Photo By Pfc. Benjamin Hale | U.S. Army Pfc. Shawn Healey, a combat medic assigned to 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor...... read more read more
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FORT STEWART, Ga. – As modern warfare and battlefield tactics constantly evolve, so too must the way the U.S. Army fights and wins the nation's wars. This also includes the equipment the Army employs to successfully accomplish its mission.
As such, medics with 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division recently received the Army’s newest combat vehicle, the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV). The AMPV was selected to replace the M113 Armored Personnel Carrier in keeping with the Army’s key initiative of readiness and modernization.
“The biggest advantage to the AMPV is the amount of space it provides the medics to maneuver around patient(s),” Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Proctor said, a medical platoon sergeant assigned to 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division. “They're much larger on the inside, so the evac vehicles have the ability to carry four litter patients or six ambulatory patients.”
Medical units utilize both the M1284 Medical Evacuation Vehicle (MEV) and M1285 Medical Treatment Vehicle (MTV) versions of the AMPV. The AMPV has an increased interior volume of 78% as compared to the M113 and notable improvements in armor capability and speed. The AMPV also has a more advanced radio system, allowing it to communicate with troops more effectively.
“The M113s were really good at loading patients and driving from point A to point B, but you really couldn't do medical treatment in the back because you're so cramped,” Proctor said. “In these vehicles, my medics can maneuver around the patient, they can get vitals, they can stop bleeding, they can do all their medical interventions, while en route to the next level of care.”
The AMPV also has many advantages that improve the ability to shoot, move and communicate. For example, medic platoons are now authorized short-barrel M249 machine guns, which can be used with the vehicle’s gunner hatch, enabling the ability to provide defensive capabilities while en route to treat patients, added Proctor.
The Army’s doctrine dictates that role-one aid stations provide primary health care, specialized first aid, triage, resuscitation and stabilization. Basic role-one capabilities also include routine sick call and the management of minor sick and injured personnel which enables them to quickly return to duty. The M1285 MTV allows medics to effectively and efficiently set up and move the aid station to fulfill situational needs.
“When they [M1285 MTV] travel together, they can make a role-one aid station, so they drop ramp, they have a tent that comes off the back of the AMPV, and tarps that we set up in the field, and that becomes our role-one aid station,” Proctor said.
A feature exclusive to the medical variants of the AMPV the M1284 MEV and M1285 MTV include air conditioning units to cool down patients, with the MTV even having a refrigerator for the safe storage of units of blood.
“We can handle anything all the way up to massive trauma,” Proctor added. “We can handle bleeding, airway problems, amputation, [and] trauma, [because] we have all our medications with us.
“They [AMPVs] are leaps and bounds better than the M113 and I'm glad we have them," Proctor said. "We will be learning how to implement them and we'll learn a lot about them when we deploy on our upcoming rotation with them.”
| Date Taken: | 05.16.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 05.23.2024 08:52 |
| Story ID: | 471465 |
| Location: | FORT STEWART, GEORGIA, US |
| Web Views: | 435 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
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