Polishing Soldier skills at USARIEM

By Tazanyia L. Mouton/USAG-Natick Public AffairsApril 30, 2015

Polishing Soldier skills at USARIEM
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers of the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine pull security while a teammate completes an obstacle on the course at Fort Devens, Mass. April 24. The Soldiers completed the course to familiarize them with combat tactical movem... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Polishing Soldier skills at USARIEM
2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Polishing Soldier skills at USARIEM
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Polishing Soldier skills at USARIEM
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Polishing Soldier skills at USARIEM
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Soldiers of the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine took to the woods of Fort Devens April 24 to brush up on their Soldier skills.

Most people may be familiar with obstacle courses being used to familiarize Soldiers with combat tactical movements, physical training, problem solving, and building teamwork.

Not only were USARIEM Soldiers able to accomplish these tasks, but they were able to tailor the training to best fit their needs.

As medical unit Soldiers, it was only appropriate for them to navigate the course while also tending to casualties on the "battlefield."

Some of the obstacles Soldiers completed were the high wall, tangle foot, log maze and grenade throw.

Upon arriving at some of the stations, Soldiers came across a "casualty," whom they had to medically assess, secure and then transport through the obstacle.

"We took this traditional obstacle course, and we incorporated a lot of what we do with medic training," said Capt. Melissa Kottke, a research physiologist with USARIEM. "We modified the course to include obstacles that had litter carries. We had full-size dummies that they had to strap into litters, triage, and then put in 9-line (MEDEVAC requests) for."

The Soldiers were expected not only to do the normal physical component of the training, but to fully execute their duties as combat medics.

"The teams are doing great," said Kottke. "The morning iteration was an introduction for them so they could get used to the different tasks that are required."

The afternoon iteration made the training a little more interesting, with additional pressure added from cadre and other guests participating.

Kottke said having the Soldiers alternate as leaders gave them an opportunity to get their feet wet on the various areas of the exercise.

The Soldiers are no strangers to training.

Each week, some type of refresher training is performed to make sure Soldiers are up-to-date on current issues and Army policies, such as sexual harassment and assault response prevention, and Soldier resiliency.

"At least once a month, especially during nice weather months, we typically will go out into the field and do an M-16 range, (or) we'll do obstacle courses or leadership reaction courses," said Kottke. "We also do a large-scale field exercise for three days at Fort Washington (in Cambridge, Massachusetts)."

Spc. Alvin Korus, a medical lab technician with USARIEM, said getting close to any real-world situation is good for troops.

"Anytime that you can get boots on the ground, it's really important," said Korus. "There are certain things that you can't simulate in the classroom."

Overall, training like this is organized to make sure all members of the team are able to clear obstacles.

"Some Soldiers are going to be physically capable, but others may not," said Kottke. "It's the creativity aspect of it that's requiring them to think outside the box to make sure they can accomplish a mission.

"All Soldiers require an Army to raise them. It's not just one group."