New York National Guard Soldiers of 'Charlie Med' test their mettle in mass casualty exercise at Fort Drum

Photo By Alexander Rector | A New York Army National Guard Soldier is made up as an accident victim so he can be treated by Soldiers assigned to Company C "Charlie Med", 427th Brigade Support Battalion, 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team during a mass casualty (MASCAL) exercise during their annual training at Fort Drum, N.Y., on July 15. The exercise, designed to simulate a large-scale medical emergency, involved the simultaneous evacuation, triage, and treatment of a multiple number of casualties. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Alexander Rector/released)  

FORT DRUM , NY, UNITED STATES

07.15.2015

Story by Sgt. Savana L. Clendining 

New York National Guard

FORT DRUM, N.Y. - The dining facility, better known as the DFAC, went up in an explosion. Injured Soldiers, suffering from cuts, burns, chest wounds and broken limbs were everywhere.

The Medics of the New York Army National Guard’s Company C 427th Brigade Support Battalion, known as “Charlie Med” because they provide medical support to the Guard’s 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, went into action.

It was only a notional exercise, but the medics responded as if it were the real thing during a mass casualty exercise conducted on July 15, 2015.

The drill was an important part of the company’s training during the 27th Brigade’s three-week-long Annual Training period at Fort Drum.

The mass casualty evaluation is used to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the medical company so that they can sharpen their individual medical skills as well as their ability to function as a team, explained Sgt. 1st Class James Wunders, the platoon sergeant for the company’s treatment platoon.

“This training instills confidence in those young soldiers who came out of training, but haven’t had the opportunity to do it under the gun – under pressure,” Wunders explained.

“It put me under pressure and really pointed out some things that I need to work on, which is really good,” said Pfc. Riley Jensen, who serves as a combat medic.

This evaluation was one of three conducted during the 27th IBCT’s Exportable Combat Training Capability (XCTC) exercise that is being used to prepare the brigade for next year’s rotation at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) in Fort Polk, Louisiana.

“We all need to grow, we can’t just get stuck in one place,” said Capt. Dayana Cannan, a physician assistant with the unit. “We all need to learn new things, and that’s what I’m here for.”

The exercise was observed and evaluated by Soldiers from the First Army's training division.

“It’s always great to have a third party put on training,” Wunders, a resident of Cheektowaga, New York, said. “When you put it on yourself, it’s not that you’re cheating, but you know kind of what to expect, because you’re the organizer of the training."

"Having a third party view to say here’s what you did really well and here’s what you can do to improve is ultimately what takes a good unit and makes them better," he added.

• Date Taken: 07.15.2015
• Date Posted: 07.22.2015 20:39
• Story ID: 170813
• Location: FORT DRUM , NY, US
• Hometown: CHEEKTOWAGA, NY, US