864th Engineer Battalion medics train to real life situations while deployed in Afghanistan

Photo By Capt. Elizabeth Lewis | A soldier from the Convoy Support Team, 864th Engineer Battalion, 43rd Sustainment Brigade CMRE, pulls security during as soldiers and medics from his platoon administer first aid to simulated casualties during a training exercise in Paktika province, Afghanistan.  

PAKTIKA PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

06.18.2013

Story by 1st Lt. Justin Gartland 

864th Engineer Battalion

PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Multiple casualties are laying on the ground, medics are administering aid to those wounded, reports are being called up to higher command and soldiers are laying down suppressive fire.

For the 864th Engineer Battalion medics, this is the scenario designed to make training as accurate as possible. The medics would ride along in a convoy led by the convoy support team to a designated area on Forward Operating Base Sharana. Once given the signal, one vehicle would stop to simulate getting hit by an improvised explosive device. The CST would stop the convoy and immediately begin evaluating the situation and aiding any soldiers that were injured. The main test for the medics was to keep the medical situation organized and react as calm as possible while administering the correct aid to multiple soldiers.

This training scenario was designed and organized by Sgt. Nathan Hayden, one of the more experienced medics in the battalion.

“The purpose of the training was to emphasize reducing battlefield injuries by performing tactical combat casualty care. TC3 is the pre-hospital care rendered to a casualty in a combat environment. The application of TC3 principles during tactical combat environment has proven highly effective and is a major reason for lives being saved on the battlefield.

"This training provide medics and CST soldiers a situation to test their decision making process and technical medical skills,” stated Capt. Robyn Cushing, 864th Engineer Battalion physician assistant.

When asked how she thought the training had gone, Capt. Cushing stated that he thought “the training was a success. By simulating a realistic tactical combat environment, the CST soldiers and the combat medics were able to assess casualties, prioritize treatment, and treat wounded soldiers.”

According to Capt. Cushing, the training was based off of TC3 and the combat lifesaver program that was developed by the U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School at Fort Sam Houston.

Compared to the training back in the States, the major change was the training environment.

“The TC3 principles remained the same, but the training environment was different,” said Capt. Cushing. “The CST soldiers and the medics utilized vehicles that are used on deployment convoys. These vehicles are not readily available in the rear. Getting around and inside these vehicles to help wounded soldiers is very hard, and teamwork is vital in this situation. Soldiers also wore full combat load, items that are not issued to the soldiers during the training in the rear.”

Spc. Maureen Kuria is one of the Pacemaker combat medics that was able to take part in the realistic training. She said: “As a medic, we need to be prepared to react when things happen on a convoy and not just in the aid station. One of the lessons I learned was how to get out of the vehicle with a full kit and an aid bag. Another was how chaotic it can be and how circumstances can change so quickly. A medic has to be quick thinking.”

When asked what her favorite part of the training was Spc. Kuria responded with “treating the realistic injuries because we don’t see those in sick call. It was a very good refresher.”

When asked for a final statement regarding the training, Staff Sgt. (P) Haas stated that “soldiers face many threats, and this exercise proved that the 864th Engineer Battalion Medics and CST soldiers are ready and able to save lives.”

• Date Taken: 06.18.2013
• Date Posted: 07.10.2013 02:53
• Story ID: 109930
• Location: PAKTIKA PROVINCE, AF