Troops see changes in casualty evacuation exercise

Courtesy Photo | Cpt. (Chap.) Nathan Kline, 1-3 BTB chaplain, comforts Spc. Jermetta Hannor, 1-3 BTB, after a mock attack on the 1st Brigade Combat Team HQ during a mass casualty evacuation exercise November 12.  

11.21.2005

Courtesy Story

DVIDS Hub       

Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Mills
1st BCT PAO


When the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Brigade Troops Battalion was on Forward Operating Base Dagger, a small FOB just south of Tikrit, they were responsible for the medical evacuation and care of troops stationed there. It was a risky proposition, considering FOB Dagger was isolated and injured troops had to wait for medevac helicopters to be flown in.

That all changed in late July, though, when 1-3 BTB moved to FOB Speicher, a huge logistics base and home to a combat support hospital.

Those changes were most apparent at a mass casualty evacuation exercise November 12.

"Life saving didn't change from Dagger," said Maj. Pamela Roof, physician assistant, 1-3 BTB. The way the injured are moved and sustained changed, said Roof.

During the exercise a number of Soldiers roll-playing as injured were found after a mock indirect fire attack near the 1st Brigade Combat Team headquarters building. The call went over the radio for help and a series of actions were set into motion.

Soldiers certified as combat life savers quickly assembled at the 1-3 BTB troop medical clinic. Soldiers designated as non-standard ambulance drivers prepped their Humvees to carry litters and brought them to the TMC. A team of combat life savers responded to the site of the attack and began organizing and prioritizing the injured Soldiers according to the extent of their injuries.

Some of the injured were put in Humvees and sent directly to the Combat Surgical Hospital on FOB Speicher. Others were sent to the casualty collection point at the TMC.

According to Roof it went well, and the difference between being at FOB Dagger and FOB Speicher was marked.

"We didn't have to stabilize and wait for air. We could just take them to the CSH," said Roof. "If someone is urgent instead of going to the casualty collection point they are taken directly to the CSH."

Being at FOB Speicher has other advantages besides the CSH. "It changed dramatically because the fire department augmented us," said Roof.

Roof said that although a communication problem caused the fire department to show up later than they would normally it was nice to have that asset available. In fact, Roof said, the Soldiers responded so quickly with treatment, triage and delivery of victims that the fire department didn't have time to respond.

In the end, though, it comes down to basic life-saving and this type of training only brings to light how the environment has changed.

Since the exercise was scheduled everyone knew it was going to happen, said SGT Sherrie Cooper, fuel handler, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, but the important thing was it gave everyone an idea of where they need to be if something were to actually happen.

"I needed it because next time something happens I'll need to know how things go, where I need to go," said Cooper.

• Date Taken: 11.21.2005
• Date Posted: 11.21.2005 16:03
• Story ID: 3822