JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
With support from Air Education and Training Command and various major commands, the AETC surgeon general has implemented new scenarios for Airmen to use individual protective equipment, or IPE, during the Expeditionary Medical Support Course and Aeromedical Evacuation & Patient Staging Course at Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis.
The newly implemented training focuses on helping Airmen medics improve critical thinking skills, strengthen information sharing and communications, endure mental and physical exertion and execute medical surge capabilities while wearing IPE.
“These scenarios drive the students to don their IPE by using the steps outlined for the appropriate mission-orientated protective posture level, while receiving a scenario brief and rules of engagement,” said Lt. Col. Jennifer Garrison, AETC Surgeon General’s Office Medical Readiness Division chief. “This prepares students for the critical thinking needed to execute task requirements during the exercise scenarios.”
During the courses, students experience scenarios consisting of field triaging suspected contaminated casualties, forward stabilizing and resuscitative care, casualty evacuation prep, casualty transport, loading and unloading casualties from various transportation platforms and learning to mitigate harmful exposures.
Airmen medics have found the new training beneficial.
“Students embraced the training,” Garrison said. “They definitely walked away with a better understanding of challenges that might occur during a chemical or biological event. The threat is very real today and medics need to be prepared to treat patients without contaminating themselves in a chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear environment.”
The training at JBSA-Camp Bullis is one portion of AETC’s requirement to the Air Force Medical Service, which is to ensure the Air Force Medical Service receives the right number of highly trained Airmen and that they are equipped to execute the Air Force mission.
“To ensure requirements and capabilities are met for the combatant commander, critical training resources are needed to defeat our adversaries,” Garrison said. “We accomplish this by leveraging funds to modernize and expand AFMS training and exercises that provide realistic training opportunities for our Airmen medics at all times.”