Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Charlotte Reavis | During Global Medic at Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif., Soldiers with the 1980th Field...... read more read more
FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif. — On the front line of any battlefield, medical support is a key element to survival. When medical support needs to be established quickly, the Army Reserve usually relies on units like the 1980th Forward Surgical Team.
The 1980th, based out of Fresno, Calif., recently put their skills to the test when they participated in Global Medic 2009 at Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif., June 10-15.
Global Medic is the U.S. Army Reserve Command's joint training exercise which provides Soldiers with the opportunity to execute various medical training tasks in a combat environment.
"We are normally attached to something like an airborne unit," said Army Capt. Glen Severin, 1980th FST commander. "As they're moving, we move with them."
The "frontline hospital" must be able to support Soldiers for at least 72 hours without being re-supplied. The FST is located relatively close to the front line so if someone is seriously injured, life-sustaining support can be provided relatively quickly, said Severin.
The 1980th, like most FSTs, have a variety of medical specialties to support military personnel. Each person in the team has to know how to set up the clinic and the equipment in it.
Before an FST can begin to provide aid, they have to find a suitable location — complete with a location for air medevac. Then, the team can begin setting up their equipment.
"We set up the equipment first so, if needed, we could see patients before getting the tent up," Severin said. After the equipment is put together, the Soldiers put up the tent and then arrange the equipment inside.
In a scenario provided by observer trainers of Global Medic, the 1980th received their first patient approximately 30 minutes after they were completely set up. The FST received 11 surgical patients that day with numerous other injuries before they were sent to a higher care facility.
"The main idea of the surgery is to get the patient stabilized so they can be transported [to the combat support hospital]," said Severin.
Although the FST can typically see a large variety of injuries and patients, Severin said their primary mission is the Soldiers coming off the battlefield who need immediate surgery.
The FST's mission is to ensure that all of the Soldiers needs are met first and foremost, but they can also treat local citizens if time is available.
"The combat support hospital gives us 100 percent support because we only have surgical [capabilities]," he said. "If we need fuel, medications, personnel, they support that."
Global Medic 2009 also provided training on convoy operations, equipment set up, transporting patients, and the proper management of patient flow.
"The Soldiers learn how to use their equipment and get used to how to work together as a team," said Severin. "Many things can change, but working together and being part of a forward surgical team; that stays the same."
| Date Taken: | 06.19.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 06.19.2009 16:19 |
| Story ID: | 35374 |
| Location: | FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, US |
| Web Views: | 1,332 |
| Downloads: | 409 |
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