Soldiers test medical skills in realistic scenarios

Photo By Amy Christopherson | Soldiers with Headquarters and Operations Company, 741st Military Intelligence Battalion, 704th MI Brigade, participate in a first aid training scenario at Fort Meade, Md., March 14.  

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, MD, UNITED STATES

03.14.2014

Story by Sgt. Amy Christopherson 

704th Military Intelligence Brigade

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. - After spending several Thursday mornings conducting training in first-aid skills, soldiers with Headquarters and Operations Company, 741st Military Intelligence Battalion, 704th MI Brigade, put their skills to a test during a situational training exercise March 14 at Fort Meade, Md.

The company ruck-marched out to the training area on March 13 and spent the morning training and reinforcing medical skills at stations that focused on one skill each. After practicing evacuating a casualty, treating bleeding injuries and burn wounds, preventing and controlling shock and restore breathing, the company rucked back to their start point and went back to the office for the rest of day.

The next day, the soldiers again rucked to the training area to begin the STX. They split into two groups for the first run through the exercise, applying the skills developed through previous training in realistic scenarios. After both teams went through once, they combined for a final run-through.

They were instructed to move tactically as a team, react to contact when necessary and apply first aid as needed. After applying first aid, they called in a 9-line medevac request and transported their casualties for evacuation, while continuing to react to enemy contact.

Capt. Ryan Marvin, the commander of HOC, said he was pleased with this culminating event to this quarter’s training.

“The soldiers had a chance to take the knowledge they gained yesterday and apply it in realistic scenarios,” he said. “And we mixed in tactical movement to contact techniques, which we don’t get to do very often.”

After completing the scenario, the company gathered to discuss the event and brainstorm things the soldiers found helpful and things that could be improved. Soldiers agreed that it was a good opportunity to get out of their offices and spend time training as a team.

Sgt. Jason Brown, a signals collection analyst who participated in the training event noted that it’s important to maintain skills that aren’t used very often.

“It was good training, very exciting,” he said. “It was nice to do something different using real-life scenarios and brush up on our existing skills. We don’t do this stuff every day so it’s important to keep the skills sharp.”

• Date Taken: 03.14.2014
• Date Posted: 03.24.2014 10:32
• Story ID: 122430
• Location: FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, MD, US