On October 16, Soldiers from Headquarters, Headquarters Company (HHC) 65th Medical Brigade, U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan, put their lifesaving skills to the test.
After months of preparation, the (68W health care specialists) medics from HHC validated their battlefield skills on a variety of hands-on scenarios.
The health care specialist is primarily responsible for providing emergency medical treatment, limited primary care, and health protection and evacuation from a point of injury or illness.
Sgt. 1st Class Keith Kittle, senior evaluator and a 68W himself, explained the process of validation.
"Every year, all 68W's are required to take this skill validation test. It is called a 'table 8' which consists of four scenarios that are medical and combat related."
To maintain their military occupational skill they must also obtain and maintain an Emergency Management Training (EMT), and Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification. To provide the necessary hours for their re-certification many medics go through extensive ongoing training for the rest of their military career.
As with any medical career or profession, the medical personnel must be willing to be educated throughout their career which may consist of many hours of research.
"Once a week we conduct 68W sustainment training to keep our health care specialists up to speed with current medical practices and their combat medical evacuation skills sharp," said Kittle.
Pvt. 1st Class Klyde Mansaku considered the certification and overall sustainment training to be awesome. "I am happy to have the chance to actually train hands on and improve my skills as a medical specialist. It was a change of pace from the day to day operations working in the mail room."
Here in the Republic of Korea, these "combat medics" serve as the basic or first tier of the Army medical system providing both day to day various military tasks while honing their skills as medics in preparation to "Fight Tonight."
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