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MEDCEUR participants put training lessons into action

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  • By U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Tammie Moore
  • Medical Training Exercise in Central and Eastern Europe Public Affairs
DIVULJE TRAINING BASE, Croatia --  (Editor's note: This article is the fourth in a series covering training during the Medical Training Exercise in Central and Eastern Europe 2008.)

A 15-country multi-national medical force faced a simulated 6.7 magnitude earthquake that shook the country of Croatia injuring more than 10,000. The medics responded with speed and precision to the barrage of patients through their doors. The medics quickly assessed and treated injuries ranging from lacerations to amputations. 

This natural-disaster response exercise wrapped up a week of readiness classes for military medics during the 2008 Medical Training Exercise in Central and Eastern Europe (MEDCEUR). MEDCEUR is a Joint Chiefs of Staff regional/multilateral exercise sponsored by U.S. European Command running from May 2 through 14. Croatia is hosting the 2008 exercise which has drawn about 400 multi-nationals in support of the Partnership for Peace initiative. 

The various medical personnel quickly integrated themselves into the flow of patient processing. Patients transported to the Expeditionary Medical Support (EMEDS) field hospital from ground zero were swept into tents to be re-triaged. Quick assessments were accomplished in the emergency room so technicians and doctors could determine where to send their patients. 

Serbian and U.S. surgeons manned the operating room where they dealt with life threatening injuries. Surgeons discussd procedures and methodologies as they worked together to save lives. 

The first day of this exercise provided participants an orientation of what their roles are and how they fit into the big picture, said U.S. Air Force National Guard Master Sgt. Thomas Rampley, an EMEDS instructor deployed here from the Combat Readiness Training Center in Alpena, Mich. Players will understand the concepts of the exercise and their responsibilities at the end of the day. 

Serbian orthopedic surgeon Lt. Col. Goran Milojkovic, who also participated in MEDCEUR last year, said he believes this has been a very realistic training experience. "It is important to become familiar with how other organizations work and their doctrine," he said. "Doing the EMEDS tent build-up and equipment set-up has been a great experience for me." 

The scope of the exercise will grow each day testing medic's ability to adapt to what they experienced and the capability of facility. 

"As with any natural-disaster response, it takes some time to get the processes rolling well," said U.S. Air Force Maj. John W. McKenna, 86th Expeditionary Combat Readiness Group. He is a medical readiness officer deployed here from the 52nd Medical Group at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. "We saw a great deal of improvement in operations from the morning to the afternoon and expect to see continued improvement throughout the exercise. All in all, it was a great day."
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