Combat medics go back to basics to save lives

By Sgt. Tiffany Addair

157th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade Public Affairs

Crawling on their bellies under barbed wire, while moving a patient strapped to a litter. Applying a tourniquet to a battlefield amputation in the dirt and grime of the field. Saving a life while getting everyone back to safety in one piece - just part of a recent weekend training event for more than 150 Wisconsin Army National Guard medical professionals.

The Wisconsin Army National Guard's third Army Medical Department (AMEDD) conference, held May 20-22 at Fort McCoy, gave medical professionals - those assigned to medical units as well as those assigned as medics or medical professionals in non-medical units - the opportunity to brush up on medical skills, train with new and familiar equipment and network with other people in the medical community around the state.

"The focus of the training was to get down to basics," said Capt. Shawn Murphy, physician's assistant with the Wisconsin Medical Detachment - the organization tasked with providing medical readiness support to all Wisconsin Army National Guard units. "It is important to always build on the basics. You add more skill sets and equipment at every level, but the fundamentals are always the same."

Through the Wisconsin Military Academy, the Wisconsin National Guard training facility housed at Fort McCoy, the 68 whiskeys (combat medics), medical professionals and other medical military occupational specialties were able to receive valuable training in a field where continuing education is paramount.

The training was designed to be very realistic, helping Soldiers prepare for scenarios they may face in the future.

"It is really easy to be overwhelmed with a casualty," said Sgt. 1st Class Clint Vervoren, senior combat medic and training noncommissioned officer-in-charge with the 426th Regiment, based at WMA. "The lanes were designed to put a little stress on the medics so they can learn to focus and communicate effectively with counterparts to manage a casualty."

Murphy echoed Vervorens' words, stating that creating a little bit of stress during the training helps put the skills and knowledge into a deep-seated memory box.

While the weekend was concentrated on getting back to the basics, new technology aided in creating more realistic medical scenarios for Soldiers to respond to. Life-like simulators were used in place of traditional mannequins that were used in the past.

"The new mannequins are computer and trainer operated with multiple medical scenarios," said Col. Kenneth Lee, Wisconsin Army National Guard state surgeon. "The mannequin responds to the treatment rendered or not rendered. This type of training not only provides the necessary requirement to maintain certifications as EMT-B, but more importantly the expertise needed to provide advanced emergency care."

Following the conference, Soldiers were wet, muddy and - in some cases - blood-stained from the mannequins' simulated wounds. In spite of that, or perhaps because of it, the training proved immensely popular.

Lee was also very impressed with the caliber of training.

"I sleep soundly knowing that I can rely on the Wisconsin Army National Guard AMEDD NCOs to push the limits of our logistics, training and mission," Lee said. "I am proud of the Soldiers that participated, as well as the leadership who were able to foresee the necessity of the realistic training scenarios."