Courtesy Photo | Soldiers from the 303rd Field Hospital conducted training on AirBeam tents and the...... read more read more
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WELDON SPRINGS, Mo. - Soldiers from the 303rd Field Hospital (FH) conducted training on AirBeam tents and the equipment necessary for setting up and maintaining them from May 16-18 at the Weldon Springs Training Center in Missouri.
"It was great to see soldiers actively engaging in the setup of the hospital, medical training, night vision familiarization, and litter carries. Ensuring that everyone is competent across various skills boosts morale and maintains readiness," said 1st Lt. Michael Vigh, Executive Officer of the 303rd Field Hospital Headquarters and Headquarters Company.
As the commander of the 303rd FH, Lt. Col. Phillip Obrien is responsible for ensuring that the unit is ready to deploy, operate, and provide medical care in complex and often unpredictable environments. With the evolution of battlefield dynamics, the concept of a safe rear area is becoming outdated. Drone warfare, long-range missile capabilities, and cyber threats are redefining what "rear" truly means. With older, more complex, and heavier tent systems not being designed for mobility, they are slow to set up, challenging to reposition, and require more personnel to operate.
"I believe that in the modern environment, we will need to move more frequently than we anticipated. Field hospitals may struggle to relocate as swiftly as commanders require," Obrien remarked.
AirBeam tents present a promising inflatable tent system in terms of agility, speed, and adaptability. Unlike traditional aluminum-frame or Alaskan shelter systems, deploying AirBeam tents requires fewer personnel and less time. Soldiers can reposition the tents without needing to dismantle the entire structure.
"In a modern battlefield where repositioning may be necessary by six inches or sixty meters, that flexibility is invaluable," Obrien stated.
To facilitate training on the new AirBeam tents, Obrien contacted the Region Training Site-Medical (RTS-MED) at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. The RTS-MED team provided tents and generators for the unit to conduct practical exercises. In addition to AirBeam tent training, the unit also received instruction on the generators and pumps essential for operating the tent.
Obrien noted, "Junior enlisted personnel gain valuable experience in how the hospital is built and become a crucial resource in the planning process by providing practical insights into executing the plan."
Obrien's background in the Navy instilled a strong respect for damage control. He emphasized that on a ship, if it sinks, there's no walking away. That mindset has shaped his approach to field hospital survivability today.
"We can't just deploy a tent and hope for the best. We must anticipate potential issues such as valve failures, pump malfunctions, and air leaks; and train soldiers to address these problems on-site," Obrien stated.
He directed the unit mechanics to examine the pumps for potential failure points and trained them on how to patch leaks, maintain pressure, and operate under degraded conditions. To ensure that his troops engage in meaningful training during their time together at monthly battle assemblies and with finite resources, Obrien and his command team host hands-on training sessions.
"The primary challenge we face in the Army Reserve is maximizing the value of our limited training time. Soldiers don't want to uproot their lives just to stare at a computer; they want to take action. AirBeam training allowed us to fulfill that need while providing troops with a tangible task and a clear sense of accomplishment. The training also enabled our team to see the results of their efforts and, more importantly, to collaboratively think through problems," Obrien concluded.
| Date Taken: | 07.30.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 08.04.2025 14:37 |
| Story ID: | 544308 |
| Location: | WELDON SPRING, MISSOURI, US |
| Web Views: | 32 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Army Reserve Soldiers Train with New AirBeam Tents, by Ronald Bell, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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