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BACKGROUND: Air medical evacuations by tactical aircraft are mandatory in every country, particularly in deployments abroad where hospital resources are limited. In the overseas French departments, it can be particularly useful for military and civilian scientists stationed on the very remote islands of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands. This priority medical support mission uses fixed wing CASA CN235 aircraft and is led by the French Air Force and the French Military Medical Service, in cooperation with the civilian health service.CASE REPORT: The authors present the case of a French soldier with chest trauma on an isolated island who benefited from continuum of care during his air evacuation to Reunion Island.DISCUSSION: This case illustrates that the “CASA Medevac” concept has become a crucial link in the French medical evacuation chain in remote areas. The complex organization, the human material resources, and, finally, the training program are briefly presented.Guénot P, Dubecq C, Colleu F, Dubourg O, Lec C, Bertran P-E. CASA Medevac operations proof of concept in the southern Indian Ocean zone. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2022; 93(6):536–539.

French military Search and Rescue (SAR) is primarily for the recovery of downed aircrew in an operational environment but has traditionally also played an important civilian role. Military doctors and nurses with competence in this area frequently form part of civilian teams, their experience being transferable between operational and civilian spheres. A recent re-organisation of French Medical Aid at Sea (MAS) has seen greater involvement of civilian medical services in this sector with consequent potential for negative impact on future military involvement.The French Military Medical Service / Service de Santé des Armées (SSA) 2020 plan provides opportunities for mutually advantageous, deeper engagement and joint working between the SSA and the French National Health Service / Service Public de Santé (SPS).This article describes the current structure for MAS and the involvement of SSA therein before considering some of the challenges and potential solutions with respect to deeper civilian-military engagement in this domain in future.