Time is of essence in 1-9 FA casualty evacuation training

Photo By Master Sgt. Duff E. Mcfadden | B Battery, 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery Soldiers load a litter "patient" into a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected armored vehicle during casualty evacuation training at Contingency Operating Site Marez in Mosul, Iraq. The unit, deployed as part of the 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, is learning the proper way to use non-standard evacuation vehicles in a combat situation.  

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ, IRAQ

05.25.2010

Story by Master Sgt. Duff E. Mcfadden 

2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ, Iraq – One of the most important aspects of military medical care is the timely evacuation of the casualty.

And the clock was ticking during training on casualty evacuation care.

Two Soldiers lay on combat litters in the torrid, Iraqi sun. After being strapped down, they're lifted up and transported onto Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles.

According to Sgt. Ronald Railing, a South Bend, Ind., native and the senior medic with B Battery, 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, the 26 Soldiers surrounding him had two minutes to strap a couple of wounded Soldiers onto a litter, then place them securely into the vehicle.

"As part of casualty evacuation care we're showing a group of Soldiers the proper way to use non-standard evacuation vehicles in a combat situation and how to maximize each vehicle to its full capacity," Sgt. Ronald Railing said. "They need to get the casualty into the vehicle, secure them from any further injury and give the medic enough mobility to take care of the patients."

The battery's main mission is to provide transportation and security for the Provincial
Reconstruction Team. The PRT interacts with the provincial governor, helping to ensure jobs are getting done, such as sewage and electrical repairs. They also check with local farmers, advising and assisting them with their crops and livestock, and aid in helping grow Iraqi businesses.

"We spend almost every day outside the wire," said Railing.

The unit uses MRAPs for its daily missions.

"Our lieutenant said we needed a class. I felt this was one of the more important classes, as the vehicles we usually utilize as an artillery unit, we're not using here," Railing said.

Railing also added that the Soldiers in his unit didn't fully know the capabilities of their MRAPs in transporting patients until the training.

"We're making sure all of our Soldiers have combat casualty evacuation training. The very nature of our mission puts us in bad places," said 1st Lt. Ryan Greer, the B Battery commander and an Atlanta, resident. "Our platoon has been hit three times since we've been in Iraq. "It's a good class for our Soldiers and a good one for them to practice on. We need to make sure if anyone gets hurt, we'll be able to take care of them and evacuate them."

One of three medics within the battery, Railing returned to the Army in 2002, following an 11-year break in service. After serving as a civilian Emergency Medical Technician, he said he came back in because he wanted to finish what he had started and use his civilian skills in a combat environment.

It wasn't long, unfortunately, before that opportunity presented itself.

Railing served in Mosul, Iraq, in 2004-05, with the 25th Infantry Division out of Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. He was on duty Dec. 21, 2004 when a suicide bomber attacked the Mosul Dining Facility, killing 22 U.S. and Iraqi Soldiers and civilian contractors and wounding another 69 individuals.

"I treated 11 casualties and only lost one. I was told by the Combat Surgical Hospital, he wouldn't have survived, regardless of my efforts," he said.

Unit training is scheduled on a week-to-week basis. The next class will cover reacting to an improvised explosive device/unexploded ordnance. Previous classes have included laser safety, Mosul cultural awareness, submitting a 9-line Medical Evacuation, map reading and land navigation.

• Date Taken: 05.25.2010
• Date Posted: 06.05.2010 07:53
• Story ID: 50912
• Location: CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ, IQ