Photo By 1st Lt. Anna Doo | On Aug. 1, 2015, four companies of the New Mexico National Guard’s 93rd Brigade,...... read more read more
SANTA FE, N.M. – The Soldiers of four companies in the New Mexico National Guard conducted innovative training during August drill weekend. The Joint Training Exercise (JTX) sought to improve the efficiency of aeromedical evacuation from the point-of-injury to patient stabilization at a Forward Surgical Team (Role II+) hospital.
The companies participating in the day-long scenario were C Company (Rear), 1st Battalion, 171st Aviation Regiment; 720th Transportation Company; 1209th Area Support Medical Company; and the New Mexico Medical Detachment.
According to Capt. Kevin Doo, C Co. Rear Detachment Commander, the JTX allowed Soldiers the ability to interface in a realistic environment free from the usual constraints. The scenarios challenged the Soldiers to use their skills and knowledge.
“Feedback from the Soldiers showed that it was an exciting and refreshing experience for them with personal and professional takeaways,” Doo said.
He went on to highlight a number of data points from the training in a written communiqué. The aviation company conducted eight aeromedical evacuation scenarios, logged more than 15 flight hours, nine hot refuels, one realistic downed aircraft scenario with crew recovery, and trained four new non-rated crew members on multi-aircraft operations. There were 122 Soldiers who received duty-specific skills training throughout the joint exercise as the transportation company utilized 15 of its larger vehicles.
The medical professionals assessed, evaluated and treated 25 simulated medical patients with 16 being urgent patients needing greater levels of care. All of this occurred with no injuries or equipment loss and provided consistent positive feedback, said Doo.
Multi-unit training like this JTX is rare, but provides invaluable hands-on education. One of the baseline Soldier tasks is to be able to call for immediate medical support when life, limb or eyesight is in imminent danger.
The members of the transportation company can conduct this training in a classroom, talk through the necessary steps, and simulate using the radios in their vehicles to call for that assistance. Being able to physically get in their vehicles, conduct a full convoy operation, drive to a location, physically stop and make that radio call to an actual aircraft makes it a much more realistic event.
The transportation company Soldiers learned exactly how long it takes from the time the call is placed to Flight Operations to the arrival of an aircraft. They also learned the proper way to package a patient with the assistance of the flight medics. The flight medics were able to hone their skills of patient assessment in the field to pass on the pertinent medical information to the healthcare professionals at the field hospital. The medics from the Med Det and the 1209th were afforded the opportunity to set up a field hospital in the hangar and triage patients as they arrived.
All of the flight time amounted to the need to refuel, providing the aviation refuelers the opportunity to conduct hot refuel operations on the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. A hot refuel is when the aircraft is topped off while still on, not completely shut down. This allows for a quick turnaround in order to fly back out and pick up the next critical patient.
Capt. Jessica Sedillo, 720th Transportation Company Commander, said, “It was a great opportunity for my Soldiers to get outside of their comfort zone and get all discombobulated with the helicopters and the scenarios. It was a huge retention booster,” she said. “Every Soldier I talked to was smiling from ear to ear and wanted to know when we are going to do it again.”
Sedillo said highlights for her and the transportation company were being able to work with the other units and see what jobs there are across the New Mexico Army National Guard. In transportation, she said, they deal with mechanics and truck drivers. The Soldiers of the 720th drive every drill weekend and to get a break and do something different was a big morale booster especially for the lower enlisted. She added, “Overall it was good training, not just fun, but good training. We never know when we may be in that situation.”
As part of every exercise, an after action report (AAR) was generated with the input from each of the units. This report identifies what training was supposed to occur, what training actually occurred and some of the highlights of the event. It also offers areas for improvement the next time a similar exercise is held.
The AAR lists a number of items to continue with the next time; everything from joint training with another unit, aircraft familiarization, realistic patient scenarios, specific job skills training, teamwork, professionalism among the Soldiers and the mentorship that was occurring in the field, the aviation facility and field hospital. One other major highlight was the constant vigilance toward safe operations.
A few areas to improve upon for the next major joint exercise include utilizing the 1209th ground ambulance teams in addition to the aircraft, clearer patient scenarios to be trained upon as some injuries were not planned, thus not allowing for the senior medics to provide their pre-planned training for the junior medics. There were also some communication glitches and challenges with those observing the missions being on the same page and familiar with the operation.
Doo summed up by saying, “This JTX received huge sustains from the Soldiers and aviation personnel. With the help of our fellow companies, we were able to train on (Mission Essential Tasks), which are usually only experienced once annually – a first for many of our aircrews. We have identified many areas to concentrate on and are better prepared for joint operations.”
As with all military training, the New Mexico National Guard strives to conduct relevant, useful training every time units come together during the two days each month. The JTX allowed for a large-scale event providing hands-on training for scores of Soldiers.
Based on the success and positive feedback from this inaugural exercise, the Soldiers of the aeromedical evacuation aviation unit, medical professionals and transportation company are already planning the next JTX.
| Date Taken: | 08.01.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 08.26.2015 11:53 |
| Story ID: | 174296 |
| Location: | SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO, US |
| Hometown: | ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, US |
| Hometown: | LAS VEGAS, NEW MEXICO, US |
| Web Views: | 227 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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