into a flying ambulance almost instantly. Members of the 433rd AES serve in a variety of careers. They can be nurses, medical technicians, administrative specialists and more.