Black Sea Rotational Force: U.S. Navy Corpsman and U.S. Army Medics respond to Active Shooter Drill in Joint Exercise

Photo By Lance Cpl. Tyler Andersen | U.S. Navy Corpsmen with Black Sea Rotational Force alongside U.S. Army medics carry a role-playing patient after an active shooter drill aboard Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania March 30, 2016. The drill tested the corpsmen’s ability to respond in a timely manner in the event of an actual emergency. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tyler A. Andersen)  

MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, ROMANIA

03.30.2016

Story by Cpl. Tyler Andersen 

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe and Africa     

MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU AIR BASE, Romania – U.S. Navy Corpsmen with Black Sea Rotational Force and U.S. Army Medics assessed role-playing medical patients in support of an active-shooter drill aboard Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania, March 30, 2016.

Romanian forces responded to an active-shooter drill as well as a simulated explosion at the base gate. After the first responders assessed the situation, the Battalion Aid Station assumed responsibility for the treatment of six patients by triaging and processing them for further care.

Once medical personnel transported the patients to the Battalion Aid Station, the U.S. Navy corpsmen began assessing each patient with the guidance from the Army medics who observed their performance and shared medical advice, said Petty Officer 3rd Class Harold E. Springston, a U.S. Navy corpsman with BSRF.
“We had an Army medic for each team; they are extremely good at their job and very intelligent and adept at everything they do,” said Springston. “Whenever we needed help, they jumped in and assisted us. The Army has been kind to us since we have been here.”

Spc. Joseph D. Partney, the noncommissioned officer in charge of Army medical care with 3227 Air Cavalry Battalion, said after gathering the information required to treat patients, they were ready for transport to a higher echelon of care, where the exercise was concluded.

“We will transport the patient in a helicopter if the injuries were serious enough, or we could drive them to the emergency room,” said Partney. “Essentially, the first responders in this case would retrieve the patients, do minimal care such as basic lifesaving procedures on the spot, and transport them there.”

Partney also said the training procedures, tactics, and knowledge are skills that a person can lose over time if he or she does not use them. The exercise was a good training opportunity for the BAS staff, allowing them to conduct medical practices and hone their skills as professionals.

“I think training like this is crucial because for this post. An incident like this could very well be something that could happen, so the more training we have with the Navy corpsmen, the more easily we can react and take care of the issues smoothly as a team,” said Partney.

• Date Taken: 03.30.2016
• Date Posted: 04.12.2016 03:59
• Story ID: 195096
• Location: MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, RO