AF Form 3858: Aeromedical Evacuation Offload Message – The AF Form 3858, officially titled Aeromedical Evacuation Mission Offload Message, is a critical U.S. Air Force form used in the global Aeromedical Evacuation (AE) system. It standardizes the communication of essential information when patients are offloaded from AE aircraft at destination airfields or staging facilities.
This form ensures seamless handoff between the AE crew, ground medical teams, Patient Movement Requirements Center (PMRC), and receiving medical treatment facilities (MTFs). Accurate and timely use of AF Form 3858 helps maintain continuity of care, supports operational reporting, and minimizes delays in patient movement.
What Is AF Form 3858 and Its Purpose?
AF Form 3858 serves as a structured message template for transmitting offload details during aeromedical evacuation missions. It documents key patient, mission, and logistical information required for safe patient reception and ground transport.
The form is particularly associated with missions involving aircraft like the C-130 (and historically C-141), though it applies broadly to AE operations. Its primary goals include:
- Notifying receiving agencies of patient arrival details, conditions, and special requirements.
- Communicating changes in patient status, mission irregularities, or equipment/transportation needs.
- Supporting coordination between the Medical Crew Director (MCD), Pilot in Command (PIC), Theater Airlift Control Center/Air Operations Center (TACC/AOC), and PMRC.
The form is referenced in key publications such as DAFI 48-107V1 (En Route Care and Aeromedical Evacuation Medical Operations) and various AFI 11-2 series instructions for AE and specific aircraft operations.
Download the current official PDF here: AF Form 3858 PDF. Always use the version from the official Air Force e-Publishing site to ensure compliance.
Who Uses AF Form 3858?
Primary users include:
- Aeromedical Evacuation Crew Members (AECMs) and the Medical Crew Director (MCD) on board AE missions.
- Flight Nurses, Aeromedical Evacuation Technicians, and other AE personnel.
- Pilot in Command (PIC) and aircrew for coordination.
- Ground reception teams at airfields, Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facilities (CASF), Expeditionary Medical Support (EMEDS), or receiving MTFs.
- Patient Movement Requirements Centers (PMRCs) and command and control (C2) agencies.
The MCD typically completes or coordinates the form and ensures transmission, often working with the PIC to establish immediate communication with TACC/AOC and PMRC when needed.
When Is AF Form 3858 Required?
Use the form to report:
- Patient offload at the destination.
- Any patient removed from the flight (e.g., due to condition changes).
- Significant changes in patient status during flight.
- Mission irregularities affecting offload.
- Special equipment or transportation requirements for receiving teams.
It supports both peacetime beneficiary movements and contingency/operational AE missions. Timely transmission helps receiving teams prepare ambulances, litter teams, medical equipment, and specialists.
Key Information Captured on AF Form 3858
While the exact layout appears on the official PDF (dated around 20170721 in available references), the form typically includes fields for:
- Mission identifiers (e.g., mission number, aircraft tail number, departure/arrival times).
- Patient details (names or counts, categories such as litter/ambulatory, diagnoses or conditions).
- Offload specifics: location, time (in Zulu), number of patients by category, special medical needs.
- Equipment or support requirements (e.g., oxygen, ventilators, ground transport).
- Remarks or special instructions.
- Originator information and transmission details (e.g., “Offload message provided to: __ Time: ___Z”).
The form prompts the sender to “Please transmit the following information,” making it a concise, standardized message format.
Best Practice: Complete the form legibly or electronically when systems allow. Include all required patient movement record (PMR) cross-references and link to supporting documentation like the AF Form 3899 series (Aeromedical Evacuation Patient Record).
How AF Form 3858 Fits into the Broader AE System?
The U.S. Air Force AE system moves patients from point of injury or illness through successive levels of care, often within 36–48 hours to definitive treatment. AF Form 3858 supports the final leg of regulated patient movement by ensuring ground teams are ready.
It complements other key forms:
- AF Form 3899 series: Primary patient record and authorizing document for AE care.
- Patient Movement Requests (PMRs) processed through systems like TRAC2ES.
- Other AE-specific forms like AF Form 3859 (narcotics) or inbound notification forms.
Procedures are governed by DAFI 48-107V1 (2020), AFMAN 11-2AE volumes (training, operations, evaluations), and aircraft-specific instructions (e.g., AFI 11-2C-130V3). Electronic health records (EHR) are preferred when available, but paper forms like 3858 remain essential for real-time operational communication.
Tips for Accurate Completion and Compliance
- Coordinate Early: The MCD should coordinate with the PIC for transmission, especially for urgent or priority patients.
- Use Zulu Time: All times are reported in Z (UTC) for global operations.
- Be Specific on Requirements: Clearly list any special equipment, medications, or personnel needed on the ground to avoid delays.
- Security and Privacy: Handle Protected Health Information (PHI) per HIPAA, Privacy Act, and DoD/DAF policies. Use secure communication channels.
- Training: AECMs receive training on this form through AFMAN 11-2AE V1 (Aeromedical Evacuation Aircrew Training) and unit-specific programs.
- Updates: Check e-Publishing.af.mil regularly for the latest version of the form and governing instructions, as AE procedures evolve.
For full procedural details, consult your unit’s AE squadron guidance, DAFI 48-107V1, and AFMAN 10-2909 (AE Equipment Standards).
Why Proper Use of AF Form 3858 Matters?
In high-tempo operations or mass casualty scenarios, clear offload messaging directly impacts patient outcomes and mission effectiveness. The Air Force’s AE system has dramatically improved survivability rates in modern conflicts by enabling rapid, high-quality en route care. Forms like 3858 ensure that capability extends to the ground handoff.
Need the form?
→ Direct download: https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a3/form/af3858/af3858.pdf
Related Resources:
- DAFI 48-107V1: En Route Care and Aeromedical Evacuation Medical Operations (e-Publishing)
- AFMAN 11-2AE series (Training, Operations, Evaluations)
- Official Air Force e-Publishing website
This guide is for informational purposes and is based on publicly available U.S. Air Force publications. Always refer to the most current official instructions and consult your chain of command or AE leadership for mission-specific guidance. Proper documentation saves lives and maintains the highest standards of the USAF Aeromedical Evacuation system.