BAUMHOLDER, GERMANY - The 421st Medical Battalion (Multifunctional), 30th Medical Brigade hosted Lt. Gen. Ingo Patschke, the German Army Surgeon General, Brig. Gen. Norvell Coots, the commander of the European Regional Medical Command and command surgeon for U.S. Army Europe, Brig. Gen. Arlan M. Deblieck, the deputy commanding general of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command, and Col. John Mitchel, the U.S. European Command surgeon general, at the 421st MMB's "Viper Pit" medical training facility on Smith Barracks in Baumholder, Germany Dec. 9.
A team of noncommissioned officers from the 421st MMB prepared and conducted the visit which included a tour of the facility, an overview of the courses offered, and a demonstration of a culminating event where a joint U.S. and German team responded to multiple simulated casualties caused by a blast during a key leader engagement.
With a new focus in the German army on medical training, Patschke was intrigued to know how U.S. forces conduct their medical training and simulations for both the medic, and non-medic. The engagement was also critical in establishing medical partnerships between forces as they both strive to increase interoperability and partner capacity.
The joint engagement showcased a small slice of how all NATO forces intend to further shape their forces and build long-lasting and sustainable capabilities throughout to further increase efficacy and structure.
Patschke, Deblieck, Coots, and Mitchell agreed that the 30th Med. Bde.'s combat medics receive first class training and that the training of U.S. Army combat medics, in general, sets the standard for NATO's medical care policies in forward theaters.
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