Photo By Tech. Sgt. Daniel Farrell | Air Force doctors negotiating a tactical course at the New York Police Department's...... read more read more
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NEW YORK-- A day of tactical exercises at the New York Police Department’s Rodman’s Neck Outdoor Range capped two weeks of training for 20 Air Force Special Warfare medical officers, many of whom supervise pararescuemen from around the world, on January 18, 2019.
Donning combat gear, strapping on medical kits, and carrying M-4s rifles, the doctors spent a day learning to shoot, move, communicate and treat casualties like the pararescue Airmen, known as a “PJs” for short.
They maneuvered through an urban landscape, similar to current areas of operation around the world, that is used to train police officers under the watchful eyes of 103rd Rescue Squadron PJ representation – watching their tactics—and PJ medical directors who rated their field medical skills.
“It is absolutely difficult, especially when you go from a hospital setting to a tactical setting,” said Capt Brittany Schott. “It is very difficult to manage all the things. It gives us an insight into what our guys are doing.”
The course, run by the 106th Rescue Wing of the New York Air National Guard, was the first Air Force Special Warfare Medical Officer training course, according to Lt. Col. Stephen Rush, the wing Pararescue Medical Director.
Air Force pararescue is a part of the Air Force contribution to the special operations community, and this course was about preparing its doctors for that challenge, Rush explained.
“The fact that we were able to get this course off the ground at the start of what will become Air Force Special Warfare,… is exciting and opportune and I hope this course allows our leaders to see the benefit for any doc who deploys in direct or indirect support of operations,” Rush said.
The Air Force doctors spent one week learning from experienced Air Force doctors about trauma, emergency medicine and mental health issues affecting operators. Civilian experts in neurosurgery, physical therapy and human performance also spoke with the group.
The doctors also got hands on training in a cadaver lab, a simulation lab, and special trauma lanes in which they were faced with 10 to 30 minute scenarios dealing with some of the most common injuries that pararescue Airmen – known as PJs-- face, Rush said.
These included traumatic brain injury, chest trauma, abdomen injuries, amputations, shock and injuries to children, he explained.
The doctors were also trained in conducting blood transfusions, using a ventilator to keep a casualty alive, and hemorrhage control and advanced techniques for clearing airways.
The classroom work took place at Northwell Health System in Lake Success, NY, Stoney Brook University Hospital, and F.S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton, the home of the 106th Rescue Wing.
The goal of the two week program was to prepare the doctors to provide medical training to pararescue Airmen and Combat Rescue Officers so they are ready to do the missions they’re called upon to perform, said Col. John Dorsh, the 24th Special Operations Wing surgeon and the Acting Air Force Parararescue Medical Director.
The connections Rush had with the medical community in the New York City area helped make the training even more valuable, Dorsh said.
The 106th has conducted training for pararescue medical officers for the past six years, Rush said.
Initially the training involved doctors sitting in on PJ medical training. But he realized that some of the medical officers didn’t have the hands on experience they needed, he added
“Last year we were in the cadaver lab teaching the PJs to do chest tubes, surgical airways and other invasive procedures, and as I was sitting there I realized we had a lot of GMOS—general medical officers – who had an internship only and I asked of the eight, how many have any experience in these techniques and only two raised their hands,” Rush said.
“So I realized at that point that the docs need to be doing the training, in addition the PJs,” he added.
So the course was restructured so doctors spent one week learning the basic science of battlefield medicine and the second week learning to master the medical skills the PJs need.
“We’re relying on them to train the PJs,” Rush said.
The capstone to the week was the tactical training at Rodman’s Neck.
Using Rodman’s Neck meant that the training could involve weapons and simunitions, and combine close quarters combat scenarios with outdoor scenarios. The buildings, constructed to resemble a typical New York City neighborhood, also allowed the doctors to practice moving casualties up and down stairs, Rush said.
“As a new Special Operations medic it has really honed in on some of the medical skills that are needed to treat battlefield trauma and really helped me know how I can be more a part of the mission and really help our pararescue be the best they can to save our guys. Because that is what it is all about,” Schott, said.
Going through the course together makes sure wing and squadron pararescue and special operations doctors all share the same skills and assumptions, said Maj Scott Stafford.
The tactical piece of the instruction was especially valuable, said Maj Clayton Yeung.
The doctors got to work on tactics, movement, trying to extricate the patient and pull security “everything that’s pertinent in what the PJs do,” he said.
The fact that it was snowing as the doctors went through their drills made it even more realistic, said Capt Kubwimana "Moses" Mhayamaguru.
“It really puts you in the mind frame of the operator,” Mhayamaguru said.
“It’s been a really good course. I am really glad I am here,” he said. “The medical education that we had was super.”
| Date Taken: | 03.16.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 03.25.2019 13:52 |
| Story ID: | 315603 |
| Location: | NEW YORK, NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: | 1,740 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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