JOINT BASE LANGLEY EUSTIS, Va. –
U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 633rd Medical Group participated in a mass casualty training exercise at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, Oct. 13-15.
During the exercise, the medics practiced building an Air Force theater hospital, like the facility used during humanitarian relief operations in West Africa, which allowed for advanced treatment of simulated casualties.
According to Lt. Col. Kara Gormont, 633rd Medical Support Squadron and Global Response Force commander, the training was integral because Langley medics are a part of one of four GRFs in the Air Force, and must maintain the ability to quickly deploy within 72-hours' notice and execute decisive-action operations worldwide.
"As medics, this is not our normal day-to-day workload, so training helps to ensure when we are called to deploy, the team is functional and able to meet critical windows to treat patients," said Senior Master Sgt. Jennifer Howell, 633rd Medical Support Squadron superintendent. "We need to be able to do this with limited support from [civil engineers] and [the logistic readiness squadron] as they are working on setting up base camp and other functions in a deployed setting."
Only one-third of the Airmen who participated in the training also played roles in the West Africa Ebola missions, so the majority of the medics received initial training on in-theater hospital set-up.
"The first tent we set up was not put up as easily and quickly as the tenth tent," "At times, the seasoned members were forced to slow down and learn along with the new Airmen; not only does everyone learn their role, but we also learn how to do things better because the newer Airmen have great ideas."
Whether participants were seasoned or new medics, Howell said the training did a good job of mimicking real world operations because the medics must be able to be incredibly flexible and creative while deployed.
"The best part about being part of a unique deployment mission like the GRF is knowing that when we deploy we are going to be a part of something bigger," said Howell. "[In Liberia] we had the opportunity to do something bigger than us and our little piece of the puzzle made a huge impact on the overall mission."