Photo By Spc. Andrew Clark | U.S. Army Spc. Brianna Braham, a combat medic assigned to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment...... read more read more
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GRAFENWÖHR TRAINING AREA, GERMANY - In the back of a Stryker armored fighting vehicle bouncing through Grafenwöhr Training Area’s range complex, U.S. Army Spc. Brianna Braham casually adjusts the stretcher attached to the rear of her unit’s designated medical evacuation vehicle. Even though the day’s exercise focuses on the testing of a new Tube-Launched, Optically Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missile targeting system, Braham, a combat medic assigned to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment’s Quickstrike Troop, believes that every training exercise is an opportunity for self-improvement.
“I’m not only learning the medical stuff,” Braham said. “I’m also learning the ways of dismounted infantry - how they form wedges, how they conduct ambushes. I’m learning my key role of a dismounted medic and the operations of, in my opinion, the cool part of the Army, which is the dismounted infantry. I’m learning how they do their job.”
Braham is calm and prepared, efficiently breaking down the details of the operation as if she were running the event herself. Before building up to the actual live fire of the Stryker’s mounted M240B machine guns and the TOW missile system, the day starts with a series of dry runs to test teams’ abilities to operate each system.
Though the purpose of the day’s exercise is primarily to test the Modified Improved Tactical Acquisition System (MITAS), a new addition to the Stryker TOW missile systems, Quickstrike Troop commander Cpt. Bradley Morton also sees it as an opportunity to test his Soldiers in other tasks, such as simulated medical evacuation. This not only sharpens their skill sets, but helps prepare them for larger training events, such as the upcoming Defender 24.
“We’re confirming our teams’ skills, such as their abilities to utilize the new MITAS to fire TOWs.” Morton said. “Once we do this, we have proof of capability leading up to Defender 24.”
Morton also sees the presence of combat medics like Braham as an important part of turning the live fire exercise into an opportunity for medical evacuation training.
“The medevac portion allows us to evaluate the section leaders on their ability to CASEVAC Soldiers in the event of an injury,” Morton said. “This builds their confidence in these battle drills.”
In conjunction with the live fire exercise, a simulated medical evacuation, or medevac, was executed to test the competency and skill of Quickstrike Troop personnel. Following the successful launch of one TOW missile system, participating Soldiers received a report that the driver of the firing Stryker had received an injury to the right leg. A team from nearby Stryker, which was previously assigned as the medical evacuation vehicle, proceeded immediately to evaluate, move and transport the casualty while Soldiers from both vehicles pulled security. Proper medevac procedures like these are critical for ensuring sick and injured personnel receive quick and effective medical care.
Braham appreciates how exercises like the simulated medical evacuation give her an opportunity to both improve unit performance and potentially save lives.
“I’m glad that I get to teach the unit a little bit about my job,” Braham said. “It improves their skills and also makes my job easier. Say I’m stuck in one place while they’re in another place and somebody gets injured. I want everyone to be trained and capable enough to keep that person alive until I or another medic gets to them.”
When discussing her work as a medic in Quickstrike Troop, Braham shows unparalleled passion and excitement, finding her work both vital to the unit’s success and personally fulfilling as a Soldier.
“I definitely enjoy it,” Braham said. “I love taking care of my guys when they need it, even if it’s just providing bandages. As long as they’re taken care of, I know that I’m doing my job correctly.”
| Date Taken: | 04.02.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 04.02.2024 14:49 |
| Story ID: | 467549 |
| Location: | GRAFENWOEHR, DE |
| Web Views: | 244 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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