Medical Planning at the Forefront of Exercise Key Resolve in Japan

By Capt. Michael W Preczewski (Pacific Regional Medical Command)March 16, 2015

Combat Support Hospital Planning Efforts at Naval Airfield Atsugi
Soldiers from United States Army Japan (USAR-J), 62nd Medical Brigade (MED BDE), and 18th Medical Command (MEDCOM) visited Atsugi Naval Airfield in Japan, to determine possible locations to establish Army medical assets in a contingency event during ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

CAMP ZAMA, Japan -- Medical Planners from 62nd Medical Brigade (MED BDE) and 18th Medical Command (MEDCOM) augmented the United States Army Japan (USARJ) Surgeon Section in support of Exercise Key Resolve 2015 from March 2 - 13, 2015.

Key Resolve is a computer-based exercise, with scenarios presented to planners and operations specialists to work through and determine solutions.

The setting for the exercise is in South Korea.

U.S. Army Japan (USARJ) supports South Korea during this exercise.

Col. Thirsa Martinez, the USARJ Surgeon, took advantage of this exercise to get staff from multiple medical commands working together to enhance the health and safety of all Soldiers and families in both South Korea and Japan.

Lead Medical Planner for the exercise, Capt. Michael Preczewski, set the tone for the medical planning through organizing site visits throughout Japan for the medical planning staff to visualize the areas where U.S. Army medical assets could be placed to support operations.

Staff Sgt. Dameno Stevenson, 62nd MED BDE staff member, was excited to have the opportunity to visit the areas that he may one day establish a Combat Support Hospital (CSH).

"Combat Support Hospitals are very modular and can be modified to fit into whatever area is available. Now that I've seen the areas where we have the opportunity to establish a CSH, I can modify our equipment plans to best fit that area before we ever deploy", said Stevenson.

After two weeks of planning Maj. Nykeba Jackson, 62nd MED BDE staff member, back briefed the USAR-J Commander, Maj. Gen. James Boozer, on the results of the exercise medical planning efforts.

Boozer was proud of the hard work and stated that, "We must continue the momentum that we have started here".

Jackson has been working with USARJ on multiple exercises and has observed the benefits of collaborative medical planning between USARJ, 62nd MED, 18th MEDCOM, and U.S. Forces Japan.

"Medical planning in Japan really is a Joint effort. Working together with planners from multiple units that support Japan has been instrumental in the successful planning efforts we've accomplished during Key Resolve", said Jackson.

Jackson also said that she looks forward to future collaborative medical planning in the upcoming Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise later this year.