Global Medic 2017

By Staff Sgt. Christal CrawfordJuly 17, 2018

Global Medic 2017
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Central invites and escorts medical officers along with embassy interpreters from partner nations throughout the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to ob-serve the Joint and Multinational Global Medic 2017 exercise August 14-18, at... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Global Medic 2017
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Central invites and escorts medical officers along with embassy interpreters from partner nations throughout the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to ob-serve the Joint and Multinational Global Medic 2017 exercise August 14-18, at... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Global Medic 2017
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Central invites and escorts medical officers along with embassy interpreters from partner nations throughout the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to ob-serve the Joint and Multinational Global Medic 2017 exercise August 14-18, at... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT McCOY, Wis. - U.S. Army Central and partner nations from the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility gathered at Fort McCoy, Wis., August, 14 for the four-day Joint and Multinational Global Medic 2017 exercise.

During this exercise, medical officers and NCOs from the partner nations ob-served the full spectrum of medical care from the point of injury through each level of care from triage to evacuation methods (ground, rotary wing and fixed wing). The delegates also observed the medical treatment at various military levels of care, such as the battalion aid station, forward surgical team and combat support hospital. The delegates are medical personnel responsible for the education, training and employment of health services support personnel and resources for their respective nations' armed forces organizations.

"We try hard to bring folks from other countries in the CENTCOM AOR, so that we can showcase all the different capabilities that we have," said Col. Ned Bailey, the command surgeon for USARCENT. "My role really is to be the senior subject matter expert on all the different Army systems, so that when questions arise, I can help the individuals from other countries understand how our systems operate."

The first day of the exercise, the delegates toured the Effects and Enablers Center, where they observed simulated patients preparing for their insertion into the battle-field. They also toured the Regional Training Medical Site to see its training resources and aids.

On Day Two, the delegates visited the Medical Simulation Training Center and Re-configurable Vehicle Tactical Trainer sites for one of the most realistic simulation trainers for training convoy operations. This center allows commanders to replicate realistic environments for any theater of operation. The MSTC conducts sustainment and enhanced med-cal training for combat medics and combat lifesavers, and it provides hands-on instruction in the latest battlefield trauma and critical care techniques based on U.S. Army Medical Department doctrine.

The third day was a deep dive into the equipment, personnel and rapid deployment capabilities of an Army Forward Resuscitative Surgical Team and how it's employed in a field environment. Following the deep dive, the delegates toured Medical Field Units where they saw U.S. and Coalition medical units practicing their missions on the battlefield.

On the final day, delegates viewed airfield medical-related activities of the U.S. Air Force Reserve and U.S. Transportation Command moving patients out of theater.

Qatari Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Al Hor, the Head of Military Field Medicine for the Qatari Armed Forces, was one of the delegates who observed the event. He said he believed this was a great opportunity for different nations to learn from each other and find a common ground.

"It's not about military or civilian in these days' conflicts, usually we see ourselves as a different being, which you're not," Al Hor said. "All human beings should be seen as the same as each other; it's not about race, religion or color. We all have same feelings, same ambition, same hope, so the basic human need should be looked after."

Next year, Global Medic 2018 will be held at Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif., and it may include more involvement from partner nations. The delegates all expressed an interest in actually participating next year and having their forces be part of the exercise, not just be observers. Bailey echoed their interest.

"The next step is we want to be able to operate with them and help them under-stand how we can develop training opportunities to work (together) in the future," he said.