"This is a mass-casualty drill, there have been two explosions," blared over the loud speakers as U.S. Embassy staff here sought safety and the Marines of the 9th Provisional Security Force were called into action on March 19.
The scenario took about three hours to run through and involved the 9th PSF, embassy staff, Djiboutian military service members, police, and the Emergency Medical Facility on Camp Lemonier. The French military and representatives from both Peltier and Douffard hospitals were on hand to observe.
The drill helped identify any shortfalls in communications and tested the embassy's emergency procedure according to Petty Officer 1st Class Jodie Wright, exercise medical coordinator.
"Communication was a real-eye opener," exclaimed Capt. Jesse Larca, of the 9th PSF, company commander, Alpha Company. "You learn what works and what doesn't. You learn how to communicate with foreign nationals, who may have key information, once you arrive on scene."
The exercise also provided an opportunity for the Marines to test their knowledge, skills and abilities.
"We need to make sure everyone participates and they know what they are doing," said Sgt. Jacob Peterson, 3rd squad leader. "Every scenario is different, so we need to make sure that all of our assets can be coordinated in a manner that will aid, instead of hindering the process, while on scene."
Once the Marines secured the embassy compound, they focused on prioritizing and evacuating the wounded.
"Platoon Corpsman HN Bless did an outstanding job of getting in there and being involved," said Larca. "He saw where his piece of the pie in this whole exercise was, he did a great job of accessing casualties, beginning triage, and working with the embassy staff."
The exercise concluded when the facility was secured, the patients were evacuated, and command had been established at the Embassy.
"The Marines did very well; worked as a team. They had a lot of different variables and they adjusted well to each one of them," said Larca. "That is one of the things that the Marine Corps is good at. We come into a situation with only 50 percent or less of the information, and are able to make a tactical decision with little information. That is the bread and butter of what we do in the Marine Corps."
The 9th PSF consists of Marine Corps reservists from Minneapolis, Johnstown, Pa., and Selfridge, Mich. They are assigned to Camp Lemonier, Djibouti.
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