Photo By Pfc. Michael Syner | U.S. Army Sgt. Michael Smale (right) of New Bedford, Mass., a medic with the 10th...... read more read more
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BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – Soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division, Task Force Falcon, held a force protection exercise with a twist at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, June 30. The exercise simulated attacks that resulted in casualties, forcing the soldiers to react appropriately to casualties while continuing security for the brigade’s operating area.
“We wanted to take [the force protection exercise] to the next level,” said U.S. Army Capt. Matthew Romanych, the Headquarters and Headquarters Company commander from Utica, N.Y., and primary organizer of the event. “We wanted to add a little more realism so that soldiers would be prepared to react if something serious happens.”
The training began at night with the company sending a message to HHC soldiers and neighboring Falcon units including TF Observe Detect Identify and Neutralize-Afghanistan and TF Mountain Eagle to immediately increase security.
The soldiers demonstrated their ability to increase security on the task force’s area, restrict passage, and patrol nearby areas to help protect important assets on the camp, to include the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade headquarters.
Ordinarily, demonstrating their proficiency would have been the extent of the training, but the soldiers who responded were instructed that, in the exercise scenario, the camp had been hit with indirect fire and had likely suffered casualties. After being briefed, the soldiers on the FORCEPRO teams moved out, assuming their positions as stationary and patrolling guards.
While the FORCEPRO soldiers played a significant role in the exercise, the training also tested the mettle of TF Falcon medics and doctors.
“Our medics are going to set up a casualty collection point and treat patients,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Anthony Trick, the medical operations noncommissioned officer in charge, and native of Inverness, Fla. “They’ll treat patients there until the casualties can be moved off to a facility, like what we’d do in real life.”
About half an hour into the exercise, the casualties started screaming (if conscious) to attract the patrolling soldiers. After discovering a casualty, the teams reacted quickly to determine how severe the wounds were, provide medical treatment immediately if necessary, and move the patient to the casualty collection point.
“We want realism,” said Romanych. “I want these soldiers, who would be responsible for keeping a lot of people safe, to know that they are capable of performing during the real deal.”
As soldiers brought the casualties to the CCP, the medics manning the station reacted quickly, tearing off armor, placing tourniquets, bandages, and splints to stabilize patients and move casualties out of the way so that others may be treated.
“The medics are a huge part of this exercise,” said U.S. Army Spc. Jessica Williamson, a medic with the 10th CAB Aviation Consolidated Aid Station and one of the organizers for the training exercise.
“We have to know if our massive casualty reaction plan works,” the Long Island, N.Y., native, added.
After roughly two hours, the exercise ended and the soldiers on the FORCEPRO team rescued all of the casualties.
“The exercise went well,” Romanych said. “The whole purpose of these things is to identify deficiencies and correct them. I’m confident in the abilities of the soldiers assigned to protecting the camp.”
| Date Taken: | 06.30.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 07.07.2011 03:07 |
| Story ID: | 73328 |
| Location: | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 136 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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