Operating Together to Answer the Call: U.S. and Dutch Troops practice MEDEVAC Procedures

Photo By Sgt. Audrequez Evans | Soldiers assigned to the Dutch unit Koninklijke Landmacht worked with Soldiers assigned to the 3rd Calvary Air Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division during a medical evacuation training, at Hohenfels training area, Germany, on Jan. 28, 2020. This interoperability training is part of Combined Resolve XIII. Combined Resolve XIII is a Headquarters Department of the Army directed Multinational Unified Land Operation exercise with the U.S. Regionally Aligned Force Brigade in support of European Command (EUCOM) objectives. The purpose of the exercise is to prepare 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Calvary Division along with 16 other allied and partner nations to fight and win in the European theater. The exercise involves more than 5,000 service members and takes place at U.S. Army Europe’s Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels Training Areas. Combined Resolve XIII builds readiness and interoperability promotes regional stability and enhances relationships between allied and partner nations. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Audrequez Evans, JMRC Public Affairs)  

HOHENFELS, BY, GERMANY

01.28.2020

Story by Spc. Audrequez Evans 

Joint Multinational Readiness Center

HOHENFELS, Germany- U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 3rd Calvary Air Brigade and Dutch medical soldiers assigned to Koninklijke Landmacht took part in medical evacuation training at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany during training exercise Combined Resolve XII. The exercise consists of multiple weeks of training which serves to prepare the U.S. and sixteen allied and partner nations to fight and win in the European Theatre.

Pilot and Platoon Leader Capt.Joseph Pabst lead his team in the MEDEVAC training. The task was to introduce forces from the Dutch to the aircraft to be used for MEDEVAC and to practice proper procedures for egressing to and from the aircraft with a litter. They also practiced while the aircraft was off and while it was operational to give a more real-world simulation of evacuating a patient. Capt. Pabst looked at the opportunity as a great way to work with members of the Dutch forces.

“Today's mission was designed and executed to increase the interoperability between the US Army and our NATO partners from the Netherlands. Specifically, we conducted med 101 training as well as hot/cold load training with Dutch medical personnel to familiarize them of MEDEVAC capabilities and procedures,” Pabst said.

Upon arrival to the training site both groups were bombarded with hail and high winds. With a limited block of instructions, the soldiers contemplated what to do next. With quick thinking on Pabst part the training was broken down into two sections.

“We were able to break the training into two parts. The first half we conducted in our command post and was more informative/class-oriented training. Once the weather permitted, we went outside to the aircraft to conduct the hands-on portion of the training,” said Pabst.

Pabst and his counter parts gave a very thorough block of instruction, each person gave account to their experiences in training as well as in actual real-world situations. They did not hesitate to answer any and all questions asked by their Dutch partners. With the healthy block of instruction Pabst felt that this training was vital to the partnership between the two forces.

“To begin with, it adds familiarity between two partnered nations. It gave us the opportunity interact directly with another nations armed forces and personnel, was a boost to morale. We also were able to demonstrate the intricacies of our profession while simultaneously meeting their training objectives,” Pabst said.

With Combined Resolve coming to its end leaders can rest assured that their troops have received the best training possible.

• Date Taken: 01.28.2020
• Date Posted: 02.01.2020 09:11
• Story ID: 361290
• Location: HOHENFELS, BY, DE