United States Air Force Aeromedical Evacuation (AE) and Critical Care Air Transport Teams (CCATT) play a crucial role in transporting patients from a wide range of military missions, including wartime, peacetime, crisis response, humanitarian, and disaster relief operations. The psychological demands of these missions and high operational tempo are not well studied, and the impact on the psychological health of crew members is less clear. A survey of standardized measures was used to assess the source of occupational stress and estimate rates of occupational burnout and psychological distress of AE and CCATT crew members. Both groups reported operational workload and organizational management as the two most frequently endorsed stress domains. Approximately 10 – 12% of AE and CCATT crew members reported elevated levels of exhaustion and 4 – 10% self-reported overall clinical distress. Recommendations include a collaborative approach between leaders to foster a culture of health promotion. A mental health provider assigned to and integrated within AE and CCATT units can further enhance mental health support to crew members and their families. Lessons learned from this study can be applied to civilian communities as occupational stress is universal in health care, aviation, and public service professions.
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