From August 1 through 5, Airmen from the 177th Medical Group along with 177th Services Flight combined forces with 110th, 115th, 161st and the 162nd Medical Groups for annual training at the Combat Readiness Training Center at Alpena, Mich.
The training was geared toward deployment under bare base conditions anywhere in the world. The Guardsmen, who spent their entire deployment in a tent city at Camp Collins, represented a complete cross-section of medical skills present during the deployment.
Everyone from physicians and flight surgeons to optometrists, nurses and medical service corps officers joined forces with administrative, medical equipment repair and public health personnel for training in a variety of combat and emergency scenarios.
The Airmen received specialized training in the operation
of Expeditionary Medical Support (EMEDS) – the Air
Force’s new medical and dental field hospital - which
replaces air transportable clinics. EMEDS includes an
emergency and operating rooms, x-ray capability and a 25-
bed ward. The Airmen trained in disease prevention,
combat stress, self aid and buddy care/wound management,
litter loading for ambulance and C-130 Hercules
aircraft. They also trained with a human patient simulator
- a training device that looks like and responds in the same
way a person does when a doctor and staff works on it.
The training scenarios included emergency and operating
rooms, a mass casualty exercise, and a “bug out” -
a term many will recognize from the TV series MASH -
which means to pull up stakes and relocate operations.
The 177th Services Flight Airmen received special recognition
in the final report. “The Food Services personnel were
considered outstanding by everyone," stated Col. Patrick
D. Aiello, Commander, 161st Medical Group, 161st Air
Refueling Wing, Phoenix, Ariz. “They were on time every
day, had outstanding attitudes and served great food.”
“ We truly didn't have a weak link,” summarized Lt. Col. Gerald Iuliucci, 177th Medical Services Corps. “The patient retrieval team members’ response was highly focused. The ER team accomplished the most rapid and efficient throughput of patients. The OR team did more procedures than ever before for this type of exercise. All personnel consistently showed high levels of enthusiasm and professionalism.”
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Chief Master Sgt. Donald Martenz,
177th Fighter Wing Maintenance
Operations Flight, coordinates maintenance
support during the 2005
Atlantic City Air Show Aug. 30. The
177th provided everything from
flightline maintenance and fuel, to
ramp space and traffic control. Planning
for next year's has already
begun. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Mark
Olsen, 177FW/PA.