CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq -- 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division regularly conducts mass casualty (MASCAL) scenario training at Contingency Operating Base Delta, to keep Soldiers' medical and evacuation skills tuned.
On August 27, Delta Forward Support Company conducted a rehearsal to give all Soldiers a chance to practice their medical skills after a simulated attack and to prepare non-medical Soldiers to treat and move wounded personnel in a safe and timely manner.
Additionally, the medical personnel practiced medical evacuation and patient stabilization procedures.
The MASCAL began when the squadron's operating center triggered the alarm so the personnel on base could practice finding cover. Once the "all clear" was sounded, troops ran through pre-planned drills to search and treat casualties and take accountability for personnel.
Troop leadership spends time planning and practicing these drills to teach their Soldiers that finding and treating casualties quickly can be the difference between life and death.
"6-9 Cav. makes it a top priority to stay prepared for anything we might encounter. So we take our time planning out these drills and rehearsals, and we practice them frequently," said Sgt. Maj. Van Prier, the operations sergeant major and a New Orleans native.
These drills and rehearsals keep 'Saber' prepared and vigilant for any threat.
"We know that it is important to take these drills seriously. When we hear the alert we react quickly, and we remember our training," said Capt. Michael Caldwell, the commander of D Forward Support Co., and a Jackson, Miss. native.
Once the company collected all the casualties, they moved them to the combat support hospital on the base.
"This drill was very helpful for all of us here at the hospital. With all the new staff coming in, being able to go through all of our training together is going to really keep us sharp," said Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone Johnson, the platoon sergeant for the squadron's medical platoon and a Fayetteville, N.C. native.
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