Photo By Capt. Robert Gallimore | The 160th Forward Surgical Team commander, Maj. Moreno Gustavo, explains power...... read more read more
By Maj. Gustavo Moreno
Commander, 160th Forward Surgical Team
MIESAU, Germany – The 160th Forward Surgical Team held Operation Frozen Shadow here Jan. 26-30 to exercise rapid deployment and operational capabilities in conjunction with German and U.S. Air Force medical partners.
The exercise paired the 160th FST with units from the German army Rapid Medical Response Force and the U.S. Air Force Tactical Critical Care Evacuation Team -Enhanced. The German army Rapid Medical Response Force hopes to create an FST-type capability in the near future. The exercise was also an opportunity for the Air Force’s TCCET-E to observe Army tactics, training and procedures for rapid response missions.
“Joint training amongst NATO allies, partners and other services is a critical part to our success as a nation and NATO. Training events like these increase interoperability and cross levels skills, TTPs, and knowledge which will enable us to have a common operating picture when it comes time for us to provide far forward surgical care in support of a combatant commander, no matter what the unit requirement or mission is," said Sgt. 1st Class Jeremiah Delrio, 160th FST detachment sergeant.
Operation Frozen Shadow occurred in four phases. During phase one, teams loaded vehicles and palletized equipment. In order to treat at least 30 patients in a continuous 72-hour mission, adequate equipment and supplies were loaded onto four pallets in less than three hours, demonstrating the efficiency needed for rapid response missions.
“The 160th [Forward Surgical Team] leads and exceeds the Army standard in how a FST should run and be set up,” said Spc. Zachary Harrell, a 160th FST operating room technician from Florida.
Phase two of the mission exercised the movement of equipment and led to the establishment of the FST area of operations. The surgical team was fully operational and ready to treat patients in less than 90 minutes.
Phase two completion set the stage for the third phase of the mission, a scenario-based trauma training led by the FST surgeons. The team triaged, stabilized, surgically intervened and post-operatively recovered 12 moulaged poly-trauma patients, strengthening unit cohesion and clinical proficiency. Moulage is a technique used to simulate injuries that are similar to those they are trained to treat.
Operation Frozen Shadow culminated with the disestablishment of the unit’s footprint, equipment recovery and an after-action review. Capturing the lessons learned during the event is the key focus during this fourth and final phase.
“There are many things that we can learn from each other, and the only way to ensure consistency and continuity to improve patient care is to work directly with our allied forces. The ‘Strong Europe’ effort provides the opportunity to build stronger bonds with our allies and to increase our proficiency and improve the way we operate,” said Sgt. Marc Hyman, a unit licensed practical nurse.
The 160th will visit the German army Rapid Medical Response Force in March to help them establish an FST-equivalent element utilizing their existing equipment.
| Date Taken: | 02.24.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 02.25.2015 05:54 |
| Story ID: | 155330 |
| Location: | MIESAU, RHEINLAND-PFALZ, DE |
| Web Views: | 210 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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