BAN CHAM KREM, Thailand – Sailors with Shock Trauma Platoon conducted real-time casualty drills to sharpen their skills and better prepare them for future missions during Exercise Cobra Gold 2012 here Feb. 10

During their training, Shock Trauma Platoon received casualties with simulated injuries. Corpsmen were tasked with assessing the injury, stabilizing the patient in a timely manner and preparing them for transportation to a higher echelon of care.

“The importance of Shock Trauma Platoon is that we’re essentially the field’s emergency room,” said Navy Lt. Heather A. Redding, officer in charge of Shock Trauma Platoon. “We can take care of an emergency and get the patient stabilized before they are transported to a hospital.”

“The mortality rates of casualties decrease when a unit has a shock trauma platoon,” said Lt. Cmdr. Randy L. Panke, physician assistant.

During Exercise Cobra Gold 2012, corpsmen with Shock Trauma Platoon also work with medical personnel from the Royal Thai Marine Corps in coordinating casualty evacuations to local hospitals.

“This training is important for the sailors because this is a chance for interoperability and coordination during the exercise,” said Panke. “They will be better prepared for a real-world scenario."

3rd Medical Battalion provides shock trauma platoons to subordinate commands of III Marine Expeditionary Force when those units deploy. Shock Trauma Platoon, 3rd Medical Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, is currently attached to Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, during the exercise.

Exercise Cobra Gold is a recurring multinational and multiservice exercise hosted by the government of Thailand designed to advance regional security by exercising a multinational force from nations sharing common goals and security commitments in the Asia-Pacific region.

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