Maryland National Guard Aviators Facilitate Casualty Care Exercise
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”2122″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css_animation=”fadeIn”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1500647185911{margin: 0px !important;border-width: 0px !important;padding: 0px !important;}”]Story and photos by Staff Sgt. Michael E. Davis, Jr., Maryland National Guard Public Affairs Office[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1500647195306{margin: 0px !important;border-width: 0px !important;padding: 0px !important;}”]The Maryland Army National Guard’s C Co., 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment collaborated with active duty Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) instructors from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) during a medic sustainment training event held at Weide Army Airfield in Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., and at other locations in the Edgewood area from Feb. 5-6, 2015.
As part of a monthly partnership, the pilots and flight crew in C Co. facilitate WRNMMC military personnel by providing suitable locations, nine-line MEDEVAC support, and familiarization to aircrafts in order to successfully run a TCCC training cycle. The instructors from WRNMMC teach TCCC to service members and civilians throughout the Department of Defense and other federal agencies.
“We coordinated with this National Guard unit here in order to facilitate medical evacuation assets with our trauma lanes,” said Staff Sgt. Daniel Burke, an instructor with WRNMMC.
Even though the MDARNG facilitated this joint operation, C Co. 1-169th flight crew was able to go through sustainable training as well. Guard pilots were also able to receive flight time, which can be beneficial for their career.
“For Charlie company 1-169th, this exercise is helping them do training progression for not only their pilots but also their crew members,” said Maj. Teresa M. Parrotta, instructor pilot with C Co. 1-169th. “The medics on the ground were getting the benefit value of running through the nine-line and familiarization of the aircraft because a lot of them have never been around a UH-60 (Blackhawk helicopter) or any other aircraft.”
In addition to getting familiar with aircraft, the trainees had to go through a scenario where they had to treat multiple mannequin patients, otherwise known as the Multiple Amputation Trauma Trainer (MATT), while taking fire in a simulated combat environment.
“It was fun,” said Coast Guardsman Petty Officer 3rd Class Shanna Dunn, referring to the medical training she received and working with the MDARNG. “I’ve worked with the Army before, but this is definitely a different perspective as far as combat because [we] don’t really do [this] type of stuff.” Dunn is a Health Service Technician.
Burke said the trainees were very fortunate because the TCCC training is a unique experience that not a lot of people get a chance to go through.
“I appreciate the Maryland National Guard helping [us] to facilitate our training and I’m glad both of us got something out of it,” Burke said. “I hope to continue the experience.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]