FORT JACKSON, S.C. -- Most Soldiers gain and sharpen their medical skills in a calm unrealistic training environment. However, that's not the case for Soldiers of the 81st Regional Support Command. As several clouds of smoke and loud noises filled the air, Soldiers entered a Middle Eastern marketplace and stumbled upon a mannequin that they perform life-saving measures on at the Medical Simulation Training Facility.
This facility is an indoor training environment that features a state-of-the art trauma simulator dummy that bleeds and has several interactive features such as a simulated pulse and moveable trachea. The dummy is controlled via remote.
"We give good quality training on how Soldiers would perform in a combat situation in the event that there are causalities," said Staff Sgt. Ajita Warren, a medic with the 4th Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment. Warren gave instructions on how important it is to assess and move causalities quickly because time is of the essence.
"We want to teach them the importance of team work, proper procedures and just how to do the right thing because no one knows when they will be in a situation when they will need to put their skills into play," said Warren.
The 81st RSC HHC Commander, Maj. Kristen Brockman, believes hands-on training has always been the best way to practice warrior tasks and the MSTF takes training to another level. "The MSTF allows Soldiers to practice those life-saving skills in a safe and realistic environment," said Brockman. "Soldiers train on their Warrior tasks and drills, but putting those skills to use during realistic training is what really prepares them for combat."
When a unit comes to the MSTF to train they are broken down into teams. The teams consist of someone pulling security, calling a nine line and giving first aid in a timely manner. Each training room has a reconstructed Humvee with the trauma simulators inside. Each team must extract the training dummy out of the vehicle and perform first aid.
"The medical simulation training provided the necessary skill sets needed to save an injured Soldier's life," said Lt. Col. Joseph Kline, command chief medical operations officer for the 81st RSC.
The combat like environment and cadre expertise guided Soldiers to become proficient and confident to handle a medical emergency in an austere environment.
"This facility is a major asset for our troops and we look forward to using it more often to keep those life-saving skills fresh," added Brockman.
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