Ambulances wait for patients to be loaded during the

Ambulances wait for patients to be loaded during the National Disaster Medical System exercise, May 14, 2014 at the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport in Greenville, S.C. The 315th Airlift Wing hosted a National Disaster Medical System exercise to enable active, reserve and guard service members along with civilian agencies the ability to demonstrate medical rescue and treatment skills. The event took place at both Joint Base Charleston, S.C., the location of the simulated earthquake incident where patients received initial treatment, and Greenville, S.C., where patients were evacuated to for follow-on care. The NDMS is designed to augment the nation's medical response capability in a way that assists state and local authorities dealing with the medical impacts of a major disaster during peacetime while also providing support to military and the Department of Veterans Affairs medical systems. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Perry Aston)