YAVORIV, Ukraine- After spending two-weeks learning how to maneuver a foreign vehicle, 19 Ukrainian Soldiers obtained their certification to drive and utilize U.S. Army field litter ambulances.
Soldiers assigned to 557th Area Support Medical Company, 421st Multifunctional Medical Battalion, 30th Medical Brigade, out of Germany, recently concluded an in-depth driver's training course, which taught the Ukrainian students the logistics of the FLA, Sept. 16, at the International Peacekeeping and Security Center.
Lt. Gen Ben Hodges, commander of U.S. Army Europe, officially handed over the ambulances, which are part of the train-and-equip program, to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Aug. 27.
The two-week course consisted of detailed training that taught the medical students, who recently graduated from the inaugural Ukraine Medical Curriculum Program, how to properly maintain the FLA. There was also a driver's training portion of the course that consisted of three different realistic scenarios, with each patient having different injuries. The students assessed the simulated injuries on the ground; loaded the patient onto a litter, placed them in the back of the vehicle, and treated the injuries on the way to the hospital.
"We wanted each group to have a variety of different patients to practice treating in the back of the FLA," said 1st Lt. Andrew Porter, executive officer assigned to the 557th ASMC "It's much different treating on the ground versus in the back of a moving vehicle. "
Mykola Andriyevskiy, a field litter ambulance trainee, said that he received a lot of good information about how to use the vehicle and that it is an important addition to his previous medical training. The course didn't come without its challenges though.
"The one challenge for me was when I went to stick the IV in my patient while in the back of the vehicle," said Andriyevskiy. "I was scared that I was going to miss and stick the needle in my patient's bone."
After each iteration, the training team conducted an after action review to inform the students on their performance during the simulated scenario.
"We want them to get the best training possible and ensure they retain the knowledge we have given them to be able to share that knowledge with their fellow students," said Porter.
FLA's provide mobility for emergency situations and provide a quick link between battlefield casualties and emergency services not available on the front lines of battle.
"These ambulances are equipped to treat up to eight ambulatory patients or four-litter patients with critical wounds," said Porter. "I think these students are ready to put real patients in them and be able to save their comrades'."
Porter said that from a leadership perspective, coming to Ukraine to train Ukrainian students on the FLA's is a golden opportunity.
"There is nothing better than being able to share experiences and knowledge on how to save lives," said Porter. "We want the Ukrainians to be equipped and trained in order to save as many lives as possible."
The training was in conjunction with the ongoing efforts of the Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine and is an example of how the U.S. is helping to build Ukraine's capacity for self-defense.
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