RAF Brize Norton News

TACTICAL MEDICAL WING TAKE PART IN LARGE INTERNATIONAL EXERCISE IN UNITED STATES

This September, personnel from Tactical Medical Wing (TMW) were put through their paces during Exercise Mobility Guardian 19, a large multi-national exercise at Fairchild Air Force Base, Spokane in the US.

The Five Eyes Nations observed a Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) scenario

This exercise involved strategic and tactical airlift including Air to Air Refuelling, Aeromedical Evacuation (AE), Airlift (AL) and Air Mobility Support (AMS). Personnel were tested in their ability to operate in austere conditions alongside International Partners.

On the Distinguished Visitor Day, General Miller was briefed on Aeromedical Evacuation interoperability and the success of the three-week exercise by Squadron Leader Jayne Arscott.
On the Distinguished Visitor Day, General Miller was briefed on Aeromedical Evacuation interoperability and the success of the three-week exercise by Squadron Leader Jayne Arscott

“Having this opportunity to train, practice and develop our capabilities with other nations is essential to provide the best possible care for our patients. AE interoperability with other nations means we have the best operational patient care pathway, we utilise our resources effectively and can reduce operational risk. We have flown on USAF, Australian and Canadian aircraft providing evacuation and clinical care to large numbers of simulated casualties. This exercise has proven beyond any doubt that AE interoperability works, and we are ready to do this in any future environment.”

Squadron Leader Jayne Arscott
Officer Commanding AE Squadron

During the exercise the scenarios varied enormously, including mass casualty lifts of up to 50 patients
During the exercise the scenarios varied enormously, including mass casualty lifts of up to 50 patients

Over the three weeks, the team of Medical Professionals from TMW trained on a variety of AE missions including an obstetrics emergency, hypoglycaemic episode and completing rapid decompression drills whilst being observed by their NATO counterparts.

‘Patients’ were stacked five high in a C130 during the exercise
‘Patients’ were stacked five high in a C130 during the exercise

The Five Eyes Nations observed a Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) scenario, where a USAF KC-135 Stratotanker was contaminated (simulated) by an AE patient whom had been exposed to an unknown chemical/biological agent. The USAF aircrew flight equipment (AFE) airmen performed decontamination procedures on the aircrew, AE team and passengers.

During the exercise, Tactical Medical Wing personnel were tested in a variety of scenarios including austere conditions
During the exercise, Tactical Medical Wing personnel were tested in a variety of scenarios including austere conditions

“To be given the opportunity of being the Project Officer for the UK AE element of this exercise was initially a little daunting, however we put together an amazing team who really did work hard to pull out all of the stops, being flexible and adaptable was a must from the beginning. The exercise location was very austere, and the scenarios varied enormously, including mass casualty lifts of up to 50 patients. Seeing patients stacked five high in the back of a C-130 was truly a breath-taking moment, something none of us had seen before from a professional perspective. Flying with other nations on their aircraft enabled us to learn so much in relation to their kit, equipment and processes, which has helped inform our own practices and procedures.”

Flight Lieutenant Sonia Vanner
Second in Command AE Squadron

The exercise concluded with a Distinguished Visitor (DV) Day on 25 September 2019, hosted by General Maryanne Miller, Commander of Air Mobility Command, over 50 DV’s from across the globe attended the day which included capability displays of Air Drop and Aeromedical Evacuation. General Miller was briefed on Aeromedical Evacuation interoperability and the success of the three-week exercise by Squadron Leader Jayne Arscott. Group Captain Philip Harding, Air Mobility Deputy Force Commander and Master Aircrew Gav Ovenden, Air Mobility Exercise Planner, represented the UK at this international event

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