Marine’s bloody art provides Navy corpsman realistic training

Photo By Gunnery Sgt. Leon Branchaud | U.S. Navy Corpsman, HN1 (FMF) Edward Palakie, with Marine Aircraft Group 40 receives makeup and fake wounds before a trauma response exercise recently. MAG 40 currently assigned to U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command engages in Theater Security Cooperation activities throughout the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, and is prepared to provide rapid reaction to emerging crisis and contingency operations. (U.S. Marine photo by Sgt. Leon M. Branchaud)  

(UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

10.28.2012

Story by Cpl. Fenton Reese 

Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade

MIDDLE EAST – Many would agree the more realistic training, the better, especially when those being trained couldn’t tell the difference between simulation and reality.

Thanks to the magic of makeup and talent of Cpl. Elizabeth Deanes, a motor transportation operator with Marine Aircraft Group 40, a group of corpsman and medical personnel assigned to U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command in the Middle East received a taste of what they thought was the real thing, during an impromptu trauma drill.

“Initially, none of the personnel knew it was a drill,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Edward Palakie, a hospital corpsman with MAG 40. “She did a phenomenal job. Some of the paramedics that arrived on scene thought the wounds were real and this was a real situation.”

According to Palakie, the make –up combined with the element of surprise provided better training as opposed to other reaction drills in which the participants are given scenarios and have to imagine the situation.

“It was definitely better training. They arrived on the scene and could physically look and determine the wound as opposed to being given a card and having to act it out,” said Palakie. “It was a benefit to actually see that stuff as well.”

With her make-up kit, Deanes created wounds ranging from head and body trauma and lacerations to compound fractures and gunshot wounds that the medical staff had to treat.

“This was actually the first time I've done it for training,” said Deanes. “I was so proud because the Corpsmen here thought the situation was genuinely real until they actually got up close and saw who the "victim" was.”

Deanes said she has never had any formal training; however she learned some tricks of the trade through a friend and honed the craft through experience.

“I've been doing make up for quite some time. My friend went to Tom Savini's Makeup School and taught me things here and there. Ever since she taught me, every time I get an opportunity to do it, I jump on it. The idea of being able to transform people's physical appearance to something extreme is awesome,” she said.

And, according to Palakie, she truly transformed the “victims,” and said he will be hoping to use her skills for the next training event.

“She is very talented and luckily she’s our Motor-T operator,” he said. “This may have been her first, but it won’t be her last.”

Palakie said that this capability allows his corpsman to put their abilities to the test with the physical appearance of real injuries. And, this is an excellent asset that should be incorporated in all medical training.

“We train how we fight,” said the 12-year veteran.

One Marine’s unique skill turned out to be more than just an interesting hobby, but served as an asset to improve training.

• Date Taken: 10.28.2012
• Date Posted: 12.05.2012 01:17
• Story ID: 98755
• Location: (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)