Navy search-and-rescue medical technician joins Artemis II astronaut recovery effort

SAN DIEGO — Navy Medicine teams aboard the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26) stood by in the Pacific to receive NASA’s Artemis II crew as the Orion spacecraft splashed down on April 10, capping a historic mission around the moon.

Among the personnel embarked was Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Brian Romero, a Gilbert, Ariz., native and search and rescue medical technician assigned to Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Unit (NMRTU) China Lake. Selected for the mission soon after completing paramedic school, he said the weight of the assignment hit as recovery neared. “I was more excited to use my new skills, and it really didn’t hit me how important it was to be part of something much bigger than myself until the day of the mission,” Romero said.

Romero served with ERCS-11, one of several Navy Medicine teams embarked for the operation. The En-Route Care System (ERCS) is a two-person team that provides critical care during patient transport via air, surface, or ground, while the Expeditionary Resuscitative Surgical System (ERSS) is a seven-person mobile surgical team capable of delivering life-saving trauma care in austere environments. Supporting personnel were drawn from commands across the Pacific, including Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC) San Diego, NMRTC Camp Pendleton, U.S. NMRTC Guam, and NMRTU China Lake, which supports NMRTC Twentynine Palms.

Romero said the mission underscored the breadth of capability resident in search and rescue medical technicians. “I was part of the ERCS. There were four SMTs from HSC-23 (Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23) who did a flawless job in the actual recovery of the astronauts from the capsule,” Romero said. “It’s pretty amazing to see that SMTs can be utilized in so many ways, and so many of us were involved in this important mission. SMTs are specialized pre-hospital medical professionals and are prepared for missions like this because we are trained rescue technicians as well, with a helicopter crew in our toolbox.”

As Orion descended, teams prepared for both nominal and off-nominal scenarios. “In the morning we prepared our stations for an off-nominal reentry,” he said. “It wasn’t until around noon that the tension and suspense really built. We were hoping for the best, but extremely prepared for the worst. Time went by slowly, and it wasn’t until the capsule was recovered aboard the ship that we could stand down and actually take in the moment.”

His role focused on providing care during one of the mission’s most critical phases. “We are the en route care team for both the astronauts and the recovery team,” Romero said. “Reentry into Earth’s atmosphere is a very critical time for the astronauts and the Orion capsule, so we really didn’t know what to expect at our level. We were also utilized to support the ward corpsmen and nurses in the medical evaluation as soon as they boarded the ship.”

Medical teams trained extensively for the physiological effects of spaceflight, including the transition back to Earth’s gravity. “The biggest concern was that after being in zero gravity for so long, their equilibrium would be off, so we trained to mitigate any risks associated,” Romero said.

Romero was among the first medical personnel to interact with the astronauts after they exited the capsule. “It was surreal,” he said. “I was expecting all of them to be feeling sick, but they all looked great. It was really amazing to see how grateful and humble they were after making history.”

He credited a unified effort across specialties for the smooth operation. “The most rewarding part was being able to be part of a much bigger team,” Romero said. “Everyone played an important role, and we all had one mission—to safely recover the astronauts and support the recovery team as best as we could.” The effort, he added, showcased Navy Medicine’s adaptability. “I think it was a perfect opportunity to show that the Navy Medicine team is like a Swiss Army knife—great at their jobs, but also very versatile and adaptable,” Romero said. “It’s a well-trained team capable of achieving any task.”

Highlighting the range of skills required, Romero pointed to the many hospital corpsmen specialties represented throughout the recovery. “You can’t go on missions like this without hospital corpsmen,” Romero said. “It was amazing to see all the dive IDCs (independent duty corpsmen), SMTs, surgical techs, lab, X-ray, and quad-zero personnel working together as a unit to accomplish this mission.”

For Romero, the recovery marked another milestone in a fast-paced operational career; less than a year earlier, he participated in the rescue of an ejected F-16 pilot near China Lake, Calif. “I think it’s amazing to be part of history, and I’m grateful to the Navy and leadership for offering this opportunity—not only to myself, but to other junior Sailors,” Romero said. “When facing a mission like this, I find it most important to just do my job competently and help those around me—that’s what gives me the most fulfillment.”

He said daily clinical work at Branch Health Clinic China Lake, which supports Naval Hospital Twentynine Palms, helped sustain his readiness. “Working at an MTF (military treatment facility) keeps me on my toes, making sure I’m getting exposed to those patients and staying up to date with the newest protocols,” Romero explained.

Romero also credited his home commands—NMRTU China Lake and Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Three One (VX-31)—and their leadership for enabling his participation. “Over at VX-31 we’re constantly flying, practicing that en route care piece, so our skills never die,” Romero said. “Without NMRTU China Lake and without VX-31, I wouldn’t have been able to get here. Those commands—my OICs (officers-in-command)—have been able to give me the opportunity to get trained, be here for this mission, and be a part of history, so I’m really grateful for that.”

The recovery underscored the critical role of Navy Medicine in supporting operational missions at sea and in the air, and the readiness of search and rescue medical technicians to provide care under any conditions.