'Charlie Med' Change of Command Ceremony

Maj. Graham Bundy hands the guidon for Company C., 3rd General Support Aviation Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, to Lt. Col. Landy Dunham, commander, 3-82 GSAB, as part of the traditional change of command ceremony, Dec. 5, at Simmons Army Airfield. Bundy is preparing to retire as Maj. Trent Short takes charge of the company. Photo by U.S. Army Sgt. April D. de Armas, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs.
From DVIDS:

Charlie Med Commander Passes on the MEDEVAC Legacy

FORT BRAGG, N.C. – The 82nd Airborne Division’s MEDEVAC company commander passed on his role during a change of command ceremony at Simmons Army Airfield, Dec. 5.

Company C., 3rd General Support Aviation Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, Commander Maj. Graham Bundy handed over his command to Maj. Trent Short.

Bundy has been the company commander for the past two-and-a-half years, and says words cannot describe how he feels about his Troopers.

“The first part of the speech was easy but to articulate, but how special they are is more difficult,” Bundy said. “Every day I come to work I am surprised. They are just a great group of Paratroopers.”

Company C., better known as Charlie Med, provides ambulatory support for all division troopers and has earned the respect of their leaders and peers.

“Charlie med gives our aircrews courage because they know no matter what the conditions are, Charlie med will be there,” said Col. T. J. Jamison, 82nd CAB commander. “They are a very unique unit and gives all Troopers peace at night knowing they are going to be taken care of no matter what.”

Charlie med flew in brand new helicopters for their most recent deployment to Afghanistan. The HH-60M helicopter is the latest and most technologically-advanced medical evacuation helicopter to date.

“There is so much in flight care that can be done for patients in this new helicopter that could never be done before, and the value it added to the abilities of this Troop,” Jamison said. “It can be sealed, climate controlled, and just about anything you can do in an emergency room, this thing has. It is absolutely incredible.”

The soldiers received intensive training in a short amount of time with the new helicopters prior to the deployment.

“Maj. Bundy and his command team were able to bring all of his Troopers including crew chiefs and 22 enlisted soldiers to readiness level 1 within three months in preparation for their deployment last year,“ said Lt. Col. Landy Dunham, commander, 3-82 GSAB. “Because of his leadership and the Troops’ expertise, all of the ground forces, including coalition forces and civilians, had confidence in the fact that no matter what, these guys will be there if something happens.”

This confidence led several of their Coalition partners, including the Polish and French forces, to decorate these Medevac Troopers with their own national awards.

Bundy, whose next step is retirement, understands the credit to his success with Charlie Med goes to his Troopers and their unwavering ability rise to any occasion when called upon in a professional manner.

“We had a lot of transition and were the first unit to take the HH-60 into combat and these troops were just phenomenal in the training aspect and all the way through the deployment,” Bundy said. “I could not have asked for a better way to go out, and I am truly proud of these guys and all their hard work.”