8/18/2010 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska (AFNS) -- Eighty-one Airmen from around the Pacific Air Forces participated in the first Expeditionary Medical Support Training here Aug. 9 through 13.
The course, typically held at Brooks City Base, San Antonio, is a mandatory pre-deployment requirement, where participants are taught what is expected of them in a deployed environment.
Sixteen subject-matter experts in their particular medical fields visited JB Elmendorf-Richardson from Brooks City-Base.
"It's nice for our folks in PACAF to be able to come to one single location rather than have to send them to the states," said Lt. Col. Yolanda Bledsoe, the 673rd Medical Group Inpatient Squadron commander.
A scenario was given where a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Jakarta, Indonesia. An EMEDS team was tasked to "deploy" to the location to provide aid to earthquake victims.
However, while they were there, they faced a challenge; terrorist attacks were said to be regularly carried out against the security forces in the western area of the country.
Throughout the week, the PACAF Airmen set up sleeping tents and a medical tent, just like they would if they were deployed to a "bare base," which means they are the first ones to arrive and do the initial setup. The medical tent contained sections including an emergency room, radiology, intensive care unit and several other sections.
Colonel Bledsoe said this type of training gives Airmen the ability to train like they're fighting for real.
This situation tested how they realistically would be taking care of patients when they're deployed supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, or a humanitarian mission like the one several months ago in Haiti, the colonel added.
At the beginning of the training mission, they were in the classroom to familiarize themselves with the procedures and instruments they would be working with. Then the Airmen ran through live training scenarios like a collapsed bridge and mortar attack caused by terrorists.
They were sent out to the sites and went through the proper recovery procedures to get the patients back to the medical center.
At the center, casualties were tagged by the severity of their injury and were taken to one of several sections of the hospital based on what type of injury they had.
Airmen participating in the training said they feel it's a valuable asset, and learning from those who have had personal experiences in the field is the best way to learn.
"Any chance we can get to go out and exercise is valuable," said Senior Airman Andrew Day, of the 673rd Medical Operations Squadron. "It's a chance to practice our skills and improve and get better."
Not only was this a good hands-on experience, but Colonel Bledsoe said she also felt it was a good way to boost morale and reduce tension in the Airmen who have never been in the field.
"I think if you show someone what they're going to walk into, it decreases their anxiety right up front," the colonel said. "It also builds (camaraderie). You may deploy with these people in the future and you know what their capabilities are, because you worked with them in this environment."
All in all, the colonel said she felt this exercise was a success.
"These guys (were) motivated and (were) pumped up every day," Colonel Bledsoe said. "(We) couldn't have (gotten a) better group, jumping in doing things they're not used to doing."
"I think (this training) has been very valuable," she said.
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