Lending a Helping Hand

Photo By Spc. Christopher Hernandez | Army Master Sgt. Tinamarie Reese smiles at the camera in the 7305th Medical Training Support Battalion area of operations. The 7305th MTSB is primarily responsible for providing well-experienced observer-trainers during medic exercises for guidance and troubleshooting. Reese is the senior NCOIC of 7305th MTSB, working in tandem with her officer counterpart, Army Col. Darryl Burton, in the formulation of training plans and overall supervision of the observer-trainers.  

FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, CA, UNITED STATES

06.16.2009

Story by Spc. Christopher Hernandez 

345th Public Affairs Detachment

FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif. - After an intense gunfight, a U.S. Soldier lies wounded in the dusty landscape. The casualty suffers from a gaping gun shot wound, accompanied by a large exit wound through the back. To make matters worse, his internal organs are exposed.

Enduring the rigors of elevated stress and limited time, the medics finish their medical treatment and use a stretcher to load the casualty into the back of an ambulance.

The mission is a resounding success. Although there were a few minor setbacks, the patient will arrive at the hospital in time and undergo operation.

What took place was a training exercise and part of Global Medic 2009, the U.S. Army Reserve Command's premiere joint training exercise. The patient is actually a mannequin preset to specifications by Regional Training Site — Medical. The entire scenario was created by 7305th Medical Training Support Battalion's observer-trainers such as Army Staff Sgt. Sean Nikakis and Army Maj. John Niedzwiedzki.

The 7305th MTSB is an active participant in the Global Medic exercise taking place at Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif., and the unit's intention is to present mentorship and supervision to medics participating in the event.

"In the exercise, we provide guidance and information so that they can go forward and improve their skills to better prepare them for deployment," said Master Sgt. Tinamarie Reese, senior non-commissioned officer of the 7305th MTSB.

Reese works in tandem with her officer counterpart, Col. Darryl Burton, to provide command and control over the observer-trainer cell of Global Medic. The medical unit originates from Sacramento, Calif., with an auxiliary detachment operating in Camp Parks, Calif. In addition to the main staff of 7305th MTSB personnel, nine additional units fall under its command to supplement the training regimen for Global Medic.

According to Reese, the 7305th MTSB frequently synchronizes with RTS MED to devise training schedules and planning. While the unit constructs a scenario in their tactical operations center, RTS MED supplies either a mannequin or a live-role player to play the role of the casualty. RTS MED then informs the observer-trainers of the casualty's location. Subsequently, the observer-trainers provide the mission brief for the medics engaged in the prospective scenarios. Finally, the mission begins, and the observer-trainers walk the medics through their courses of action.

At the conclusion of every training mission set, the observer-trainers conduct formal after-action reviews of the overall performance of the medics. The AARs address the pros and cons of the exercise, providing a template for Soldiers to base their future training missions on. Afterwards, the information gathered from the scenarios and AARs are entered into the database collection situated in the 7305th MTSB tactical operations center.

The 7305th MTSB will continue to provide observer-trainer support until the exercises completion, and the lessons learned will help better prepare the training units for future deployments.

• Date Taken: 06.16.2009
• Date Posted: 06.19.2009 16:03
• Story ID: 35372
• Location: FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, CA, US