NTC/WACH conducts first mass-casualty exercise in 2016

By Mr. Michael K Beaton (Army Medicine)March 29, 2016

NTC/WACH conducts first mass-casualty exercise in 2016
1 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT IRWIN, Calif. -- The 2916th Aviation Battalion utilized an off-cycle window in their calendar March 20 - 23 to conduct brigade-level training in the National Training Center's "Box". The exercise culminated at the Fort Irwin Weed Army Community ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
NTC/WACH conducts first mass-casualty exercise in 2016
2 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT IRWIN, Calif. -- The 2916th Aviation Battalion utilized an off-cycle window in their calendar March 20 - 23 to conduct brigade-level training in the National Training Center's "Box". The exercise culminated at the Fort Irwin Weed Army Community ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
NTC/WACH conducts first mass-casualty exercise in 2016
3 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT IRWIN, Calif. -- The 2916th Aviation Battalion utilized an off-cycle window in their calendar March 20 - 23 to conduct brigade-level training in the National Training Center's "Box". The exercise culminated at the Fort Irwin Weed Army Community ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
NTC/WACH conducts first mass-casualty exercise in 2016
4 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT IRWIN, Calif. -- The 2916th Aviation Battalion utilized an off-cycle window in their calendar March 20 - 23 to conduct brigade-level training in the National Training Center's "Box". The exercise culminated at the Fort Irwin Weed Army Community ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
NTC/WACH conducts first mass-casualty exercise in 2016
5 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT IRWIN, Calif. -- The 2916th Aviation Battalion utilized an off-cycle window in their calendar March 20 - 23 to conduct brigade-level training in the National Training Center's "Box". The exercise culminated at the Fort Irwin Weed Army Community ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
NTC/WACH conducts first mass-casualty exercise in 2016
6 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT IRWIN, Calif. -- The 2916th Aviation Battalion utilized an off-cycle window in their calendar March 20 - 23 to conduct brigade-level training in the National Training Center's "Box". The exercise culminated at the Fort Irwin Weed Army Community ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
NTC/WACH conducts first mass-casualty exercise in 2016
7 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT IRWIN, Calif. -- The 2916th Aviation Battalion utilized an off-cycle window in their calendar March 20 - 23 to conduct brigade-level training in the National Training Center's "Box". The exercise culminated at the Fort Irwin Weed Army Community ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
NTC/WACH conducts first mass-casualty exercise in 2016
8 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT IRWIN, Calif. -- The 2916th Aviation Battalion utilized an off-cycle window in their calendar March 20 - 23 to conduct brigade-level training in the National Training Center's "Box". The exercise culminated at the Fort Irwin Weed Army Community ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
NTC/WACH conducts first mass-casualty exercise in 2016
9 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT IRWIN, Calif. -- The 2916th Aviation Battalion utilized an off-cycle window in their calendar March 20 - 23 to conduct brigade-level training in the National Training Center's "Box". The exercise culminated at the Fort Irwin Weed Army Community ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
NTC/WACH conducts first mass-casualty exercise in 2016
10 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT IRWIN, Calif. -- The 2916th Aviation Battalion utilized an off-cycle window in their calendar March 20 - 23 to conduct brigade-level training in the National Training Center's "Box". The exercise culminated at the Fort Irwin Weed Army Community ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
NTC/WACH conducts first mass-casualty exercise in 2016
11 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT IRWIN, Calif. -- The 2916th Aviation Battalion utilized an off-cycle window in their calendar March 20 - 23 to conduct brigade-level training in the National Training Center's "Box". The exercise culminated at the Fort Irwin Weed Army Community ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
NTC/WACH conducts first mass-casualty exercise in 2016
12 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT IRWIN, Calif. -- The 2916th Aviation Battalion utilized an off-cycle window in their calendar March 20 - 23 to conduct brigade-level training in the National Training Center's "Box". The exercise culminated at the Fort Irwin Weed Army Community ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT IRWIN, Calif. -- The 2916th Aviation Battalion utilized an off-cycle window in their calendar March 20 - 23 to conduct brigade-level training in the National Training Center's "Box". The exercise culminated at the Fort Irwin Weed Army Community Hospital (WACH) March 23.

The goal of the training is to test readiness as well as hone emergency medical skills among the participating service members. One simulation presented the participants with an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack on a troop transport that resulted in 16 casualties. The role players required triage at the point of injury in the training area, then airlifted back to the WACH on Fort Irwin for treatment. This was a large-scale training module that involved complex planning.

To make the exercise as authentic as possible training units had no warning of what they would encounter throughout the course of the event and participants were alerted only as the scenario unfolded, just as if the casualties and events were real. Large casualty events of this kind take a special type of planning coordination, material and geography to execute, and even more consideration to undertake, which makes the NTC an ideal venue for such training.

The 2916th assumed the role of air medevac, requiring multiple airlifts to bring all casualties back to the WACH, where staff members prioritized, stabilized and treated the mock casualties, then prepared to fly any they determined needing specialized care beyond WACH capabilities to other nearby available medical facilities for more extensive treatment.

To learn more about the people and facilities of the National Training Center and the Weed Army Community Hospital visit their official websites at www.irwin.army.mil or www.irwin.amedd.army.mil

Related Links:

Weed Army Community Hospital on Facebook

Weed Army Community Hospital on Flickr

The Weed Army Community Hospital

National Training Center Fort Irwin