Interoperability Medical Coverage In Support of Swift Response 16

Photo By Capt. Richard Skinner | TORUN, Poland – Maj. Michael Story, the acting commander for 421st Medical Battalion (Multifunctional), watches the Polish paratroopers dropping into the drop zone with medics from his battalion awaiting below to provide immediate medical care. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Richard Skinner, 421st Medical Battalion (Multifunctional))  

TORUN, POLAND

06.07.2016

Story by Capt. Jeku Arce 

30th Medical Brigade

By Capt. Richard Skinner and Capt. Jeku Arce
421st Medical Battalion (Multifunctional) and 30th Medical Brigade Public Affairs

TORUN, Poland – Medics of U.S., Polish, and U.K. provided drop zone medical coverage for an airborne operation involving more than 1,500 paratroopers from multiple nations June 7 in support of Swift Response 16.

The 82nd Airborne Division, Polish 6th Airborne Brigade, and British 16 Air Assault Brigade conducted the airborne operations as part of this U.S. Army led exercise to enhance the readiness of the combat core of the U.S. Global Response Force with allied high-readiness forces in Europe.

Medical teams of 30th Medical Brigade to include the 212th Combat Support Hospital, 160th Forward Surgical Team, and 557th Medical Company (Area Support); Polish 1st Army Field Hospital, 10th Military Hospital; and U.K. 16th Medical Regiment provided roving medics on the drop zone, coordinated air and ground evacuation, and provided immediate medical care to injured paratroopers in medical tents next to the drop zone.

Less than 1 percent of paratroopers sustained injuries, all of which were minimal, during this airborne operation.

Swift Response 16 demonstrated the ability of the medical interoperability of U.S. and partnering nations to respond to a real world high risk casualty producing operation, validate capabilities, and integrate medical policies and procedures.

While in Poland, 30th Medical Brigade is providing medical mission command for Anakonda 16, a Polish led exercise from June 7 to 17, and hosting the mass casualty key event on June 11 at Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area that will validate the mass casualty plans of 44th Chemical Battalion and 1-3 Infantry Division.

• Date Taken: 06.07.2016
• Date Posted: 06.09.2016 08:57
• Story ID: 200480
• Location: TORUN, PL