SEMBACH, Germany - For any military organization, casualty management operations are sensitive and complicated with very little margin for error given the serious and solemn nature of steps to be taken when a service member, civilian staffer or Family member is injured or killed.
For United States Army NATO Brigade, the difficulty of conducting casualty operations is compounded by the unit's disperse operational environment. USANATO Brigade Soldiers live and work in 40 locations in 20 countries, numbering, in some locations, as few as one U.S. service member to as many as over 100. At any given time, USANATO Soldiers participate in operations in the Middle East and across Europe. The dispersion of Soldiers and limited number of U.S. resources available at some NATO assignments creates significant challenges in planning for mortuary requirements.
Members of the NATO brigade staff conducted a first-of-its-kind casualty drill bringing together NATO Soldiers from across Europe, unit family readiness leaders, the chief of the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Casualty Affairs Center, Mr. Alonza Royal, and the director of the United States Army Casualty and Mortuary Affairs Operations Center, Col. John Cooper, at the Ramstein Air Base Community Activity Center, Apr. 21.
"It is such a privilege to participate in this event." said Royal, "When units understand the casualty affairs process it really makes our at the casualty affairs center easier."
The event trained participants and members of the audience on the unique casualty process for Army NATO from the time of a death through caring for survivors after funerals and memorial services have been conducted. Participants acted out key roles including the casualty notification officer, casualty assistance officer and grieving survivor alongside others talking through their actual duties in the event of a casualty.
In addition to talking through their respective roles, participants literally walked the walk across a 20-meter map of Europe displayed on the floor guided by scripted scenarios for casualty events in multiple countries. Once such scenario involved a Soldier who died during a training mission in Poland. The simulated casualty and her family were assigned to a NATO headquarters in Spain with a U.S. battalion headquarters in Italy.
In another unique aspect, the rehearsal of concept drill was planned, coordinated and facilitated by the USANATO Chaplain, Lt. Col. Douglas Swift, with the assistance of members of the NATO Brigade staff, a reminder that while casualty and mortuary affairs are precision military operations, they, more than others, are truly about supporting grieving Soldiers and Family members.
"One of the benefits of doing this rehearsal the way we did, pulling in all the key players, is that it addressed some of the nuances we face in a way that reading the regulation alone simply can't. And of course this has been a tremendous event and quite a leadership development opportunity," said Swift. "It's very uncommon for a chaplain to lead such a significant operation."
Cooper, who traveled from Army Human Resources Command in Fort Knox, Ky. stressed the importance of being prepared to conduct casualty operations and praised the organization for conducting a deliberate and large scale rehearsal.
"You really only get once chance to get this right," said Cooper. "This type of rehearsal is really a model for units across the army."
About U.S. Army NATO: United States Army NATO Brigade is the headquarters for U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to NATO. USANATO enhances the NATO alliance by providing trained and ready Soldiers to NATO operational and support organizations in 40 locations in 20 countries.
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